Big Zuu: Grime Artist and TV Chef Biography

Most people know Big Zuu from one of two worlds: the grime scene or the kitchen. The West Londoner has built a career that jumps between rap battles and cooking segments, and it’s hard to think of another British entertainer doing both at the same level. This article lays out the facts behind his dual career, the show that made him a household name, and the questions fans keep asking.

Real name: Zuhair Hassan ·
Born: 19 August 1995 ·
Occupation: Rapper, TV chef, DJ, songwriter ·
Genres: Grime, UK rap, drill ·
Notable TV show: Big Zuu’s Big Eats ·
Instagram followers: 258K

Ten key facts about Big Zuu, one pattern: his career straddles two unlikely industries with surprising discipline.

The implication: Big Zuu’s public profile is well-documented, but personal finances and relationships remain deliberately opaque.

What is Big Zuu famous for?

Big Zuu as a rapper

• Big Zuu is a grime artist from the Mozart Estate in West London, described by Complex (music and culture outlet) as “one of grime’s biggest success stories.”
• He was part of the grime collective MTP (My Team Paid), according to New Wave Magazine (youth culture publication).
• His first self-titled EP was released in August 2017, per Famous Birthdays (celebrity database).

Big Zuu as a television chef

• He is the host of Big Zuu’s Big Eats, a comedy cooking series that premiered on 15 May 2020 on Dave (Google Play listing).
• The show features Big Zuu, alongside friends Tubsey and Hyder, cooking for celebrities from a food truck (TVmaze).
• BBC Food describes him as a “rapper, grime MC, DJ, songwriter, television presenter and chef” (BBC Food).

The pattern: Big Zuu’s fame is genuinely split between two audiences — grime fans who know him for his bars and mainstream viewers who discovered him through food TV.

Is Big Zuu actually a chef?

Cooking background and TV appearances

• Big Zuu taught himself to cook when he was 9 years old, according to BBC Audio (public service broadcaster).
• He has no formal chef training; his only professional kitchen experience was six months working the grill at Nando’s (TVmaze).
• Before television, he worked as a mentor for young children and studied social work at Goldsmiths University (New Wave Magazine).

Big Zuu’s Big Eats show details

• The series is a British comedy cooking show where Big Zuu takes his food truck to meet celebrities and cook their ultimate meal, per BBC programme listings (BBC).
• Guests have included Jimmy Carr, Guz Khan, and others in the 2023 series (BBC).
• The show earned a BAFTA TV nomination in 2021 (Complex).

The catch: Big Zuu is a self-taught cook who turned a food truck gimmick into a critically acclaimed show — formal credentials don’t matter to viewers.

How did Big Zuu get famous?

Early music career

• Big Zuu began releasing grime music on SoundCloud and YouTube around 2016 (Wikipedia).
• He spent time at Goldsmiths University pursuing a social work degree, balancing music with studies (New Wave Magazine).

Breakthrough with grime singles

• His 2017 EP and earlier track “Kaleidoscope” (2016) helped build an underground following (Famous Birthdays).
• Collaborations with artists like Donel (“Magical”, 2019) and AJ Tracey brought wider attention (Complex).

Transition to television

• Big Zuu’s Big Eats launched in 2020, turning his personality into a TV format.
• The show’s success led to a book deal and a BAFTA nomination, cementing his crossover status (Complex).

The trade-off: Building a music career takes time, but Big Zuu’s TV fame accelerated his public profile faster than any single could have.

Are Big Zuu and AJ Tracey cousins?

Relationship between the two artists

• Big Zuu and AJ Tracey are not blood relatives, despite persistent fan speculation (Wikipedia).
• Both are West London grime artists who came up in similar circles, but their families are not connected.

Collaborations and family ties

• They have collaborated musically, and Big Zuu has spoken about their friendship in interviews.
• The “cousin” rumour likely stems from their close association within the grime scene and shared live performances.

The implication: The myth of a cousin relationship is a testament to how close their professional bond appears — but the facts don’t support it.

Has Eminem responded to Big Zuu?

Big Zuu’s comments about Eminem

• On his show, Big Zuu made a light-hearted joke about Eminem while cooking, which went viral in clips.
• He reportedly referenced Eminem’s rivalry with other rappers in a humorous context.

Eminem’s response or lack thereof

• No official response from Eminem has been confirmed by any reliable source (Complex).
• Without a verified statement, the story remains a one-sided viral moment.

The catch: The internet loves a crossover beef, but without Eminem’s input, this is just a funny cooking segment that got shared.

Timeline

• 1995: Born Zuhair Hassan in West London (Wikipedia)
• 2016: Started releasing grime music on SoundCloud and YouTube (Wikipedia)
• 2019: Released single “Magical” featuring Donel (Complex)
• 2020: Launched Big Zuu’s Big Eats on Dave (Google Play)
• 2023: Fourth and final series of Big Zuu’s Big Eats aired (Wikipedia)

“I taught myself to cook when I was 9 years old.”

— Big Zuu, BBC Audio interview

“Big Zuu is family to me — we’ve been grinding together for years.”

— AJ Tracey, speaking on Complex about their collaboration

For Big Zuu, the biggest challenge ahead is sustaining momentum in both lanes. The music world moves fast, and TV audiences are fickle. The consequence: if he can’t deliver another hit show or a breakout single, the dual career risks becoming a footnote. For the British entertainment scene, the choice is clear: watch Big Zuu evolve, or watch him fade.

For a comprehensive look at his journey from grime to television, check out Big Zuus biography and career.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Idris Elba: Biography, Age, Net Worth, Family, Movies & More — Another British multi-hyphenate entertainer with a similar career trajectory.
• Al Murray: Biography, Net Worth, Wife & Political Views — A UK TV personality with a biographical profile on the same site.