William Weyes

William Weyes is not what hip-hop typically looks like, nor is he from where hip-hop typically comes from. Despite this, he has an innate sense of what hip-hop should sound like, what it should feel like — a lyrical transcription of reality, driven by emotion and experience. These instincts have garnered Weyes the respect of collaborators such as RiFF RAFF, D-Roc, and Hardo and opening spots for the likes of Chief Keef, K Camp, and the Ying Yang Twins. Fusing raw lyrics and the meticulous production of Pittsburgh’s Big Jerm (Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller), Weyes’ debut, Higher Thinking, has been years in the making. Booming trap-beats provide a strong undercurrent for Weyes’ rapid-fire rhymes, while ambient and chilled-out synth textures create atmosphere and depth. If the true source of hip-hop is having something to say and the desire to say it, then Weyes’ ascent is nothing to be surprised about.