KRUGGA

The Bronx-born, upstate-raised rapper building a timeless lofi catalog one closet session at a time

Tyler Rivera records under the name Krugga. He is a lofi and boom-bap hip-hop artist whose work is shaped by two New Yorks — the borough where he was born and the upstate towns where he came of age.

“I’m just a regular person trying to make it out and to provide for my loved ones,” Rivera says. “I am consistently praying that music provides me that luxury.”

Early life: The Bronx to the Hudson Valley

Rivera was born and raised in The Bronx until age 8. His formative years were spent between Kingston, NY and Albany, NY, a geography that still defines his process. He regularly drives from the Bronx to Albany to record with a close collaborator.

The setup is intentionally minimal. Sessions take place in a friend’s closet. “I really don’t require much to get started,” he says. “All I really need is my guy and we are ready to start the work.”

The name

The moniker originated in high school. Following a lunch-table freestyle, a friend called out “T-Krugga.” The name stuck and was later shortened to Krugga.

The discipline for one-take performance dates back to age 15, when Rivera and friends recorded directly to SoundCloud, passing a single iPod between verses over a shared beat.

Breakthrough moment

Momentum shifted after a cypher at the Juneteenth Jamboree in Olean, NY. Rivera was a finalist and drew a strong audience response. He is quick to credit the winner.

“I would like to shout out Buffalo artist Neftali. He deserved that win and he is an amazing artist making big moves for the city of Buffalo.”

Current project

Since 2024, Rivera has been developing a full-length album with producer Chuck Chan. The project documents his life and perspective from 2023 to 2025.

“This album is basically my thoughts, my life experiences and who I was,” he says. “My goal is to have music listeners not only think of this as a timeless project, but to also resonate with my words. I’m hoping I can reach more people than I expect.”

Influences

Rivera’s musical foundation was built at home. Raised for a period by his mother alone, he absorbed her Sunday R&B selections — Mary J. Blige, Aaliyah, Ashanti, and Keith Sweat.

His stepfather introduced classic New York hip-hop: The Notorious B.I.G., Big Pun, Wu-Tang Clan, Big L, and Nas.

At 17, Rivera began exploring Motown and soul on his own, citing Marvin Gaye, The Isley Brothers, Al Green, and Aretha Franklin.

“They gave me the head start, and I dived deeper into my own lane,” he says. While early work reflected those records, he notes his current influences are drawn primarily from personal experience between his teenage years and adulthood.

Challenges and support

Rivera identifies market saturation as his primary professional obstacle. His response has been to rely on a tight support network.

He credits longtime friends Kev, Monnroe, Eli, and Cass — “people who I have known for years and who have never switched up on me” — and his mother, who he describes as his grounding force since birth.

Outlook

Krugga’s approach remains consistent: limited resources, direct execution, and a focus on durability over trends. With the Chuck Chan collaboration nearing completion, the objective is clear — to deliver a project that endures and connects beyond its immediate release cycle.

Here’s where to follow krugga on his journey

https://linktr.ee/krugga