About five years ago, I almost gave up on the hip-hop genre entirely. Then I heard T.I.’s “What You Know,” quite possibly one of the most raw, free-flowing, catchy and downright honest rap songs I’d heard in years, and I was easily drawn back in. It was then that I realized what hip-hip—at least that of the mainstream kind—had been missing in previous years: honesty.

And that brings me to our artist to watch, from Los Angeles by way of Alabama. With vibrant electro beats mixed with a full-force delivery that oozes swagger, Matchstik is on the verge of a breakthrough. Last year, he released single “Surina’s Song” independently in London, which sold over 100,000 ringtones, was featured in Billboard as an artist to look out for, and his debut LP Along Came Matchstik is set to be released later this summer. Right now he’s stuck in a bidding war between two major labels, and whoever scores him will surely have a gold mine in their hands. Not bad for a former high school dropout from the drug-infested neighborhood of Dothan, Alabama. Matchstik’s back-story is quite eye opening, and you can read all about it in this Billboard article.

And now onto the issue of honesty in the rap world. When T.I. broke through with a dose of realism and catchiness, he revived a dying hip-hop landscape that was obsessed with ridiculous supped-up cars, partying “like a rockstar” and waxing poetic on why MiMS was so “hot.” Nothing seemed real—just fake and processed, and nobody (at least me) could really connect to the themes. Now, the protégés of rap’s biggest names (Drake, Kid Cudi, Wale, B.O.B.) are ruling the charts and (for the most part) critical approval. And while these kids haven’t impressed me entirely, I will admit, things are better.

Now, given Matchtik’s back-story, including his dramatic fight to make it out of his neighborhood to make it to where he is now, it is important to note how truly honest his music feels. Along Came Matchstik can currently be heard here.  Listen to opening track “Just An Artist,” in which Match reminds us that we are all human, and therefore imperfect, but that no matter who we are or where we come from, there is no reason we can’t dream of changing the world. The aura is hopeful, realistic, and as I said earlier, honest.

Matchstik is playing a show tonight at the Kress club in Hollywood. For more information on the show, go here. Hopefully I’ll be seeing a lot of you there, and you’ll be able to say that you “were there” when it all happened for him. Seriously, bet on it.