rapper Lil Poppa got his start in rap ... "Purple Hearts" is something of a somber audio diary on which Poppa recaps the emotions he felt while surviving a shooting in his hometown.

Amid the humble Florida rapper’s croons and raps about life and pain, there’s a unique voice that’s starting to emerge. Lil Poppa probably wouldn’t mind if he didn’t get any more popular.

Every week, The FADER’s Brandon Callender shares his highlights from across the rap world, from megastar artists to the deep underground. Lil Poppa approaches songwriting like a pointillist.

Just take Legend Yae’s Drugs and a Mic Too, released last month, and Lil Poppa’s Heavy Is the Head, from November. Both are driven by haunted blues and clear-eyed reflections, and both ...

Lil Poppa is a rapper and singer from Jacksonville, Florida, known for his emotional lyrics and smooth flow. He started gaining attention with songs that talk about real-life struggles and ...