LA Wire’s 30 Under 30
Every year, younger individuals have been proving that they can significantly impact their respective fields despite their lack of decades of experience. Whether they are musicians or entrepreneurs, these individuals have shown that they are more than capable of rising to the occasion. Although it was never their intention, these remarkable millennials have inadvertently influenced the younger generation, showing them that anything is possible. Although there is a varying definition of a millennial’s age group, they are typically associated with individuals at least in their early 30s. However, LA Wire highlights and recognizes some of the most decorated millennials who have soared to great heights at a young age. Here is LA Wire’s 30 Under 30 individuals:
- Lil Baby
When trap music was popularized in the 2010s, many artists decided to jump on the genre. Among the many who have delved into trap music is young artist Lil Baby. The Atlanta-bred rapper’s upbringing was molded by his friendship with eventual artists Young Thug, Coach K, and Pee. He rose to prominence in 2017 following his mixtape “Perfect Timing,” establishing his status as one of the best artists in trap music. He would gain further traction when he released his debut studio album in 2018, featuring some of the biggest names in the music industry. Since breaking out in the music scene, Lil Baby has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, two MTV Music Video Music Awards, and seven BET Awards.
Instagram: @lilbaby
Facebook: Lil Baby
Twitter: @lilbaby
Website: www.iamlilbaby.com
- Olivia Rodrigo
Since breaking out as an actress, Olivia Rodrigo has stunned the world with her abilities in front of the camera and on the mic. Although she has been acting since 2015, the young actress started dazzling people with her lead role in the Disney series, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Rodrigo took the world by storm when she released her debut single, Drivers License. Her musical career has continued to take off as she followed with her tracks Deja Vu and Good 4 U before finally releasing her debut album “Sour,” which was received with critical acclaim. Olivia Rodrigo recently held an online concert film titled Sour Prom on YouTube, receiving praises from critics and fans alike.
Instagram: @oliviarodrigo
Twitter: @Olivia_Rodrigo
Website: www.oliviarodrigo.com
- Nyjah Huston
For the longest time, Tony Hawk was the name most associated with extreme skateboarding. But over the past decade, a new name has risen. Nyjah Huston was raised as a skateboarder, cruising on the board since he was four years old. His parents would later purchase an indoor skate park where Huston spent most of his time. Signing with Element Skateboards at a young age, he later launched his own skateboard company called l&l. After departing, Nyjah Huston started gaining traction as one of the best in the sport. He dominated the Street League Skateboarding Competitions series in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2017, and 2019. At a young age, he won more prize money than any other skateboarder in history.
Instagram: @nyjah
Facebook: Nyjah Huston
Website: www.nyjah.com
- Jayneto Business
Jay Scott, aka Jayneto, started doing music at the age of 10 when his uncle Tony played the church organ in front of him. This musically influenced him and drove him to pursue music in the future.
Over the years, Jay has been changing his name; from “lil Jay” to “young jay” then “lil Jay Jay”. But the artist decided to keep Jay as a primary and added “Neto”, who is a leader of Dutch clan. Although Jay is not Dutch, he finds similarities with the historical Neto who leads his team and does great things.
Jayneto made songs with close friends such as Princelightskin, W.B.K, Skuzi Cinatas, and Keith Anthoni. Currently, he is working on his debut EP called “Alcatraz.” Jay’s first two singles from the EP are called “suicide” and “death sentence.” “I’m excited to see what the future holds for me and my team,” Jay said.
Instagram: @jaynetox
- Raby Gueye
Today’s young go-getters are at the helm of purpose-driven initiatives dedicated to driving change and making a difference in communities all over the globe. Raby Gueye, the founder and CEO of Teach for Senegal, is among those who wish to see the next generation empowered and secured. The first in her family to attend school, the Arizona State University alumna has a Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education. Through her passion-fueled establishment, she seeks to raise educational outcomes in Senegal and tackle its educational inequity by recruiting and training leaders who can teach in underserved areas.
