[Saturday Spotlight] SR TheMveMnt + Kalenci

What’s there to not love about rap music? It’s an expression of pain, love, joy, hardship, and accomplishment. Being a rap artist isn’t about collecting a check, it’s about showcasing your skill for a genre that only gives back. This year alone has been one of the most prolific, yet one of the most disastrous in terms of monumental loss. Though it’s the fastest adapting music genre, we can never get used to tragedy.

As we approach the end of 2020, we look back at the success the Saturday Spotlight series has achieved thus far, and it’s a moment to be proud of. The HHNM family is grateful for the humbling response to the resurrection of this series, and we will continue to serve the rap community with the utmost humility and integrity. Throughout the weeks of taking submissions, the plethora of talent always impresses and always spurs discussion on the major current influences on the emerging talent. It’s incredible, and it’s truly the spirit of rap music.

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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Last week we introduced A-Lex and Pharoah Santana to the Saturday Spotlight, two highly talented individuals who are taking current trends and influences, and turning them into a new wave that’ll eventually push the envelope artistically. Without further ado, let’s introduce the winners of Week 9 of Saturday Spotlight.

SR TheMveMnt

Listening to SR TheMveMnt’s “Suburbans” for the first time was akin to hearing Drake’s “Successful” for the first time. SR’s vocals hit a sweet spot, radiant in confidence that gleams throughout his verses. The hook on the track is one of the finest moments of celebration captured in song form, it’s almost impossible not to toast a victory to. SR’s strength comes from his versatility in singing as well as rap, his ability to switch between the two mediums seamlessly is a quality fitting for an upcoming superstar. SR’s music is gripping, with prominent room to grow and further establish the name we are happy to get you acquainted to. Check out his track, “Suburbans” below:

Kalenci

If JT and Young Miami from City Girls mashed together, with Megan the Stallion sprinkled on top, you’d get Kalenci — the Cleaveland, Ohio born rapper, now located in Greensboro, NC — that’s destroying heavy bass production with her thunderous energy. She’s fierce, with a delivery that’s as relentless as a tsunami. On “Wild (No Hook)” — which is recorded as a freestyle and released a week ago — is the prime introduction on meeting Kalenci. This year has been a strong performance from female emcees, and Kalenci is no exception to this. Willing to bet, we will be hearing from her in the imminent future. Check out her track “Wild (No Hook)” 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.