The South still has something to say.
For rappers based in metro Atlanta, the streak continues.
Annually since 2007, hip-hop magazine XXL has released its freshman class cover — a who’s who list of rising stars in the rap game. And every year, beginning with Gorilla Zoe and Young Dro, metro Atlanta has been represented by at least one rapper.
That continued this year when Atlanta-based MCs, Kap G and Playboi Carti, were two of 10 young artists to make the prestigious list.
Kap G, whose real name is George Ramirez, is a 22-year-old Mexican-American rapper who has collaborated with Young Jeezy, Chief Keef, Ca$h Out and appeared in the 2015 movie “Dope.”
He grew up in College Park and went to Tri-Cities High School where he played basketball. In a 2014 interview with XXL, he said he grew up listening to Skateboard P, Young Jeezy and OutKast.
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Playboi Carti, whose government name is Jordan Carter, is 20 years old, and was born and raised in Atlanta. He graduated from North Springs High School in Sandy Springs in 2014. Carter began rapping under the name “Sir Cartier.”
In 2016, he was featured on an A$AP Mob album with A$AP Rocky, Lil Uzi Vert and Frank Ocean. He has also recorded songs with Gucci Mane, 21 Savage and Travis Scott. In April, Playboi Carti released a self-titled mixtape on Spotify.
You might not know who either of these rappers are yet — unless you’re a huge hip-hop head — but that’s sort of the point. Playboi Carti and Kap G are on the rise and will hit it big soon, according to XXL.
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