St. Louis upstart NandoSTL arrived swinging for the fences. Since his 2018 debut EP Good Vibes, Nando has consistently delivered a steady stream of both authentic and poignant cuts—punctuated with an unmistakably soulful style that makes him a very necessary MVP on T-Pain’s Nappy Boy Entertainment team. His project Y.O.T.A. (Year Of The Ape) builds upon the mission he embarked on five years ago, only elevated and more focused. It’s Nando’s year, indeed. Raised by his grandparents and his dad, his love affair with music started early. At two years old, he traveled to Chicago to see his dad’s family, and the experience was life-changing. “They owned an African drum company, where they taught African dance and drums,” he says. “And first time I went there, I attended one of the classes and was like beating on African drums and never stopped beating on stuff since then. They bought me a drum set when I got back, so I stopped beating on tables.” The bulk of his childhood, however, was spent in the church. While he was surrounded by church music, his non-secular inspirations included fellow STL native Nelly, along with Wyclef Jean and Cee-Lo Green, as Nando’s influences meet at the intersection of Rap and Soul. At the heart of it, Y.O.T.A. is a tale of triumph from one of music’s soon-to-be favorite success stories. “I know some people have this elaborate plan on where they want to go, but I just want to work hard and take it day by day,” he humbly advises.