"I be using my rhymes to escape from real life," spits Baltimore artist Lor Choc on her 2016 freestyle. Over the viral instrumental "The Ten Toes Down Challenge" (other participants include Kodak Black, along with a raft of up-and-coming rappers), she unflinchingly portrays her persistence in the face of grim realities. The 19-year-old – who has been compared to Detroit's Dej Loaf – considers herself an R&B vocalist, moving seamlessly between rapping and singing, often between bars. This style can be heard on her breakout mixtape _Worth the Wait_ and on tracks like the tenacious "Fast Life" and defiant "Run Up On Me." Live in the studio, she joins guest host Lawrence Burney, a Baltimore native himself and founder of _True Laurels_ magazine, which highlights music you need to know from his hometown.
