#1lilsunny #TheSupremeTeam
Artist Name: 1lilsunny
Who are you?
The 757 Has A New Sun Rising
Virginia has always been a breeding ground for innovation in hip-hop — from Pharrell’s imagination to Missy Elliott’s fearlessness, from Timbaland’s rhythm to Pusha T’s sharp precision. But in the newer generation of voices, a different kind of energy is emerging — introspective, emotional, and vividly online. That’s where 1lilsunny comes in.
For Sunny, the 757 isn’t just a birthplace — it’s a blueprint. He grew up studying the greats who came before him, but his inspirations also include the new wave of Virginia talent redefining the underground. He often cites Black Kray, Lil Tracy, Cayo Banks, and YvngxChris as local influences who proved that Virginia artists could carve out their own space in a crowded digital era.
Sunny’s connection to that energy runs deeper than fandom — it’s personal. Back in 2019, he met YvngxChris at a high school football game; the two came from nearby schools in the same area, both young artists unknowingly standing at the start of their respective journeys. Years later, in 2025, life came full circle when Sunny met Michael Vick — another Virginia legend — at yet another football event. “It’s crazy,” Sunny recalls. “I’ve always been around fame somehow — like I was meant to be close to it before I even had it.”
That sense of inevitability — of orbiting greatness — has always surrounded 1lilsunny. He’s not an artist chasing celebrity; he’s someone who’s been brushing shoulders with it his entire life, quietly preparing for his turn under the lights. And now, as the 757 looks toward its next era, the glow coming off Sunny’s world feels less like a spark — and more like sunrise.
Where are you from?
1LILSUNNY: “Pain Is the Proof I’m Still Here”
By Jordan Reyes · Underground Archive Magazine
⸻
Born and raised between Newport News, Hampton, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake, Sunny grew up surrounded by both opportunity and adversity. His earliest years were defined by betrayal, neglect, and the kind of personal chaos that could’ve easily crushed anyone else. But instead of letting that darkness define him, he flipped it — turning trauma into testimony, pain into purpose.
“The struggle became the art,” Sunny says. “Every time they tried to break me, I turned it into a song.”
Behind the charisma and confidence, there’s a deep-rooted mission: showing other kids like him that pain can be transformed into progress. “It’s not about me anymore,” he explains. “It’s about showing kids like me that no matter what you’ve been through, you can create something. You can heal. You can turn it into fuel.”
⸻
The Early Sound of the Sun
Sunny’s musical journey began humbly in 2022 — messy, unfiltered, and full of promise. By 2024, he had already dropped two now-deleted EPs, SunBoyz Da Mixtape and SunBoyz Da Mixtape Pt. 2, both of which set the stage for his signature diary-plugg sound. These tapes blended the raw vulnerability of heartbreak with the melodic textures of pluggnb, drawing early comparisons to scene pioneers like Kynlary and Wokeups — both of whom Sunny has briefly connected with online.
That same year, Sunny faced one of the hardest setbacks of his career. His ex-girlfriend logged into his SoundCloud account and deleted nearly his entire catalog, wiping out thousands of plays and months of work. But true to his nature, he bounced back — redropping select songs, rebuilding his audience, and reclaiming his narrative.
⸻
“SoulE@t3r!” and The Rebirth
By October 2024, Sunny was back with a vengeance, dropping 「SoulE@t3r! The MixT@p3!」 — a project that reintroduced him as a creative powerhouse. The tracklist featured:
• 「Shoot4TheSt@rZzz!」
• 「Guap! x Sunny! – My Year <3」
• 「iLikeC@$h!」
• 「#TearsInMyDi@ry!」
The tape marked a turning point: sharper production, more confidence, and a sonic identity uniquely his own. Just two months later, he released #TheSunMustShine, an emotionally rich EP featuring songs like “dont wanna die,” “after dark,” “Jesse2UrJane” (later rereleased as “fine like always”), and “I’m Trying” featuring @1r0yy — a lesser-known pluggnb artist Sunny collaborated with on a Nana-themed concept song.
