Present & Show: Hurricane Knowledge
Phrases: Peter A. Berry 
Editor’s Notice: This story seems within the Fall 2025 concern of XXL Journal, on newsstands now and accessible on the market on the XXL web site.

Hurricane Knowledge’s identify seems like the results of some deep religious introspection or perhaps a moniker for a shady fortune teller. However, like the most effective rap names, its inspiration is decidedly practical; a nod to a coiffure he had as a teen. “I had waves in highschool,” he explains on a damp August day by way of Zoom. “It was somewhat section, I assume.” Nowadays, his hair’s grown into locs and as a substitute of rocking waves, he’s making them.

Since rising with tracks just like the NoCap-assisted “Persistence” in 2023, Knowledge has used wounded melodies and everyman songwriting to develop into considered one of Florida’s most promising younger exports. His melodic murmurs helped his 2024 single “Giannis” earn over 20 million Spotify streams. A robust work ethic, together with cosigns from Rod Wave, NoCap and Lil Child have pushed him to the brink of stardom.

Extra tangibly, Knowledge’s expertise has earned him a black-and-purple Mercedes-Benz GLE, one of many first massive purchases he copped along with his rap cash. “I’m only a automobile man,” Knowledge shares. He’s an animal man, too. In his new Miami dwelling, he’s received two canines, two crested geckos, two leopard geckos, a tortoise and a scorpion as roommates. It’s a rural contact applicable for a 21-year-old who got here of age in what may be known as “the center of nowhere.” “You not going to see a Walmart for ’bout a superb 20, 40 miles,” Knowledge says of rising up in Tallahassee, Fla.’s Little Havana neighborhood. “It’s simply nation.”

Raised alongside 11 siblings, Knowledge Mikeal Oluola had quite a lot of issues to do, only a few of which concerned actively attending the native Christian colleges he enrolled in. When he wasn’t being a goofball within the courses he really attended, he’d play along with his siblings’ hand-me-down toys. That’s, when his habits didn’t land him in bother. “I didn’t even get to play my [PlayStation Portable because of] how dangerous I used to be,” he says. “My grandma stored taking my sh*t.”

When she wasn’t taking his PlayStation, Knowledge’s grandma uncovered him to the sounds of Donnie McClurkin. By age 11, he’d grown to understand gospel, so he joined the church band. He rapped, too. At across the similar time he started performing in church, he turned mesmerized by the sounds of Likelihood The Rapper and Fetty Wap. However it was fellow Floridian Rod Wave who inadvertently planted seeds of Knowledge’s personal eventual rap profession.

“Just about every thing bro was saying hit dwelling with me,” Knowledge tells. “In my center faculty years, he was in excessive school-type sh*t going by way of the hallways, rapping and sh*t. [It was the] sh*t I used to be attempting to do.”

In 2020, Knowledge’s buddies wished him to attempt more durable. So, he did. After testing out his expertise by posting track snippets, he launched “Grannys Child,” a 2020 single that rapidly earned over 300,000 streams. The observe additionally crystallized his stylistic DNA—a strong cocktail of versatile vocals, rapid songwriting and Earthly sincerity. “We ain’t haven’t any silver spoon or home up on the hill/We had rats and we had roaches, however we had someplace to stay,” he spits on the observe. It’s an earnestness that emits concentrated heat that may solely come from somebody who’s lived by way of arduous occasions with out being utterly outlined by them.

Wielding these instruments to their fullest impact, Knowledge cultivated a fan base with tasks like Hurricane Season (2021), State of Emergency (2022), Class 5: The Largest Hurricane (2023), Eye of the Storm (2024) and Excellent Storm (2025). By the latter effort, Knowledge launched “Medication Callin,” a twitchier, extra delirious tackle Future’s “Perkys Calling.” So far, the observe has collected over 16 million Spotify streams. With the just lately launched Lil Child-assisted remix, the whole will solely develop. It’s a come up Knowledge’s staff foresaw years in the past.

“‘Higher’ was the primary track that I used to be like, Yo, this child is particular. He’s onto one thing,” says Don E, A&R at Insurgent Music. He met Knowledge after the rapper signed to the label in 2021. “I feel with each track, Hurricane speaks nothing however realness and fact. I feel that one was form of prefer it might hook up with any individual, irrespective of who you might be, how wealthy you assume you might be or how poor [you are], it’s going to attach. Life will get higher irrespective of who you might be.”

For Knowledge specifically, life’s gotten loads higher. This previous spring, Insurgent Music reportedly signed a cope with Gamma, dwelling to artists like Snoop Dogg, Sexyy Pink and Usher. This places extra energy behind Knowledge. He additionally joined BossMan Dlow on the Dlow Curry Tour earlier this yr, which hit cities all through the U.S., and “Giannis” was licensed gold only a week after this interview. Although they haven’t collaborated but, he and Rod Wave are in touch with one another. He’s additionally been on the telephone with Younger Thug. “Everyone I met on this music sh*t at all times received one thing to inform me,” Knowledge maintains. “And I simply choose it up.”

Wanting forward, Hurricane Knowledge wished so as to add collaborations with G Herbo to his increasing checklist of rap star linkups and did so on the observe “Clippers.” He needs to get extra plaques, too. He may get them with the discharge of his Excellent Storm deluxe venture, which arrived in October. There have been occasions when he thought a viable rap profession may be out of attain. Now it’s inside his grasp and he isn’t modeling his profession off anybody’s however his personal.

“I do know considered one of his favourite artists is Rod Wave, however I feel now he’s simply discovered his personal manner and he form of simply turned his personal individual,” says Don E. “I view him as anyone who’s going to be up there with the most important of all of them.”

For his half, Knowledge doesn’t appear too involved with mapping out profession trajectories. “I’m by myself journey proper now,” Knowledge says. “I didn’t assume it was gonna be simple. I didn’t assume it was gonna be arduous,” he provides. “It’s every thing I believed it was gonna be.”

The storm’s coming.

Take heed to Hurricane Knowledge’s Excellent Storm: Sorry 4 The Rain Album

The autumn 2025 concern of XXL journal that includes Hurricane Knowledge’s interview is out there to buy right here. The difficulty additionally consists of Joey Bada$$ and J.I.D’s cowl story interviews, conversations with Likelihood The Rapper, Curren$y, Hit-Boy, Rob49, KenTheMan, Wallo267, Bay Swag, Hanumankind, Babyfxce E, Ghostface Killah, Conway The Machine, Pluto, TiaCorine, Isaiah Falls, comic Josh Joshson, Vice President of Music at SiriusXM and Pandora Joshua “J1” Raiford, a take a look at the change in album rollouts over time highlighted by Clipse’s Let God Type Em Out album and extra.

See Photographs From Joey Bada$$ and J.I.D’s XXL Journal Fall 2025 Cowl Shoot