Wale has been one of rap’s most versatile and enduring artists since his breakout 2008 mixtape, A Mixtape About Nothing. Blending striking social commentary, confident lyricism, Seinfeld-inspired irony, and anthemic storytelling, he helped merge backpack rap with mainstream success, earning Platinum and Gold plaques along the way. Born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin to Nigerian immigrant parents in Washington, D.C., he pursued football in college before shifting to music, scoring his first local hit with 2006’s “Dig Dug (Shake It).” His critically acclaimed A Mixtape About Nothing solidified his reputation for tackling complex themes with nuance, paving the way for a major-label debut, Attention Deficit (2009), and later success with Ambition (2011), The Gifted (2013), The Album About Nothing (2015), and more. Aligning with Rick Ross’ MMG, he delivered Platinum hits like “Lotus Flower Bomb” and “My P.Y.T.,” proving his staying power. After a brief hiatus following Folarin II (2019), Wale returned in 2023 with a new deal at Def Jam, a #1 Nigerian hit, and a Kennedy Center headline show celebrating The Gifted. Now, with his highly anticipated eighth album on the horizon, he’s ready to begin his next chapter as one of hip-hop’s greatest writers.

Christened “one of hip-hop’s most refreshing voices” by Pitchfork, Smino is one of the game’s most dynamic musical disruptors. Raised in a family of musicians, the rapper, writer, and producer began playing drums in his native St. Louis at an early age. In 2017, Smino dropped his debut album blkswn – hailed by Rolling Stone as one of the ’40 Best Rap Albums of the Year. 2018 saw the release of NOIR, which landed on year-end lists from Complex, The Atlantic, REVOLT, and more. Between those critically acclaimed projects, he has generated over 1 billion streams and counting, in addition to selling out US headline tours in 2017 and 2019. In 2021 Smino released Luv 4 Rent, with singles like “90 Proof” with J. Cole and “Pro Freak” with Doechii & Fatman Scoop. Smino’s most recent project, Maybe In Nirvana, was released in December of 2024, peaking at #14 on Apple Music “All Genres” and #8 on its “Hip-Hop and R&B” charts. On the heels of the release Smino sold 55K+ tickets on his headline Kountry Kousins Tour in 2025.