[Saturday Spotlight] Leo + CTKx23

At Saturday Spotlight, where we are finding tomorrow’s brightest stars. Every week we are receiving more and more submissions, each week the quality becoming increasingly more impressive. The hunger for success is rampant in the world of Hip-Hop. Let’s introduce this week’s winners..

Remember that all artists on the rise can submit music to us for Saturday Spotlight on this link.

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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We received 87 artist submissions this week for HHNM #SaturdaySpotlight.
We've received 687 unique artist submissions so far this year
Out of that, we've highlighted 18 artists so far and 16 of those had never been covered by a media outlet before.
— Navjosh (@Navjosh) March 6, 2021

Leo

Boston rapper Leo knows how to work a lofi beat. On his new single “Typical”, Leo is riding the cleanest wave, surfboarding across the production. Throughout the track, Leo criticizes his complacency, feeling apologetic towards himself. The Massachusetts-native displays lyrical prowess, maneuvering his verses using a laid-back flow. He juggles syllables and smashes rhyme schemes all while maintaining his nonchalant aesthetic. Check out the track below:

CTKx23

CTKx23 doesn’t tolerate any sh*t-talking, it results in skulls being cracked. CTK exhibits a singing-rapping flow, with a hook game that’s potent enough to have you unconsciously listening to the song on repeat. “Give me a second to find my sound, f*ck it I found it” CTK delivers the following bar with a turnt energy that can be felt from all the way here in my home. CTK’s undeniable energy aside, his wordplay, and ability to work a melody are the workings of a star. Check out his single ‘Battery Pack’ 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.