[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.

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.