SXMPRA
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = person
| name = SXMPRA
| image = LBSXTomGrut1-12 (1).jpg
| caption = SXMPRA performing in 2023.
| birth_name = Kalem Leo Tarrant
| alias = SXMPRA
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|2000|2|8}}
| birth_place = Hamilton, New Zealand
| genre = Hip hop, phonk, Memphis rap, experimental hip hop
| origin = Wellington, New Zealand
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- rapper
- record producer
- songwriter
}}
| years_active = 2018–present
| label = {{flatlist|
- 10K Projects{{cite web | url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sxmpra-bands-single-video-52300/ | title=NZ Streaming Phenom SXMPRA Drops High-Octane Anthem ‘BANDS!’ | work=Rolling Stone Australia | date=13 November 2023 | accessdate=16 November 2024 | author=Downs, Sarah}}
}}
}}
Kalem Leo Tarrant (born February 8, 2000), known professionally as SXMPRA, is a songwriter, rapper and musician from Wellington, New Zealand.
Early life
Kalem Tarrant was born on February 8, 2000 in Hamilton, New Zealand..{{Cite web |title=Sxmpra: Coming From the Underground |url=https://www.sniffers.co.nz/article/sxmpra-coming-from-the-underground-rap |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=www.sniffers.co.nz}} Tarrant's childhood was spent constantly moving between small-town New Zealand cities and Australia. Growing up, Tarrant was raised on rock and metal passed down from his parents, as well as his own discovery of Eminem in his early years, before finding then-underground rappers including Odd Future and Denzel Curry in his teens, before working his way backwards to pivotal 90's acts such as Three 6 Mafia.
Career
Beginning his journey on SoundCloud, SXMPRA began making music in 2018 using an Xbox headset{{Cite news |title=The Grammy-partying, Spotify-crushing NZ rappers you've probably never heard of|department=Stuff |author=Chris Schulz|date=May 29, 2023|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/300891734/the-grammypartying-spotifycrushing-nz-rappers-youve-probably-never-heard-of |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=www.stuff.co.nz}} to record songs onto free audio recording software Audacity via a Macbook he financed on a payment plan. Starting out sourcing production via YouTube “type beats”, he describes his early music at the time as “an extension of the artists that I was listening to who weren't releasing enough music”.
After releasing a consistent series of singles since 2018, in 2021 SXMPRA released his biggest track to date, ‘COWBELL WARRIOR!’, which saw US rapper, Ski Mask The Slump God contribute to the official remix in 2023.{{cite web | url=https://preludepress.com/news/2022/12/08/sxmpra-lockjaw/ | title=SXMPRA Shares New Track, “LOCKJAW!” | work=preludepress.com | date=8 December 2022 | accessdate=16 November 2024 | author=Vigil, Dom}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dT9siTP70Y |title=SXMPRA - COWBELL WARRIORS! feat. Ski Mask the Slump God (Official Music Video) |date=2023-05-25 |last=SXMPRA |access-date=2024-05-17 |via=YouTube}} Since signing with US label 10K Projects, Tarrant has also released collaborations with the likes of Juicy J,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-I-5M_W6js |title=SXMPRA - BUSINESS MAN (feat. Juicy J) |date=2023-12-08 |last=SXMPRA |access-date=2024-05-17 |via=YouTube}} 1nonly,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4GHq_yP-ro |title=1nonly & SXMPRA - Step Back! (Official Music Video) |date=2022-11-14 |last=1nonly |access-date=2024-05-17 |via=YouTube}} Terror Reid, Pouya{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzA6LSREsgo |title=Terror Reid & Pouya - Midnight Sun ft. SXMPRA |date=2023-07-20 |last=TERROR REID |access-date=2024-05-17 |via=YouTube}} and Jasiah.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYcyC4Tn8FU |title=Jasiah, SXMPRA - FULL EFFECT (Official Music Video) |date=2024-02-09 |last=JASIAH |access-date=2024-05-17 |via=YouTube}}
In 2023, SXMPRA embarked on tours of the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand including headline tours, a co-headline tour with fellow New Zealand artist, lilbubblegum, a tour supporting US artist, HAARPER as well as festival appearances in the United States and New Zealand.{{cite web | url=https://pilerats.com/music/rap/sxmpra-and-lil-bubblegums-debut-aussie-tour-kicks-off-this-week/ | title=SXMPRA & Lil Bubblegum's Debut Aussie Tour Kicks Off This Week | work=pilerats.com | date=16 May 2023 | accessdate=16 November 2024}}
Tarrant's stage name, SXMPRA, references the Harry Potter spell "sectumsempra", "sectum" being a Latin verb translating as "severed”, while "sempra" is derived from the Latin word "semper," which means "continuously”.{{cite web | url=https://trinitymusic.de/events/berlin/sxmpra | title=SXMPRA | work=trinitymusic.de | accessdate=16 November 2024}}
Musical style
Tarrant counts artists including XXXtentacion, $UICIDEBOY$, Ghostemane and Pouya as integral acts who have shaped the sound he's been refining since 2018; intertwining the energetic expression of both his respective backgrounds in rap and rock to create a crossover of sinister trap metal, gritty horrorcore, and distorted phonk music.
Discography
= Extended Plays =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Release Date |
| rowspan="2" |2021
|Vendetta |February 19, 2021 |
| The Art Of Human Nature
|August 25, 2021 |
| 2023
|The Evil In Which We Thrive (w/ Dozy Doe) |February 3, 2023 |
| 2024
|UNTAMED (w/ Jasiah) |February 23, 2024 |
= Singles =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Release Date |
| rowspan="2" |2021
|HOLY SMOKES! |June 4, 2021 |
| COWBELL WARRIOR!
|December 8, 2021 |
| rowspan="3" |2022
|ULTRAVIOLENCE feat. Sinizter |April 14, 2022 |
| WTF!
|May 6, 2022 |
| NIGHTMARE
|July 16, 2022 |
| rowspan="5" |2023
|LET'S RIDE! [for Fast X soundtrack] |February 10, 2023 |
| COWBELL WARRIORS! feat. Ski Mask The Slump God
|May 25, 2023 |
| ARMY OF DEAD feat HAARPER
|September 1, 2023 |
| GUTS! feat. 1nonly
|October 13, 2023 |
| BUSINESS MAN feat. Juicy J
|December 8, 2023 |
| rowspan="2" |2024
|STICK EM UP! |June 21, 2024 |
| TILL I DIE feat. 1nonly
|July 26, 2024 |
== As Featured Artist ==
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Release Date |
| rowspan="2" |2022
|Step Back! (1nonly feat. SXMPRA) |February 19, 2022 |
| CASH RULES (lilbubblegum feat. SXMPRA)
|October 28, 2022 |
| rowspan="2" |2023
|Midnight Sun (Terror Reid feat. Pouya and SXMPRA) |February 3, 2023 |
| ghost in the shell (Savage Ga$p and KAMAARA w/ SXMPRA)
|June 30, 2023 |
| rowspan="3" |2024
|FULL EFFECT (Jasiah w/ SXMPRA) |February 23, 2024 |
| snakes (lilbubblegum w/ SXMPRA)
|March 22, 2024 |
| HAND OF GOD (Savage Ga$p w/ SXMPRA and GODHANDUSA)
|October 25, 2024 |