Pepsi Music Lab^™ 2022 Summit

Queens-born, Brooklyn-based, Nigerian rapper and producer, Akinyemi is a dynamic storyteller blending skillful lyricism with unmatched energy on stage. A multi-disciplinary artist, his imagination transcends mediums by investing himself in all facets of creative from engineering and producing songs to directing, editing, and coloring his visuals. His music has earned widespread acclaim from Office Magazine, Vice, NPR, Lyrical Lemonade, Highsnobiety, Wonderland, and Huffington Post. Akinyemi supported artists on NY tour stops including Cordae, Leikeli47, Berhana, and Johan Lenox.

Amira Unplugged is a genre-bending artist who blends orchestral elements with rock-soul, hip hop, funk, country, and pop. Her upbringing as a (d)eaf Black Muslim woman in the South caused her to aspire to make music that unifies. By crossing genre lines, Amira aims to bring together vastly different people who typically may not listen to the same music. Her hearing impairment also informs her music, causing her to add unique textural elements to her original work. Her tagline “writing the soundtrack to your life” emphasizes the fact that each piece is created to serve as the backing track of the listener’s most important moments. In a world where listeners’ playlists are more diverse and eclectic than ever, artists like Amira Unplugged represent what’s next. Amira was also a contestant on “Becoming A Popstar” co-produced by Pepsi, MTV and TikTok.

Brian has music in his blood, growing up with two parents that were professional singers. He joined the choir at an early age, but it wasn’t until he moved to NYC in his 20s that he truly realized his passion for performing. Brian has been rapidly growing his fan base through TikTok covers and original songs and wants to inspire others to pursue their dreams while living a life true to themselves. Brian was also a contestant on "Becoming A Popstar" co-produced by Pepsi, MTV and TikTok.

Cain Lofton is an artist, songwriter, and producer from the South Side of Chicago. Cain grew up singing in church, and took their love of performing to college, becoming music director of their acapella group. Cain now describes their music as stemming from the "Soul Imaginary.” Working in partnership with producer and songwriter GoodBoy, Cain has amassed a catalog of demos spanning Hyperpop, R&B, Folk, and more, all currently available to artists.

GODBY fell in love with music in his hometown of Atlanta, where he grew up listening to Anita Baker and Al Green in the back of his mother’s Oldsmobile. The multi-instrumentalist and producer made a name for himself live-looping at intimate house shows between DC and Brooklyn. Working with his production partner out of London, Ankit Suri, GODBY sees each song as a soul-pastiche and homage to those that came before him. Deeply inspired by Frank Ocean, Thom Yorke and Marvin Gaye, GODBY is set to release a slate of genre-bending singles in the months ahead.

KB grew up in St. Louis, the son of two musicians. KB first became interested in singing with the youth choir at church – and his passion has never relented. He has opened for the Ying Yang Twins, and is inspired by many Hip-Hop and R&B artists and groups from the 90’s and early 2000’s. KB wants to achieve greatness in the music industry to show people in his hometown the path to success if you pursue your dream.

Lexie began her music career at a very young age. Growing up in a country music family, her first live performances were with her brother in a local band, and she released her debut EP at 16-years-old. She has two EPs across all streaming platforms and is always working on new music. Similar to her biggest musical influence, Shania Twain, she’s ready to continue blazing the trail for women in country music. Lexie was also a contestant on “Becoming A Popstar” co-produced by Pepsi, MTV and TikTok.

Singing has always been a constant in Lynnea’s life. Growing up, she sang her first solo in the school auditorium, and the crowd gave her a standing ovation. It was right then and there she knew that she wanted to pursue that same feeling over and over again on stage. While the journey has been tough, it has led her to build a resilience and drive that she carries with her every day. Lynnea’s original song “Let Go” quickly went viral, and from there, she has continued earning massive view numbers. Lynnea was also a contestant on “Becoming A Popstar” co-produced by Pepsi, MTV and TikTok.

Nohemy is no stranger to putting in overtime to see her dreams through. Born and raised in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Nohemy’s daring multicultural perspective elevates the Latin Pop-Urban movement. Through a confident demeanor and a fresh melodic sound, she twists your mind, drawing in curious listeners. Noh’s energetic stage presence and mysterious de-feminized fashion add intrigue to her performances. She is a trendsetting multi-hyphenate star, on her way to becoming a top artist of this generation.

Oompa is a nationally acclaimed, Boston-born poet, rapper, and educator. She is a force of nature on stage. Oompa’s engaging, interactive performance style won her the Boston Music Award for Live Act of the Year in 2019. In 2021, she released her third album, UNBOTHERED, and celebrated with a headline performance at the historic Paradise Rock Club in Boston. She has shared the stage with renowned artists like Charli XCX & 24KGoldn, and many more.

Integrating both English and Spanish musical influences, Sergio has cultivated a new soundscape derived directly from his upbringing as a first-generation Mexican American. After the great success of his boyband “In Real Life” and the mentorship he gained from the experience, Sergio has solidified the imprint he desires to leave in the world. The 21-year-old strives to continue curating a colorful discography of modern Latin Pop songs with storytelling lyricism his audience can't get enough of.

Tarik hails from Brooklyn, NY home to a roster of rap artists so ingrained in hip hop culture, its roots will always be traced back to the vibrant city. Today, transparency is the life force behind Tarik's connection with the superfan base that remains loyal to his music. As Tarik's perspective has enhanced, the music has grown far more colorful, energetic, and liberating for anyone who listens.

Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, Starchild Kayla is an up-and-coming rapper, songwriter, producer and vocalist with a penchant for writing infectious tunes and relatable narratives. Being an avid storyteller, Starchild Kayla is greatly influenced by real life, drawing musical inspiration from her personal experiences and hardships, allowing her to invoke strong emotions in people. With big dreams and plenty of energy to spare, Starchild Kayla seeks to positively influence society with her music.

Music has always been integral to the life of Karven Saint Jean, also known as TooFiyaa. Growing up, he would rap at his lunch table, banging on the desk, making beats with just pencils. His passion was truly ignited when he joined a rap club that held a cipher every Wednesday, with his math teacher as a host. Over time, TooFiyaa’s passion developed as he learned to play the piano, drums, and guitar. Today, he is a multi-dimensional artist with a melodic rap and singing style and is chasing his dreams to make what he thought was impossible, possible.

WNTRBRK, a Contemporary R&B artist, developed his passion for music at a young age. By the 7th grade he was creating his own lyrics and tracks, rapping to his friends around the block. As an artist today, he focuses on the beat and how it makes him feel. WNTRBRK believes that music has a specific way of telling you how it should be written, and if you’re able to understand the feeling, the words will write itself.