Meet The Shy ‘Hopecore’ Artist Kai Cenat Calls ‘A GOAT’

When Evan Lo walked onto an in-progress livestream by Kai Cenat, the Twitch juggernaut with some 15.8 million followers, and his influencer pal Fanum on Nov. 16, 2024, they obtained the guitar-wielding stranger with a pleasant, split-second greeting. However when he started strumming the vibey opening chords of his viral monitor “Swimming,” the streamers halted. A glance of starstruck bliss crossed Fanum’s face, whereas Cenat — after a fast on-line search to verify his visitor’s identification — started screaming: “Oh, my gosh! It’s him! Yo, you a GOAT!”

The GOAT in query is healthier referred to as Flawed Mangoes, a Boston-based musician whose gently expressive guitar work and mesmerizing, ambient loops have soundtracked a slew of content material creators’ motivational speeches and uplifting memes. Dubbed “hopecore,” this positivity-focused music has gained traction as a tonic to social media’s usually poisonous choices — and based mostly on his remark sections, Flawed Mangoes has helped many a bro faucet into their delicate aspect. Positive sufficient, earlier than Lo left the livestream, he performed that comfort-food instrumental whereas one other visitor, the Chicago rapper G Herbo, gave an inspirational speech — and Herbo’s younger son was left wiping away tears.

“It was so chaotic,” Lo says, chuckling. “Like, ‘Am I overwhelming this child proper now?’ However watching the video [later], it was a healthful factor … It’s very surreal to assume that persons are really having important moments [with my music].”

This digital cowl story is a part of Billboard’s Style Now bundle, highlighting the artists pushing their musical genres ahead — and even creating their very own new ones.

Regardless of being a naturally “introverted, shy individual,” the considerate, easy-going Lo is quietly embracing his standing as hopecore’s de facto poster boy. “In my head, it was by no means ‘I need this to be motivational and provoking,’ ” he says. “[My music is] toeing the road between melancholy and glad in that bittersweet form of method. I assume lots of people recognized with either side.” In his estimation, a Flawed Mangoes fan is somebody seeking to “decelerate and take time” for private wellness: “I believe individuals who can relate to needing that form of vitality of their life are likely to gravitate towards my music.”

After signing with APG Music in April and releasing EP The Unwavering Hand in September, the 27-year-old is getting extra snug exhibiting his face to the world. He’s even getting ready to highlight his personal vocals on an upcoming album in 2025, although he’s fast to handle expectations. “What evokes me essentially the most is listening to singers who clearly aren’t excellent at singing however do it anyway and actually commit. Their lack of formal singing coaching turns into a personality of the music itself. That’s actually inspiring to me as somebody who’s a really mid singer,” he provides with a sheepish smile.

This story seems within the Jan. 11, 2025, concern of Billboard.