Lil Uzi Vert Is Building His Own World

There’s a certain feeling that comes with watching an artist before you know exactly how big they’re going to become.

That’s where Lil Uzi Vert is right now.

A year ago, he was still primarily a name for people digging through SoundCloud and paying attention to what was happening underneath the mainstream. Now, in February 2017, it’s getting harder to find a place where Uzi’s voice isn’t showing up.

His rise has been ridiculously fast.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Uzi has built a style that feels completely disconnected from the traditional rules of rap. He can rap, sing, stretch his voice across a beat, or turn a simple melody into something that gets stuck in your head for days. There’s an energy to his music that feels less like he's trying to fit into hip-hop and more like he's creating his own category.

That might explain why so many people are drawn to him.

“Money Longer” Changed Everything

When “Money Longer” started taking off, it felt like the moment Uzi went from promising underground artist to someone you couldn't ignore.

The song became a defining record of his rise, and its success helped push Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World to an entirely different level. The project showed exactly why his fanbase had become so devoted: Uzi could make music that was catchy enough for anyone to understand while still sounding completely like himself.

Then he followed it with The Perfect Luv Tape.

Instead of disappearing after one successful project, Uzi kept giving people reasons to pay attention.

And now, he's appearing everywhere.

Uzi Doesn't Really Look Like Anyone Else

Part of the fascination isn't even just the music.

Look at Uzi.

The clothes, the hair, the tattoos, the jewelry—everything about him feels like an extension of the same creative freedom that's present in his music. He doesn't look like he's trying to become the next version of somebody who already exists.

He looks like Lil Uzi Vert.

That individuality has become increasingly important as rap continues to change. The boundaries between hip-hop, rock, pop and internet culture are getting harder to see, and Uzi seems perfectly comfortable living somewhere in between all of them.

He calls himself a rockstar, and honestly, it makes sense.

Not because he's trying to recreate some old version of rock 'n' roll, but because there's something rebellious about the way he carries himself. He's loud, unpredictable and completely comfortable being different.

And Then Came “Bad and Boujee”

If you somehow hadn't heard Uzi before, there's a good chance you've heard him now.

Migos' “Bad and Boujee” has become one of the biggest records in the country, and Uzi's appearance on the track has given him another massive moment. His contribution is brief, but it's impossible to miss.

That's becoming a pattern.

Uzi doesn't necessarily need an entire song to make an impression. Sometimes a few lines are enough for everyone to start repeating them.

And right now, that's happening everywhere.

The Interesting Part Is That This Still Feels Early

That's what makes February 2017 such an interesting moment for Uzi.

He's already accomplished more than most artists could hope to at this point in their careers, but it doesn't feel like we've reached the peak of anything.

If anything, it feels like the beginning.

Uzi is still experimenting. He's still figuring out exactly how far he can take his sound, his image and his audience. There are no obvious limits to what he can do next, which makes following his career feel less like watching a finished product and more like watching something develop in real time.

The biggest question isn't whether Lil Uzi Vert is going to become a star.

He's already on his way.

The question is just how far he wants to take it.

And judging by everything that's happened over the last year, betting against him probably isn't a great idea.