Eem Triplin’s music is undeniably addicting. From his trademark rasp to his unquestioned ability in curating lush, expansive and captivating soundscapes, the Johnstown, Pennsylvania newcomer cuts through in a huge way with his debut EP, STILL PRETTY (July 9).
Holding seven tracks with a short-and-sweet runtime of 17 minutes, Triplin’s evolution from type-beat producer — admittedly posting YouTube beats modeling the sounds of LUCKI, Trippie Redd and Playboi Carti — to bona fide rising star is largely solidified on his first-ever project. Off the strength of singles in “WALKED IN” and “TELL ME IM RIGHT,” the 22-year-old rapper hasn’t just caught the eyes of artists like Drake, Lil Yachty, Tyler, The Creator and more, but asserts that he’s here to make his mark everlasting.
Since sharing his breakout hit “Awkward Freestyle” in 2022, STILL PRETTY embodies Eem’s whimsical, unique nature in full-length form. Personal favorites like “WASTED TIMES” and “FEEL BOUT ME” are the epitome of his allure — gliding over entrancing, warped beats with impeccable flows all drenched in his signature stacked vocal chain. “You was picking up my interest / But at the same time, you was clouding up my vision / Disregarding all my feelings / Lowering my ceiling / Sabotaging my dealings,” Eem raps on “WASTED TIMES,” a finger-picked guitar-led ballad that sees the rapper explore an “alt-pluggnb” pocket all his own. Among the five new tracks on the 7-cut effort, “WHAT DA OPP SAID,” “S550” — which at one point featured Lil Yachty — and “WHAT DA HOE CRIED” are a distinct showcase of Pretty Ricky’s refined ear for left-of-center rap cuts that stay stuck in your head.
Producing all seven tracks on the record (alongside DJ Dahi and Charlie Myles), his roots as a beat-maker shine through on the EP’s crisp, hard-hitting drums, dreamy synth progressions, distorted 808s and segmented outro sequences that cascade each track into the next. Eem Triplin’s future isn’t just bright, it scorches with visions of sold-out arenas — much like the artists who support him.
STILL PRETTY is irresistibly infectious, further asserting Eem’s unavoidable takeover.
Spin ‘STILL PRETTY’ below!