Comparatively to anybody else in the new school generation of hip-hop, NoCap’s wordplay is outstanding. Known as one of the voices of Alabama’s fast-rising rap scene, with forces like Clever, Rylo Rodriguez, OMB Peezy, and more taking charge, NoCap stands as a true leader. His style has been compared to rappers like Youngboy Never Broke Again, Polo G, Kevin Gates, and others who passionately sing and rap about their experiences in the streets.

Unfortunately, the 21-year-old NoCap hasn’t had a chance to hit the next level, getting sidelined by legal issues at every turn. Last year, he was locked up after turning himself in after an alleged shooting. He was promptly released but, several weeks into his freedom, he was detained again. NoCap has been in jail for the entirety of this year and, with the coronavirus outbreak ongoing, his fans have been urging for his prompt release. 

If you’re unfamiliar with this rising artist, we’ve put together a list of his most essential songs. Get accustomed to him because, once he’s free, he’s going to be a force.

“Ghetto Angels”

We’re kicking this off with the song that NoCap is most well-known for. The Backend Child earned a ton of attention for “Ghetto Angels,” which remains his most popular solo song to date. The 21-year-old raps about his friends and family members that have passed away, combining his singing and rapping voices to deliver an emotional banger.

The song was released after a back-and-forth stint in jail when NoCap realized that he needed to boss up and become something for himself. In bittersweet fashion, the song in which his pain is the clearest in his voice was the one to break him into stardom. 

“Exotic: Freestyle, Pt. 2”

NoCap puts everything together on “Exotic,” a redemption-based banger about how The Backend Child finally made it out of the hood. Despite his newfound success, he’s still got a lot of emotion to get out; in the track, he says that when he raps, he always delivers pain. 

His melodies rival those of the strongest rap hitmakers. His hook is on point, rhyming about his rare material belongings and his dependence on drugs. The production on this is bouncy, making it different from the usual acoustic guitar-laced beats that he goes for. If you want an eye into NoCap’s hitmaking potential, this is the one for you.

“Solar Sisters”

This is one of the stand-outs from The Backend Child. The guitar-driven beat is typical of a NoCap banger, and he goes crazy with his bars, making “Solar Sisters” easily one of his most replayable songs. He may be celebrating his newfound success here but, for the most part, he remains connected to his past demons. “I got a vision, hope I make it out this tunnel,” he raps, speaking on love, loyalty, family, and more.

“Spaceship Vibes” (feat. Quando Rondo)

This is another song that shows you exactly what this rising star is all about. On “Spaceship Vibes,” NoCap collaborates with another rapper in a similar lane, Quando Rondo. It’s one of those tracks that will instantly put you in your feelings, with a catchy piano backing allowing the rapper to get emotional in his chorus and verse. He speaks on heartbreak and love, detailing what went wrong in his last relationship.

“Remember we was way more than friends / I just wonder, ‘Would you love me again?'” he rhymes in the chorus before Quando Rondo jumps in and delivers a verse to compliment NoCap’s touching plea. This is a favorite for fans of the Alabama rapper and it’s not surprising to see why.

“Pour Up”

One of the catchiest songs that NoCap has released, “Pour Up” still pops in my head several months following its release. Using repetition to his favor and crooning his heart out, this is another one that will get you better acquainted with the Backend Child. Not only are the melodies on point, but NoCap tells a riveting story:

“Good n***a did some shit up in the past that he don’t wanna mention / His partner died right in front of him, he ain’t been the same since / He beefin’ and he out on bond, but he ain’t trippin’ he still wanna spin it / Thinkin’ back, he seen like seven homies gone who he won’t see again.” 

“Legend”

One of the songs that earned NoCap the most attention, this 2018 track is what put a bunch of people onto him to begin with. It’s also one of the only joints on this list that was released prior to his appearance on Lil Baby‘s Street Gossip, which opened even more eyes to his brand. 

“Ain’t got to tell you about my story, you see it in my eyes,” he raps, before diving into a flurry of metaphors and punchlines. As with the majority of his songs, NoCap delivers pain in his vocals, clearly going through it and allowing us to resonate with his struggle.

“No Patience” (feat. Polo G & NoCap)

Released by producer CashMoneyAP, “No Patience” is one of the best songs that NoCap has touched and much of that has to do with the chemistry he shares with Polo G.  The two rappers have been compared to one another because of how heartfelt and affective their rhymes are.

