Teen rapper Manzy 'completely stumped' by suspension for music video

A Grand Falls-Windsor teen who was suspended from school and kicked off the hockey team for a rap video is thanking the school board for disciplining him and inadvertently kicking off his music career.

• Rap video leads to school suspensions for Grand Falls-Windsor teens

Brad Manuel, 17, also known by his rapper persona Manzy, posted the video for his song Sleep Again on YouTube Christmas Day.

For sure a lesson learned, but I guess that's just don't put the school in the music video.- BradManuel, a.k.a. Manzy

Last week, the Exploits Valley High Grade 12 student and several of his collaborators made news when they were suspended for the musicvideo, which the school said violates its drug and social media policies.

"Originally I was stumped completely stumped," Manuel said.

As for being kicked off the school's hockey team,"That's something else I loved, but then as the views started catapulting I kind of got a little smile on my face, I guess."

Views skyrocket

Manuel said his channel had just 80 subscribers and the video had 8,500 views.

After local media picked up the story of his suspension, the channel was up to nearly 1,200 subscribers byJan. 12, and the video hadmore than 230,000 views.

If you scroll down to the YouTube comments section, Manuel and his friends have support from the likes of Canadian music groupWalk Off the Earth whose channel hastwo million subscribers who say the teens shouldn't be suspended for making art.

Meanwhile, fellow Newfoundlander and YouTube star Matt Shea posted a comment asking whatelse the students expected to happen when they posteda video depicting what looks like drug use.

The school said the reason for the suspension was a scene that depicts what itbelieved was drug use what appeared to be someone smoking from a bong as well as scenes shotin front of the school sign.

For his part, Manuel said the YouTube video contained a disclaimer that stated "any props used in this video that show resemblance to any illegal materials or actions are 100 per cent props and should not be taken seriously."

"People saying I'm doing drugs or smoking weed in front of the school," said Manuel.

"In my part in the music video that is in front of the school, you can clearly see that both my hands are there's nothing in them. I'm not smoking, I'm not doing drugs or anything."

Since his return to school this week, Manuel said he's had no issues with school staff and some of his teachers have even voiced support and encouraged him to keep working on his music.

"Most of them are supporting, but then there are the teachers now that you walk past that liked you before and turn away from you and give you the blind eye," he said.

Manuel said overall, he wasn't happy to be kicked off his hockey team, but doesn't think there's much that can be done about it at this point.

Lessons learned

Despite the disciplinary action taken against him and his friends, Manuel said he's still happy with the song and the video and, if anything, thinks the suspension brought his music even more attention.

"I can't speak too fast because there's still a far ways away for me to have a career as a musician, but I think it did help me. So thank you," he said.

"There's for sure a lesson learned, but I guess that's just don't put the school in the music video."

Meanwhile, Manuel said he's looking to prepare more songs and music videos to be released in the near future.