Young Soulja The Realest

Emerging from California in the early 2000s, Young Soulja the Realest built his profile as a rapper, film actor, and pop artist by shaping a hybrid sound that joined hip-hop's raw edge to soulful vocal layers and sharp pop production. Several years of sustained effort preceded his first original release, the 2009 mixtape Well Connected, hosted by DJ Ill Will and boasting an exclusive appearance by R&B superstar R. Kelly; the project surpassed one million downloads. Subsequent mixtapes and videos sustained his momentum until 2013, when he issued For All It's Worth, simultaneously delivering a double album and a companion documentary film, both containing guest contributions from Ja Rule. Live work continued as he shared bills with established rappers including Ray J, French Montana, and E-40. In 2017 he delivered another complete studio statement, The Alliance.