“No Patience” has been one of NoCap’s biggest streaming successes, for good reason. He speaks on losing friends, his ambition to make it so he could help his mother out, and how his heart is filled with deep scars as a result of what he’s been through. NoCap and Polo G bounce perfectly off of each other and we can’t wait to hear future collaborations from them.

“Blind Nights”

If you want to get a feel for the type of production that the Backend Child gravitates toward, look no further than “Blind Nights.” Local producer Vicasso teamed up with SephGotTheWaves to come up with a captivating guitar section for this beat, allowing NoCap to slide effortlessly with his bars. He references pop culture, including Reginae Carter’s relationship with YFN Lucci, and delivers a strong metaphor using his car’s windshield.

“They didn’t care when I was broke, declined every phone call/I’m tryna clear off my windshields / I see the hate so I just turn on my defrost,” he raps on “Blind Nights.” Much like in his other bangers, NoCap tells a dazzling story here. If there’s one improvement to be made, it’s that it ends a little abruptly.

“What You Know”

A track from his recent The Hood Dictionary project, ‘What You Know” is another one that will get stuck in your head for months. It migh be one of the best songs that NoCap has written. He comes through with so many quotables. “NoCap, he got rich and start ignoring y’all / And my bank account look like a phone number,” plays on repeat in my mind to this day. In fact, it’s a pleasure to watch the lyrics slide by on the video embedded below. “

“My n***as in the pen, but I keep lead,” he raps. “Fake love, real hate / I don’t know which one is worse to me,” he says later, getting the listener to do some real thinking. More proof that NoCap is a master with the pen.

“Brag Different” (feat. Quando Rondo)

Much like with our previous essential track entry for “No Patience” with Polo G, this one is included almost solely because of NoCap’s chemistry with Quando Rondo. It’s also the second appearance that QPac makes here. The two have worked together several times as part of the Never Broke Again imprint. The 21-year-old truly shines on “Brag Different” though.

Unlike the other entries on this list, “Brag Different” is more of a typical flex anthem. NoCap and Quando Rondo rhyme about their occasional drug use, baddies, designer goods, and more. Production is handled by CashMoneyAP and Chapo for this standout from The Hood Dictionary.

Polo G is gearing up to release his second album, The GOAT, this coming Friday. The Chicago-bred rapper has made a name for himself, creating emotionally dense bangers fueled by his life growing up in the Northside of Chicago’s Marshall Field Garden Apartments. The 21-year old comes off wise beyond his years in many of his songs and interviews, showing an astute appreciation not only for the history embedded within hip-hop but equally a desire to learn, and grow. His music is often based in reflections, whether it be a drug habit he’s trying to ditch or friends that he lost to street violence– he shares these stories with his listeners in an effort to inspire and motivate them to leave this life alone.

It’s been almost a year since the rapper delivered his Columbia Records debut, Die A Legend, and while his catalogue of songs isn’t immense, it would be a prime moment to familiarize yourself with the star-on-the-rise. We’ve compiled his 10 essential songs for that reason.

Feel free to mention your favorite Polo G records in the comment section.

Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

Through da Storm

“Through da Storm” definitely tugs on the heartstrings. The record begins with an audio clip from Polo G’s younger sister, who declares just how proud she is of her big brother for all his success. The beat, from DJ Ayo, a frequent collaborator, interpolates the sound of a music box winding up, creating a lullaby-like record– the juxtaposition with Polo’s gruff rhymes making the contrast even more stark.

The hook really encapsulates what Polo G’s music is all about: family and ambition. This ambition is tied up in his desire to lead a better life, while sharing the grim details of his past life; as if to help others avoid his mistakes, or perhaps simply educate the unaware. His delivery is downtrodden yet purposeful, as he aligns each bar with the child-like noises twinkling in the background: “Know my grandma still with me, when it get cold, I feel your spirit / Talkin’ to my lil’ sister, phone calls through Securus / Walk in court in them shackles, see my mama, her eyes tearin’ / Tryna work towards these blessings but the devil keep interfering / Everybody go through something, it’s all about persevering / They was counting me out, I put passion in every lyric / Fuck a sack up at Neimans, spend some racks on my appearance / Yeah, I know that they hate, I’m the man, ain’t tryna hear it.” 