⸻
Lost in the Nightclub & Finding His Lane
Following that came lost in the nightclub :[ — an introspective four-track EP including:
1. “past the sunrise”
2. “heartbreak diamonds”
3. “lemonade”
4. “left on read!”
“past the sunrise” performed solidly online, while “heartbreak diamonds” was almost included on Good Dayz Never Fade Away, and “Venusian” — another fan favorite — was nearly placed on lost in the nightclub before being saved for a bigger vision.
Sunny also performed “left on read!”, “Venusian!”, and “Mercurian!” live at his Cure Coffeehouse set — a performance that now sits at 12K views on the main post and 2.3K on the repost. It was one of those rare underground moments where art and exposure collided, marking a key milestone in Sunny’s journey.
But for Sunny, the real success isn’t about numbers — it’s about how many people the music actually reaches. “People see plays and think that’s the whole story,” he explains. “But exposure is everything. Streams are just proof someone pressed play — exposure is what changes you.”
He points to his viral hit “Motivation” as the perfect example: despite only 200 plays on SoundCloud, the song has amassed over 70K views across 125 reposts on Instagram. In Sunny’s eyes, that’s far more powerful. “You can’t measure impact in numbers,” he says. “You measure it in moments — in who heard it, who felt it, who related.”
⸻
From Deleted to Dominating
By this time, Sunny had already gone viral multiple times on Instagram — collectively amassing over 5 million views across reels, clips, and performance posts. Those moments of exposure became the foundation for his growing cult following.
Sunny’s viral presence soon led to real connections in the scene — with artists like AyooKd, Shyneboikash, Lil Tracy, and Lil Yawh, as well as people tied to Chrisean Rock and Funny Marco. His rise wasn’t overnight, but his digital footprint spoke volumes.
⸻
Sunny’s World (and Beyond)
Then came Sunny’s World, his most positively received project to date. With around 20–21K cumulative listens across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, SoundCloud, and more, the album’s dreamy, emotional core resonated deeply with listeners. It felt cinematic — like the diary of a young artist finding balance between fame, heartbreak, and self-love.
Just a few weeks later, Sunny shocked fans again with Sunny’s World Vol. 2, a surprise follow-up that included 13 songs (though only 6 were officially released). Despite its quiet drop, it’s already gaining traction — and Sunny has publicly promised a Vol. 3 if the second installment surpasses 30K total plays.
⸻
The Collectives: #2007 Meets #2003
Sunny also founded his own collective, SunBoyz2007 — featuring Guapnevergaf, Jxydee, and a few close friends and collaborators. The collective’s aesthetic pays homage to the emo culture and nostalgic energy of the 2000s — a time defined by MySpace, heartbreak, and youth rebellion.
While scrolling SoundCloud one day, Sunny stumbled across another group — #2003 — making eerily similar diary-style music. Through that coincidence, Sunny connected with artists like Ike & Kin, Hysteric, Rage, and Eversince, all of whom are associated with the #2003 collective and have since become creative allies. That moment bridged two generations of sound — #2007 and #2003 — and further solidified Sunny’s place in the evolving diary plugg landscape.
⸻
Pain, Purpose, and the Path Ahead
Through every betrayal, setback, and viral moment, 1lilsunny has proven that pain doesn’t have to destroy you — it can define you. His art isn’t about perfection; it’s about honesty. And in a world obsessed with trends, Sunny’s story reminds listeners that authenticity still wins.
“Pain is the proof I’m still here,” he says. “If I can turn that into sound, into healing, then I’ve already made it.”
For a kid from Virginia who lost everything and built it all back again — the sun’s never looked brighter.
How can we follow you?
Instagram: www.instagram.com/1lilsunny
SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/imsotearful
Song Title: 1lilsunny – Kelly Rowland!
Listen to 1lilsunny:
Source: supremepr.us/