The Knoxville, Tennessee MC has been grinding for years and his trajectory continues to rise. Why you should be listening.
Hip-Hop music is now a gauntlet or battle royale. What was once a niche genre only meant for a few participators is now on the global stage. As a new artist, separating yourself and creating an interest that can hold the attention span long enough is the most arduous task. As important as it is to have a style of your own that helps you stand out, resilience is just as, if not more important. Cos#420 is the perfect example of that.
Cos#420, real name Marcos McCord, has been recording since 2005 in his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. He honed in on his skills and dropped mixtape after mixtape until he received some local attention in 2014. “Roll Up” and “Dope” garnered him the attention to help accelerate his trajectory and those 9 years of laying groundwork proved beneficial. His fan base started to build and his aesthetic fully began to take shape, which helped him tour in Memphis, Miami, Atlanta, and his hometown.
While he makes very effective stoner music, beyond that, the records are easily digestible and produced immaculately. Although the music deals with fluid subject matters, the lyrical dexterity is clear when he feels it's necessary. The best example of this is "Take A Puff". He flows incredibly over the classic "boom bap" beat. Even better, the record lends itself to relatable activities, such as speaking on kicking back after a long day and blowing off some steam by blowing green.
The arc remains progressive throughout the years and although Cos#420 switches the in-pocket flowing for a more melodic sound, it helps mature the music. In 2016 and 2017 he released the first two installments of his DankGsus series (pronounced Dank Jesus, clever right?). He also put out his own imprint under $LU, which is an abbreviation for Strength, Loyalty, and Unity. It's clear through his own branding that he maintains a firm understanding that it's important to own your work and your brand, which is something every artist should think about. DankGsus 2 is the most mature of all his work, weaving between stoner anthems, tales of loss, and strife in Tennessee. When he takes the time to lament about losing friends through petty squabbles and watching things change around him, it reminds you that there is a maturity to the sound that will soon reach an apex. You’d want to hear it when that time comes.
Cos#420 has yet to reach the height of his moment but the grind and mental toughness that it takes to prosper in today's rap game exist in him. 2019 will see the release of the third installment of DankGsus, as his mixtape Quatro will release within the next couple of months. You can also catch him on open mic every Thursday at the Hookah Hang in Knoxville, TN. Plus, check out his upcoming events:
February 16th, 2019: Hosting the Valentines Day show the Bearden Brickyard in Knoxville, TN
March 2nd, 2019: The Midnight Puff in Chattanooga, TN on March 2nd.
Find Cos#420 on Social Media:
Facebook | Instagram | Apple Music | Spotify | Twitter
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