Pop Out feat. Lil Tjay

Obviously. It’s hard to really know if Polo G would be in his current lofty position without the phenomenal success of “Pop Out,” the song that started the snowball of his career. The record, featuring Lil Tjay, was released after Polo G had signed to Columbia Records, and forced the whole rap game to stop and stare– and pay close attention. The two up-and-comers have since forged their respective, successful paths within the industry. “Pop Out” helped solidify this for each artist, as the song quickly became an unavoidable party anthem in 2019 and well into 2020. 

The song received a seemingly unnecessary remix featuring Lil Baby and Gunna alongside Polo G’s debut album Die A Legend, because let’s be honest, you only need the OG version. Lil Tjay is an essential part of the record, as the two artists are torchbearers for a brand new generation of artists who fuel their music with passionate-verging-on-aggressive melodies. That style is what is showcased on “Pop Out,” with vibrant piano production from JD On The Track and Iceberg acting as a moody celebration, just as much as it serves as an ode to their past.

Lost Files 

“Lost Files” serves as the album opener for Polo G’s impressive debut album, Die A Legend. It opens innocently enough, or perhaps better put, ominously enough– the creeping piano keys lend to this sense of foreboding, and within seconds, Polo G is spitting with rapid-fire delivery and painting a picture in the process. As the opening song on his album, “Lost Files” is inviting the listener in, showing the listener around Polo G’s Chicago neighborhood. “Everything was all good way back in the day / Then the whole hood really went wild . Long live the gang, man, the whole hood missin’ them smiles / Swear the whole hood missin’ them smiles / I’m a Sed baby, 1300 block ass nigga,” he raps. He’s reminiscing in a sense, but not in a wistful way, more of a hard-nosed reflection.

Effortless

“Effortless” is a great example of just how effortless Polo G makes it look. Once again this is a trap-like record that dabbles in piano and flute elements, creating an emotional banger, especially when paired with Polo G’s rhymes: “I come from a dark place, I’ll never be there again,” he promises on wax. He means it, as he instantly switches to his new-found luxury: “Double G’s on everything, Gucci my headband.”

Polo G’s honesty about that “dark place” is what makes his music so intriguing. These aren’t sugar-coated, seemingly out-of-touch bars about toting guns and dealing drugs, rather, these are reflections on how such activities have affected him present-day:  “My homie died at 16 I remember I was up all night / Kept seeing death in my dreams,” he raps somberly.

Heartless

“Heartless” is one of Polo’s newer releases, post-debut-album, and equally, veering off into new production territory thanks to a Mustard beat. The single will be included on Polo’s upcoming album, The GOAT. 

While the West Coast producer may not be the norm for Polo G’s typically dark style, he’s cooked up something perfectly in line with Polo G’s needs. The beat includes a subtle guitar, which, if not the piano, tends to be Polo’s second go-to production element. Meanwhile, Polo is detailing Chicago life in close detail, while also reaching new heights when it comes to career, and attempting to juggle the two– “I used to starve, now I’m blowing up like propane / Told my inner-self, ‘I promise you I won’t change,'” he says.

Dyin Breed

“Dyin Breed” serves as the second song on Polo G’s Die A Legend album, and that means we now have the first five songs from his debut album back-to-back on our essentials list– proving just how strong Die A Legend is. The album received fast critical acclaim when it first released in June of last year, as an un-skippable, deeply personal look into Polo G’s life. Whereas some artists struggle to let listeners in, Polo G never seemed to have an issue opening up. “Dyin Breed,” complete with stuttering hi-hats and fading piano keys, has Polo G detailing street politics, with a subdued tone. “Them was my sandbox niggas like I been with ’em since birth / Tryna pull up on they corner and make niggas disperse / We just want ’em to feel our pain ’cause we been hurt / They took one of ours, we just tryna get reimbursed / Took so many losses, swear I thought the hood was cursed.” He reflects later, “Feel like I’m goin’ numb, swallowin’ these X pills and Percs / Them drugs beatin’ me, feel like my heart gon’ jump through my shirt.” 

This isn’t the type of Future-glorified rap (sorry Future, still enjoy your music) about doing prescription pills, rather, it’s a reflection on a habit that Polo clearly doesn’t like, but also seems powerless to kick. Polo G mentioned in an interview with Pitchfork that he was quitting pills following the birth of his son. “When I started I didn’t see no reason to stop. But then the effects started kicking in, and I seen myself changing. When I turned 20 I started to catch on that I was losing my temper, and my memory was gone,” he told the publication, once again proving a type of maturity you don’t often see in a 20-year old. He referred to himself as an “old soul” in this same interview, and that couldn’t be more true.

