Beau Young Prince

Born in the nation's capital, Beau Young Prince draws upon his classical and jazz training to lend hip-hop a distinctive new perspective, thereby standing for an emerging generation of homegrown District rap talent. Raised by their mother with three sisters in southeast Washington, D.C., he attended an elite private academy in the northern part of the city, where she referred to him as Prince Young. Early talent for the performing arts led him to school plays; from there he moved into writing and reciting poetry, then battle rap, and finally into the studio once a friend provided access. Double bass became his instrument of study in both classical and jazz idioms. While still in high school he sold copies of his recordings under the name Beau Young Prince, shortened to BYP, earning roughly a thousand dollars that persuaded him a career in rap was viable. Focused live work began during his time at college in North Carolina; the first major opportunity came when he opened for Wale, after which he booked and completed his own tours. The 2016 album Until Then was recorded with YalaMusiq, while the EP Patience appeared that same year as one half of the duo Young Futura alongside DJ YNMO. Reviewers and listeners alike praised the range he displayed when merging jazz, electronica, R&B, and D.C.'s own go-go music with a literary sensibility. Greater attention followed the 2017 solo debut EP Sunset Blvd., which led directly to a Def Jam contract. The singles "Kill Moe" and "Price" surfaced in 2018 ahead of the EP Groovy Land, which he called his "origin story." Further releases arrived with "Move the Chains" in 2019 and "In Real Life" in 2020.