From Top Scholar to Streaming Star

Jun 16, 2025 News

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…Meet AVGOTDRIP, the Guyanese Artist Redefining Success

Kaieteur News – When Anthony V. (better known by his enigmatic artist’s name, AVGOTDRIP) topped Guyana’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) years ago, few could have predicted that his name would one day echo not in academic halls, but across millions of Spotify, YouTube, and TikTok streams. At just 20 years old, this former Queen’s College student has amassed over 460 million global streams, made music with international acts like Trippie Redd, and is quietly becoming one of Guyana’s most compelling creative exports.

But what makes his story truly remarkable isn’t just the numbers. It’s the journey, from academic prodigy to underground hitmaker, that challenges everything we think we know about what it means to be successful in a society that still sees law, medicine, and engineering as the “right” paths.

“Everyone thought I was going to be this big academic,” he reflects. “Then I told them I wanted to do music, and they were like, What are you talking about?”

Growing up on Guyana’s East Bank and attending Mae’s Primary School, Anthony was a standout student. After securing Guyana’s top student spot at NGSA in 2016, he moved on to Queen’s College, where his ambitions initially leaned towards corporate law. But in between business and arts classes, he discovered FL Studio and a whole new world.

“I was in Form 2 making beats on my school laptop, the same one I used for my EDPM exams,” he laughs. That hobby soon became an obsession. “I got hooked. Once I started, I couldn’t stop.”

And it paid off. His early production work helped launch viral hits like Jazz Hands, which skyrocketed past 10 million streams within months. That breakout moment led to deeper dives into production, engineering, songwriting, and eventually rapping and DJing. Now, he does it all.

AVGOTDRIP’s rise is marked by a strategic anonymity. For a long time, most of his fans had no idea what he looked like, especially back home in Guyana.

“It wasn’t planned,” he explains. “I just felt like the kind of music I made didn’t fit into the Guyanese mould. So I didn’t push the local scene. I just kept myself anonymous for the most part”

Instead, he carved out a digital empire abroad, working with U.S.-based collectives, collaborating with Canadian creatives, and even landing management under the same team that represents Atlanta rap giant, Metro Boomin. His genre-bending, bass-heavy sound, shaped by influences like XXXTentacion, Ski Mask the Slump God, and Travis Scott, found a home far beyond Guyana’s shores.

Now, with over 8.1K videos featuring his music across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, and placements on more than 4,400 playlists, his impact is undeniable. Songs like Alright, his debut solo production released at 18, currently boasts over 20 million streams.

Coming Full Circle

Ironically, as his music began to flourish internationally, his home country started to take notice. One of his proudest moments came when Queen’s College, the very institution that shaped him, reached out to collaborate.

“They asked me to help design a backpack. To be a part of that as a 20-year-old former student felt insane. Full circle,” he says.

It was a symbolic moment, proof that Guyana, slowly but surely, is opening its arms to artists who walk non-traditional paths.

Despite his global success, AVGOTDRIP remains grounded. He speaks openly about the pitfalls of the music industry, its smoke and mirrors, its ego traps, and the lack of infrastructure in Guyana to support genuine musical talent.

“We support the wrong things. We don’t protect our artists. But there’s a whole world out there,” he says.

And though he doesn’t believe in forcing artistry for likes or clout, “If I don’t like what I’m hearing, I might as well get an office job”, he remains committed to uplifting those who are serious.

“I want Guyanese to succeed. I want to educate. But I’m not going to fight egos.”

What’s Next?

The artist’s next chapter is ambitious: more releases, more DJ sets, more experimentation. He’s also launching a local event company to bring immersive, musically-forward experiences to Guyana.

“I’m stepping out now,” he says. “People will see me DJing, producing live, doing more than just releasing tracks on Spotify.”

For those watching him from classrooms, dorms, or bedrooms with a cracked version of FL Studio and big dreams, AVGOTDRIP has one core message: “Be yourself. Don’t follow shadows. Build your own path. If you’re going to leave academics, make sure it’s a safe and calculated jump. But whatever you do, don’t stop.”

In a country where traditional success is still measured by degrees and titles, AVGOTDRIP is a breath of rebellious, refreshing air. He is proof that there’s more than one way to be brilliant, and more than one way to represent your country on the world stage.

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• Anthony V, AVGOTDRIP, Guyana’s National Grade Six Assessment, TikTok, TikTok streaming, Trippie Redd

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