The Break Presents – PGF Nuk

It’s never clear what moves people to the next phase of their life, but it can happen at any time. Both talent and general interest can become the big break that most people hope for. After years, PGF Nuk, the 20-year-old Chicago rapper whose style is best described as drill’s earlier sound mixed with newer flows and production, currently has a viral hit “Waddup” under his belt. He’s been rapping since 2017 and admits that he was too deep in the street back then, to the point where making money initially made rap less important. He didn’t quit. And now just a few years later, he’s signed to Alamo Records, plus he has nearly 50 million YouTube views on both versions of his “Waddup” video, with the most recent featuring a verse from Polo G.

PGF Nuk got into rap via one of his friends. He continued on with it after his partner died as a way of honoring him. The support he got early on in Chicago kept Nuk going, starting with his first song “HenDusse,” which he dropped in 2019. In the video, a teenage Nuk is rapping and dancing along with his friends. But the pointed “let each bar breathe” flow he uses now was not yet apparent. He had more of the throwback drill “swing” to his verses, like a less upbeat Sicko Mobb; the delivery and energy was on point. Over time, Nuk’s music became more aggressive, and he released singles over the years, including the career-changing “Waddup” in October 2021.

Nuk came up with “Waddup” while making bacon as his girlfriend looked on, making sure he did a good job. He had the beat on and was just freestyling. She recorded it unbeknownst to him, aware that he likes to keep track of what he says, in case it’s good enough to become a song. “Waddup” surely was and within a week, it was out and into the world. Between the menacing beat, Nuk shouting “Aye, bitch, waddup!” and his voice that cuts  right through the song, “Waddup” was a success.

In January of this year, just three months after the songs release, Polo G posted a video of himself rapping along to “Waddup,” in his car. Nuk eventually got him onto the song for a remix in May. Polo G, at the time had no idea him and Nuk were cousins by marriage, but was happy to rap on “Waddup” and appear in the video, which brings back the energy of early, gritty drill videos. The remix became even bigger than the original song and Nuk started making national noise. From the original release of “Waddup” on, Nuk was attracting label attention and chose Alamo Records, the home of Rod Wave and Lil Durk. He dropped is label debut (and debut project) Switch Music, last month and is still riding high off of the whirlwind of success he’s felt over the last year.

Taking some time to share his journey with XXL, PGF Nuk is this week’s guest on The Break: Live. Watch his interview below.

Follow PGF Nuk on SoundCloud and Instagram.

Standouts:

“HennDusse”

“Waddup” featuring Polo G

“Button Boys” featuring Big30

Switch Music

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