More so than artists in any other genre, St. Louis–area hip-hop acts honor their hometowns in videos. Emerging rapper 5ive (né Willie Ahmari Porter), signed to Columbia Records at age 18, has joined that trend with his debut video, “Me and My Brother,” which has more than 13 million views on YouTube. Spinoffs, tributes, and even Fortnite clips highlighting it have added to its viral numbers.
It’s been a success, yes, but one based in a hard reality: The video and the song it’s based on are a tribute to 5ive’s twin brother, Walter.
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“He passed away, and instead of crying about it, I poured my heart into the song, all my emotions,” 5ive says. “I used how I felt to make a song that people could relate to. I know a lot of people who’ve lost a grandfather, uncle… They can feel those emotions. The video and songs are made for my brother; I saw him pass in front of my eyes. For the video, I wanted to shoot it in the area where we grew up so my friends could relate to it and people could appreciate it more: ‘Oh snap, this boy made a hit song in my neighborhood.’ But I really did it so people would know how close we were, that we were bonded.”
The official video for “Me and My Brother”—captured by St. Louis’ Vickmont Films—opens with the rapper addressing a group of people holding red and black mylar balloons in the shape of stars. “You know I miss my brother” his voice repeats until the chorus: “Who I’m gon’ call when it’s time to ride? / Who gon’ pull up when it’s time to slide? / Me and my brother, we stick together no other.” The first verse echoes the pain of losing Walter. Part of it: “In the world, yeah, we got each other / Only thing I want in this world is my brother.”
Regardless of the video’s location, its message is universal. “It doesn’t matter where in the world you are, what color,” he says. “It’s a special song.”
Though the rapper characterizes the song introducing him to most fans as “a sad song,” his live shows are high-energy. “I love bringing the energy,” 5ive says, “and the crowd’s going to give me more. I like to bring that excitement.”
While 5ive rehearses his live show and works on more music, the rapper was also part of the 2019 A3C Music Festival and Conference in Atlanta. In a showcase titled The New Lou: Back on the Map, he was included with Mvstermind and Jordan Ward as new talent coming out of St. Louis.
How’s he handling the sudden rush of attention? “Yeah, I love it,” he says. “I ain’t going to lie. I want to go around the world with my music, and go for as long as I can.”
5ive’s Faves
Asked for his favorite St. Louis–based or locally discovered artists, 5ive chooses three spanning genders, sounds, and decades.
“He has done so many things, like movies, charitable work, and owning businesses,” 5ive says of the rapper who got his start with the St. Lunatics and became known for his hits “Ride wit Me” off of album Country Grammar and “Hot in Herre” off Nellyville. “He showed me that you can be more than a rapper or an artist. You can also be a great businessman.”
The St. Louis–born artist’s 2017 debut full-length Ctrl was praised as “self-assured, so blunt and direct” by Rolling Stone. “She’s a powerful artist,” 5ive says. “She never changed who she was and has done a great job. I respect her.”
T-Pain remixed this artist’s single “Anita”—a nod to Anita Baker—from his album Blkswn, but 5ive calls him “an up-and-coming artist… He has a really different great flow. Check him out.”
