When it comes to Gen Z hip-hop, 24kGoldn is a genre-bending standout. Born Golden Landis Von Jones in 2000 and raised in San Francisco, the artist is at his best when he crisscrosses his way through the cemented expectations of an MC. While 24kGoldn started his entertainment career as a child actor, appearing in commercials, he explored his musical interests by singing in a choir. By age 14, 24kGoldn had pivoted to hip-hop, fully developing his lilting sing-rapping style and blending pop, rock, and R&B into his delivery. In 2018, 24kGoldn shared his breakthrough single, “Ballin’ like Shareef,” a vibrant tribute to the son of retired NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal. The following year, 24kGoldn released the EP DROPPED OUTTA COLLEGE, led by “VALENTINO,” a passionate ode to designer clothing that doubles as a commentary on his life as a bachelor. “Mood,” a summery trap vibe that features emo rap specialist iann dior, served as the 2020 lead single of 24kGoldn’s debut album, El Dorado. “When I was a little kid, my mom’s coworkers would always call me ‘El Dorado’ because in Spanish, that means ‘the Golden One,’” he told Apple Music. “So it’s an homage to my past.”