Naeem “Eem” Triplin started out like every major underground artist out right now, making Youtube type beats from his bedroom. He started initial tentative traction when rappers like Yeat hopped on some of his beats. His big break occurred when rapper Snot hit him up after hearing one of his beats, enlisting him as a producer on his 2020 album Beautiful Havoc. Eem delivered, producing the Billboard charting “Revenge,” among others, asserting himself as a rising producer.
Eem had already been releasing his own music online, but it was more of a side project. Still, he started developing a signature sound: booming bass, wavy melodies, rhythmic drums, all backed by a unique, high-pitched cadence. After getting some motion with producer credits, he started taking personal work more seriously, returning from a two year hiatus to start regularly dropping in 2022.
Using TikTok to his advantage, Eem promoted tirelessly, his unique sound complementing the internet-core vibe of the platform in the early 2020’s. He struck gold with “Awkward Freestyle,” playing on nostalgia and familiarity by sampling Tyler, the Creator’s song “Awkward.” What resulted was a psychedelic, jersey club banger that went Gold and sent him straight to internet urban legend status. His run for the rest of the year was pretty solid, riding the hype from “AF” while still dropping constant bangers and developing his sound. He wouldn’t be defined as a one hit wonder.
When the novelty of “AF” died out, Eem was left with a cult following but out of eye of the mainstream. But, Eem didn’t fade into obscurity, dropping an insanely solid album in February and an equally solid EP just a few weeks ago. These projects saw him as more introspective, playing with new sounds while still inserting his signature flair. He made the XXL Freshman List this year, too (a list that no one really cares about anymore), showcasing the best up and coming rappers of the year.
Eem’s a great rapper, and an even better beatmaker. His cohesive style is akin to legendary producers like Pierre Bourne and Tyler, the Creator (one of his biggest influences), and he’s defining a new genre of underground rap in the Plugg scene. He’s only 24, and still has insane potential, but also has some room to grow; a lot of his lyrics are about money, ex girlfriends, and other moody topics, so it would be dope to hear something new whatsoever. He’s matured expeditiously from his TikTok fame, and the future looks bright.
Tap in while you still can.
Songs to check out
Old stuff
- “Awkward Freestyle” – 2022
- “New Jack City” – 2022
- “What Da Opp Said” – 2023
- “London Tipton” – 2022
New Stuff
- “Coming Undone” – 2025
- “23” – 2025
Many say rap is dead. Soulful sample loops and dusty drums have given way to simple melodies, soul-crushing 808s, and intricate hi-hats, with many believing that hip hop has degraded from an art form into pure slop. I’m an OG hip-hop fan til I die, but I find I still enjoy new rap and their futuristic soundscapes. And yeah, I agree, there’s some hot ass on the airwaves right now. A lot of the new artists I rock with only have a few gems, with the rest being all filler: there’s a lack of care with a lot of the new music dropping, favoring streams and clout over legit artistry and craft.
And then there’s Eem Triplin.
Naeem “Eem” Triplin started out like every major underground artist out right now, making Youtube type beats from his bedroom. He started initial tentative traction when rappers like Yeat hopped on some of his beats. His big break occurred when rapper Snot hit him up after hearing one of his beats, enlisting him as a producer on his 2020 album Beautiful Havoc. Eem delivered, producing the Billboard charting “Revenge,” among others, asserting himself as a rising producer.
Eem had already been releasing his own music online, but it was more of a side project. Still, he started developing a signature sound: booming bass, wavy melodies, rhythmic drums, all backed by a unique, high-pitched cadence. After getting some motion with producer credits, he started taking personal work more seriously, returning from a two year hiatus to start regularly dropping in 2022.
Using TikTok to his advantage, Eem promoted tirelessly, his unique sound complementing the internet=core vibe of the platform in the early 2020’s. He struck gold with “Awkward Freestyle,” playing on nostalgia and familiarity by sampling Tyler, the Creator’s song “Awkward.” What resulted was a psychedelic, jersey club banger that went Gold and sent him straight to internet urban legend status. His run for the rest of the year was pretty solid, riding the hype from “AF” while still dropping constant bangers and developing his sound. He wouldn’t be defined as a one hit wonder.
When the novelty of “AF” died out, Eem was left with a cult following but out of eye of the mainstream. But, Eem didn’t fade into obscurity, dropping an insanely solid album in February and an equally solid EP just a few weeks ago. These projects saw him as more introspective, playing with new sounds while still inserting his signature flair. He made the XXL Freshman List this year, too (a list that no one really cares about anymore), showcasing the best up and coming rappers of the year.
Eem’s a great rapper, and an even better beatmaker. His cohesive style is akin to legendary producers like Pierre Bourne and Tyler, the Creator (one of his biggest influences), and he’s defining a new genre of underground rap in the Plugg scene. He’s only 24, and still has insane potential, but also has some room to grow; a lot of his lyrics are about money, ex girlfriends, and other moody topics, so it would be dope to hear something new whatsoever. He’s matured expeditiously from his TikTok fame, and the future looks bright.
Tap in while you still can.
Songs To Check Out
- “Awkward Freestyle” — 2022
- “New Jack City” — 2022
- “What Da Opp Said” — 2023
- “London Tipton” — 2022
- “Coming Undone” — 2025
- “23” — 2025
Leave a Reply