Bktherula, Tana, Leeto, LanceDaYungin, and Metro Marrs at Next Wav Atlanta

Over the past decade, Atlanta has solidified itself as hip-hop’s new cultural hub, consistently producing talent and adding new textures to the genre along the way. As one of the world’s preeminent cultural platforms, SoundCloud created its Next Wav music showcase to fortify the bond between artists and fans by elevating artists and the thriving music communities which produce them through artist-focused activities, creative exhibitions, and live performances. All things considered, it’s only right that SoundCloud host a Next Wav event in Atlanta. 

Next Wav Atlanta, which took place during the annual A3C Conference and Festival, featured performances by some of the most promising ascending talent from Atlanta and beyond including Bktherula, tana, Metro Marrs, LanceDaYungin, and Leeto. SoundCloud was able to sit down with some of the featured talent for a closer look at what makes them tick.

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Bktherula

Atlanta rapper Bktherula served as the headliner for the event, which marked a career milestone: Next Wav Atlanta was her first tour experience. During her interview, she spoke about embracing the unorthodox and finding joy in being a misfit. “I just love all the music that comes out of Atlanta, but how I make myself fit…I don’t,” she says. Bktherula also credited SoundCloud for helping her get her career off the ground.

“SoundCloud, for me, is the start of my journey...So it means a lot to me. I hold SoundCloud [dear] to my heart.”

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WATCH BKTHERULA’S INTERVIEW

LISTEN TO BKTHERULA

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Tana

The teenage tana (previously known as BabySantana) has become broken through before reaching legal adulthood. The Columbus, Georgia, native, who’s currently touring with Lil Tecca, spoke about his influences. It’s telling that he lists the subgenres plugg and pluggnb, which have ties to Atlanta’s music scene, among his biggest influences. “I love pluggnb,” he gushes. “I’ve been listening to plugg since Tay-K, Diego Money, like, years ago. Plugg is just fire.”

tana also touched on how he used to peruse SoundCloud before it helped change the trajectory of his life.

“I’ve been listening to SoundCloud for mad long...But ever since I started dropping on SoundCloud, there was nothing I was worried about—other than SoundCloud.”

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WATCH TANA’S INTERVIEW

LISTEN TO TANA

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Metro Marrs

Rapper, singer, and songwriter Metro Marrs, who broke out on the strength of his Popular Loner mixtape, is more than the sum of his influences. However, he has a deep appreciation for the artists in his lane who preceded him and left an impact in a brief amount of time. “My biggest influences: [XXXTentacion], Juice [WRLD], Lil Peep,” he says. Metro Marrs also praised SoundCloud’s speed-to-market qualities.

“When you drop music, you just get your feelings out there and let people connect to you and find you…It’s just so hard, because you can connect with people as a family and really build a fanbase.”

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WATCH METRO MARRS’ INTERVIEW

LISTEN TO METRO MARRS

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LanceDaYungin

Rapper LanceDaYungin, who hails from Pittsburgh, released his One Way Or Another project last year. It contains the single “Slide,” which currently has over 500,000 plays on SoundCloud and helped elevate his profile within the Atlanta hip-hop scene. During his interview, LanceDaYungin advised new artists to keep working on their craft—especially in the face of criticism.

“All you gotta do is find your sound,” he says. “Whatever you want to do, you can do it.”

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He also praised SoundCloud for being home to all the deep cuts he can’t find elsewhere. “That’s where all the underground stuff is,” he says. “All the people you probably don’t know.”

WATCH LANCEDAYUNGIN’S INTERVIEW

LISTEN TO LANCEDAYUNGIN

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Leeto

Virginia rapper Leeto, whose breakout single “Broken” has over a million plays on SoundCloud, had brief-but-encouraging words of advice for upcoming artists.

“Honestly, just do you and don’t listen to what other people have to say”

Leeto was able to grow his audience through SoundCloud, which he describes as a crucial homebase tool for anyone looking to make music today. “It’s like a community and I think it’s really good if you’re trying to get into making music.”

WATCH LEETO’S INTERVIEW

LISTEN TO LEETO

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For more emerging hip-hop artists, check out our playlist, The Lookout.

LISTEN TO THE LOOKOUT PLAYLIST BY SOUNDCLOUD

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_{Credits: Images by Wire ATL}