DeJ Loaf

Few artists emerge as fully formed on a debut single as DeJ Loaf did with 2014’s “Try Me”. From the jump, the Detroit rapper, born Deja Trimble in 1991, sounded utterly distinct, with a melodic rap cadence that wrapped her threats against all comers in a sparkling musical package. The song exploded on social media, thanks in part to a Drake shout-out, and suddenly DeJ Loaf became an in-demand feature contributor, jumping on tracks by Lil Durk, The Game and Tinashe. Though she is quiet and reserved in person, her lyrics can be raunchy (as heard on Jacquees’ “Want Your Sex”), disarmingly aggressive (“Problem”) or achingly tender (“No Fear”), while her sound incorporates influences like hip-hop stylist E-40 and R&B singer Anita Baker, two of her childhood favourites. DeJ’s catalogue leans toward one-off singles, mixtapes and EPs instead of traditional albums, but no matter the format, you know exactly who’s on the mic the second you hear her voice.