NXT UP: Samara Cyn
SAMARA CYN
Born Samara Henderson in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and raised in an Army family that moved frequently, she developed an expansive musical palette from exposure to diverse cultural soundscapes. Early interests in poetry and storytelling, encouraged by her mother and shaped by her father’s hip-hop influences, laid the foundation for her future in music. At Arizona State University, she honed her craft performing at open mic nights, eventually transitioning her poetic voice into rap and song.
Samara’s professional journey began in earnest in 2019 when she wrote her first song and started performing live, quickly turning music into more than a creative outlet. Her debut EP The Drive Home (2024) showcased a fearless approach to genre, bridging hip-hop, neo-soul, and personal storytelling with raw emotional honesty. The project resonated widely, helping her build momentum on streaming platforms and earning early co-signs from influential artists and tastemakers.
In 2025, her career accelerated dramatically. She released her second EP Backroads, noted by Spin and Billboard as one of the year’s standout projects, featuring standout tracks like Brand New Teeth (with Smino). She also joined Smino on the Kountry Kousins North American tour, expanding her presence on stage and in front of new audiences. Around the same time, Samara was selected as part of the 2025 XXL Freshman class, distinguishing her as one of hip-hop’s most compelling emerging voices, notably the only woman in this year’s lineup.
Beyond recorded work, Samara’s impact has been marked by memorable live performances. She made her late-night TV debut on The Daily Show, performed alongside Lauryn Hill at Jazz in the Gardens, and supported Nas on the London dates of his Illmatic anniversary tour. Her music, from introspective cuts like Magnolia Rain to assertive freestyles and collaborative features, underscores a range that moves effortlessly between rap, melody, and emotional depth.
What sets Samara Cyn apart is her holistic artistic vision: she doesn’t just rap or sing, she tells stories rooted in personal journey, resilience, and self-reflection. Her evolving catalog displays a fearless embrace of vulnerability and genre fluidity, marking her not just as a rising talent, but as a unique voice shaping the future of contemporary hip-hop and soul.