[Saturday Spotlight] Notes82 + N I K O

Welcome back to another edition of Saturday Spotlight. Each week we review submissions from all over the globe, picking the best out of the batch to highlight at the end of the week. If you’re an aspiring rapper, a producer wanting to create a buzz, or a singer looking to expose their talent, the Saturday Spotlight series is dedicated to discovering the next star.

Whether it’s your latest single or a new beat you made, all upcoming artists can submit music to us for Saturday Spotlight on this link.

Notes82

Notes82 hails from the East New York section of Brooklyn and his love for and loyalty to the city shows in his track ‘Write Tonight’. On the song, Notes82 pays tribute to New York City on an uplifting track with production that takes listeners back to classics heard in the early 2000s. Notes82 channels the same nostalgia with his swinging flows and Brooklyn tone.

With bars like “Shout out the OGs really moving white keys/Kept the knowledge of self/I’m from the concrete/Seeking knowledge and wealth/Invest in my dreams,” Notes82 shows love to the culture that raised him with ambition and a hustler mentality.

N I K O

On ‘Anxiety: A Late Night’, Philly rapper N I K O serves listeners with an introspective and honest look into the artist’s mind. On smooth lo-fi production, N I K O’s melodic rap and varied flow in delivery takes us on a journey through a maze of insecurities and fears regarding a relationship. “Thinking bout you, who you with/I can’t sleep tonight/Leave me alone in my zone…”, “Say it’s love, kind feels like anxiety”.

His dark melodies and layered vocals will resonate with fans of Kid Cudi, one of N I K O ‘s influences.

– by Nadine & 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.