[Saturday Spotlight] Datta Boy, TOPE, & Denny Soloist

The creation of art is more than just plugging in a microphone to your laptop and rapping a verse that you wrote down. Art begins this way but it needs to be molded into something that you want to represent yourself and your brand. Over the years as a writer I’ve learned that perfection is only achieved through many hours and years of dedication to your craft. If you’ve heard of the 10,000 hour rule then this will make sense to you; if not, do some research and read more into it because it helps shape perspective on success. This week we’re highlighting artists who have created records that you could hear on mainstream publications and platforms due to how much time and dedication has been put into them. Want us to check out your music? Send it over here.

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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Datta Boy

One of my favorite things in this series is discovering artists who put the same quality into their music video as they do the song. Your video should supplement your song and make it stand out to the eye as it does the ear. Los Angeles, CA’s Datta Boy showcases ‘Fell So Far’ through visual storytelling, proving that his creation process is one that many indie artists don’t possess. The song sounds alternative with it’s loud production while the video shows Datta as a death figure while the characters in the video struggle with their vices.

TOPE

We’re going to stay on the west coast for the next entry with Portland’s TOPE. The ‘How I Know’ rapper splits time in Oakland as well and his new single feels like a fresh song to cruise to in your car on a nice day. TOPE samples a Dom Kennedy interview to provide background clarity about the hard work and effort it takes to achieve your dreams when everyone around you is doubting your greatness. Produced by Zach Striar and filmed by Faizon Films in Venice, CA, TOPE is someone you’ll be adding to your rotation after pressing play on this video.

Denny Soloist

Our third entry will stay in my neck of the woods as we’re introduced to Winter Park, FL’s Denny Soloist. Our other two tracks stand out for their production and dope concepts. Denny’s ‘Out The Window’ is more about vibe and melody as he reflects on a past relationship with featured artist Pro-Lific. It’s a somber record but eerie in how beautiful it was structured with vocal harmonies and the slow guitar strums.