Wow, my friends. The holidays have come and gone and not one of you hit my cash app after all I’ve done. Just when I thought we were becoming a family. It’s ok tho because I am still here for you. 

Over the last few months, I have swam through as many struggle bars and horribly mixed songs as I could possibly stomach to bring you only the most exquisite waves. I’ve written about a plethora of indie artists but I save one for this moment. Stevie Crooks, the villain himself. 

Sidenote: if you haven’t heard of Stevie please stop reading here and go listen to “Focus” on Apple Music now…and don’t lie and say you did cause I’ll know. I’m gonna quiz you on it at the end b follow the rules, please. 

I’ve never met Stevie Crooks or even had a phone call with him so understand I say this with no bias at all but Crooks is the best-unsigned rapper I heard this year. The lyrical performance, the unique pockets of rhythm he finds, the intricate wordplay, and the ability to bring the right intensity to each verse without it sounding like unmixed yelling. On top of that, he ended the year off displaying an almost unmatched work ethic. 3 projects (’You Had To Be There’ Pt 1’, ‘You Had To Be There Pt. 2’ ‘Fioravanti’) in the final half of 2021. 2 of which came in the same month. 

It wasn’t all just rapping and releasing music for Stevie Crooks either. He took the proper time to layout themes around his Fioravanti release. Providing visuals, photoshoots, and merch. I think it was as perfect as a release as you could want. 

2021 was a very clean year for Stevie Crooks and if he continues at this rate there is no way that Stevie Crooks' name ends up missing from top emcee lists in 2022. I’d love to see him get work in with Hitboy, Jay Versace, Mach-Hommy, and more. Even if he doesn’t though ill be watching and listening and you should too. 

Alright, my friends, I was kidding about the quiz thing. I’m not the feds. I have to find out which bottle of alcohol I’ll be clutching on New Year until I blackout and wake up swearing to never drink again for the next 3 days. While I do that go listen to some Stevie Crooks.