Don't overlook Bryson Tiller. The 23-year-old from Louisville sold out his first show at First Avenue Sunday with lines wrapping around the building before show time.
While he isn't a household name yet, Tiller's music is already a favorite among chart toppers and radio heavyweights, such as Drake and the Weeknd. Like them, Tiller is blurring the lines between rapping and singing. His debut album "Trapsoul," stylistically represents its namesake. Dubbed the first post-Drake album by the New York Times, it's racking up millions of listens online with its blend of honest lyrics and brooding, slowed-down beats. Unlike Drake, Tiller has soulful vocal chops, which he shows off like a rugged Omarion, an artist he idolized growing up.
Tiller's 2014 hit, "Don't," peaked at No. 13 on the pop charts. On the track, he's the guy who says he can treat you better than your current beau.
"I guess he didn't know any better," Tiller rap-sings to his lady. "Girl, that man didn't show any effort."
But then in "Sorry not Sorry," Tiller flips the switch to a rap – sounding like a rage text you sent to an ex after you've broken up.
"I know you thought we had something special," he raps. "But you don't mean nothing to me."
His songs flirt between sultry R&B love songs about souring relationships to putting in the effort to make a relationship work.
It's a hit formula: First Avenue was packed with women dressed in their best Instagram worthy outfits. Through billows of smoke and neon lighting, Tiller serenaded his audience.