Over the past years, the underground music scene has exploded like a firecracker and thrived as making music became more accessible. Among them, a newly eighteen year old rapper has seen his intense rise to popularity over the last year—and he’s a local talent, born and raised in Richmond. Gunner Shepardson, better known as Nettspend, has had one of the most impressive come ups in the recent rap world. 

Throughout his youth, he struggled in school and after multiple suspensions ultimately dropped out of school post-pandemic at fourteen to pursue music full time. From the very beginning, Shepardson had an immensely unique sound that was unlike anything that already existed. His music was very experimental, and even in his earliest work you can hear his trap influence and distinct chaotic sound. His use of synth and distorted 808’s made him stand out in a sea of rising artists. From incredibly atypical samples ranging from Grimes to Deftones, to collaborating with all the best artists within the underground scene and creating music with up and coming rappers Osamason and Xaviersobased. Shepardson connected with Gen-Z in a way we had yet to see: a rapper that’s actually our age.

In October 2024, three years after Shepardson made the decision to make music full time, he released a single along with a music video that altered his career seemingly overnight, taking him from an underground artist to having a million listeners monthly. One month later in November 2024, he toured across the country in packed shoulder-to-shoulder venues. And then in December 2024, Nettspend released his debut mixtape ‘B.A.F.K.’ that skyrocketed to success, bringing in millions and millions of listeners—all before his eighteenth birthday. This album put him on the map outside of his fanbase bubble, allowing him to headline for his biggest gig ever, Rolling Loud, one of the largest festivals of the rap world. His debut album propelled him to such heights, he walked the runway for designer fashion brand Miu Miu and had enough demand for another tour, which just wrapped up last week right here in Norfolk. In the wake of all this success, Shepardson has announced his sophomore album “Early Life Crisis” will come out in June 2025 along with another countrywide tour.

Shepardson has a special connection with Gen-Z, not only due to his age but also his charisma that is unlike the typical womanizer rapper persona. Shepardson is ditching the ‘too cool for you’ attitude that many mainstream rappers uphold to this day and instead is trading that for authenticity with his fans and esoteric personality, along with being unashamed of being in a settled relationship. Some rap fans have drawn parallels between Nettspend and pioneer of the cloud rap genre, Jonatan Leandoer, better known as Yung Lean; both started seeing success at a very young age after making music nearly their whole lives, and both were not taken with any seriousness at the beginnings of their career. The two experienced their music being seen as more of a joke due to their experimental and, at the time, very new techniques and visuals, but with time and consistency they each garnered an audience of genuine fans that love their music for the reasons others may hate it. Yung Lean is now one of the most respected names in the music industry with his influence ignoring the boundaries of genres. Some fans think Nettspend will ultimately experience a similar arc. From his fashion statements, to his bubble gun he says he has with him at every show, to his crystal ball he says is his ‘essential’, the Richmond native is paving his own way in an oversaturated scene.