Artist to Watch: Wynne's On The Rise In Rip City

Photo by Clare GillenGENRE: Hip-hop
ESSENTIAL TRACK: “Buzzer”
FOR FANS OF: Twista, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar

Lots of rappers succeed in the shadow of a more famous major city: E-40 put Vallejo on the map, DMX hailed from Yonkers, and Snoop made waves from Long Beach. Still, Sina Wynne Holwerda’s ascension from the posh suburb of Lake Oswego—perhaps best known for producing affable NBA athletes like Klay Thompson and Kevin Love—seems to defy logic. That is, until you hear her rap.

Since breaking into the mainstream in 2016 as a 19-year-old with a viral Twitter video, Wynne, aka Queen Honeypot, has repeatedly awed the masses with her sterling tongue. Like a fire extinguisher, her elite ability to bar out at high speeds with stunning clarity and without missing a beat quickly dispatched most doubters of the blue-eyed, blonde lyricist from one of Portland’s least urban neighborhoods.

Concurrently, high-profile cosigns from people like Twista, Snoop Dogg and Damian Lillard (who appeared in her 2018 “Buzzer” video), as well as an odd rumor that she was Eminem’s daughter Hailie, helped keep Wynne’s name in the media spotlight. But being a “Lake O” internet rap star was never Wynne’s plan, and she’s taken steps to ensure that not only her name rings bells across the larger Portland area, but that her successes are shared with the city as well.

Poised and patient, Wynne has done well—despite her growing fame—to keep a low profile while learning the rap game. Knowing her potential value, she’s continued to tease with viral videos and occasional singles, letting her stock rise. Occasionally popping up in pictures hanging with artists like Anderson .Paak, Khalid and J.I.D, it’s clear that Wynne’s been working, but remains a free agent. A rare public performance at Mic Check (a concert series founded by Trox, DJ Klyph, DJ O.G. One and the late StarChile) went viral (watch below), but to date, Wynne is still plotting her first headlining performance.

As the recent University of Oregon grad sets the stage for her debut project, if i May.., a 12-track mixtape, no example of her dedication to town unity shines brighter than the video for her lead single, “The Thesis” (watch below), which pays homage to the local monthly rap showcase bearing the same name that goes down every First Thursday at Kelly’s Olympian. More than just a crew track, “The Thesis” is a culmination of Wynne’s efforts to unify and promote Portland’s bubbling rap scene.

Wynne's deubt mixtape 'if i May..' drops October 25Filmed in and around Portland by up-and-coming videographer Riley Brown, the single features electric verses from Vursatyl of the legendary Lifesavas, St. Johns’ battle rap champion Illmac, Willamette Week’s Best New Band runner-up KayelaJ, plus continued supporter and the NBA’s best rapper, Dame D.O.L.L.A., all over a vicious beat by nationally renowned beatsmith Theory Hazit. The primary scene, passionately shot in a shut down Pioneer Square while crowds looked on, features a few dozen Wynne-supporting who’s whos going crazy in the background.