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2. He has a group with Corbin, Bobby Raps, and Psymun called thestand4rd.
After releasing one of the strongest mixtapes of 2014 in Future Memoirs, Allan kept things coming later in the year with thestand4rd. Comprising of fellow Minnesota-based artists Corbin (fka Spooky Black), Bobby Raps, and Psymun, the four-piece's debut album proved why each performer was worth paying attention to in their own right. Allan certainly wasn't afraid to steal the show on a few of the tracks, but it's how well the group works together as a cohesive whole that truly makes the project so special.
4. He's been working with Plain Pat since he was 17.
Plain Pat, whose production credits include Kanye West, Kid Cudi, and Drake, among others, clearly saw a lot in Allan from early on. Working with him on the song that really got people talking about Allan, "Evergreens," the pair showed a clear chemistry from the beginning of their working relationship. The two of them continued to work together from here on out, with Pat contributing three co-production credits to Allan's stellar Future Memoirs project. It looks like their partnership won't be ending any time soon, and with the recent "Blast," it appears that this can only be a good thing.
6. He's as good a producer as he is a rapper.
Speaking on Future Memoirs, Allan shared that he produced the majority of the project himself. He's been flexing his production muscle since he first started releasing music around five years ago, and he's been rapidly improving ever since. Future Memoirs shows just how far he's come as a producer, with "Imposters" and "Etiquette" in particular showcasing just how unique his minimal production style can be.
8. He's at the forefront of the Midwest's bubbling hip-hop scene.
We don't really hear a whole lot about hip-hop in the Midwest, outside of Chicago, but there's little doubt that'll change soon as people explore the music of Kingdom's friends and associate's. Alongside his frequent collaborators in thestand4rd, Allan is really repping his state. Sure, it isn't actually his his home state since he's originally from Canada, but he's drawing attention to a small and exciting scene no less.
10. He's not afraid to experiment.
If the last year has taught us anything about Allan, it's that he really likes to showcase just how versatile he is as an artist. From the quirky whimsy of "Evergreens" to the deadpan swagger of "Blast," he's far from one-note and he wants to make sure everyone knows that. This versatility and knack for experimentation is evident track by track on Future Memoirs and on his wonderful work with thestand4rd, and it's just another reason why his future is so promising.
12. He knows how to pick his collaborators
His list of collaborators isn't particularly huge at the moment, but that seems likely to change—no doubt his phone is ringing off the hook right now. But his relatively small list of collaborators is strong regardless of size, and this is evident not only from his work with thestand4rd but those outside of Minnesota, too. Whether it's the melancholy pondering of "Victoria" with Jon Waltz or the whimsical bounce of "Already" with Kevin Abstract, it's clear that Allan works well with others, especially other young, talented artists.
18. He's on Kanye West's next album.
If you're reading this, the news that Allan is to be featured on Kanye West's next album probably isn't news to you. But it's an important thing to mention, especially considering the leap in fan base Allan is about receive. It's not like he even blended in with the crowd and simply did his contribution to the track; he fucking made sure people were going to be asking who he was after the performance. And those dance moves? He's already a rockstar.
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20. He's going to be everywhere this year.
We all know the massive significance of a Kanye co-sign, but this is something we've believed long before he ever hopped on stage with Yeezy: Allan is going to have a huge year. As one of the most promising and versatile rappers going, his future success was always highly likely—now it's simply guaranteed. He might not end up jumping on every single track like Kendrick Lamar at the height of his popularity, but he's definitely going to be showing up a lot more in 2015.
Hell, maybe we'll even get a Taylor Swift collab.
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