Būnduke
Būnduke commands your respect with every performance, with every bar and line exuding the transformative confidence that hip hop gave him.
Born in Cairo to South Sudanese parents fleeing civil war and raised in Duval County, Florida, Būnduke grew up navigating bullying from an injury from birth complications, and colorism. But everything shifted when he rapped at the lunch table in elementary school and performed on stage in front of his entire school. That moment cemented what hip hop had given him: the confidence to take up space and be unapologetically himself.
Inspired early by his siblings, who printed out rap lyrics for him to memorize, Būnduke started writing raps by the third grade and became a force in high school. Artists like Lil Wayne influenced his pen, while 2Pac’s iconic line—“The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice, the darker the flesh then the deeper the roots”—helped him embrace his skin and his identity with pride. What began as poetry evolved into freestyling, sparked by shows like Wild’n Out and movies like 8 Mile, ultimately leading him to Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow, where he wow’d none other than Eminem himself with his freestyling ability.
College years deepened his dedication—recording mixtapes, burning CDs, and performing at campus events. But his artistry reached new heights when he found Soul Food Cypher. Inspired by the likes of 2Pac, from a young age Būnduke sought to have a more positive message.. When he found SFC he found a home– a space where lyrical skill and positivity go hand in hand. He has become a staple to the cypher from teaching freestyle in the classroom to being crowned Cypher Master in 2023 to representing at SFC’s first international performance in Marseille France. He's a trailblazer not just as an MC but as a leader, mentor, and storyteller.
He commands the crowd with an undeniable charisma and performance style–bold and intuitive, he knows how to read the room, when to build tension, and exactly when to drop the punchline haymaker that brings the house down. Whether he’s mentoring youth, performing abroad, or passing out flyers from his car, Bunduke carries the cypher’s mission forward. He’s not just rapping for himself—he’s giving others the confidence hip hop gave to him, showing them that they’re capable of more than they ever imagined.