It’s 2025, and here at Come Hear NC the motto’s NEW YEAR, NEW MUSIC. All January, we’re going to be spotlighting emergin...

It’s 2025, and here at Come Hear NC the motto’s NEW YEAR, NEW MUSIC. All January, we’re going to be spotlighting emerging NC artists, new releases, and featuring exclusive interviews with (and playlists from) some of North Carolina’s most interesting musicians. First up is rapper MAVI (@mavi4mayor) from Charlotte, whose 2024 LP SHADOWBOX made many end-of-the-year lists of best rap albums. As its name suggests, SHADOWBOX is a shadowy affair, minimal in its production, direct in its expression, and with hooks that stick. Standout track “The Giver” finds MAVI ambivalently contemplating a lost love over a hypnotic piano loop. The whole album, like MAVI’s previous work with hip-hop heavy hitters like Earl Sweatshirt and Alchemist, walks the tightrope between meditative reflection and exuberance. This has an electrifying effect on listeners, generating a frisson in the contrast between MAVI’s energetic flows and his somber themes. Alt. text: a photo of a man with dreadlocks, in a hoodie, looking into the camera Image: By Omavi Ammu Minder, CC By-SA 4.0