Hollywood 

“Hollywood” is a banger that might have missed some of the late-to-party Polo fans because it didn’t wind up any body of work, rather it’s been relegated to loosie status– it did receive an official music video in October 2018, which tellingly says “Unsigned 19yr old North side of Chicago Artist Polo G,” in the YouTube description. Now, the visual has over 24 million views. Polo G has previously said in interviews how he first found viral success on YouTube and Facebook, as opposed to a platform like Soundcloud or Spotify. The rapper is more akin to emotionally-distressed street-bred artists like NBA Youngboy and Kevin Gates, both of whom are YouTube darlings, so it makes sense. “Hollywood” is actually a perfect example of this exact style, with Polo G’s melodies filled with a certain anguish as he rhymes about the aftereffects of all he’s witnessed growing up in the Chi, resulting in PTSD. The piano-laced production showcases another Polo trademark, while his vocals on the hook tremble, as though he’s holding back tears.

 “Probably this shit left me shell shocked and traumatized / It’s hard to speak on what I’m feeling up inside / I can’t even look my mama in her eyes / I put you through so much and I apologize / I’m cashing checks I hope these hunnids stop the crying / Where I’m from they only love you when you die / I’m from the trenches where we fighting to survive / Can’t be another victim of these homicides,” he raps in the surprisingly vulnerable hook– again, this why Polo G has made such a deep connection with his fans, who are constantly praising him all over his many viral YouTube videos.

DND

“DND” was released in the promo run ahead of The GOAT. How does it begin? With those piano keys, of course. Somehow, no matter how frequently Polo G incorporates it, it never gets old. The production is from WayneOnTheBeat, not necessarily a name you’re familiar with but again, this is where Polo G tends to veer in the path less taken– his preference is for unknown producers, producers who are hungry– this he details in our interview, dropping on Friday (stay tuned, and all that).

The record is all about momentum, with the bars to match: “Once we start a riot, we can’t keep quiet / We want all the smoke, fuck the peace signs.” The record covers what are now familiar Polo topics; from his drug habit to his OG attitude. He seems to have blinders on, opting to put his phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ thus inspiring the song’s acronym title. It’s this blinders-on attitude that’s helped Polo find success, he’s not the rapper you see embroiled in online beef or chasing an online status with some sort of social media antic/trend– he keeps to himself and he gets shit done.

Battle Cry

“Battle Cry” appears on Die A Legend, as a haunting tribute to his life in Chicago. The slow-burning chimes at the outset only add to this goosebump-feeling, and Polo G is quickly painting a bleak picture, as he tends to do: “Addicted to this ecstasy, I like how it feel / It’s like I been poppin’ X ever since I tried a pill / Shit got me through some hard times, I lost my mind for real / Lot of shit happened way too fast, I ain’t have time to heal / Ed was gon’ make it on that court but he died in the field / I was still hangin’ in the hood before I signed a deal / Posted on Hudson, jakes ridin’ past, I had my nine concealed,” he raps in the first verse.

This type of dark candor permeates much of Polo’s music, and it’s also reflected in his sing-song voice; his vocals throbbing in discomfort.

Finer Things

Capping off this list, we’re highlighting another Die A Legend cut (and by now, you should realize just how strong this album is– while this list is particularly heavy on the front-end of the album, don’t neglect the latter half). On “Finer Things” Polo G is really crooning, mixing his trap dreams with a bit of subtle r’n’b vibes. The song itself isn’t “hard-hitting”– it’s downcast production from DJ L Beats and DJ Ayo, while Polo debates openly if he should just let go of the streets altogether and focus on the accoutrements of wealth and success that are coming his way–  “Lately, I’ve been feelin’ like fuck the streets, this shit a scam / These days, if it ain’t ’bout money, I don’t give a damn / I’m just gon’ get rich and fuck them plastic hoes on Instagram.” 

This is a record where Polo G is looking to his future, a promising future at that, and realizing, perhaps, about just how damaging street life can be– “Almost went insane, went insane, went insane / From all this pain, all this pain, all this pain.” Still, he’s a beacon of hope amidst it all, and this is why his fans look up to him so much, with the next bar finding the positive in a rather desolate situation: “Turned that pain into passion and made it happen.” Indeed.

