Penny Taylor - Southern Soul Meets Alaska Grit

At The 49th Supply Co., we’re all about highlighting the voices shaping Alaska’s creative culture. This week, we’re excited to introduce Penny Taylor — a North Carolina–raised storyteller blending hip hop, neo-soul, and R&B into a sound that’s honest, emotional, and unmistakably his own.

Since landing in Anchorage in 2023, Penny has been carving out his lane, bringing a Southern depth to the local music scene.

Who is Penny Taylor?

Artist Name: Penny Taylor
Anchorage Since: 2023
Why Alaska?
“I was looking for change — new opportunities, a new environment, a fresh chapter.”

That move wasn’t just a relocation. It was a reset, a chance to build something real from the ground up.

Rooted in North Carolina Soil

Penny’s artistry was born in North Carolina, where church harmonies, old soul records, neighborhood stories, and front-porch wisdom shaped his foundation.

“That Southern soil is in everything I create,” he says. “Authenticity was the first thing I learned.”

His hometown wasn’t just a place he grew up — it was the first stage, classroom, and inspiration for the voice he carries today.

From a USB Mic to a Decade of Growth

Penny started creating music the only way he knew how — with nothing but a bedroom, a cheap USB mic, and a lot of emotion.

Writing came first. Then rhythm. Then the moment it all clicked.

Music became the outlet. The processing. The place where he could pour the pieces of his life — the quiet moments, the pain, the ambition, the lessons.

That spark carried him forward: performances, studio work, growth, and a sound that feels lived-in and intentional.

What Penny Sounds Like

His music sits at the crossroads of hip hop × neo-soul × R&B, but he’s not boxed in by genre.
Expect:

• Smooth, soulful melodies
• Honest lyricism
• Storytelling that hits you in the chest
• Rhythm-forward production
• Emotion first, everything else second

If you’re hearing Penny for the first time, prepare for music that feels both personal and universal.

Influences That Built the Blueprint

Inspirations: Sade, Outkast, Usher
Present Influences: Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Frank Ocean

Penny doesn’t chase anyone’s sound, but he studies artists who build worlds, tell the truth, and elevate the craft.

Themes That Move Through His Work

Penny’s music is rooted in:

• Growth
• Healing
• Self-reflection
• Identity
• Love and loss
• The quiet battles people don’t talk about
• Becoming who you’re meant to be

He carries a message of individuality — proof that your voice matters no matter where you start.

The Album That Never Leaves His Rotation

Good Kid, M.A.A.D City — Kendrick Lamar

A masterclass in emotion, storytelling, and world-building. An album that hit right in his high-school years and never left.

“It became a soundtrack to a turning point in my life.”

What He’s Listening to Right Now

A mix of deep, melodic, and story-heavy tracks:

• “Homerun 2021” – Jonah Yano
• “Autumn Drive” – Bryson Tiller
• “The Cycle” – Tray Sold
• “Dracula” – Tame Impala
• “Blame U (No Drums)” – Odeal

Inside His Creative Process

Penny writes from real life — whatever he’s feeling or moving through at the moment.

Once he knows the emotion behind the track, the writing becomes surgical:

“How can I say this in a fresh way? How many syllables can I bend here? Which vowels sit best on this beat?”

It’s instinct and craft, heart and technique. And it only works because he lives life outside the studio — the more he lives, the more he can bring into the booth.

Milestones That Hit Different

Two moments stand out:

KFAT playing his music — that first time hearing his own song on the radio. A full-circle moment.

Headlining his own show — people pulling up, singing along, sharing the moment. 

Those wins weren’t just milestones; they were reminders that the work matters.

Challenges of Being a Hip Hop Artist in Alaska

Breaking through the system is one of the toughest parts.

Penny got his song played on KFAT — but staying in rotation? That took hoops, emails, waiting, and even then, it was only temporary.

Meanwhile, local talent barely gets shine, and classic 2000s tracks run daily.

“It’s not the people at the station — it’s the system.”

So he’s building his own momentum:

• Throwing his own shows
• Creating his own moments
• Staying consistent
• Making noise without waiting for permission

That’s the Alaska way. That’s the independent way.

What’s Next: Mid Level

Penny’s next big chapter isn’t just a song — it’s a TV show he created called Mid Level.

A full world. A new perspective. A story built with the same honesty he puts into his music, but through a whole new medium.

He’s in the writing, the direction, the vision — all of it.

This one is special.

Where You Can Tap In

Follow Penny’s journey:
Instagram: @PennyTaylor24_
Instagram: @midlevelshow
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0jINf4iGlbX3m1gMskl4to?si=n0PEjfEUSN20MnfmC_tk6w