BUDDY I CANCELLED

"He can rap in knotty, swagger-dripping verses, but he also frames out songs in straightforward, hook-friendly simplicity to catch radio heat."

Born and raised in Compton, California, Buddy seemed destined for greatness at an early age. He was just 15 years old when he had his first brush with stardom, signing to Pharrell's Star Trak imprint and releasing his first viral single, "Awesome Awesome." A few short years later, he had delivered on that promise with the soulful, autobiographical RCA Records debut, Harlan & Alondra, in 2018.

A stark departure from the G-funk sounds listeners might have expected given Buddy's origins, Harlan & Alondra was instead an eclectic collection of sun-soaked styles influenced by Buddy's experiences. After years playing within LA's flourishing underground scene, he'd developed relationships with prominent musicians, adding his own church-honed flair, and come up with a unique style that brought critical acclaim to his major-label debut and a hunger to see what he would come up with next.