It takes different instincts to survive in Baltimore. Just ask Soduh. When chronicling the day-to-day of his hometown, the critically acclaimed MC likens it to “the swamp.” So, how do you thrive in a notoriously tough town? The title of his project, The Crocodile, offers a hint… “You’ve got to be just that to survive,” he explains. “I’m a crocodile among other crocodiles, but I am the crocodile. This city is a scary place, but it made me a tough individual—physically and mentally. Because of everything, I say, ‘Thanks’ to my home.” Soduh first arrived in PG County at age 6, moving to Baltimore shortly thereafter with his single mom. Despite missing the Bronx housing projects he originally hailed from, he slowly made friends. By 11-years-old, he “got his first pound of marijuana to hold down” before eventually landing in and out of jail cells for grand theft auto. The next few years would be categorized by hustling, trapping, and trouble of all kinds before a friend encouraged him to rap. “It was just an experience. I’m telling it from the beginning. Some days I go through shit, and I write those things in my notes. This was all true...I hope people walk away from listening to me entertained,” he leaves off. “I want to give them a story that’s powerful and who I am. That’s all I care about.” Soduh doesn’t just have the instincts to survive Baltimore; he’s got the savvy to take over rap as we know it. Keep your eye on “the swamp” and beware.