Instagram: @rabygueye
- Daniel Jimenez
Daniel Jimenez (KA$H 100) is an upcoming HipHop artist, DJ, co-founder and CEO of TRIPLEUPENT™ and TripleUpRadio. Best known for his debut singles “Reach” and “Slide”, he continues to work hard each and every day to create quality music that is strongly influenced by the community, culture and sounds of his city.
TRIPLEUPENT™ is a networking and promotional team helping unsigned and independent artists get their music heard. Working alongside top industry professionals and the hottest Internet radio stations, they supply the tools and knowledge necessary to build a 100% authentic fan base in the new streaming era of music. TripleUpRadio is a global internet radio station that plays independent artists, with traffic from thousands of listeners, it is one of the fastest growing internet radio stations of 2021.
Website: www.tripleupent.com
- Em (Emily Wachspress)
Emily Wachpress found herself immersed in the world of music after experiencing a Britney Spears concert at age 4. She never imagined that she would be standing in front of the same microphone that the Princess of Pop used to record hits with eight years later. With the support of her mother, Emily took the stage name Em to pursue a career as a musician. She takes inspiration from women in the music industry from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. Em cites Woodstock as one of her primary inspirations, describing it as a magical place. She has released singles like “Say What You Mean” and “Hear Your Love.” Em has also recently produced an album titled Dear Life.
Instagram: @em4yoursoul
Twitter: @Em4yoursoul
Website: www.emmusic.net
- Bella Poarch
Bella Poarch is a social media sensation that gained notability on TikTok after her lip sync videos went viral. Since her rise, she’s proven to be a multi-faceted figure, gaining a foothold in the music industry with the release of “Build a Bitch.” This debut single from the Filipino-American singer-songwriter hit No. 25 on the Billboards 100 charts, thanks to over 13.1 million U.S. streams and 3,000 downloads sold in the week ending May 20.
The 24-year-old star, who served in the U.S. Navy for four years and was stationed in Japan and Hawaii, continues to make waves online.
TikTok: @bellapoarch
- Jesse Lopez
New Music Coming!! Through 14 years of national touring, Jesse Lopez has overcome mountains to find his way to the spotlight. After years of homelessness and drug addiction, Lopez found AA, and his way back to the stage. With a new project on the horizon, this is by far the most anticipated release from Jesse to date. His smooth eclectic sounds, and heartfelt lyrics, are sweeping through the industry and catching the eyes and ears around Nashville. Keep your eyes out for new music, tour dates, and merch! Jesse is sure to be near your hometown soon!
Website: Website: www.JesseLopez.com
- Robert Porter
While most people are unsure about the future and what it may hold, Robert Porter is probably the most optimistic person when it comes to “the future”. His calm confident tone reels you in to his passion and makes you become optimistic about where we are headed as well. This foresight and passion led him to earn degrees in Finance and computer science. His learning and curiosities in these two fields of study led him into investing in crypto currencies early and other fintech.
Robert began his entrepreneurial journey in college, where he started a company, he would later sell; He is currently the CEO of Karma the Game, an immersive experience designed to bring the world to your fingertips. Karma the Game is set to launch globally this summer, Robert is passionate about gaming and tech, the longer you speak to him, the more visible his passion becomes. You could join him on his journey as he is raising capital for KarmaTheGame on WeFunder.
Website: www.karmathegame.guru
- Cain Monroy
In 2012, Caine Monroy made headlines for building his arcade out of cardboard at nine years old. His creative project caught the attention of a filmmaker named Nirvan Mullick, who produced an 11-minute short film that received international media attention. After that, Caine’s Arcade became a hit, prompting the young entrepreneur to travel to other cities to encourage other kids to make their own arcade games. The young entrepreneur’s success saw the birth of the Imagination Foundation, which raised money for him to go to college. Caine Monroy later shut his arcade down, taking on a new adventure by opening a bicycle shop that repairs and remakes different models.
