YS

Born Justin Lawson in Compton, YS is the newest rising talent from the home of Kendrick Lamar, YG and Roddy Ricch. Raised by his Southern-bred grandparents, the 20-year-old first developed his love for rapping at the age of 13. He began recording tracks known for their colorful gang-banging references, drawing inspiration from his everyday street life. By 19, he released bonafide hit, “Bompton,” a hard-hitting Trayvon Jackson-produced hometown anthem that scored neighborhood recognition and caught the attention of Alamo Records. Later, a remix of the viral smash -- aided by features by 1TakeJay, Shoreline Mafia’s Ohgeesy and Fredo Bang -- ushered in YS’s 13-track debut project, Street Dreams. Songs such as “Real From The Start” offer a vivid glimpse of his world and the promising skill of his melodic wordplay, a page taken from his greatest musical influence Lil Wayne. While he works on forthcoming musical outputs and grows as an artist, he plans to offer a window into the softer, more soulful side of his gangsta persona.