Edward Sun, known by his stage name Kaptivated, is a player of words and a revolutionizer of rhymes. Winner of the 2016 Kollaboration ATL competition, he is a welcomed voice for the historically silent and a bold advocate of what is fearlessly authentic, an experimentalist in both sound and lyricism, and a pioneer in hip hop and rap. But perhaps more importantly, he is strikingly and absolutely himself, never shying away from the silly hilarities of the everyday - an absurd rap in a McDonalds checkout lane, or a ballad of love penned to a Chipotle burrito bowl. Kaptivated’s pursuit of music can be traced back to one glorious first-generation iPod Touch, and an Eminem CD gifted to him by his older brother. These were the two items that propelled a middle-schooled teenager toward impassioned Google searches of 2Pac and Biggie, and a realization of the power contained in the lyricism of rap. When his brother began to record his own music, Edward saw that the crafting of a song wasn’t limited to the names on his iPod, but could be done by even himself. And so, he began. During Edward’s freshman year at the University of Georgia, he received a new microphone from his friends as a gift on his birthday. This was the trigger that enabled the artist’s first mixtape, first audition for Kollaboration Atlanta, and first major project, titled “Sixteen Sixteens.” As he began to identify himself more and more as a musician, he pursued internships with record labels Reach Records and Good Fruit Co., soaking in the talent and wisdom of artists who were firmly established in their voice and sound, yet wildly adventurous in their creativity. Now, Kaptivated is embarking on his own journey to discover what is distinctly and uniquely his own. In his most recent single titled “Bliss”, he sheds light on the widespread ignorance of the Asian American experience, sonically transcribing this sheer of bliss into happily whimsical tunes, while simultaneously cloaking the sober heaviness weaved into the lyricism. “We have so few spokespeople in media, so we can feel very isolated in the struggle,” Edward begins to explain. “And because Asians are oftentimes so passive, we very frequently don’t admit these struggles to each other, to our families, and frankly, even to ourselves.” Empowered by this centuries-old silence, Kaptivated pursues a story that only he could tell, and a song that only he could create. Firm in a conviction to remain wholly transparent, he shares music that vulnerably captures his own beliefs, struggles, fears, and insecurities, reflecting often on his deep desire to be valued, and the even deeper well of his God’s love. It is this truth that fuels the artist’s tangible joy and contagious energy in his music, spurring listeners on to also be freely honest with themselves, and ultimately, captivated by the one who first captivated him.