Instagram: @caine_monroy
Website: www.cainesarcade.com
- Florence Pugh
After sending her audition tape on a whim in 2014, Florence Pugh’s acting career was set in motion as she made her debut in the drama film The Falling. The young actress would continue her streak, appearing in films like Lady Macbeth and Outlaw King. However, Florence earned worldwide recognition when she helmed the lead in Ari Aster’s 2019 horror film Midsommar. Her performance received rave reviews, and she would follow it with her role as Amy March in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women. Florence may only be 25, but she has already proven to be one of the most talented individuals in show biz today.
Instagram: @florencepugh
Twitter: @Florence_Pugh
Website: www.florence-pugh.com
- Sadie Sink
Like many actors and actresses, Sadie Sink’s career started in theater. She earned the titular role of Annie and participated in The Audience on Broadway before shifting her career to acting in Hollywood. Although she appeared in television shows The Americans, Blue Bloods, American Odyssey, and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Sadie made her breakthrough when she joined Stranger Things as Max Mayfield. Since then, she has appeared in films like Dominion, Eli, and most recently, Fear Street Part 2: 1978, with another appearance in Fear Street Part 3: 1666. Sadie Sink is pegged to be one of the next staple names in Hollywood.
Instagram: @sadiesink_
Twitter: @SadieSink
- Alexis Feacher
Influence can be wielded in numerous ways; Alexis Feacher chose to capitalize on hers to spread positivity and send across messages of hope, especially during trying times. Better known as YungBBQ to her 1.7 million followers on Instagram, this dancer and comedian hailing from St. Petersburg, Florida, rose to prominence by posting feel-good content and showcasing her groove on social media.
Low-key and relatable, Alexis Feacher first went viral in 2019 while dancing in the background of a video with friends. Since then, she has caught the eye of a long list of celebrities, including Cardi B, Missy Elliot, Sza, Ciara, and Jordyn Woods.
Instagram: @yungbbq
- Conan Gray
From YouTube to the cutthroat world of music, Conan Gray has proven that he has what it takes to establish a name as an artist. With Taylor Swift as his biggest source of inspiration, the “Heather” singer is rising through the ranks in the pop, indie pop, acoustic pop, and bedroom pop genres.
In 2018, Conan Gray made the move of signing under Republic Records and followed that step with the release of his debut EP Sunset Season. In 2020, the Los Angeles resident dropped his debut album Kid Krow, which landed at number 5 on the US Billboard 200 and propelled Gray to greater heights.
Website: www.conangray.com
- Arlo Parks
Anaïs Oluwatoyin Estelle Marinho, known in the music industry as Arlo Parks, is a promising talent from West London. Her versatility as a musician, paired with her willingness to be vulnerable, has captured the interest of listeners worldwide, including Michelle Obama and Paramore’s Hayley Williams.
Born in August 2000, the British singer-songwriter and poet exploded into the scene with her debut studio album, Collapsed in Sunbeams. Released in 2021, it peaked at number 3 in the UK Albums chart, propelling Parks toward the limelight. This album, which earned her nominations for Album of the Year, Best New Artist, and Best British Female Solo Artist at the 2021 Brit Awards, spawned the acclaimed singles “Black Dog” and “Hurt.”
Website: www.arloparksofficial.com
- Dodie
Dodie, the English singer-songwriter, author, and YouTuber hailing from Epping, Essex, first made waves when her song covers and original tracks uploaded on YouTube gained widespread interest. From there, the 25-year-old sensation has established her distinctive artistry, amassing millions of fans with her disarmingly honest videos and intimate singing style.
This on-the-rise musician, who just released her highly anticipated debut album Build a Problem, has managed to score two top-ten EPs as well as headline and sell out London’s Roundhouse, the Hollywood Palladium, and New York’s Terminal 5. She’s also worked with a plethora of other artists, including Tessa Violet, Thomas Sanders, Emma Blackery, and Tom Walker.
