MOD SUN

Bloomington, Minnesota rapper/songwriter/vocalist Mod Sun uses elements of his hardcore past along with aspects of rap, acoustic songwriting, and electronic music to make songs that strike deep in terms of both emotional resonance and commercial appeal. He grew more involved with a scene of chart-topping genre-hoppers, collaborating with artists like Machine Gun Kelly, blackbear, Nipsey Hussle, and others. On his 2021 album Internet Killed the Rock Star, Mod Sun collaborated with Avril Lavigne as he pivoted from a rap-centered sound to focus more on the punk and pop side of his songwriting.
Born Derek Smith, Mod Sun took on his hip-hop moniker around 2004, the name short for “Movement on Dreams Stand Under None.” He had entered the music business as a drummer in the post-hardcore group Four Letter Lie, taking on the Mod Sun name before branching out as a solo artist. He left Four Letter Lie in 2009 to join Scary Kids Scaring Kids as their drummer, but SKSK’s live shows were also an opportunity to debut Mod Sun as the opening act.
Rapping became a full-time job when the group disbanded in 2010 and Mod Sun released his debut, The Hippy Hop EP. The In Mod We Trust EP landed in 2011 and Happy as Fuck followed in 2012. In 2014, he signed with Rostrum Records and released his debut album, Look Up, in 2015. Travis Barker, Machine Gun Kelly, and G-Eazy were among the record’s guests. The following year saw Mod Sun issue a handful of new singles, including the Honorable C.N.O.T.E.-produced “Gucci Nail,” “We Do This Shit” (featuring DeJ Loaf), and the Don Cannon-produced “Smokin’ What I’m Smokin’ On” (featuring D.R.A.M. and Rich). In March 2017, Mod Sun delivered his sophomore LP, Movie, featuring the single “Two.” He quickly followed that with another album, BB, the same year, and spent 2018 issuing singles like “Runaway” and “Burning Up.”
Several singles arrived in January 2019 including the catchy “Tell Me All Your Secrets.” “Flames,” a song featuring Avril Lavigne, appeared in early 2021 as the first track off Mod Sun’s fourth full-length album, Internet Killed the Rock Star. The record arrived in February 2021, and a deluxe edition followed shortly thereafter, including the track “Heavy” featuring blackbear, as well as many acoustic renditions of songs that appeared on the standard edition of the album. ~ David Jeffries