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Smooky MarGielaa. Photo by Leon Laing.

In 2017, Smooky MarGielaa dropped “Not Right,” a song dedicated to freeing Meek Mill. On May 8, Meek is free, and Smooky preps to perform in Meek’s hometown of Philadelphia.

Backstage at Philly’s Voltage Lounge, Smooky, 15, chills on the couch. The Bronx-based rapper and his entourage are clad in G.R.A.P.E. gear. G.R.A.P.E., which stands for Get Rich and Pray Everyday, is his label. Some of the kicks worn include the purple and black Raf Simons Ozweego III’s and Yeezy Boost 700 Wave Runners.

Around 9:30 p.m., Smooky, Drew Drippy and others enter the stage. Smooky had the crowd lit with “Twenty Mill,” “Stay ‘100’” and “Come Up,” to name a few songs.

Smooky’s African father is a singer. The rapper credits his father for inspiring him to become a modern-day griot. Smooky, an A$AP Rocky protégé, is part of A$AP Mob’s creative collective called AWGE. When Smooky isn’t working on solo songs, he can be found collaborating with artists such as King Combs. The rapper also makes a cameo appearance in the video for Playboi Carti’s smash hit “Magnolia.”