If you’re watching Portland’s all-ages rap scene, you should know about SQD, and if you know about SQD, you ought to know about Heff. The 19 year old uptempo rapper with the million dollar smile has been a particularly bright spot in the youthful crew’s lineup, incorporating solid bars into his calculated, contemporary style.
Following a spate of popular singles with his SQD partner Tugg, Heff released a solo mixtape at the start of the weekend. Rookie Of The Year is an apt title for a youngin making a considerable splash right out of high school. The 6-track offering (which includes recent single Lil N****) pulls in three features: Mike The True – who rap-sings like Future – does his thing on the comparatively spacy In My Zone, Tugg keeps up on the whimsical Yup Bet, and Donte Thomas delivers a blessing one of the project’s most complete tracks, I Need It All. The Panda Remix stands out as well as the young spitter really gives it his own vibe.
Dope to see young Heff stepping from out the shadows of his group and turning up with the solo work. He’s showing a lot of promise – both artistically and socially – at a very young age. Expect plenty more from the talented crew in 2016.