[Saturday Spotlight] Pharaoh Santana + A-Lex

Being an artist can be grueling, filled with frustration and obstacles. When you’re at your best, you’ll always have opposition and something to prove. Much like wrestling, rappers never truly walk away from the mic. Being an emcee permeates your soul, your entire being — it’s your complete identity.

In 2020, we’ve seen a lot of new regions find their sound. Like the Bay Area in California or Detroit in Michigan, new sounds have boomed throughout the year. It shows how expansive Hip-Hop has gotten, how much room there is for the creation, and how location can influence sonically. Being an artist meant to push these boundaries, taking ideas further than anyone else in your city, and always evolving. Let’s introduce our picks for Week 8 of the Saturday Spotlight.

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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Pharaoh Santana

Introducing first is Pharoah Santana, a rapper and actor from Westchester, Los Angeles. His latest single, “Playboy” features Santana on the hook, living his best life. His music plays out like a montage of his nightly escapades, at the same time offering insight into the mind of a young aspiring artist. Santana embodies the current generation of young musicians that are steadily on the come up. In his music, he shares his aspirations for the future while touching on the past. While Santana likes to have a good time, he also has a story to tell. Check out the video for his standout single “Playboy” below:

A-Lex

Introducing next is A-Lex, a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer from Atlanta, Georgia. His single, “Deep Water” is one of the most fun times you can have wearing a pair of headphones. The song features catchy strings and a melody that’s supported by A-Lex’s sensational vocals as well as a guest appearance from Keke Palmer.

Atlanta has always had the reputation for innovation and invention when it comes to music, and A-Lex is definitive proof of that. His ability to draw you in and compel you to the point of wanting more permeates throughout this single. This track is featured on From A Seed, his latest project that focuses on a man’s growth and progression. Check out his single “Deep Water” below:

– by Anthony Malone and Navjosh

Through our artist discovery platform Saturday Spotlight, we have discovered some amazing talent in the past including Russ, Ty Dolla Sign, Mez, IDK, Victoria Monét and Trap Beckham to name just a few. In most cases, coverage on HHNM was their first look among media outlets. Find the submission guidelines here.