Music

Houston rapper KenTheMan makes XXL Freshman Class of 2022

The self-described "Northside baby" attended Westfield, Dekaney and Eisenhower high schools.

Joey Guerra June 14, 2022 Updated: June 14, 2022, 4:02 pm

Houston rapper KenTheMan. Photographed on Thursday, April 28, 2022, at the Houston Chronicle photo studio in Houston.

Photo: Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

It's been a very good year so far for KenTheMan.

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The Houston rapper was just named one of the theXXL Freshman Class of 2022, an annual list of the year's brightest new hip-hop talent. She's among 12 acts who made the cut. (Iprofiled her last month for the Chronicle.)

The Freshman issue hits stands July 13. The dozen artists will be highlighted by XXL throughout the month.

Ken was also chosen as one of nine emerging performers for the First on SoundCloud 2022 class. The year-long program works with artists to reach career milestones, from live performances to interactive events. She's dropping a full-length album this summer.

The self-described "Northside baby" attended Westfield, Dekaney and Eisenhower high schools. She wrote poetry, sang in choir and was part of girl groups before immersing herself in rap.

  • Joey Guerra
    Joey Guerra

    Joey Guerra is the music critic for the Houston Chronicle. He also covers various aspects of pop culture. He has reviewed hundreds of concerts and interviewed hundreds of celebrities, from Justin Bieber to Dolly Parton to Beyonce. He's appeared as a regular correspondent on Fox26 and was head judge and director of the Pride Superstar singing competition for a decade. He has been named journalist of the year multiple times by both OutSmart Magazine and the FACE Awards. He also covers various aspects of pop culture, including the local drag scene and "RuPaul's Drag Race."

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