Aaron May: Houston’s 17-Year-Old Hidden Gem Looking to Take the Game by Storm in 2019
Aaron May is not your average high school student. While his classmates sit in class thinking up ways to cheat on their Pre-Calc test, Aaron sits in the back, formulating a plan to get his debut mixtape CHASE the exposure that he knows it deserves. May is from Houston, specifically Alief, the same neighborhood as fellow rising star Don Toliver. He is 17 years old, a senior in high school, and one of the most promising young rappers in the country. While May hails from H-town, his sound is far different than the codeine soaked trap the area has always been known for. Instead, Aaron’s music is sophisticated and rich with context. The young MC has even drawn numerous comparisons to J. Cole, and while the resemblance in his voice and style is undeniable, May is far more than a Cole wannabe.
The young rapper arrived nine months ago when he dropped a dope music video for a track called “Ride.” The song is groovy bop about bring his homies with him on his inevitable rise to fame. Throughout the three minute cut, Aaron hits numerous different flows and delivers with an infectious hook that keeps this song on repeat. The video does the song every bit of justice and shows him riding around with his homies, be it on bike or in a car. the visual perfectly showcases Aaron’s youth while flexing an unbelievable level of professionalism at the same time. This theme is what makes May so special to me in his young career. He knows exactly what he is. He knows he’s only 17. He knows he only has one mixtape out. With this being said he also knows how dope and special he is. He knows he’s posed to blow and he knows that he can be the leader of the next wave if he is patient and continues to create exceptional music.
May dropped his debut mixtape CHASE two weeks ago and has already seen an enormous increase in following since. The tape is a jazzy and polished and dives deep into the specifics of chasing one’s dreams. The 26 minute mixtape is all killer and no filler as each song provides new context to who exactly the Aaron May is. The second cut on the album “Dreams” is already one of my favorite tracks of the year due to an exceptional vocal performance that showcases one of the most hypnotizing flows I’ve heard in awhile. “Let Go” is a fan favorite where Aaron raps from a place of pain about wanting something real from the girl he is addressing. Not only does he deliver on the vocals, but the track is self-produced, showcasing another of the talented MCs many gifts. “I’m Good Luv, Enjoy” is an upbeat cut about curving hoes that use to be “too good” for the young rapper. While the context of the song is familiar to rap fans, the guitar-driven beat and complex flow makes the song sound unique and different. The album commences with a poem Aaron wrote about chasing love, pleasure, wealth, and other desires.
It’s clear the young artist has an impeccable work ethic as he succeeded in crafting an excellent debut mixtape while managing to stay on track to graduate. It should then come as no surprise that May has big plans for the rest of 2019. In a recent interview with The Fader, Aaron gave the following quote:
“2019 is the year I turn heads and make noise. I’ve put all of myself into my music all while going through personal struggles. I’ve stayed humble, patient, and focused which I’ll continue to do. This is the year the world will take notice and appreciate who I am and what I do. Expect a lot of moves.”
The young MC is beyond promising and we believe he is destined for greatness. As long as he keeps providing the context and soul that hip-hop has so long been desiring, his rise to stardom is inevitable. Make sure to keep your eyes out for Aaron May this year as it won’t be soon before long where you won’t be able to miss him.
