For indie rapper happytree, music is in his genes. The rising artist takes inspiration from his mother, Nikki Nik, a prominent underground rapper from Detroit, who first exposed him to the world of music when she'd sing along to instrumental hip-hop CDs. Today, happytree continues to be heavily impacted by the greats of '90s hip-hop, citing André 3000 as one of the major influences in his music.
In this episode of Press Play, happytree teams up with Nick Vyner and Wakai for an exclusive performance of his upcoming single, "Freefall," an easygoing hip-hop track that accepts the growth found within life's low points. They trade off at the microphone, each chronicling a moment of freefalling in their own lives before taking a moment to lounge on a recording studio couch.
This performance is particularly special because it marks the three rappers' first in-person meeting. The trio co-wrote "Freefall" via iMessage — but as the performance proves, their musical chemistry is undeniable.
Outside of his musical career, happytree is heavily involved in the fashion industry; he and his "Freefall" collaborators highlight a collection from emerging streetwear brand Keiser Clark in their performance. The Detroit-via-Los Angeles rapper also founded his own local clothing brand and media company, fourestco.
Press play on the video above to watch happytree's charismatic performance of "Freefall," and keep checking back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Press Play.
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