DEREK JOHN
Emerging Artist
Derek John is a genre-bending artist repping Madison, WI by way of Austin and Northern Illinois.
He started writing, rapping, and singing in 7th grade, later sharpening his sound under the mentorship of underground icon F. Stokes and Geto Boys legend Bushwick Bill.
From rocking stages coast to coast to breaking new ground helping spark Madison's hip-hop renaissance with a weekly showcase, Derek John's influence runs very deep.
His studio/beat-making lab churns out Dirty-South-meets-Midwest anthems that have climbed Caribbean charts and echoed worldwide: Think Three6Mafia meets Motown, with a dose of trap, club, country, rock and raw lyricism.
It's music with an unmistakable sound built to move crowds and shake the charts.
Cueen Cherry B
Emerging Artist
Cueen Cherry B is a genre-defiant force rising from the Great Lakes Midwestern region shaped by roots in Wheeling, WV, Lena, IL, and Madison, WI.
Cueen Cherry B grew up at the crossroads of blending the grit of Southern trap with emo-rock & soul energy, fusing Gucci Mane's hard-knock swagger with the raw emotional edge of bands like From Autumn to Ashes and Brand New.
A proud mom and boss, Cueen Cherry B and her music champions female empowerment without denigrating men - no gimmicks, no man-bashing just authentic, real, confident storytelling.
Riding waves of rave culture and the modern Phonk resurgence, Cueen Cherry B crafts tracks that balance power and vulnerability, showing that strength comes from nurturing family, building empire, and staying true to your roots.
With each verse, Cueen Cherry B builds music that hits hard but feels even harder yet stakes her claim as a voice for women who lead, love and hustle - all at once.