Smokedope2016

In the organizer's words:

Often credited for bringing cloud rap back to life, Virginia rapper and producer smokedope2016 stands out as a visionary.

Little is known about his personal life however, as he prefers to keep his public and private lives separate, rarely sharing details and often blurring his face in videos, social media posts, and album covers. Fan speculation, on Reddit particularly, is very common, with people frequently trying to figure out more details about his personal life. As he told the Masked Gorilla podcast in February 2025, he had traded his welding job for a full-time music career in summer 2024.

smokedope2016's dreamy and nostalgic musical style has often been compared to Black Kray, Eric Dingus and Yung Lean, all artists known for their experimental, ambient sounds that shape the underground cloud rap scene. "Experimentation is necessary to grow artistically, which is crucial for any artist's longevity", an idea truly reflected in his discography.