PREMIERE: NicX Enlists 6LACK and Well$ to Sidestep Gatekeepers on "Locksmith"

Artwork by Fred Lozano

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Artwork by Fred Lozano

Artwork by Fred Lozano

A crop of hip-hop newcomers aren’t taking no for an answer.

21-year-old rapper NicX taps a pair of his peers to stand tall against gatekeepers on “Locksmith.” 6LACK, who’s shrouded in mystery after a quiet 2015, appears alongside No Ceilings alum Well$ in support of the Atlanta by way of Cleveland artist. Together, they recognize that the best way to get your foot in the door is to invent your way through it: don’t wait for a key, make your own.

“The song comes from being frustrated about the older people in the game not opening the doors for the new generation,” NicX told us over email. “So for us to make it we have to pick the locks.”

The trio strike a balance between melodic and aggressive. Well$ speaks with conviction against the calculated coldness of the industry, NicX circles over it all with a hawkish eye, and 6LACK bridges their verses with a smooth hook. It’s one of NicX’s best efforts to date.

Listen to “Locksmith,” produced by Singawd, below. With a currently untitled EP on the horizon, expect more from NicX in the coming months.

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w.soundcloud.com

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image via NicX

image via NicX

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