Bri Steves

Emerging in 2018 via an Atlantic Records contract, the versatile rap artist Bri Steves displayed her range by moving between hard-edged, combative verses and sweet vocal refrains on her earliest material, among them the T-Minus and Hitmaka-produced single “Jealousy.” Born Brianna Stevenson in Philadelphia’s East Falls section of Pennsylvania, she relocated to Delaware at age ten. While attending high school there, she played viola in the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, taught herself piano, and absorbed a blend of classic and current R&B with rap. After returning to Philadelphia, she balanced studies at Temple University with learning recording engineering and production techniques while sharpening her songwriting. She honed her stage presence by performing in the city’s subway, and a 2016 showcase earned her a place on the roster of the Starr Island Group management agency. A couple of years later, as she finished her degree, Stevenson signed with Atlantic and issued her first official tracks, including the abrasive “Ain’t Shit” and “Late Night” alongside the more radio-oriented “Jealousy” and “Regrets,” all of which appeared before the close of 2018. She followed with further singles in 2020 and 2021 such as “Stick Up” and “Anti Queen.”