Over the past two years, it’s been almost impossible to shuffle a hip hop playlist and not hear at least once a ‘Whoah Kenny!’ tag. Prolific producer Kenny Beats has been everywhere. And with the second season of his successful YouTube show “The Cave” fully underway, it’s a perfect time to look back at 12 of his standout productions so far.

1. Rico Nasty – Smack a Bitch

Paul Morigi/Getty Images

This is the song that started it all for the dynamic duo of Rico and Kenny. By late 2017, Kenny was just emerging from his EDM days with the duo Loudpvck and trying to make a name for himself again in the hip hop world. As he explained on Zack Fox’s radio show “BRUH”, Kenny had been messaging Rico for months before she finally responded. When they eventually booked a session together, Kenny came fully prepared with an arsenal of bubblegummy “sugar-trap” beats, along the lines of tracks like “Poppin’” and “Key Lime OG” that Rico was making at the time. Rico heard them, nodded her head, and said, “That’s cool, now make me a heavy metal beat.” The result is a rage-filled anthem that’s racked up over 26 million views on YouTube.

LISTEN.

Standout lyrics: “You rap about an Audi too much / Because my Audi paid off, b*tch hush!”

2. KEY! – Demolition 1 + 2

The man behind the signature “Whoah Kenny!” tag is the criminally underrated Atlanta rapper-singer KEY. Known for his features on classics like “Look at Wrist” with Father and iLoveMakkonen, and A$AP Mob‘s Cozy Tapes Vol. 1 and 2, KEY! had accomplished just about everything by 2018 – except for break into the mainstream. Enter 777, a triumphant debut album executive produced by Kenny Beats. Opening with an uplifting gospel choir sample, “Demolition 1 + 2” kicks off 777 as the perfect victory lap for a legendary artist who’s just getting started. Check out the live version with a drummer and guitarist on YouTube if you want to bring real tears to your eyes.

LISTEN.

Standout lyrics: “Run inside your shit, I need an ESPY / No Scantron, don’t test me!”

3. Zack Fox – Jesus is the One

When Kenny started his YouTube series “The Cave,” he set out to make a sleek, professional series of live performance videos. Leave it to Zack Fox to rap about dipping his balls in thousand island dressing for five minutes and turn it into Kenny’s most-streamed song.The look of genuine horror on Kenny’s face as he watches Zack single-handedly ruin his artistic vision makes the song that much more perfect. And the best part: the track is actually catchy as f*ck.

LISTEN.

Standout lyrics: “I’ma dip my balls in some thousand island dressing / ‘cuz I got depression”

4. JPEGMAFIA – Puff Daddy

When the left-field experimentalist JPEGMAFIA linked up with Kenny Beats for the first time, it’s not surprising that the first thing JPEG asked for was the weirdest sound on Kenny’s laptop. After sifting through a couple of samples that were actually good, Kenny pulled up a disjointed melody that sounded like it was coming from a water-logged Nintendo 64. Kenny called it “embarrassing,” but JPEG said, “It’s perfect, throw an 808 on that b*tch.” And just like that, Puff Daddy was born.

LISTEN.

Standout lyrics: “B*tch, we strapped like Duke Nukem / Pull up with the trey and we ain’t hooping”

5. Vince Staples – FUN!

Kenny can craft a booming 808 and slick hi-hat pattern in his sleep, but what really makes him stand out as a producer is his willingness and ability to adapt to whatever the artist he’s working with has in mind. As he explained in an interview with Pitchfork, Kenny didn’t walk into his session with Vince with an agenda – “It was more Vince dictating the tempo and feel, and me reacting to that.” The result was a perfect summer album of west coast bangers. 

Standout lyrics: “Christian Dior, I’m Crippin’ Bior”

6. Ski Mask the Slump God – Foot Fungus 

As much as he’s known as a leader of the trap new wave, Ski Mask is heavily influenced by old school legends like Busta Rhymes, Timbaland and Pharrell. With “Foot Fungus,” Ski and Kenny were able to combine an old school 90 bpm bounce with new school 808’s for a 2019 reimagining of classics like “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” In true Timbo/Pharrell fashion, the beat is weird – sampling radio feedback, white noise and a censor beep – but also leaves plenty of room for Ski to do his thing. “Ski heard it and reacted to it because he could hear himself on it,” Kenny explained in a Genius Deconstructed video.

