A rapper, producer, and singer from the East Side of Chicago, Tri Nohbi makes deeply melodic hip-hop inspired by everything from classic soul to gospel to old-school house music. But while each of his songs is built on catchy hooks and powerful rhythms, Tri Nohbi centers his lyrics on real-life storytelling that’s fearlessly honest. Tri grew up on an unlikely mix of gospel music and Chicago house, his mom’s two preferred genres. Also raised on Motown and soul legends like the Temptations, Smokey Robinson, and Teddy Pendergrass, he’d never listened to hip-hop until Kanye West’s Graduation arrived in 2007 and quickly became his all-time favorite album.