Hailing from Kazakhstan’s Pavlodar region and living in Moscow, Adil Zhalelov—aka Scriptonite—is leading a Russian hip-hop revolution. The rapper, producer, and label exec—Apple Music Russia’s most-played artist—has had a thrilling underdog rise, and 2021 was his most prolific year (which also included winning the Apple Music Award for Artist of the Year — Russia). There were studio album successes (Whistles & Papers, Bad Habits), an exclusive live LP for Apple Music (Live in Moscow), and the formation of side-project band Gruppa Skryptonite. This work ethic has helped his label Musica36 become a flourishing stable of local talent. “My style is rooted in Kazakhstan, really,” he tells Apple Music. “But it’s unique because of how we mix American production and hooks with our style—not just from Kazakhstan, but more specifically, my hometown.”