Underground rap continues to evolve at a rapid pace, and Rockville native Kuru may have just delivered the scene’s strongest releases of the year.

His new album, “Backstage Hologram,” bends DMV hip hop, hyperpop, rage, EDM and melodic rap into a project that feels ambitious, creative and surprisingly polished. With standout production from Misogi, Waera and Kuru himself and strong visual direction, strongly inspired by Gen X Soft Club aesthetics of the early 2000s and versatile vocal performances, the album exceeds expectations and establishes Kuru as an artist to watch in the scene.

In recent years, underground rap has become one of the most experimental and fast-growing spaces in music. Artists are constantly mixing genres, pushing boundaries and creating sounds that feel entirely unique. On “Backstage Hologram,” Kuru fully embraces that creativity while still keeping the album relatively accessible and entertaining throughout its runtime.

Coming from Rockville, Kuru incorporates elements of the DMV rap sound while also pulling influence from his hyperpop and jerk trap roots, utilizing abstract production styles to accomplish this. The result is a project that feels unpredictable in the best way possible. Nearly every track introduces a new sound or atmosphere, which keeps the album refreshing from beginning to end.

One of the album’s biggest strengths is its production. The beats are layered, energetic and immersive, often switching between light synths, keyboards, unique samples and abstract strings. Despite the experimental drum patterns on the latter half of the project, the mixing quality remains top tier and the project remains clean and professional. “The production really stood out to me. A lot of underground projects can feel messy, but this one actually sounds polished while still keeping that raw energy,” junior Emmanuel Liu said.

Kuru’s vocal performances also help carry the album. He switches between melodic fellows, passive aggressive delivery and more atmospheric styles depending on the track. That versatility allows the album to avoid sounding repetitive, something that can happen often within rage or hyperpop inspired projects.

Another major positive is the album’s sonic and visual direction. “Backstage Hologram” feels like it has a clear identity. The nostalgic yet futuristic aesthetic, combined with the album’s glitchy and emotional atmosphere that matches the music as well. Junior Liam Dolan praised the album’s creativity and replay value. “It’s one of those albums where every song feels different. You can tell there was real effort put into it,” Dolan said.

While the album succeeds in many areas, there are still moments where some tracks feel slightly overextended or stylistically overwhelming for casual listeners. The abstract production and rapid genre changes may not appeal to everyone. However, for fans of underground rap and experimental hip hop and hyperpop, those risks are part of what makes the project exciting. “A lot of artists in the underground scene sound very similar. Kuru sounds different, so the music works,” junior Xander Doherty said.

Overall, “Backstage Hologram” is an impressive release that surpasses expectations. Through creative production, strong artistic direction and genre diversity, Kuru delivers one of the most memorable underground rap albums of 2026. Whether listeners are already fans of DMV hip hop or looking for something new and experimental, “Backstage Hologram” is worth checking out.