The WNBA Finals are set to tipoff Friday at 7 pm EST/4 pm PST where the Seattle Storm will take on the Las Vegas Aces to battle for the championship. The Storm will be fully charged with stars Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird ready for the action while the Aces are led by league MVP A'ja Wilson, who averaged 20.5 points in the regular season. The Aces, coached by NBA legend Bill Laimbeer, have the top seed in the matchup and are playing for their first title. Their opponent has done the dance before, winning the championship in 2018 with Stewart named the Finals MVP.
While the teams battle it out on the court, we want to put you on game to other talent in the respective cities. Seattle and Las Vegas both aren't known as leading hip-hop hubs, but there are artists working hard at their craft that deserved to be acknowledged. We figured the WNBA Finals was a great opportunity to highlight women in both arenas.
SEATTLE
Seattle has much more in its rap scene than Macklemore. The Emerald City is also represented by Gifted Gab, a fierce spitter who's built her platform on real raps and groovy vibes. She's been a hip-hop head since she was little and her mother bought her Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight."
"I made it my mission to learn every word of that song," she shared with Swisher Sweets.
Gab's currently part of a duo with San Francisco rapper Blimes Brixton to create Blimes and Gab. They advertise themselves as the cool aunties that everyone loves and have released a series of singles over the last two years, including the popular "Come Correct" before dropping their first LP, "Talk About It," this year with features from fellow Bay Area MC Iamsu!, rap legend Method Man, K-Pop bad boy Jay Park and rap queen Bahamadia.
The duo opened for part of Atmosphere's 2020 tour, before #Quarantine2020 of course. Gifted Gab was also on the title track of the Rhymesayers duo's "Whenever" album where she went bar for bar with Slug, Los Angeles veteran Murs and underground titan Haphduzn. She's also a part of Seattle collective Moor Gang, but has made plenty of a mark as a solo artist. Her 2018 project "Queen La'Chiefah" was a tribute to the one and only Queen Latifah, which she followed with last year's "Cause & Effect."
"I'm just a music lover, so it was kind of bound to happen," she said to Swisher Sweets about what started her journey in hip-hop. "I've never been just the regular 9-5 type girl. I'm an artist in every sense. Something artistic was bound to be my passion and music is that."
LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas is held down by Zelly Vibes. The bilingual artist floats over trap beats as she effortlessly blends elements of reggaeton and messages of inspiration. She grew up singing Spanish Folk music, paying tribute to her Mexican heritage with the support of her family. As she gained the confidence to grow into her own artistry, she quickly evolved into a trap princess.
"[Becoming my own artist was about] finding balance within myself, knowing that it's ok to speak up and express myself the way I want to," she says to Viii Sports.
In 2016, she released her first English music in the form of "Zelly Vibes The Mixtape," which announced her new persona. The 2018 tropical single "OMG" received local radio play while this year's "Money Dance" is a dark track with a throbbing bass that is ready for a late-night drive down Biscayne Boulevard. Her energy and bright-colored aesthetic would be right at home on a Rolling Loud stage.
Zelly Vibes is much more than just a pretty face. She also is the owner of DishyBae, her own sunglasses line, and is an event host for many local happenings. She wants her legacy to last beyond herself as she pursues all her passions and builds generational wealth. She seeks to be an inspiration for everyone, but is especially intentional about uplifting women.
"For any female out there, I want you to be resourceful, work with what you have and speak your truth," she shares.
So there you have it! Two dope new artists that you might not have heard of before.
Now go support these women and watch the WNBA Finals tipping off at 7 pm EST/4 pm PST.
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