New York-bred and LA-based rapper, CANYON, has spent much of 2021 redefining the sound of hip-hop. As fans enjoy the hardcore flows on his debut tracks, “Reservations” and “Shark Tank,” the daring rapper has decided to take his newest track in an interesting direction. On his latest release, “IN THE PAINT,” CANYON gives fans a peek into his rebellious and free-spirited nature, while subtly paying homage to Atlantan superstar Waka Flocka. The single alone has garnered massive attention, with its Soundcloud release having over 1.29M plays. Now, the visual takes the song to another level, as CANYON and Mvthabrain (formerly known as Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire), take over NY in the visual. Check it out below!
“This song is about saying I’ve grown up since I was in high school, but I’m still a rebellious, free-thinking mother fucker like I was back then,” the rapper stated. “‘Hard in da Paint’ by Waka Flocka was a big song during my high school days. I think of this like ‘Hard in da Paint’ 2022,” he added.
For CANYON, finding inspiration amongst his musical heroes comes naturally. While his trademark raspy flow and heavy delivery on “IN THE PAINT” certainly set him apart, his journey in finding his voice as an artist has been largely influenced by some recognizable hip-hop greats.
“I feel like everyone that I listen to subconsciously influences me a little the next time I spit,” the rapper shared. “Tupac for sure was the first person to get me into writing raps when I was a little kid. He’s a hero of mine. Other than that, there’s Eminem, Lil Wayne, Kanye, Wu-Tang, Jadakiss, Cudi, and more,” he added.
Perhaps most inspiring is the response the young rapper has received from fans and musical influences alike. As his first two releases continue to gain traction, racking up over a million streams on music-sharing site, SoundCloud, CANYON has already begun to catch the eye of some of hip hop’s biggest legends.
Jadakiss, Raekwon, and Outkast affiliate, Big Rube, are just a few of many who agree that CANYON oozes the “IT” factor. Their cosigns have offered the budding rapper great credibility, but in his own words, they have also been “the proudest and most surreal moments in my career so far, having grown up looking up to these guys and loving all of their music.”
As the year is just getting started, CANYON continues to look ahead in anticipation of the future of his career. 2022 will represent the culmination of over a decade of writing, rapping, and music-making, as he shares plans for releasing his very first album.
For now, though, fans have much to look forward to, with the release of “IN THE PAINT” and subsequent singles that are meant to highlight CANYON’s eclectic sound.
“With this song, though, I want fans to feel like a fucking beast while listening to it. The message is to rebel against people deciding your potential or telling you who you are,” he added.
You can check out CANYON’S latest track, “IN THE PAINT,” and follow him on social media below:
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