LISTEN.

Standout lyrics: “Spoonin’ yo b*tch like I just pulled out a yogurt”

7. Denzel Curry – Cosmic

From aggressive scream-trap to Miami bass to melodic emo and even heavy metal, Denzel Curry can do it all. For his latest project, UNLOCKED, Denzel proved he can master yet another genre: classic boom bap – straight out the book of legends like Madlib and the Wu Tang Clan. Produced entirely by Kenny Beats, the EP was made in a 72-hour burst of creativity and released with no warning other than a fake Twitter beef. The project was accompanied by a 20-minute animated music video ready for Adult Swim, referencing classics like Naruto, Animatrix and Samurai Champloo. Complete with scream-flows inspired by DMX and wild singing flows in the style of ODB, Denzel Curry proves with this project that he can take on any style he wants.

LISTEN.

Standout lyrics: “He shoot in VR, we got guns in reality / You act so hard, you should thank the Academy”

8. Smino – Trina

Who else besides Smino could effortlessly rhyme ‘parakeet’ with ‘karate?’ Known for his soulful singing, St. Louis artist Smino threw a curve ball when he recruited Kenny Beats for a bouncey twerk banger. As explained in his Genius verified video, Smino chose Kenny to work with for his engineering skills as well as production. “A lot of producers just give you a beat and leave. Kenny’s like, ‘Nah, I’m gonna sit down, we’re gonna put this effect right here, put this sound clip in.’” Kenny’s attention to vocal processing – getting just the right amount of reverb, delay, distortion, panning and overdubs to make the artist’s voice stand out – is a crucial component of his overall production.

LISTEN.

Standout lyrics: “Stay off my grass like Stanley / Threw me cheeks on the beach, she Sandy”

9. 03 Greedo – Disco Shit (ft. Freddie Gibbs)

Known for his yearning, soulful singing over snapping west coast beats by producers like Mustard, L.A. rapper 03 Greedo wanted to try something new when he linked up with Kenny Beats for the movie-themed collaborative album Netflix & Deal. In the behind-the-scenes documentary for the album, 03 explains the sound he wants to Kenny: “I don’t want some west coast sh*t, I don’t want some trap sh*t, I want something that sounds… disco.” The result is a sleet, vintage-sounding guitar track that captures the feel of crime movies like Blow (2001) that inspired the album. Freddie Gibbs busting out his singing voice for a feature is icing on the cake. Free 03 Greedo.

LISTEN.

Standout lyrics: “Pull up like Tony Montana, reload it, I pull out the stick on these cockroaches”

10. Gucci Mane – Proud of You

Is there a more inspirational glow-up story than Gucci Mane’s? After changing his diet, exercising and quitting lean, Gucci lost 100 pounds and looks like a new man. His 2019 track “Proud Of You” is dedicated to himself – a celebration of where Guwop is now. Kenny lends slick production to the track, with a warped trumpet-like sample, unique clicking hi-hats and an unpredictable kick pattern that skips the 1 beat before hitting you in front of the snare.

Standout lyrics: “I had the county blues now every day I’m counting blues / No lean and Mountain Dew’s, Guwop I’m so proud of you.”

11. Dominic Fike – Phone Numbers

By mid-2019 Kenny had made a name for himself as the go-to producer for crafting hard-hitting trap bangers. But summery pop songs with acoustic guitars and handclaps? This was uncharted territory. The experiment paid off though, thanks to the magnetic personality and versatility of Brockhampton prodigy Dominic Fike. Kenny said he wasn’t even going to put the “Whoah Kenny” tag in this song because it sounds so different from everything else he’s done, but Dom insisted it was a necessity.

LISTEN.

Standout lyrics: “Keep my name out your mouth like some wisdom teeth”

12. Schoolboy Q – Party

Jerritt Clark/Getty Images

Before Kenny took a detour from hip hop to make money as a DJ in the EDM world, he was cooking beats for the TDE crew, including Smoke DZA, Ab Soul and Schoolboy Q. He even almost got a placement with Kendrick, but the track ended up going to DZA instead. The wobbly dubstep bass of “Party” sounds a little dated 8 years later, but the track is still fun as hell, and a fun look at the early days of Kenny’s production.

LISTEN.

Standout lyrics: “Can’t fade me, I ain’t Boosie Boo / Black Hippy, HiiiPower, the amazing group”