Bri Steves

It's the kind of story that doesn't happen anymore. It wasn't about metrics or social media "likes." East Falls-born rapper, singer, multi-instrumentalist, poet, and producer Bri Steves quietly grinded, teaching herself to play piano, engineer and produce, ultimately igniting a competitive bidding war, and thus landed a deal with Atlantic Records solely based on the strength of her ability to spit, powerhouse voice and confessional songwriting.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, she spent her formative years studying the lyrics of her favorite rappers, undergoing classical training, and performing viola in the Delaware Symphony Orchestra. Attending Temple University, Bri taught herself how to engineer and produce so she could record on her own. Simultaneously, she cut her teeth singing and rapping in Philadelphia subways. Assuming the opening spot on a Starr Island Music Group showcase in 2016, her powerhouse performance left the audience stunned, and she signed to the company's roster. Gaining early tastemaker support from the likes of Revolt TV, The Fader touted her among "5 Artists Ready to Be Philadelphia's Next Champion." Her senior year at Temple would be split between assignments on Blackboard and marathon sessions. She recorded in Atlanta, Miami, and Los Angeles everywhere from The Hit Factory and Circle House to Jungle City Studios and Glenwood alongside Sonny Digital, Boi-1da, and more. Now, the 2018 single "Jealousy" introduces the next chapter of this story.