🏆 WINNER: Noochie’s Live from the Front Porch
Noochie’s Live from the Front Porch is keeping go-go alive in D.C. — and giving NPR’s Tiny Desk a run for their money while they’re at it. The live performance Youtube series attracts worldwide acts to perform on a suburban porch south of D.C., garnering critical accolades and millions of views. Noochie’s success and impact in the DC metro area is undeniable, earning them the title of City Cast 6 winner in the music category.
Born and raised in the DMV, Noochie took a roundabout route towards musical success. The idea for Live from the Front Porch first came about in 2017, when local rapper Noochie started posting recordings of his own throwaway freestyles from his porch. After a failed deal with Atlantic Records and a brief stint working on HBO shows, Noochie decided to expand the series and bring it to life. In July 2023, Backyard Band’s front porch session went viral — ascending Noochie to local music fame.
Since then, Chance the Rapper, Anderson Paak, Craig David, Robin Thicke, and the Lox have all graced Noochie’s porch-stage, bringing live, often go-go inspired renditions of their hit songs. Local legends Junkyard Band and TOB have also been featured, breathing new life into D.C.’s local go-go scene. Snoop Dogg even reposted one of Noochie’s videos, stating “Death Row wants you,” — referring to his legendary Death Row Records company.
“I was blown away because I didn't realize the extent of who had been involved,” said City Cast 6 panelist Dan Reed. “Noochie is really boosting D.C. by creating this platform.”
Although the project is now produced by a professional film crew, fans gravitate towards the series’ edgy and street-friendly feel. Some of Noochie’s videos have raked in more than six million views, and the artist is already looking to continue the momentum into 2025, with a performance at the Kennedy center slated for Apr. 4.
The rapper has also seen a flood of local support this year. “If you want the world behind you, you’ve gotta get your area behind you,” Noochie told DCist about his recent success. “So, I just thought about, what’s the most D.C. shit I can do ever?”
🥈 RUNNERS-UP:
- Cat Janice — Singer-songwriter who released "Dance You Outta My Head" on TikTok four days after beginning hospice care.
- Donut Run — Takoma vegan donut shop owned by local punk rockers.
- Hast de Fueur — Local DJ Collective expanding rave music to D.C.
- Ekko Astral — Pop punk and noise band leading “mascara mosh pit” genre.
- David Combs — Musician and show booker for Rediscover Fire that books acts at Black Cat and Comet Ping Pong.
- Nino Paid — 22-year-old DMV crank rapper.
Our Selection Process:
To ensure the veracity of the awards, we chatted with dozens of field experts across D.C., conducted listener and reader polls, and did our own research to come up with nominations. Finally, we had a public vote to help our panel of experts — Washington Post's Michael Brice-Saddler, Axios' Anna Spiegel, and Greater Greater Washington’s Dan Reed — select the winners.
The City Cast 6 awards, sponsored by Christopher Nace and the trial lawyers at Paulson & Nace, honor D.C.’s standout visionaries across six distinct categories. Read about the other winners.
