advertisement
FYI

 Lil Berete: Time Flies

The 17-year-old rapper/singer is being tipped as the potential next big thing from the Six. This cut from his just-released debut mixtape shows why, as it showcases his vocal chops alongside smart production on a breezy and catchy tune.

 Lil Berete: Time Flies

By Kerry Doole

Lil Berete -  "Time Flies" (New Gen/Beggars): On Friday, this Toronto rapper/singer released his debut mixtape, Icebreaker. Look for it to do just that, as the 17-year-old seems poised to break through fast.


Earlier tracks “Southside” and “Northside" made a mark, and one of Icebreaker's tracks, "No Makeup (feat. JoEazy)," quickly scored 623K YouTube views.

"Time Flies" is rapidly gaining momentum also, with its cause aided by an eye-catching video shot in the Caribbean island of St. Vincent. That complements the breezy and catchy vibe of a well-produced (by KR Moore) cut that shows Lil Berete has a melodic vocal style.

advertisement

His chops caught the ear of New Gen, an imprint of XL Recordings, and that label began working with him late last year. His work had already been resonating around the Toronto housing projects of Regent Park where Berete (of Guinean descent) was raised. Flanked by his crew known as STN, who were known for unifying the once opposing two sides of town Northside and Southside, Lil Berete and his crew were doing things differently and on their terms.

Berete cites Akon, T-Pain and Young Thug as key influences, and he has been tipped for the top by the likes of Fader and Complex. We concur.

Links

Website

Instagram

Management:  midtownmusicmanagement3m@gmail.com

Label contact: David Freeman, Beggars

advertisement
Gwen Stefani performs with No Doubt at Coachella on Saturday, April 13, 2024.
Christina House / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Gwen Stefani performs with No Doubt at Coachella on Saturday, April 13, 2024.

Chart Beat

The Coachella Bump: Gains for Headliners, Reunions, Rising Pop Stars & More

This week's Trending Up looks at the rise in streams for weekend one performers at the Coachella Festival, as well as some Wrestlemania-related wins and a Shaboozey breakout hit.

Welcome to Billboard Pro’s Trending Up column, where we take a closer look at the songs, artists, curiosities and trends that have caught the music industry’s attention. Some have come out of nowhere, others have taken months to catch on, and all of them could become ubiquitous in the blink of a TikTok clip.

This week: The first weekend of Coachella spurs gains for a lot of the biggest and most ascendant names involved, while songs that soundtracked the biggest moments of Wrestlemania XL also see big bumps, a
Cowboy Carter collaborator has his first solo breakout hit and more.

advertisement

keep readingShow less
advertisement