READ IT AT YOUTUBE FOR ARTISTS

Phora has been through a ton of traumas—from trouble with would-be father figures to the two times he nearly died as the result of attempted murder—but he’s persisted not only as a positive human being, but a hard-hustling self-made rap sensation. He did much of his fan-building via YouTube, initially DIYing his own videos, and eventually teaming with director George Orozco to create visually stunning, often narrative-heavy visuals. The man even engages the comments section, which, I suppose after you’ve been shot in the neck isn’t so scary. Still, I’m impressed.