8.23.2023

Rising Rap Star Eem Triplin Sells Out Debut Headline Show in Hometown, Johnstown, PA, Celebrating the Release of STILL PRETTY, His Debut EP

Performing His First-Ever Headlining Date, the Rising Hitmaker Behind “AWKWARD FREESTYLE” and “JUST FRIENDS?” Draws a Crowd of 1,500 to His Hometown, Located 80 Minutes East of Pittsburgh in Central Pennsylvania

Photo Credit: Mike Spinos

The Recap:

Eem Triplin emerged from Johnstown, PA–a small city of 18,000 located 65 miles east of Pittsburgh–to become one of the most promising rising stars in rap music. Last weekend, to celebrate the release of his debut EP, STILL PRETTY, Eem returned to his hometown to perform his first-ever headlining show.

The show happened at Johnstown’s People’s Natural Gas Park, nestled on the banks of the Conemaugh River, drawing fans from Pittsburgh (80 minute drive), Philadelphia (4 hour drive), and plenty from Johnstown itself. A seasoned performer after cutting his teeth at multiple Rolling Loud festivals and as direct support on successful tours with LUCKI and $NOT, Eem performed a set of his most beloved songs, including confrontational anthem “WALKED IN,” flex-heavy “LOUIE V,” and the one that started it all: “AWKWARD FREESTYLE.”

Eem’s hometown fans greeted him with an ecstatic reception–many fans lined up hours early to get a great spot, and others enthusiastically crowd-surfed as Eem did his thing on stage. The 22-year-old rapper invited local rappers from the Johnstown area to open for him, including TrueK814, Launtrezze, and DJ Femi.

“Doing this show in Johnstown means a lot to me because there were never many opportunities for me as an artist growing up here,” said Triplin, before the show. “I’m excited to be able to put a spotlight on my hometown and provide a fun event for the local community that made me who I am today.”

Eem started his career as a producer, creating and selling beats online, producing songs for artists like $NOT and T9ine, including the latter’s fan favorite tracks “BENZO” and “Revenge.” Eem’s success as a producer fueled his desire to become an artist in his own right. His career as an artist kicked into high gear when he shared “AWKWARD FREESTYLE,” a self-produced, personality-filled song that used elements of Tyler, The Creator’s 2013 song “Awkward.” The song quickly went viral, inspiring thousands of TikTok creations, generating millions of streams on all platforms, and eventually reaching the ears of Tyler himself, who gave the song his enthusiastic co-sign.

Since then, Eem has released multiple follow-ups hits, including his debut EP STILL PRETTY. Over the project’s seven tracks, each produced by Eem, along with DJ Dahi (Kendrick Lamar, Vince Staples) and regular co-producer Charlie Myles, Eem showcases his gentle melodic delivery and soulful, hard-hitting production. He directly dialogues with the listener and offers updates on his life as a rising rap star, blending luxury-living flexes with relatable tales of romance. Highlights include the upbeat opener “FEEL ABOUT ME,” a vulnerable break-up song called “WASTED TIMES,” and the seductive single “TELL ME IM RIGHT.”

Stream STILL PRETTY EP: https://eemtriplin.lnk.to/STILLPRETTY

CONTACT
Kerry Harrison, kerry@audibletreats.com

Critical Praise:

“I’ve slowly begun to play his lush and melodic singles like ‘Awkward Freestyle’ and ‘Just Friends?’ every damn day. They’re short, sweet, and addictive—and so is his newest song, ‘Let You Know.'” – Pitchfork

“Eem Triplin approaches music like a sculptor: Each song is a slab of marble ready for him to chip away at, until it resembles the masterpiece in his head.” – The FADER

“Best New Artist…With a thunderous style of production, Eem possesses an innate ability to construct expansive, captivating soundscapes.” – Pigeons & Planes

“Eem cuts through the haze of “Walked In” with his signature rasp and infectious lyrics.” – Billboard

“There’s an addictive quality to his songs, whether they’re the polished pluggnb that got him noticed or something a little blunter” – The FADER

“…The perfect lines to get stuck in your head for days on end.” – Lyrical Lemonade

“…one of the new wave’s most talented dual threats.” – Our Generation Music

“Eem is a true visionary, building worlds with his releases with not only impressive musical talents but being able to get out eye-catching visuals with consistent aesthetics and color schemes. ” – Daily Chiefers