Through a unique combination of hard bars and progressive politics, Rob Apollo is creating his own brand of alt-rap. Over bass-heavy beats and dancing synths, Apollo raps about his misadventures with bisexual delinquents, multi-racial drug dealers, and gender-bending baddies. Rob Apollo’s world may be a Fox News nightmare, but his chaotic approach speaks loudly to Gen-Z; in March 2024, Apollo’s track “Seppuku” reached #1 on the TikTok Song Charts, kicking off a year of virality for his music. Between hip-hop media outlets like On the Radar, reaction videos from popular Twitch streams, and his own social media pages, videos of Apollo’s raps reached tens of millions in the last year. 

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Rob Apollo’s unique worldview comes from a diverse life experience. Born in Detroit but raised by the internet, Apollo became enthralled by Twitter’s absurdist humor in middle school and started rapping soon after. A straight-A student who found community in queer and alternative spaces, Apollo turned down a Stanford acceptance to study design in St. Louis. Throw in a 12-step addiction recovery, assorted affiliations with criminals, and a keen interest in leftist politics, and Rob Apollo’s world begins to make sense. Always trying to push the boundaries of hip-hop, Apollo takes influence from other bold alt-rap artists such as Tyler the Creator, Father, Rico Nasty, ZelooperZ, and Danny Brown.