Adam Es and J-kwe$t Are Two LA Rappers You Should Know
Adam Es (right) and J-Kwe$t (left)
Adam ES and J-kwe$t aren’t making the kind of hip hop that’s been clogging the arteries of SoundCloud and everywhere else underground music is released—but at the same time it isn’t the preachy, overly-lyrical type that everyone’s dad wants to hear. It’s got a new wave feel without the sense of laziness starting to be synonymous with rappers in 2017.
They’re close friends of CUCO, a 19-year-old indie musician from Hawthorne with a fanbase growing as fast as anyone in music right now. Adam Es, who’s also from Hawthorne, told us how a Twitter convo led to their friendship saying, “I met him in Hawthorne when he dropped ‘Cupid’s Quiver.’ I loved the sound. I went to his house, he showed me some beats and songs. We had the same music taste, and we just clicked.”
That’s actually how we learned about these guys—when CUCO gave J-kwe$t’s new tape BLUR a co-sign on Twitter—but it isn’t the only reason we’re talking about them.
Adam Es says that the three of them along with SHIDÜ (a trio made up of CUCO’s bandmates: Breeze, Esai and Liano) are leading a ‘music renaissance’ out of the South Bay, and he takes pride in the fact that their music isn’t a carbon copy of anyone else.
Both Adam Es and J-kwe$t say Tyler, The Creator is one of their biggest inspirations, but they also listed artists like A Tribe Called Quest, Tame Impala, and Toro y Moi. They’re into music all across the spectrum, and you hear it in the stuff they create.
At 21 and 18 respectively Adam and J-kwe$t are still coming into their own, but their music is getting increasingly better with each new drop. Sound quality is an issue at times, but that’s going to improve as they transition from bedroom recording to actual studios.
J-kwe$t (top left) with CUCO and his bandmates before Viva Pomona 8/6.
They both know how to make a catchy song that makes you think, which is a pretty rare trait nowadays. They have the potential to create some real waves going forward. J-kwe$t will have a chance very soon when he opens up for CUCO on his Texas tour.
Check out their new tapes below (each of which has a feature from CUCO) and ADAM Es’ new video for ‘Mission.’
