Cantrell

Georgia rapper Cantrell transitioned from skateboarding and college football into full-time musical pursuits after winning a song contest sponsored by Converse shoes. After posting several songs online, he connected with producer MiSCHiEF BOY and the two worked on the Stardust 2 Angels EP, the first major release to showcase Cantrell’s cloudy storytelling style.
Cantrell grew up in Albany, Georgia, skateboarding, playing sports and staying physically active. He was interested in music as a teenager but focused on football, which offered him a scholarship when he entered college. Ultimately, he left college to work on music full time, posting early tracks online and playing shows. A huge factor in this decision was his winning the Converse “Rubber Tracks” song competition, which expanded his profile and led to performances at South by Southwest. He soon met Los Angeles producer MiSCHiEF BOY and relocated to L.A. to work on music. This journey was chronicled in Cantrell’s debut EP, Stardust 2 Angels, a dreamlike eight-song project that had themes of leaving the small town for the big city. “Stardust” was the name of the skating rink in Cantrell’s hometown, which he left for “Angels,” or Los Angeles. The EP was released in 2018 on Nas’ Mass Appeal imprint, and Cantrell returned the next year with Devil Never Even Lived, a collection of eight more songs showcasing his fluid, melodic style. ~ Fred Thomas