Toronto Rapper twentythree Fuses Drill and Rave on Debut Mixtape
The Toronto rapper-producer twentythree blends drill, ratchet music, and rave influences on his debut mixtape "6ix Pop." Raised in Iran, he used VPNs to follow internet trends before moving to Canada at 15, where he began making music. His sound, marked by blown-out melodies and aqueous vocals, reflects his experiences at chaotic house parties and his nostalgia for 2010s hip-hop.
twentythree's path to music began in Iran, where he and friends circumvented censorship with VPNs to absorb global hip-hop trends, from 50 Cent to Drake to SoundCloud-era sounds. Relocated to Canada at 15 for schooling, he pivoted fully to music after a transformative night on molly. His production caught the ear of DC-based SJR during the pandemic, who discovered him through a Persian-flavored sample pack and brought him into the Too Many Strikers collective. His visa status has kept him from ever performing in the United States, yet his DMV-influenced beats have circulated widely. He's already teasing a follow-up full-length project, *Greezy God*, for later this year.
This story may resonate with young immigrant artists navigating cultural hybridity, showing how geographic barriers can be bypassed through digital communities. twentythree's rise could signal a broader shift in how regional scenes like Toronto's drill and DMV rap cross-pollinate, potentially expanding audiences for diaspora-driven sounds. His trajectory may also spark conversation about visa restrictions limiting international artists' access to the U.S. market, though his success suggests creative workarounds exist.