“Highgrades the 8th esquire. Turn an 8th into an empire. Mr. Uno to the Deuce himself,” is something you’ll always hear Brooklyn artist, Highgrades, say during a live performance.

Standing at 6'5, Highgrades uses his stature and deep vocal bass to produce hard-hitting punchlines. As a Flatbush native, Highgrades references his past experiences with trapping, affinity for numbers and math, and love for anime and video games to produce quick-witted bars often lined with double and triple entendres. His versatile nature allows him to not only rap but also provide low melodic vocals, making him the most sought-after feature artist among the independent underground music scene.

He’s influenced by artists such as MF Doom, Curren$y, and Biggie and known for upping the ante on songs he’s a part of. Creator of the hashtag #smokewithhighgrades, Highgrades created a lifestyle that many look forward to being a part of because of his intellectually carefree nature on top of the play on the word highgrades. In 2019, he secured the opportunity to open for Kota the Friend on his east coast tour.

In 2021, Highgrades released his first EP, TOBARN: Tired of Being a Regular Ni**a, to great reviews. His verse on Donnie Durag’s No Laughin was featured in Rolling Stone with the quote, “…while Highgrades' gravely and dexterous flow helps him secure the song’s best verse.” With his new release, Hardbody, Highgrades leaves listeners hungry for more in anticipation of his first studio album, Droptop Dollarvans.