Tommy Genesis is independent. She emerged from the underground rap scene, stayed true to her vision, and grew a devoted fanbase by doing things differently. She experimented with a multitude of music genres, including emo, noise, and punk, before creating her own: fetish rap. The term isn’t meant to signify the often overt sexual nature of her music, but to highlight how niche her sound is. Tommy is also a visual artist — having pursued post-secondary education in art and film — which is especially apparent in the music videos she often directs and edits herself. Tommy Genesis can’t be boxed into a singular category. She’s unabashedly unique, unapologetically herself, and unflinchingly independent.

Hear her talk about her self-titled debut album, becoming a Fenty Beauty ambassador, and working with one of her idols M.I.A.