iLoveMakonnen
Hazy, melodic rap that feels like a neon-lit fever dream. Unconventional falsetto vocals over minimalist, cloudy trap beats for late-night introspection.
Hazy, melodic rap that feels like a neon-lit fever dream. Unconventional falsetto vocals over minimalist, cloudy trap beats for late-night introspection.
iLoveMakonnen sounds like the blurry, beautiful space between a house party and the morning after. His music is defined by a singular, often polarizing vocal style that prioritizes emotional honesty and melodic instinct over technical precision. It is rap that has been submerged in a warm, reverb-heavy bath, emerging with a soft-focus glow that feels both intimate and slightly surreal.
What truly sets him apart is his willingness to be vulnerable and weird in a genre that often demands hardness. His delivery often drifts into a fragile falsetto or a conversational croon, paired with minimalist production that leaves plenty of room for his eccentric melodies to breathe. It is the sound of an artist who treats the recording studio like a private diary, resulting in tracks that feel like overheard secrets.
Start with his self-titled 2014 EP to hear the blueprint of the 'Tuesday' era. It captures the perfect balance of his Atlanta trap roots and his outsider pop sensibilities. From there, explore the 'Drink More Water' series to hear him experiment with increasingly lo-fi and psychedelic textures that influenced a generation of melodic rappers.
Makonnen Kamali Sheran (born April 12, 1989), better known by his stage name iLoveMakonnen (often stylized in all caps), is an American rapper and singer. He is best known for his 2014 single "Tuesday", which gained recognition following its remix with Canadian rapper Drake. After its release in August of that year, he signed with Drake's record label OVO Sound, an imprint of Warner Records that same month; the song was re-released by the label shortly after and subsequently peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Tuesday" was also nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, and served as the lead single for his likewise re-issued self-titled debut extended play (2014), which moderately entered the Billboard 200. He parted ways with OVO in 2016, and his following releases have failed to chart.
Shares cloud rap, contemporary r&b, trap (subgenres); late night, urban night, summer (atmosphere)
Shares cloud rap, contemporary r&b, trap (subgenres); lo fi, minimalist, reverb heavy (production style)
Shares cloud rap, contemporary r&b, trap (subgenres); late night, urban night, summer (atmosphere)
Shares contemporary r&b, cloud rap, trap (subgenres); drum machine, keys/synth, bass (instrumentation)
Shares cloud rap, trap (subgenres); late night, urban night, dusk (atmosphere)
Shares cloud rap, contemporary r&b, trap (subgenres); drum machine, keys/synth, electric guitar (instrumentation)
Shares lo fi, minimalist, reverb heavy (production style); cloud rap, trap (subgenres)
Shares cloud rap, trap, contemporary r&b (subgenres); drum machine, keys/synth, electric guitar (instrumentation)
Shares cloud rap, trap, falsetto, contemporary r&b (signature)
Shares cloud rap, trap, contemporary r&b, summer (signature)
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