Photo via facebook.com/whitneypeytonmusic

Up against well-known local hip-hop acts Ground Up and Moosh & Twist, Whitney Peyton‘s victory at last night’s Tri-State Indie Music Awards was unexpected. This isn’t the first local triumph for the rapper who has been rounding up countless local awards for her work since 2010. Peyton has even performed alongside Jadakiss, Kid Ink, Jim Jones, and more solidifying her status as more than just your average rap newcomer.

With her raw energy and fast flow, Peyton comes across as the female Machine Gun Kelly mixed with melodic influences of Missy Elliott (check out the hooks on “Made You Look” and “Boom Ba Yay”). The best thing about her, which comes across immediately when you listen to her rhymes, is that she’s not trying to be anyone else but Whitney Peyton. Clearly, hip-hop fans recognized this and awarded her for it. Fresh off the release of her new album, On the Brink, Peyton will blaze the TLA stage this Friday. Get tickets here and watch her video for “Woopty Woo Woo” below.