Russ

A self-made multi-talent, Russ is nothing if not a product of his times. Born Russell Vitale in 1992, the Atlanta-bred artist wrote, rapped, sang and produced nearly a dozen free—and mostly feature-free—albums between 2011 and 2014, before inking a deal with Columbia Records. That work ethic not only earned him a loyal fanbase, but also the freedom to explore his sound on his own terms. His 2017 album There’s Really a Wolf established him as a strong new voice in the mainstream, blending trap beats with atmospheric R&B and live instrumentation played by Russ himself. Stickiest of all is Russ’ natural sense of melody—a quality that comes through both in his beats and his sing-song flow. That melodic sense guides both 2018’s ZOO, a boastful showing that sees him reflect on his newfound fame, and 2020’s SHAKE THE SNOW GLOBE, on which he laments some of his most outrageous trash-talking on previous outings. His growing maturity rings loud and clear on 2023’s intensely autobiographical SANTIAGO, which is all about putting in the self-work to maintain personal positivity and counter his own meddlesome inner monologue. “The album could have just been called RUSS,” he told Apple Music. “It’s the same thing.” By the time that creative reintroduction is complete, there’s no mistaking today’s Russ for the mouthy firebrand from a decade before.