Music has long been a form of expression for artists, simultaneously creating entertainment and a special experience for those listening. Rap music specifically is known for its high energy and storytelling. Don Toliver is a rap artist and musician who has quickly become a sensation. In my opinion, he has become one of the best rap artists, with his unique style, and has produced some of my favorite songs. Toliver’s music, notably his recent album, “Octane,” a metaphor meaning “more fuel” follows his passion for cars in exciting ways. Octane’s fast paced, full throttle, car-cultured music elevates and entices any listener. What truly stands out about this album is its storytelling of Toliver’s life, the mood created and the collaborations with other artists it includes.
In 2024, the album “Hardstone Psycho” was released which was themed around biker culture and motorcycles. This album featured the hit song, “Bandit” which references Harley-Davidson. “Octane” continues this story telling by transitioning from two wheels to four. In 2026, the release of this album took the whole music industry by storm, almost immediately appearing on the all-genere Billboard Hot 100. Although I am a big fan of many rap songs, and most certainly like some more than others, the song “Body” from the “Octane” album takes the cake for me as an encaptivating, energetic head banger. The song takes a spin on the nostalgic “Rock Your Body” by Justin Timberlake. The vibey and atmospheric style creates an infectious radio-friendly sound that effectively blends R&B with modern trap, which is a sub-genre of hip hop featuring dark beats with a heavy bass.
The album also features collaborations with other artists. This heightens the audience members reach by attracting more fans. Consequently, the artists gain more fans. This is significant to the enjoyment of the album because when I listen to the music, I know that I am supporting artists. Don Toliver knew this too when asking to collaborate with these artists, which strengthens my positive view of his character as a person. For instance, “Octane” has countless collaborations, as this is a key component of most rap songs. Some of the most popular include “Rendezvous” featuring Yeat, “Secondhand” featuring Rema, “Rosary” featuring Travis Scott, and “K9” featuring SahBabii. Other collaborations which are often highlighted include Teezo Touchdown. My personal favorite, “Body” features Travis Scott who also contributed to production of “E85.”
When compared to other rap artists, Toliver is characterized as unique, with a melodic hybrid of modern hip-hop. His music blends psychedelic trap with R&B to create a sound frequently described as “Trap&B” or a “vibe-driven” mix. This vibe that he facilitates doesn’t appeal to just me, but his 50 million monthly viewers. The billboards prove that, as of 2026, he is considered one of the top streaming melodic rappers, with his work showing a distinct, higher-ranged vocal ability compared to many of his peers. Don Toliver’s vocals have the ability to reach a vast range of pitches, bringing a 3D feel to his music.
Out of the many choices of great, up-and-coming artists, I will still choose to ask, ‘Alexa, play music by Don Toliver” because his music has a special feel to it that brings me great interest, enjoyment, and of course, a great vibe overall. Knowing that Toliver as an artist uplifts other musicians by collaborating with them, as well as putting thoughtful storylines of his life stories and interests throughout his songs makes his music my preferable choice when I am feeling the Rap/Trap/RnB vibe. The next time this mood finds you, and you are feeling like jamming out to some rap, I recommend putting on music by Don Toliver. Maybe try the album “Octane.”
