WesdaRuler

Rapper, singer, and innovative beatmaker Wesdaruler works with smooth tones, laid-back instrumentals and old-school boom-bap rhythms for his graceful, R&B-tinged productions. Lyrically, many of his songs dealt with themes of mental health and compassionate living, going into details of personal struggles on his 2019 debut full-length Ocean Drive. Wesdaruler was born Wes Johnson and settled in his father's hometown of Athens, Georgia after frequent visits growing up. He first worked in a production role with many artists, crafting instrumentals for rappers and vocalists like Linqua Franqa and Athens hip-hop collective Space Dungeon. When it came time for Wes to make his own music, his relaxed production style served as the backbone for his jazzy 2017 EP 4da99. His work continued to develop as he moved towards his first full length release, 2019's Ocean Drive. Warm, detailed production and a hybrid rap style that drew on elements of old school hip hop and touches of R&B backed up vulnerable lyrics about isolation, loss and struggles with mental health issues.
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