Standout: "Ella Ay"

Also Check Out: "I Just Wanna Fly"

And: "Maybe Tomorrow"

Name: Fedel

Age: 26

Hometown: Harlem, NYC

I grew up listening to: Nas, Jay-Z, Eminem, Big Pun, Jadakiss, Biggie, Ma$e, Kanye West, Mary J Blige & R. Kelly. Lyricism is what I always appreciated first and foremost, but I feel like there’s something to be said about being able to take those lyrics and put them into an actual song that resonates with people’s emotions, goals, dreams and nightmares. That’s why I threw Mary J and R. Kelly in there; they shaped a lot of my goals as a musician.

Most people don't know I: was at Riverbank State Park the day Beanie Sigel and Kiss finally ran into each other. Anyone who knows anything about Hip Hop knows that was one of the most classic lyrical battles ever and to be there in person at the height of their beef was crazy. I was just a kid in like 9th grade at the time working the event through my little Summer Youth job, but man, I thought these dudes were gonna have a shootout lol…didn’t happen. They actually talked a little trash, grilled each other and kept it moving. Beans performed and Kiss did the laugh he does and bought icees for everybody. I guess I learned that day that most of the time it’s just entertainment. Shout out to both of them though, they definitely influenced my pen game big time.

My style's been compared to: On wax, Nas, Lupe and J Cole (with more of a New York feel). I think the Nas and Lupe comparisons come from me just being “socially conscious” in a lot of my material. I don’t really like that label because I think most rappers are conscious of what they are doing and saying, they just make a choice to rap about whatever they think will get them ahead in this game. As far as the J Cole comparisons, I think we’re both lyrical and I also think the fact that I’m from the hood and at the same time, I embrace my college experience and put it into my music makes us similar in a lot of people’s eyes. I went to 4 year school and graduated, and I loved it. I learned a lot about myself just as a Black man as well as racism, sexism and also that the world doesn’t revolve around New York City. All of these things ultimately influenced my content and makes for better music.

My standout records and/or moments to date have been: opening for Chiddy Bang on their college tour stop at DePauw University and meeting with Chris Lightly earlier this year about his interest in managing me.

My goal in Hip-Hop is: to be important to the culture. To be known for a great body of work that transcends music and gives me the opportunity to give people from what I’m from even more opportunities.

I'm gonna be the next: torch carrier. The obvious goal for any artist is to be a legend and have your work appreciated by the masses. So besides that, I just want to avoid the politics and bullshit as much as possible and play my part in progressing the culture.

More From XXL