original artwork by Lisabeth Perez
The life of a Hip Hop artist is a dream for many. Fame, riches, and recognition all sound appealing, but becoming a well-known artist isn’t always as easy as it might appear. Sure, the top chart billboard has some bangers, but there is a whole underground culture of overlooked artists who are just trying to make a name for themselves. Today, social media allows for more effective advertisement and publicity opportunities, but that doesn’t mean just anyone can become a rapper. It’s a lifestyle full of glamour, but before the blessings, there’s always a testing.
These are a few hand-selected artists who I’ve kept up with for some time now. They are dedicated dreamers from right under our noses here in our own city. I’ve seen them improve and work for the recognition they have and feel they deserve a spotlight for keeping the culture alive and at the same time diffusing millennial artistry. In the past, artists like these had to make copies of mixtapes to sell in the downtown streets, while today anyone with a computer can press ‘upload’ on Soundcloud Pulse, the software soundcloud artists use to post and share their tracks which allows anyone to post their music and curate their statistics. These artists have mastered the age of digital publishing and are worth a look:
IMAGE: Logo for Never Stop Grinding
Lyntrell
(Jacked) by Lyntrell is a prime sample of quality music from an underground artist. On an energizing 808-heavy trap beat, Lyntrell, a young but experienced artist, instills a serious vibe that emphasizes hustle and dedication. Similar to another one of his songs “Life I Live”, he shares his lifestyle and mindset that money doesn’t make itself and you have to chase it. The Hip Hop industry is full of artists making bold claims that often cannot be proven true, but Lyntrell, on the other hand, is just speaking for himself. Knowing Lyntrell, I can confidently say his music isn’t just a front. He lives his lyrics and has a talent that complies with his passion. Lyntrell has been keeping it local and has had multiple San Antonio shows, but lately he has been working on releasing more content to potentially spread his reach. If you’re interested in local talent, definitely give it a listen and help support Lyntrell’s uprising as an artist by checking out some of his hits on soundcloud.
IMAGE: Logo for RexGotBandz Soundcloud profile
RexGotBandz
With a style similar to that of Lil Yachty and Tee Grizzley, RexGotBands has a following of over 3,600 on soundcloud. With melodic, up-beat instrumentals, Rex spits hype lyrics that glorify the typical rapper lifestyle of “foreign cars” and respecting the grind. He has a unique style, from his rainbow beaded hair to his liking of designer clothing, Rex is definitely a stand-out character with an unforgettable face. With songs approaching 170,000 plays and a music video for one of his most recent tracks called “1604,” named after the outer loop highway of San Antonio, RexGotBands has received some local recognition. Similar to Lyntrell, RexGotBands has content on the way with hopes of bumping up his numbers. When I was introduced to his music by a mutual friend a few years back, RexGotBands only had maybe one or two songs, but since then he has put out a few more and has only been improving his abilities.
Both artists have unique styles with individual delivery forms, but they do have more in common aside from their lyrics. Both of them are young aspiring artists and have recently graduated high school, meaning the only direction is up. With more time and more resources, improvement is natural, instilling the idea that their prime is yet to come. These artists have worked for what they have and are thoroughly ready to devote even more time towards a common passion.
For them it’s not strictly for the money, its for the recognition from their loyal friends and their families and being able to provide for them. Manyof the modern artists make music to appeal to a watered-down audience, rather than to make a significant, meaningful impact. Lyntrell and RexGotBands are local, emerging artists who show creativity, personality, and individualism and reflect thoughts that are true to oneself. They have their own beliefs and have determined mindsets that could help get their songs on the top billboard charts eventually. Give them a listen and get on board early, before they make it big.