Who will perform at iHeart’s Jingle Ball Village, get mentored by Grammy Winners and Win $10,000? You decide!
Rapha
Must be in the top 5 in their group to advance to the next round.
Voting for this round ends on November 4, 2026 at 10:00 PM EST
About Rapha
Rapha is a Las Vegas-based spoken word artist and published author, known for powerful storytelling and captivating performances. Highlights include Write About Now, Spotlight Poetry, and Area 51. His poetry explores love, healing, and growth.
Performances & Content from Rapha
Learn More About Rapha
What makes you the Next Music Star?
What makes me the Next Music Star is my ability to bring poetry, storytelling, lyricism, and music together in a way that connects with people beyond entertainment. I’m not just interested in making songs that sound good. I want to create music that makes people feel something, question something, and discover something within themselves. As Rapha Exhales, I’ve developed my voice through spoken-word performances and artistic showcases, learning how to command a room with nothing but a microphone and a message. I believe the next generation of music needs artists who aren’t afraid to be authentic, challenge conventional thinking, and inspire people while still creating something they can move to. I don’t believe being the next music star means sounding like everyone else. I believe it means giving the world something it hasn’t heard quite like this before.
What do you love about music and performing?
What I love most about music and performing is the exchange of energy between an artist and an audience. There’s something powerful about taking an experience, an emotion, or a thought that once existed only inside your mind and transforming it into something that moves an entire room. Music gives people permission to feel, celebrate, heal, question, and dream. As a poet, I’ve witnessed how a few carefully chosen words can change the atmosphere of a room. I love the creativity of blending rhythm, wordplay, storytelling, and emotion. I love watching an audience go from simply listening to becoming part of the experience. For me, performing isn’t just about being seen or heard. It’s about creating moments people can carry with them long after the music stops.
Who are your biggest music inspirations and dream collaborators?
My inspirations come from artists who understand that words have power. Kendrick Lamar inspires me through his storytelling, layered lyricism, and willingness to challenge perspectives. Gil Scott-Heron showed how poetry and music could become a voice for consciousness and change. I’m also influenced by spoken-word artists like Black Chakra, K-Love, and Geronimo Speaks, whose performances demonstrate how powerful authentic expression can be. My dream collaborators include Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and artists who aren’t afraid to blend substance with incredible music. I admire artists who can make you dance to a song today and discover an entirely different meaning in its lyrics tomorrow. That’s the kind of artistry I strive to create.
What would you do with the $10,000 Grand Prize?
I would use the $10,000 to turn artistic momentum into a sustainable music career. My first priority would be investing in professional recording, mixing, mastering, and visual production to bring my music to its fullest potential. I would also dedicate funds toward marketing, promotional content, and expanding my reach beyond my hometown of Las Vegas. As an independent artist, I’ve learned that talent can open doors, but having the resources to present that talent professionally can change everything. I would also invest in live performances and building experiences that introduce new audiences to my artistry. This prize wouldn’t simply be money to spend. It would be an opportunity to build something lasting, create more opportunities for myself, and inspire other independent artists who have big dreams but limited resources.
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Participation supports Musicians On Call, a 501(c)(3) charity, which brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients, families and caregivers in healthcare environments.
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