Independent hip hop artist Ekoh has spent years building a loyal following the hard way, with self-driven albums, constant touring, and a knack for pairing sharp rhymes with big hooks. Now the Las Vegas rapper is heading for some of the biggest stages of his career with rap-rock/nu-metal band, Ninth Key, who’ve been slated as special guests on Papa Roach’s 2027 Rise of the Roach tour.
Ekoh’s Hip Hop Roots
Ekoh came up in the independent hip hop scene, where he developed a punk-inspired, conscious style. His 2021 album The D3tour featured Locksmith, Rittz, Futuristic, Jarren Benton, and Vin Jay. His 2024 release, Pressure, brought in Tech N9ne and Senses Fail. He has also toured with Chris Webby and played the Blackout Tour with From Ashes to New — an early indication of his appeal beyond hip hop audiences.
How Ninth Key Came Together
Ninth Key pairs Ekoh with Joshua Landry, who records as Lo Spirit. Landry spent much of his teens and twenties producing and writing for other artists before coming out as Lo Spirit and building an audience with short TikTok covers.
The pair first joined forces on a collaborative cover song, and eventually formed Ninth Key. Combining Landry’s musicianship with Ekoh’s hip-hop sensibility, the band pulled the partners from the brink of music industry burnout and made writing fun again.
“Happy Feels Like” Displays Chart Resilience
The band’s song “Happy Feels Like” has held steady on the rock radio chart for 20 weeks — a remarkable feat for such a new act. Proof of the rap-rock crossover’s audience appeal, the track’s longevity also gives Ninth Key a head start with the rock audiences it will encounter on tour.
Rise of the Roach Tour 2027
Papa Roach announced the 30-date U.S. leg of its Rise of the Roach tour on October 19. Scheduled for May and June 2027, the new leg follows the band’s initial 34-date run in 2025. Ninth Key will be joined by Ice Nine Kills as special guests, marking the first time that the latter act will tour with Papa Roach in the U.S.
“We can’t wait to get out there and infest America again,” frontman Jacoby Shaddix said in the announcement. He added that the band is eager to introduce its fans to Ninth Key.
Debut Album in the Bag
Even as it prepares for the upcoming tour, Ninth Key is already sitting on a 13-song debut album. Landry explained that the band simply wrote songs without necessarily working toward a full-length release. Consequently, each track stands on its own as a distinct single. No release date has been announced for the album yet, which also remains unnamed at press time.
Nevertheless, Ekoh is confident about how the music translates to the live stage. “If people see it, they’ll get it,” he said.
From Hip Hop Clubs to Rock Arenas
Moving from independent hip hop bills to a Papa Roach tour is a big leap, but Ekoh is doing it without leaving his roots behind. With a chart-steady single, a completed debut album, and a 30-date tour ahead, Ninth Key seems to have 2027 locked down.
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