KC rapper hopes to create opportunities for others after winning $100,000 prize
In July 2025, Kansas City rapper TOP MEECH mounted a comeback after he stepped away from the mic in 2019 to focus on producing. Just six months after his return to rapping, his music has helped him earn $100,000 from a national competition.
In November 2025, the streaming platform TIDAL announced its Upload Headliners contest, in which they would be giving 10 independent artists $100,000 each. Upon hearing about the opportunity, he messaged the official TIDAL Instagram account.
“I’m coming for my spot,” he wrote to the page. He was supported by his two most streamed songs, “MAKE IT STRETCH” and “My Moment,” both of which he submitted to the contest. On Jan. 15, he indeed claimed his spot when he was announced as a winner alongside nine other artists. TIDAL said that they listened to thousands of songs, with their editorial staff cutting the list down to 78 songs, then the final 10.
It was a full circle moment for MEECH, who once used the streaming platform strictly as a place to put his music. Then, one day in July 2025, he was notified by the service that they were adding his music to playlists, putting him on the TIDAL radar.
“Wasn’t even supposed to rap for real, I’m the engineer,” TOP MEECH rapped on “My Moment.”
When it came to rapping again, he said he wanted to do it in honor of his two younger brothers, who were a rap duo that went by the name “Dirt Boys.” He said that one half of the duo, Dirt Boy J, died in November 2023, which ultimately drew him to making a return to the booth.
“It definitely hurt me, but it also forced me to lock in, in his honor,” TOP MEECH said. “His mom literally just texted me, ‘I’m proud of you, he’d be proud.’ … I took (rapping) seriously because I gotta take my dream seriously, so I can also help my brothers reach their dreams.”
MEECH said that he grew up living in various parts of the Kansas City metro, in areas surrounded with criminal activity. He eventually moved to Atlanta in 2020 and came back home the next year.
He said that his time in Atlanta allowed him to soak in a lot of the culture that the city has to offer. With him being back home and making strides in his career, MEECH is hoping he can now create more opportunities for artists in the Kansas City area.
“Last year, I did a lot of events, I used to host open mics at Equal Minded Cafe. I would love to get back to that,” he said. “I do want to create opportunities for artists, I think there’s enough for all of us to eat.”
TOP MEECH is focusing on the future with his new reward
MEECH said that the $100,000 prize has really given him the ability to really hone in on his craft. In the week since he had the money, It’s been strictly business for him, as he’s been in the studio working on music.
As for what he’ll do with it, MEECH said he’s looking at this newfound money through the eyes of an entrepreneur. He said he has some investment plans for the money, but for now wants to use this opportunity to focus solely on his music.
“I’ve been telling people, ‘you’re seeing me now, you’re not going to be able to not see me after today. You’re going to keep on seeing me. You’re going to keep on hearing me,’” he said.
Outside of being a rapper and being $100,000 richer, MEECH is also a father to his 5-year-old son, Carter. MEECH said that Carter has witnessed it all during his musical journey. If he hears a beat he likes, he’ll jump around and start dancing. If he doesn’t like it, he’ll leave the room and go play games.
“Trynna run 10 figures up and leave that s--- to mini-me,” MEECH rapped on “My Moment.”
His win in the TIDAL contest puts him up to six figures, and it also gives him the motivation to push harder for his son’s future.
“I’m definitely teaching my son that he can be anything he wants, whatever he wants, however he wants to do it. I feel like we’re capable of anything with God on our side,” MEECH said. “In my eyes, his future is already secure. I feel like I manifested all of that, but this (money) is giving me the resources to do it through my investments or through my music career.
New music is on the way
MEECH said that he’s working on an album that will drop in the spring, where fans can expect mainly rap. He also said that he wants to tap into the R&B genre down the road.
TIDAL was once owned by hip-hop legend Jay-Z in 2015, who is still involved in the company. MEECH was excited about the idea that the iconic rapper could have heard his music, and he hopes that this new connection would lead to him meeting an artist he was heavily inspired by.
“I do distribute my music through Roc Nation, but I’m still independent,” MEECH said. Roc Nation is an entertainment company and record label owned by Jay-Z. “I need to go sit down with these labels. Specifically Roc Nation. I’m going up there first, and we got to have a conversation, for sure.”
For future updates on TOP MEECH, you can find him on Instagram, @mixedbymeech.
This story was originally published January 29, 2026 at 6:39 AM.
