Richmond’s own Zuri and Zenos blend lyrical fire and experimental flair in a dynamic AllHipHop freestyle straight from WonWorld Studios.
AllHipHop recently caught up with two rising voices in Hip-Hop, who are pushing the culture forward from the heart of Virginia: Zuri and Xenos. The dynamic duo pulled up to WonWorld Studios and dropped gems about their artistic inspirations, creative style and vision for the future.
Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, the pair come from the same soil but with distinct approaches. Zuri leans into lyrical sharpness and boom bap sensibilities, while Xenos brings an experimental edge inspired by some of the most boundary-pushing artists of today. Before they blessed the mic with a live freestyle, they sat down with DJ Boy Wonda to chop it up. Get familiar with the next wave.
AllHipHop: Respect. So where are y’all repping from?
Zuri: VA all day—two up, two down. Richmond to be exact.
Xenos: Same here—Richmond as well, but I was actually born in Florida.
AllHipHop: Dope. Welcome to New York!
Zuri & Xenos: Yes sir! Appreciate you!
AllHipHop: Before we get into these bars, tell us a bit about your musical style and influences.
Zuri: J. Cole is probably my number one inspiration. Nas is right there with him. Those two are neck and neck. I’m heavily influenced by old school Hip-Hop and R&B. A lot of artists from the golden era really shaped my perspective.
As far as my style, I’d describe it as lyrical, melodic, and sometimes Boom Bap-ish. But I try not to box myself in. I want to be as versatile as possible while still keeping it real.
Xenos: My biggest influence overall is Michael Jackson, just the way he composed his music. I love eccentric sounds and that experimental approach, and that’s something I try to bring into my own art.
In the modern space, I’m really influenced by Andre 3000, Teezo Touchdown and Tyler, The Creator. I admire how they each take risks and bend genres while staying rooted in self-expression. I’m working toward that balance, evolving lyrically and sonically every day.
AllHipHop: That’s a powerful mix, classic and futuristic at the same time.
Zuri: That’s exactly what we aim for.
Xenos: Facts. It’s about growth and creativity, but never forgetting where we come from.
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