Shaboozey isn’t just one of the hottest names in country’s new crop — he’s got a downright fascinating backstory, too.

Born to Nigerian parents and raised in Virginia — with some childhood years in his parents’ home country, as he attended a Nigerian boarding school — the singer has said that he never quite fit in anywhere, but he brought a unique perspective that helped be individual, self-directed and creative.

As his artistry has evolved, he’s established himself as a multi-faceted artist and songwriter, with a hand in all kinds of different formats and genres. But most recently, he’s found breakout success in country, especially with his “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” a record-breaking Billboard hit that became the longest-reigning No. 1 of the year on the Hot 100 chart this fall.

Read on to get to know the burgeoning superstar, from his origins as a Nigerian-American cowboy to his record-breaking streak on the charts.