Growing up in East Harlem’s James Weldon Johnson Houses, the decisions of youth often became the difference between life or death — and in ascending rap artist Sleazus Bhrist’s case, incarceration versus freedom. “A lot of the kids on my block were hustling for their families. In the absence of my mother, my aunt stepped in to raise me. Still, she could only do so much. You either trapped or rapped in my ‘hood,” Bhrist explained.

By 17, Bhrist, born Jeremiah Dent, was met with the consequences of these hard-knock truths and multiple felony charges. The MC began penning lyrics from his bunk in solitary confinement. “Most of my time locked up, I was in the box and restricted from other inmates. All I could do was read novels, write poetry, and listen to Z100 for twenty-three hours of the day,” he said. The constant loop of Top 40 music did more than inspire his artistic vision, it established a foundation for his genrebending soundscapes upon the rapper’s release from prison. Hip-hop would swiftly become Bhrist’s refuge.

His dreary single, “Exodus (I Know),” acknowledged the sudden passing of his aunt, and accumulated traction across streaming service platforms. The music video garnered 96,000 views on YouTube without the backing of a major. By curating a treatment for each music video, and building an eclectic audience, Bhrist’s hard-hitting tracks, “No Friends,” “Kurt Kobain,” and “Plate,” served the streets a prelude to his renowned 3- song EP, The Bible (Chapter 1).

“Fans should know authenticity is crucial to my lyricism. My influences such as JAY-Z, Young Thug, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, and DMX are respected because they offer us their truth. If I rapped it on wax, it happened,” affirms Bhrist.

With each distinct creative endeavor, Bhrist challenges the concepts of what hip-hop enthusiasts envision the culture being. The Passion of the Bhrist, his forthcoming project will serve as his mainstream debut, and sonically amplify alternative notes against steely New York raps..