Smokepurpp

Smokepurpp has said that if he’s not having fun making music, then he doesn't want to make it at all. But that good-times-first attitude belies an incredibly intense work ethic and dedication to his craft. “Even if I don’t record, I have to cut something or make a beat or something. I have to go to the studio every single day,” he told Apple Music. That ethos has helped him carve out a niche in the star-packed world of SoundCloud rap. Born Omar Jeffery Pineiro in Chicago in 1997, he was raised in Miami and dropped out of high school to focus on music, tapping into South Florida’s burgeoning underground hip-hop scene. He came up alongside longtime friend and collaborator Lil Pump as part of a wave of SoundCloud rappers like XXXTENTACION, Ski Mask the Slump God, and Lil Peep. Smokepurpp’s debut hit, 2015’s “Ski Mask,” had fans nodding along to the song and its riotous message. While his meme-able antics, always-smirking humor, and Instagram-friendly persona helped make him a major scene presence, it’s that unwavering work ethic that led to a record deal with Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack Records. His 2017 debut album, Deadstar, came out of the gates hot thanks to the gold-certified single “Audi,” which put his love of brazen distortion and raw emotion on full display. His 2019 follow-up, Deadstar 2, featured Denzel Curry, Trippie Redd, and Ty Dolla $ign, marking Smokepurpp’s ascension into the role of an established, albeit fun-loving, star.