YHAPOJJ

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When you think of Huntsville, its rich history of creating NASA rockets is perhaps the first thing that springs to mind, and it’s fair to say few would associate this Alabama city (nicknamed the “Rocket City”) with any kind of thriving Hip-Hop scene. It’s this reality that makes the fast-rising Huntsville native Yhapojj (real name Jamaruean Micaiah Jones) such a fascinating prospect. With a discography of forward-thinking music that embraces emotional struggles and experimental melodies, Yhapojj is a versatile artist who’s inspired to show the world that his hometown is about much more than just white scientists plotting a route into outer space. His uniquely slurred, pained vocals recall vintage Young Thug, and the vulnerable core of his songwriting, where concepts like heartbreak and isolation are approached without fear, have allowed for Yhapojj to essentially create a Huntsville rap scene from scratch.

On his potent 2021 single “Hold It Down”, he pledged that “you’ve got to stand for something or you gon’ fall for nothing”, and he says his mission statement is to help young black males deal with their demons rather than bury them under layers of pride. Yhapojj was initially inspired to begin taking music seriously after going to prison on a gun charge, a stint that resulted in him writing dozens of confessional songs while locked up. He initially gained recognition after collaborating with Ohio-based underground rap innovator Izaya Tiji – while being fiercely independent, solo songs like “Hurt My Feelings” (2.8M+ Streams) and “Hittin” (2.2M + Streams) have helped him to skyrocket in popularity, leading the charge of the new SoundCloud wave.

Drawing inspiration from the likes of Freddie Mercury, Michael Jackson and ILoveMakonnen, Yhapojj has effectively cultivated his very own sound and wave, emphasizing relatability within his music.A reference to Queen might not be something you’d expect from a rapper from Alabama, but subverting expectations is what Yhapojj is all about. It feels like a real fire is now burning behind him, just like the rockets his city used to launch into space. 

As a result, 2023 proved to be a breakout year for Yhapojj, taking his popularity and appeal to new heights and racking up over 6 Million Streams throughout the year (up +400% compared to his previous two singles). The release of his most successful project to date, the Evolution of Xur EP found him charting within the top 100 of Apple Music’s ‘Top Albums’ chart for the first time. Led by singles like “1o” (3.5M+ Streams) and “You Lookin Gud” (1.2M+ Streams), fully leans into the wolf aesthetic and mystical sonics inspired by Twilight, opening the floodgates for Yhapojj to become the unanimous leader of the underground Rap sound.

In December 2023, Yhapojj’s viral free show at Mercury Lounge in NYC was dramatically shut down due to massive overcrowding and resulted in an impromptu concert in LES Skatepark (documented by Our Generation Music alongside fellow rising stars xaviersobased and Nettspend). After earning his place on Year-End lists like No Bells’ ‘Best Internet Rap of 2023’, and being named one of OGM’s ‘Artists to Watch in 2024’, Yhapojj is taking full advantage of his moment in the spotlight heading into 2024.