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Samara Cyn is a musical nomad in each sense of the phrase. Many may’ve first heard her by way of tracks like “Katana” and “WAKE UP,” caught her when Lauryn Hill introduced her onstage at Jazz In The Gardens Music Pageant in March 2025, or perhaps even stumbled throughout her by probability. Because it goes for a lot of of her friends, the Tennessee native’s profession path wasn’t so simple as blowing up in a single day from one track.
As a substitute, like a lot of our favourite girls in rap, Cyn needed to put in actual work to get her second. In 2024, she shared her debut mission, The Drive Dwelling, which did not fairly stick with anyone style. Over time, the artist has amassed co-signs from Doechii, Smino and Alicia Keys, to call a couple of. In case you’re simply tapping in, Rap-Up rounded up 11 songs to assist introduce you to the “Mangolia Rain” musician.
1. Chrome
Any rapper can discuss preserving it actual, however on “Chrome,” Cyn exposes the uncomfortable pressure between chasing mainstream validation and staying painfully true to your self. “I am considering the extent to which I am going to play the sport,” she unloaded on the D’Mile-produced providing earlier than including, “And determine the way to give them keys when they do not know my title.” The singer faces the quiet anxiousness of probably promoting one’s soul for achievement — an thought made much more vivid by its visible companion, which roughly makes an attempt to seize that inner tug-of-war.
2. Katana
The genre-blending artist has an plain vary! In “Katana,” she belts out strains like, “That smooth s**t ain’t sufficient / Everyone stand up” over a groove constructed to make you progress. Although the funk-infused pop anthem is much less lyrically formidable than her different choices, generally all you want is a feel-good anthem, and right here, Cyn completely delivers.
3. Shifting Day
OK, we all know precisely what you are considering. She feels like Doja Cat, or perhaps a cross between JID and Smino — the latter of whom she truly toured with. That’s most likely what makes “Shifting Day” such an addictive hear. Like all of her finest stuff, it sees the songwriter leaping from rapid-fire raps one second to belting out melodies the following.
4. pleasure’s interlude
Who knew loving somebody might be this difficult? On “pleasure’s interlude,” Cyn weighs the choice of reaching out to an ex whose ego clearly sabotaged their relationship. Ultimately, the artist realizes you possibly can’t “lose one thing you ain’t by no means had.” Letting her go was positively his largest L. She’s making use of strain, and clearly, not everybody can deal with it.
5. Rolling Stone
One other observe from her debut mission, “Rolling Stone” would not sound like something we have heard from her earlier than. On the observe, Cyn makes it clear she’s not about to be anchored down by anybody or something. The Los Angeles-based expertise is on the point of taking up the world — or, on the very least, a Spotify algorithm close to you — and positively would not need its issues slowing her down.
6. Pop n Olive that includes Sherwyn
The opening strains of “Pop n Olive” are a real take a look at of Cyn’s potential to bounce between sounds every time and nonetheless she desires: “You may be my yeah-yeah, be my pen pal / Uh, yeah, however do not b**ch out.” Singer and producer Sherwyn holds his personal with strains sandwiched between her bars, as they drift by way of the suburbs within the Luciana Baldovino-directed visible companion.
7. see by way of (remix) by Amelia Moore that includes Coco Jones and Completely
Like we talked about earlier than, our woman can float on actually any beat. Right here, she hopped onto Amelia Moore’s remix of “see by way of,” together with Coco Jones and Completely. “I am standing there with my thong on / Large temper, put my track on,” Cyn raps earlier than hilariously boasting about her “coronary heart greater than the tatas.” Her verse arrived towards the tail-end of the observe, with a extra stripped-down beat. A minimum of we all know she’s positively a woman’s woman.
8. Sinner
This checklist would not be full with out “Sinner,” arguably Cyn’s most spiritually charged observe, and simply one in all her strongest. Co-directed with Boima Anderson, its Americana-inspired video as soon as once more proves she’s by no means boxed in by expectations, musically or visually.
9. Small Discuss by Ovrkast.
Simply when it looks like the “Kountry Kousins Tour” opener may lastly give in to some superficial chatter, she modifies gears totally. On “Small Discuss,” Cyn paired up with producer-rapper Ovrkast. for what we severely hope will not be their final collaboration — as a result of rattling, they certain do sound nice collectively. “Spring water within the coochie, child / Eat wholesome, form my Wu-Tang’s and Kahootie’s these days,” she tosses out over the track’s lo-fi instrumental.
10. Unhealthy Mind
Cyn stares down her anxieties head-on in “Unhealthy Mind.” Over a reinterpretation of Thee Sacred Souls’ “Can I Name You Rose?,” she lays naked the nagging distractions of a clouded thoughts — trying to flee the psychological push-and-pull. “Snort so onerous at they jokes, yeah, you bought me Kurt Cobain / I am a foul b**ch, y’all cannot kill me,” the artist unloads. Her style fluidity has at all times been a robust swimsuit, however right here, her lyricism proves she’s equally highly effective when turning inward.
11. MFTB
“MFTB” — quick for “motherf**okay the financial institution” — kicks off The Drive Dwelling, so you recognize the burgeoning star wasn’t about to play it secure. Throughout the observe, she declares warfare in opposition to conformity, gatekeepers and anybody else blocking her path to greatness. Between her flipping The Matrix references (“Inform ’em get up, I am Neo”) and declaring dominance on her competitors (“I do not play the 2, that s**t beneath me”), Cyn makes it very clear she’s right here for the crown, to not compromise.