Young Smoke is the latest star to emerge from Toronto’s Regent Park, one of the city’s most notable neighborhoods and home to the groundbreaking collective Halal Gang. This group of rappers includes rappers Puffy L’z, Mustafa the Poet, Mo-G, SAFE, and his older brother Smoke Dawg, who was tragically killed in 2018. The passing of Smoke Dawg holds a deep impact on Young Smoke, and has become a driving force in continuing his brother’s legacy and supporting his family through music. Already setting himself apart with a distinct voice and rap delivery comparable to Atlanta rappers Young Thug and Lil Keed, Young Smoke is the one to watch in 2021. With tracks like “Lifestyle”, “Cap”, and “Slime on Church”, Young Smoke flexes his ability to move from rapid fire verses to catchy hooks with ease. The young rapper finds inspiration in the most likely and unlikely places. From Lil Baby to Adele, his influences range in artist and genre, making his own sound distinct in lyricism and melody. While Young Smoke acknowledges and respects his city’s rap scene, his music is not grounded in the sound of Toronto. With a unique voice and delivery unlike other rappers north of the border, the praise for Young Smoke is well deserved and his upcoming project will double down on this hype. The talented rapper has set his sights on a new album in 2021.