Website: www.dodie.co
- mehro
It’s not easy to stand out among a sea of equally talented artists in today’s music scene, but mehro succeeded to take the center stage, thanks to his passion for the craft and impressive skills. Known for his heavenly falsetto and mastery over the guitar, the alternative pop singer-songwriter explores the human condition through his songs.
In 2020, mehro made his debut with the viral hit “Perfume,” which found its way to people’s favorite playlists and has amassed over eight million streams on Spotify. The single is now accompanied by six other impressive tracks and released under mehro’s album Sky on Fire.
Instagram: @mehromusic
- Jamie Miller
Considering the heart-wrenching rawness and impressive vocals showcased in his hit single, “Here’s Your Perfect,” it’s not surprising why Jamie Miller has sparked a viral trend on TikTok. The Welsh musician, who won third place on The Voice UK in 2017, is currently signed under Atlantic Records. Set to release his debut album soon, he’s found unprecedented success even before the drop of his entire discography as “Here’s Your Perfect” earns the love of countless listeners online.
With over 33 million streams on Spotify, Jamie Miller’s 2021 song is the perfect demonstration of his potential to reach the forefront of the industry one day.
Instagram: @jamiemillmusic
- Amanda Rach Lee
Widely considered by the YouTube community as the bullet journal queen, Amanda Rach Lee is a content creator and entrepreneur based out of Toronto, Canada. With over 2 million subscribers on the platform, she’s amassed a massive following because of her distinctive artistry and creativity. Her dedication to making unique and high-quality content about art and journaling has enticed a legion of fans to tune into her channel on a weekly basis.
In recent years, the Canadian artist has also ventured into the commercial space, expanding her services from teaching her followers how to prepare their journaling spreads and into offering top-notch bullet journals.
Instagram: @amandarachlee
- Nick Chen
In Nick Chen, we have a young, versatile and innovative community leader who found a way to contribute his quota to the tech community and created a unique system that solves problems being faced by tech companies.
Nick Chen is a co-founder of Pico, a startup that designs software to allow creators to manage sign-ups, membership subscriptions, and payments. With this innovative idea, Nick has created a trusted system of networks that helps creators and publishers keep track of membership activities on their platform.
Pico is currently serving companies such as Defector and The Colorado Sun. Within four years of the company’s existence with Chen as CEO, the company has raised over $10 million from backers and investors such as Axel Digital Ventures, Bloomberg Beta, and Stripe.
LinkedIn: Nick Chen
- Isabel Baransky
After earning a degree in Applied Physics and a minor in Music from Columbia University, Isabel Baransky decided to pivot into the banking and financial industry.
Within a short few years, Baransky has proven herself worthy as she was promoted from associate to Vice President, and she is the engineer responsible for the building of Bank of America’s automated foreign exchange offering, which currently offers services in over 80 countries, with billions of dollars worth of transactions being completed annually.
Baransky spearheads and supervises a multiyear initiative that employs machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve payment space. Another one of her projects, Automated FX Payment, is one of the banking initiatives that will revolutionize the banking industry for the foreseeable future.
LinkedIn: Isabel Baransky
- Kyra Condie
Kyra Condie’s story is one of perseverance and struggle. Describing herself as a woman with something to prove and give to society, she excelled against all odds, even against medical advice.
She was diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis at the tender age of 11, and her doctors advised her against climbing. Condie, the Utah-born professional climber, spent several months undergoing surgeries to fuse ten vertebrae, and four months after her recovery, she won her first Youth Nationals.
In 2018, Codie became the first woman in the United States to qualify for climbing as an Olympic sport. In the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games, she will be representing the United States.
Instagram: @kyra_condie
Website: www.kyracondie.com
- Inioluwa Deborah Raji
Advocacy for Inioluwa Deborah Raji began as far back as high school, when she took it upon herself to campaign and fight for the rights of others. Now 24 and done with school, Raji has channeled her advocacy work to reposition the world’s biggest companies.
