The Virginia rapper has had no choice but to find comfort operating in darkness for his entire life, and his music is a reflection of that. His cinematic brand of hip-hop is equal parts monstrous and medicinal. His raspy voice rings out over ominous melodies and heavy 808’s. He creates dark art as a means of exacting revenge for the trauma that permeated his childhood—a brand of vengeance that harms no one but impacts every listener.

Born Farma Wesley, the African-American of Liberian descent hails from Woodbridge, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C. He was unpopular growing up, and frequently felt disconnected from his peer group. As hip-hop became his vehicle for exorcising his demons, he drew inspiration from the likes of Ludacris, DMX, and Nas. His charisma and wit set him apart from his peers at an early age. He would write obsessively and freestyle anywhere—in the cafeteria, in parking lots, and in his friends’ cars—and the fervor with which he took to his craft is evident in every verse that he delivers, with poise and precision.

Farma Wes is breaking free from the confines of public perception and societal norms, and he makes music for everyone desperately searching for a way to do the same. Brightest Young Things noted that Wes is one of the few artists “willing to steer the genre [of hip-hop] through uncharted waters.” Despite Wes’s intimidating aura, listeners will quickly realize that he is willing to bring his listeners along for the ride.