1K Phew is among a new breed of Atlanta artists taking the trap sensibility and elevating it to great effect. At 27 years old, Phew’s rise from local rapper with swagger to compelling artist equipped with a message, has been refreshing to watch. He’s fun and engaging, no doubt, but he’s so much more, as evidenced by his mixtapes Sunday Night (2015) and Life (2016), Phew’s got plenty of swag and wisdom to impart. Tracks like “TGIF” and “Church Gone Wild,” his biggest release to date, show an artist who is vibrant and dynamic. His sing/rap flow has an infectious quality that is as catchy as it is alluring, and commercially viable as it is street-wise. “I’m just a young kid from Atlanta with something to say,” he confesses. “I’m not worried about being politically correct. I just want to give people the real. That’s where the 1K comes from, always keeping it 1,000 no matter what.” 
 His new mixtape Never Too Late is sure to build on his recent momentum, with bangers like “Back Then” and “Load of Me,” an anthem for those not afraid to embrace their individuality. It’s no surprise that his sound—which Phew has dubbed “New CHUUCH”—is equally at home in the club or the church, and rappers like 1K Phew are proving that faith expressed with authenticity can be a welcome treat for listeners. “I just want to share my life through this music. My message is faith and hope.”