HXLT

Nigel Holt launched his path in music by embracing the role of a party rapper attuned to Chicago's bounce scene. He later transformed into HXLT, initially tagged a "hipster rapper" and eventually becoming the first "post-punk vocalist" to join Kanye West's GOOD Music roster. Performing earlier as Hollywood Holt, he delivered party rap over bounce beats before shifting focus to his affinity for Bad Brains, the Clash, and post-punk, resulting in a stranger and less b-boy version of Holt. The moniker switched to HXLT in 2015 after he uploaded multiple tracks online and issued the free downloadable Cover Me EP, which included covers of Amy Winehouse ("Back to Black") and Billy Idol ("White Wedding"). Signing to Kanye's GOOD Music followed in 2016, the same year he dropped the single "Together" with former Bikini Kill leader and riot grrrl veteran Kathleen Hanna contributing guest vocals. That recording appeared on his self-titled debut album, also released in 2016.