Some artists find music through careful planning. Others crash into it headfirst. For 16teen, the spark came early and loud. Raised in Lima, Ohio, he started making music around the age of twelve after getting suspended from school for a diss track aimed at one of his enemies. What could have been a dead end became a doorway. That moment showed him the power of sound, reaction, and reach.
Music quickly became more than a hobby. To 16teen, it is a challenge. He looks at the art as a personal test to rise higher, sharpen his skills, and outdo his last effort. That competitive edge still fuels him today. He draws heavy inspiration from underground rappers and producers who move without rules and build their own lanes from the ground up.
Sonically, 16teen lives in hip hop and underground rap. His sound is raw, restless, and still evolving. He is hands on with the music itself, playing guitar and having a working feel for piano, which helps him understand melodies and structure beyond just rapping. That musical foundation gives him room to experiment and push past the obvious choices.
When it comes to influence, two names stand out the most for him. Prettifun and Nine Vicious shaped his ear and mindset, especially their willingness to be different and unapologetic. That influence shows in how 16teen approaches his own growth. He is honest about his early releases, admitting that some of his singles suffered from sloppy mixing and being off beat. Instead of hiding from that, he uses it as motivation. Those mistakes taught him what not to do and how much better he can become.
Ironically, his most memorable moment is still tied to that first diss track. It picked up a few thousand plays and directly led to his suspension from school. For 16teen, that moment proved people were listening. It was the first sign that his voice could travel further than his bedroom or his city.
Now, he is focused on the future. He is currently working on an EP titled “16,” a project meant to represent where he is right now as an artist and a person. The next step is a single from that EP called “Die Young,” a release that signals growth, focus, and a cleaner execution than anything he has put out before.
16teen is not chasing perfection. He is chasing progress. From a school suspension in Lima to an evolving underground sound, his story is still being written. And if his drive to challenge himself is any indication, the next chapters will be louder, sharper, and impossible to ignore.