Blac Youngsta is one of hip-hop’s most versatile artists, swerving between intimidating street rap and witty club hits at a moment’s notice. Born Sammie Marquez Benson in Memphis in 1990, the rapper became well-known regionally after organising and hosting block parties, starting in about 2011. By 2012, he was a full-blown local impresario, releasing independent mixtapes that spread his name across the U.S. South. Blac Youngsta’s breakthrough effort, 2016’s Young & Reckless, was led by the frenetic and aggressive “Shake Sum”, and it mirrored his early creative output: dark, unforgiving and brooding. As he progressed further into his career, he loosened up and began inserting humour into his work. His 2017 single “Booty” was carried by elastic, bouncy production and playful bars about his dating preferences, generating enough traction that it reeled in trap rapper Jeezy and R&B crooners Chris Brown and Trey Songz for an official remix. After a successful collaborative single with fellow Memphian Moneybagg Yo, 2020’s keyed-up “1 2 3”, the MCs teamed up for a hardened and localised project, Code Red. Later that year, Blac Youngsta released the third instalment of his F*ck Everybody series, which featured the comically named “I Met Tay Keith First”, whose beat was provided by the white-hot Memphis producer identified in the title. By balancing his volatile and mischievous sides, and remaining attentive to his artistic direction, Blac Youngsta ensures his authenticity is unshakeable.