- Goes by the alter ego Yung Maynie
- Been making music since he was a teenager
- New single was positively received
Once sacrificing his music career to make it in the NRL, North Queensland Cowboys enforcer Jamayne Taunoa-Brown has released a new hip-hop track that shows he can excel in both careers.
After releasing his song Reckless earlier in September, Taunoa-Brown has released his next hip-hop banger Fiesta during the non-NRL season under his musician name Yung Maynie.
Before he was known as an NRL enforcer, Taunoa-Brown was an emerging rapper and hip-hop producer from Melbourne.
While he tried to crack the NRL playing with the Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights juniors, he made a name for himself after being launched on national music program Triple J Unearthed.
“I’ve always loved music,” he said at the time.
Taunoa-Brown as his alter ego Yung Maynie performing his hip-hop tracks live
The talented forward is successfully combining an NRL career with his great love of music
‘It was always a hobby, messing around with music with my friends at school. In recent years I’ve started making my own songs, Tonua-Brown continued.
“I have a little setup at home, a little studio, everything I need in a spare room.”
However, after being hounded by the New Zealand Warriors, Taunoa-Brown’s music career came to a standstill as he committed to building an NRL career.
Now included in Todd Payten’s North Queensland squad, Yung Mayne is back with his new song Fiesta throwing shade at the media and others who doubted he could succeed in both areas.
The music video is set on Sharp St at Hoppers Crossing in Victoria, where Taunoa-Brown grew up.
It features a range of cars including older model Holdens and a Lamborghini
Taunoa-Brown also dresses up as a TV news presenter with the caption ‘washed up rugby player pursuing a career in music’.
The runner then declares: ‘Media vs Maynie. Haters say he’s more focused on his music than his playing career.”
“That’s all I’m trying to do. I don’t care what they think, I can’t afford to lose sight, always looking for the right thing.’
Taunoa-Brown has been cut and become a regular for the North Queensland Cowboys in their NRL squad
A younger Tonua-Brown playing in the Queensland Intrust Super Cup. Tonua-Brown was named to the Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights junior squads
The clip has received many positive comments, including from Cowboys teammates and Australian representatives Murray Taulagi and Reuben Cotter.
“What can’t this guy do?” one viewer responded.
‘Yes sir! I killed him brother,” another added.
The Cowboys forward also performed live as Yung Maynie at Mi Casa in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley for a Halloween performance.
Taunoa-Brown has represented the Indigenous All Stars for the past four years and recently signed a two-year extension to remain with the Cowboys.
“Jamayne probably flies a little under the radar because of some of the high-profile forwards on our roster, but has become an important member of our pack,” Cowboys general manager Michel Luck said.
‘He is excellent defensively, skilled with the ball and is highly regarded by our technical staff.’