During her internship in the Algorithmic Justice League, a non-profit that creates public awareness about the social implications of Artificial Intelligence, Raji proved herself. She emerged as one of the organization’s top researchers. One of her significant projects includes her work with Joy Buolamwini, an audit on Amazon’s facial recognition product. She discovered that it was less significantly less accurate for a darker-skinned woman than a white man.
As a result of her research, over 70 top AI researchers signed an open letter supporting her work, and combined with public pressure, Amazon halted the sale of the facial recognition product to the police by at least a year.
LinkedIn: Deborah Raji
- Jonathon Dos Santos
Jonathan Dos Santos is the co-founder of Stromcore Energy, a company that supplies lithium-ion batteries for heavy-duty electric vehicles. At only 29 years old, Dos Santos currently serves as the company’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), a position he has held for five years since the company’s inception.
Dos Santos and his co-founder developed a battery pack for forklifts that can be fully charged in less than an hour and last for at least a decade. At the end of the fiscal year, which began on August 31, the project sales will exceed $20 million.
Although still in the early stages of existence, Stromcore is slowly cementing its place as a leading energy company globally. Some of the company’s customers include Ford, GE, and Whirlpool.
LinkedIn: Jonathon dos Santos
- King Princess
Photo by: King Princess
King Princess is an American singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who started playing music at an early age. Born Mikael Straus, King Princess is a gay and genderqueer artist who is behind several singles like “1950,” “Hit The Back,” “Prophet,” “Ain’t Together,” and many more. Her breakthrough single, “1950,” allowed her to catch the attention of music enthusiasts. In 2019, she released her debut album, Cheap Queen, with singles including “Prophet,” “Homegirl,” and “If You Think It’s Love.” King Princess has also worked with Mark Ronson. As an artist, she is influenced by the likes of Perfume Genius, Nick Cave, Beyoncé, and Dolly Parton.
Instagram: @kingprincess69
Website: www.kingprincessmusic.com
- Ki’Amber Thompson
Ki’Amber Thompson has been making her way forward to a better next generation through environmental education curriculums and teaching young students the value of environmental stewardship. The 25-year-old Texas native is the founder of Charles Roundtree Bloom Project where she reaches out to young people and inspires them to work toward a better community and a better world. She said, “I am using education to create access to healing through nature and to support the development of the next generation of leaders who will make a positive impact in the world we share.”
Website: www.crbloomproject.org
- Johanan Dujon
Photo by: Kareem Stanley
Johanan Dujon is the founder of Algas Organics, the first indigenous agriculture biotech firm in the Carribean that combats invasive seaweed in the area. The Algas Organics is a gem in the Carribean since its economy is highly dependent on tourism. Since it was created in 2015, Algas Organics processed over two million pounds of seaweed. The harvested invasive plants are converted into organic pesticides, fertilizers, and fungicides. This year, the company is estimated to reach over $2 million in revenue.
Instagram: @algasorganics
Twitter: @algasorganics
Website: www.algasorganics.com
- Zach Kardisch
Zach Kardish works as a talent manager in Maverick, a talent agency founded in 1992. Maverick has several arms, including a recording company, a film production arm, music publishing, television production, and even a Latin division. As a talent manager, Zach was able to collaborate with Noah Cyrus and “Old Town Road” hitmaker Lil Nas X. With his resourcefulness, Lil Nas X amassed a pretax estimated to be valued at $14 million. This achievement earned him a spot in the 30 Under 30 Music Class of 2020 as one of the individuals with the highest earning power.
Website: www.maverick.com
- Henry Elkus
Henry Elkus is the founder of Helena, a company that advocates for a myriad of global causes. Helena collaborates with many industry professionals and like-minded individuals to come up with projects and meaningful events that target and address critical societal issues that are of global importance. Recently, Helena launched a COVID-19 response program where they purchase and distribute millions of medical supplies to heavily affected areas. Other projects spearheaded by Helena include America in One Room, Shield, and Factory in the Sky.
Twitter: @henryelkus
Website: www.helena.org
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