In the gritty streets of Saginaw, Michigan, a new voice is emerging from the city’s burgeoning hip-hop scene. 11thxb, a 24 year-old artist whose journey from troubled childhood to rising musician exemplifies the raw authenticity that defines Michigan’s contemporary rap landscape.
“Music has always been more than just a career choice for me,” 11thxb reflects. “It’s therapy, a way to process my past and shape my future.” This isn’t just industry talk – his story backs it up. Raised in turbulent circumstances, including his mother’s arrest when he was five and his father’s mysterious passing when he was fourteen, 11thxb’s path to music wasn’t the typical tale of childhood dreams.
In fact, his entry into rap came almost by accident. Standing at 5’3″, his high school football dreams seemed increasingly distant during his senior year. When classmates joked that he “looked like a rapper,” he decided to prove them right. That first experimental track revealed two crucial things: he had a natural talent, and more importantly, he had a story worth telling.
Since then, 11thxb has been steadily building his presence in the Midwest hip-hop scene. In 2019, he secured third place at Indianapolis’s Coast to Coast event, competing against seven other artists for a $50,000 prize. But perhaps more significant than the accolades is the network he’s building, collaborating with Detroit’s renowned videographer Lordoftheoutsiders and connecting with Texas heavy-hitters like Big Trill and Sauce Gohan.
Now, 11thxb is preparing to release his most ambitious project yet – a mixtape titled “Only Up From Here.” The 11-track collection, accompanied by five music videos, is set to drop in late February, serving as both a personal milestone and a spotlight on Saginaw’s emerging talent pool.
“Saginaw’s hip-hop scene is like a pressure cooker right now,” 11thxb explains. He’s quick to shout out fellow local artists like Hunna Grann, Max Hilli, and HBK Boom, viewing the city’s creative ecosystem as a collaborative rather than competitive space. “We’re all pushing each other to go harder, to be better. The talent here is undeniable – it’s just a matter of time before the world catches on.”
But 11thxb’s vision extends beyond music. He’s already launched his clothing brand, Perspektv Wxrld Wide, and has his sights set on real estate investment. “I want to build something sustainable,” he says. “Music is the platform, but it’s not the endpoint. My goal is to get that Gold or Platinum plaque, then turn around and create opportunities for other artists coming up behind me.”
For an artist who started making music “as a joke,” 11thxb has developed a serious vision for his future. His upcoming mixtape isn’t just a collection of songs – it’s a statement piece from a city ready to claim its spot on hip-hop’s map. As Michigan continues to produce some of rap’s most innovative voices, 11thxb is positioning himself and his hometown at the forefront of the state’s next wave.
Follow 11thxb’s journey on Instagram (11thxb_), stream his music on Spotify and Apple Music, and watch for “Only Up From Here” dropping this February. In a genre often criticized for lacking authenticity, 11thxb offers something refreshingly real – a voice shaped by struggle, driven by purpose, and dedicated to lifting up his city along with him.