[Saturday Spotlight] – Arella Rocket, Maxo Kream + chief waKiL

It’s that time of the week again. HHNM is back with our Saturday Spotlight series. In case you’re not aware, once a week we take the time to look at some artists who have caught our eye and share them with you. Our picks this time around are Arella Rocket, Maxo Kream and chief waKiL. Hit the jump and enjoy!

Kendrick Lamar Shakes Up The Super Bowl With Bold Drake Diss And Surprise Guests

Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl 59 halftime performance was nothing short of legendary, leaving fans buzzing with surprise cameos and bold moments that took his long-running feud with Drake to new heights. Kicking off with an unreleased song snippet and followed by “Squabble Up” from his latest album GNX, Kendrick immediately set the tone for a game-changing performance. Fans eagerly waited to see if Kendrick would play his diss track Not Like Us, especially with Drake's ongoing lawsuit against him and his label for defamation and harassment. Lamar's performance included an unexpected appearance by SZA and a quirky cameo from Serena Williams, along with Samuel L. Jackson’s comedic interruptions, all building the suspense around the Drake drama. In the middle of his performance, Kendrick turned up the heat, looking straight into the camera and directly addressing Drake with his famous lyrics, “I heard you like them young," as fans held their breath. Despite the tension, Kendrick censored himself when it came time to call Drake a "certified lover boy" and avoided saying “pedophile,” which had been widely speculated. Social media lit up with mixed reactions, with some fans mocking the performance as a "mid mashup" and others noting the intense hostility toward Drake. With the hashtag #KendrickBowl trending, it’s clear that Kendrick’s performance was a cultural moment that pushed boundaries—but has he gone too far, or is this just another chapter in hip-hop history? Only time will tell, and Drake has yet to respond.

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Arella Rocket

The first artist we’ll be looking at is 23 year old Arella Rocket. He just dropped his latest project Girls & Goddesses, which he describes as “the contrast between who we are and what we could be if we looked inward and realized the light within.” Arella’s eerie sound is a result of indie Rock and Hip-Hop influences being merged with classical art. Although unorthodox, the combination is certainly intriguing. Check out the full project below.

Maxo Kream

Next up is someone who was a breakout star at SXSW, Maxo Kream. Any fans of the A$AP Mob might already be aware of the name, but likely haven’t heard any solo music just yet. He took an opportunity at a recent A$AP Rocky house party to shoot a video for his collaboration with Father entitled ‘Cell Boomin’ from his #MAXO187 project. Vibe with the pair below and keep an eye out for Maxo this year.

chief waKiL

It’s not often that someone appears twice on this series so when they do, it’s certainly worth a look. chief waKiL hails from Kansas City and takes the “loud and obnoxious” route with ‘Round Of Applause’ from his Little Giant Epic album. On this track, he takes a shot at the politics of the game and makes it abundantly clear that no one in this industry is safe. Richard Grande directs the visual that can be seen below.