“If you believe there's a meaningful distinction between what is outwardly omnipresent in culture and what is reaching people — between what is promoted and what is actually beloved — the fringe rap star is a living test of this principle, the kind of artist whose success manifests in being actively listened to by 100 people, rather than casually heard by 1,000.”⁠ ⁠ Read NPR Music editor/critic Sheldon Pearce's essay on how niche rap stars quietly conquered 2022 at the link in bio 🔗⁠ ⁠ illustration: @simonenoronha Simone Noronha for NPR⁠ graphic: @jackie.lay Jackie Lay/NPR