BET recently announced their 2022 ‘BET Hip Hop Awards’ Cypher Talent. The list included some well-known names like Deetranada, Baby Tate, and Sa-Roc. But it also featured some up-and-coming names for their digital-exclusive cypher. One rising star listed was Armani Caesar.
Who is Armani Caesar?
Armani Caesar is a Buffalo, NY-based rapper who’s been gaining traction lately from her catchy single, “Paula Deen” — which features Westside Gunn. Caesar started blowing up in 2020 with her debut album, “The Liz.” She’s since been featured in several hit guest verses on songs like Westside Gunn’s” Flygod Is An Awesome God 2” and Conway The Machine’s “From King To A God.” Caesar announced a sequel to 2020’s “The Liz”, entitled “The Liz 2”. Her upcoming sophomore album is predicted to further skyrocket her promising career.
Learn more about this surging star and her rise to hip hop acclaim.
Armani Caesar was just a teenager when her career got started
Rapping since the age of 12, Caesar got her start at 16 when she saw a flier advertising a local recording studio in her hometown of Buffalo. The late DJ Shay owned a studio called Buff City. Buff City was where Caesar was introduced to rappers Westside Gunn, Benny the Butcher, and Conway The Machine. DJ Shay passed away in 2020 from COVID-19. Shortly after his passing Caesar commemorated him in an Instagram post, thanking him for the role he played in launching her career.
“DJ Shay believed in me before anybody. I would’ve never met Benny, Conway, or Westside if it hadn’t been for him. His studio was the first studio I’ve ever recorded in,” Caesar wrote.
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She’s the first woman to be signed to Griselda Records
The Buffalo-based record label, Griselda Records, was a boys club until Caesar was signed to the label in March 2020, making her the “first lady” of Griselda Records. Other notable artists in the collective include Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, Benny The Butcher, and Mach-Hommy. In an interview with HotNewHipHop Caesar expressed what it’s like being the only woman in an all-male crew.
“I can say one of the good things about having all males around is that you feel like, especially with Griselda because they’re like really lyrical and they make great at music and creating music, they hold me to that standard as well.”
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She has an entrepreneurial spirit
Caesar has a hustler mentality. Whether it’s with her music or her various entrepreneurial pursuits, Caesar stays in her bag. While living In Charlotte, NC, Caesar financed her budding music career by dancing at strip clubs.
“It was a grind, I literally just started from scratch, I didn’t know nobody,” Caesar told BET. “It was more-or-less me grinding just trying to make the money first-and-foremost and two, to be able to chase my dream and do what I love.”
And as Caesar’s music dreams continue to soar, her passion for fashion has also grown into a thriving business. Caesar has her own boutique clothing brand Armani’s Closet, which has helped build her fanbase.
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Armani Caesar has had several career achievements
Although her career is just getting started, Caesar has already achieved some highlight-worthy recognition. In 2020, Complex named Caesar’s verse on her debut single “Lil Cease” one of the best rap verses of the year. Her debut project, “The Liz”, was named on Fader’s 50 Best Albums of 2020. And she was named on Rolling Stones’ Best Songs of 2020 list.
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