The buzz around Milwaukee’s rap scene has reached a fever pitch lately, with the national press taking notice. As sites like Pitchfork and Rolling Stone have highlighted, stars like Lakeyah and HUEY V are putting the city on the map. Next up to represent Milwaukee is the 17-year-old Myaap, the self-proclaimed “Queen of the City” whose infectious energy and clever bars have made her a TikTok sensation. On her new mixtape “BIG MYAAP, NOT THE LIL ONE,” Myaap doubles down on her signature Milwaukee bounce while expanding her sound into bold new territory.
Myaap is part of a new signature sound, and rappers, including artists like Certified Trapper and AyooLii, are coming out of Milwaukee. Over banging 808s and rapid-fire hi-hats, Myaap turns out gritty street anthems packed with quotable lines. “All White Benz” is an entrance theme worthy of the Milwaukee Bucks. “Sha’Carri” starts with a playful verse, “runnin’ up a check like Sha’Carri,” paying homage to track star Sha’Carri Richardson, and continues with fierce energy and bravado. The mixtape captures a young star solidifying her status; on the final track, “2 Easy,” she claims to be ‘Queen of the City, and it looks like nothing can stop her because she is not the ‘lil one’ anymore. The mixtape captures a young star solidifying her status.
At just seven tracks, “BIG MYAAP, NOT THE LIL ONE” leaves you wanting more. But it’s a confident mission statement from an artist leading the charge for her city. Myaap has leveled up—with viral hits and millions of streams under her belt already; the sky’s the limit for Milwaukee’s princess. She hits the stage this Sunday, January 28, at Cactus Club alongside local rappers AyooLii and Kill.dawnn, showing she’s still proudly repping her hometown.