@DJ Varela

Discover new music from artists we think you'll like. Refreshed every Friday.

“Hey Siri, play the Tactical Gaming playlist.”

Some rappers are born for the spotlight, but without beatmaking virtuosos like T-Minus those lights wouldn't be nearly as bright. Combining molasses-thick synths with bursts of bass, T-Minus's productions have helped stars like Kendrick Lamar and Drake find their way to the top of the charts.

“Hey Siri, play the Hip-Hop Drive playlist.”

JID has come a long way since cutting mixtapes with the Spillage Village crew at Virginia's Hampton University in 2010 alongside EarthGang and 6lack. A quick-witted wordsmith, JID settles into a beat with equal parts rapid-fire flow and Atlanta storytelling style. He came into mainstream hip-hop consciousness after dropping his debut, <I>The Never Story</I>, in 2017 on J. Cole’s Dreamville Records and quickly became a core member of the Dreamville collective. JID’s verbal marathons on his sophomore release, <I>DiCaprio 2</I>, have made him a permanent fixture on the hip-hop map; he even nabbed a 2020 GRAMMYⓇ nomination for his appearance on Dreamville’s “Down Bad.”

Mike Dean has a resume that can compete with hip-hop's elite super producers. Hear how the Houston sound architect inspires the best from southern staples like Scarface, Z-Ro, and Juvenile, along with expansive musical moments from Kanye West and JAY Z.