Nino Paid

Beyond the bruises and underneath the scars of an often-unbelievable past, Nino Paid pushes through the pain and finds the strength to tell his story. As if mid-conversation, the DMV rapper will unassumingly memorialize a relative gone-too-soon, make a stark commentary on addiction, or allow his faith to take over. The 22-year-old immediately struck a chord with generations of hip-hop fans by quite literally holding nothing back and bleeding on every track. In the midst of a turbulent childhood, he recorded his earliest tracks in the basement on his brother’s setup. Music became a means to connect, whether it be catching a girl’s attention with a song or impressing other inmates during his time in a juvenile detention center by singing and rapping. Upon returning home from the latter, he attended barber school, opting to spend hours in the back

“freestyling with old heads.” He anesthetized the pain of losing his aunt & stepdad to cancer by making music. In between, he supported himself by hustling on the streets. During 2023, he personally financed and independently released his debut “Pain & Possibilities,” achieving viral impact and gathering 3.8 million Spotify streams and 1.2 million YouTube views. He picked up the pace with the Can’t Go Bacc mixtape and anthems a la “Money Problems”, “Kryptonite,”

“Relapse,” “Champagne,” and “Suicide”. Earning acclaim from the likes of Stereogum and more, Pitchfork went as far as to crown him, “The introspective new star of DMV rap.”

1Up Tee is a standout voice in Detroit’s booming rap scene, blending street realism with conscious insight-and doing it his own way. Known for his calm, deliberate flow and sharp perspective, Tee first made noise with 2022’s “Accountability” and broke wide with the viral “Good Karma Freestyle,” a raw performance that lit up social media and earned co-signs from Meek Mill, Marshawn Lynch, Babyface Ray, among others.

Raised on the west side of Detroit, Tee brings a drill-influenced sound with a thoughtful core. He doesn’t rap to preach-he raps to reflect what he sees and feels. Songs like “Beanboozled” dig into the traps and contradictions of modern life, while “Let’s Ride” with StarBandz shows his ability to balance slick hooks with substance. On “Need Dat,” his standout collaboration with Babyfxce E, Pitchfork named them

“one of the rap duos of the year” and described the track as “Michigan rap’s version of an ’80s sex comedy, if the booming flip didn’t make it also kind of romantic.”

Nominated for XXL’s 10th Spot Freshman Class in 2025, Tee continues to build momentum on his own terms. Whether tapping into frustration, reflection, or motivation, his music stays grounded in lived experience.

In a city known for its grit and flair, 1Up Tee stands out by offering something rare: real perspective. No gimmicks. No clout-chasing.Just music with a purpose and a point.