Trust Yonnyboii to leave the imprint of emo rap all over Malay pop. It’s not that surprising once you realise his hoarse flow has the same inflection used in rock kapak and his lyrical content conveys the same drama baked into classic ballads. This kinship coalesces into a collaboration with rockers Azlan & The Typewriter (“Kelabu”) and songwriting credits for pop artists (Siti Sarah, Andi Bernadee)—and an AIM Best Album award for his self-titled debut, a frank exploration of identity and anxieties that dovetails with his open advocacy for mental health issues. His work’s resonance with the public is nowhere more apparent than the inclusion of his hit collaboration with Zynakal, “Sakit”, in preparatory material for the national secondary school examination, the SPM.