Issue 8: "The Next Gen"

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

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Tha Real Brown Boy is a half-Sikh, half-Muslim rapper born & raised in Los Angeles, Calif. The Leo is a graduate of Fairfax High School, and after some time at Santa Monica College is gearing up to transfer to UCLA.

Like many who have graced the pages of UNDRGRND Magazine, Tha Real Brown Boy began releasing music in high school, an era he remembers was heavily influenced by Shoreline Mafia. Tha Real Brown Boy was early in his career, but found some first wins with drops like “IDGAF” in 2020.

The next year, Tha Real Brown Boy met Donald Reyes, an aspiring music manager in his early 20s with enough energy to be Head A&R at a major label. The two began a business relationship quickly, with Donald officially representing Tha Real Brown Boy by 2021.

Whether they realize it or not, the two have bonded over being tested by outsiders. The most notable of such instances comes the way of NAV, the mainstream Canadian-born rapper also of Indian descent. NAV is arguably the western world’s most popular rapper born to Indian parents, and is referred to regularly by his nickname, “the Brown Boy.” In Sept. 2022, Tha Real Brown Boy and Donald met NAV at a meet and greet at Salzer's Records in Ventura, Calif.

“I went up to him, told him that I’m thankful, that I’m making music because of you,” Tha Real Brown Boy says. “He looked down at me and said, ‘I’m the real brown boy.’”

The Real Brown Boy admits that he was taken aback by NAV’s clear dislike of the name parallel. NAV was an idol to him, not only musically, but culturally and personally.

“I didn’t expect him to be so arrogant. So I just told him, ‘We gonna see you soon.’”