St. Louis upstart NandoSTL didn’t ease his way into music—he showed up swinging. Since his 2018 debut EP Good Vibes, Nando has carved out a lane built on honesty, soul, and intention. His sound is reflective without being heavy, confident without feeling forced, and deeply rooted in lived experience. That balance has made him one of the most compelling emerging artists on T-Pain’s Nappy Boy Entertainment roster.
Before the spotlight, Nando was navigating post-grad life in corporate America, juggling a professional career while quietly pouring himself into music on the side. During a period when both his personal and professional worlds felt uncertain, music became his therapy—an outlet that kept him grounded. That commitment turned serious in 2018 when he went full throttle, releasing Good Vibes and officially introducing himself to the scene.
Over the next few years, Nando steadily built momentum with singles like “Cool Lil Sunday” and the critically praised “Outside,” earning a growing buzz throughout St. Louis. But 2020 marked a turning point. With his EP Bamboo as the backdrop, Nando swept the St. Louis Underground Music Awards, taking home five honors including Best New Artist and Artist of the Year. It was also the year his vision became bigger than just him.
That same year, Nando assembled a focused team, and a relentless push began. His Media Coordinator famously flooded T-Pain’s Twitch streams with Nando’s music until one track finally stuck. When T-Pain launched a competition to find the next artist to join Nappy Boy Entertainment, Nando rose through thousands of submissions, making it all the way to the finals—and securing his spot. The moment was earned, not gifted.
In May 2023, Nando released his debut album ** Y.O.T.A. (Year Of The Ape) **, becoming the first artist to drop a full album under Nappy Boy Entertainment. The project is a refined extension of the mission he started years earlier—more focused, more confident, and more intentional. Year of the Apeplays like a victory lap built on patience, self-belief, and perseverance, documenting the climb rather than rushing to the peak.
The co-signs followed naturally. Nando received one of the most meaningful nods a St. Louis artist can get—appearing in a music video with hometown legend Nelly. It was a full-circle moment that cemented his place not just as a rising artist, but as a representative of the city’s next chapter.
