Up NeXt By DX: YMTK

Former HipHopDX Features Editor Andre Grant said in his “Defense Of The Struggle Rapper” editorial, “Out of all the things the Hip Hop web has vilified, the “struggle rapper” might be the least deserving of all that ridicule.” Before Kendrick Lamar became big enough for Barack Obama to sing his praises or Drake found himself making deals with Apple, they were artists without a significantly large fanbase attempting what seemed like the impossible. Hitting the top of the charts became a distant goal to making past one hundred streams of a song possibly made within the confines of their bedroom walls and gaining likes, re-post or anything else that would reach someone. Providing a weekly outlet for those getting their feet wet in the sometimes brutal sport of Hip Hop, allow us to give readers a look into tomorrow’s possibilities through “Up NeXt.”

Expect Two Releases From The Bay Area By The Year’s End

Inspiration For Career

“I can definitely hear influences of certain artists & might have a similar tone but I honestly think my sound and style is hella unique to me. I was and still am inspired by my mom, I was raised around her singing in church and professionally recording some stuff as well. I never thought to pursue music & had never really even wrote a rap or sang in front of people too many times before college but my freshmen year at UCSC (Santa Cruz) I won this like open mic during orientation & it kinda all took off from there… At least that’s where the seed was planted. I had homies around during that time that really inspired me to take it serious and try to be great.”

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Do you believe you have a shot at stardom?

“Of course, I do. I think everybody has a shot but to really make it where I wanna be Ima need a shot like Steph Curry haha. When you get that shot you gotta be able to sink it… I know we lost the finals but still don’t even trip Fir the purpose of this example I still need that Steph Curry shot if I’m shooting for the stars. To be honest, I’d rather be wealthy than to be famous, but I understand that comes with the territory of being in the entertainment world. So, f*ck it”

Project(s)

“I’m releasing a solo project with my homie/producer Ekzakt entitled All the Right Places on August 19 which I’m hella juiced for people to hear. I also am halfway through a collaborative project with one of my favorites artists from back home Rexx Life Raj called Emoji Goats that I think is gonna go crazy. And, I’m doing a Tonight Show mixtape with the legendary DJ Fresh & we’re like one song away from finishing that so definite a bunch of stuff coming at you sooner than later.”