Let's Get Familiar: Iman Nunez Is Making Room for Another Side of Himself

Iman Nunez has already spent years showing people he can rap. Now he's interested in showing them what else he can do. The Yonkers artist's latest project, when will u call?, arrived November 4, 2026, with 10 tracks and a noticeable shift toward R&B. But before we get into the music, there's a story worth knowing about the artist behind it.

Because this isn't someone who woke up yesterday and decided to pursue music. Iman has been putting in work for nearly a decade, and his résumé reflects an artist who understands that building a career takes more than one viral moment.

Yonkers Raised Him. Hip Hop Shaped Him.

Growing up with influences including JAY-Z, Lil Wayne and J. Cole, Iman developed an appreciation for lyricism long before he began establishing his own name. His official introduction came in 2016 with To Be Continued..., a mixtape hosted by HOT 97's DJ Enuff.

That early connection helped introduce him to a wider Hip Hop audience, but Iman still had to put in the work. Over the years, he has performed at venues including SOB's and The Knitting Factory, appeared at festivals such as A3C and SXSW, and shared stages with established artists.

In 2018, his independent label, OnlyOneIman LLC, announced a distribution agreement with The Orchard. For an emerging artist, those opportunities represent more than résumé additions. They reflect the process of building relationships, establishing credibility and learning how to move through an industry that doesn't hand everybody the same opportunities.

Building Something That Belongs to Him

In 2022, Iman released Rosedale, a project named after a street in his hometown. The six-track release explored relationships, personal struggles and the pursuit of success, establishing another chapter in his catalog.

Two years later, Phases Vol. 2 brought additional attention. Presented by On The Radar, the project featured collaborations with fellow artists including Dizzy Banko, Fergie Baby and HDBeenDope. A collaborative On The Radar freestyle followed, putting Iman alongside several New York rappers and introducing his abilities to another audience.

But one of the more interesting things about his career is that he hasn't treated recognition as permission to stop evolving.

The Challenge of Doing Something Different

During a listening event for when will u call?, Iman spoke about wanting to challenge himself creatively. He explained that he already felt confident in his ability to rap. The next challenge was creating music that could stand the test of time.

His love for classic R&B, particularly the music he listens to during late-night drives, helped inspire the project's direction. That context changes how we approach when will u call? Rather than simply labeling the album a departure from Hip Hop, it becomes an extension of an artist exploring another part of his musical identity.

Released through ONLYONEIMAN LLC, the 10-track project includes songs such as you and me, waited too long..., do u luv me?, be for real and bed-stuy baby. The project leans into relationships and emotional storytelling, but its significance goes beyond the subject matter.

It's about an artist allowing himself to be something other than what people already know him for.

More Than One Lane

There's an interesting pressure placed on artists who establish themselves through lyricism. Once listeners know you can rap, they often expect you to keep proving it in exactly the same way. But growth doesn't always look like doing more of what you're already good at. Sometimes it means becoming comfortable enough to try something that exposes another side of your creativity. For Iman, the transition toward R&B doesn't erase his history with Hip Hop. His earlier projects, freestyles and performances are still part of the foundation. when will u call? simply adds another dimension.

The Final Word

Iman Nunez's journey is a reminder that an artist's story is rarely defined by one project, one performance or one breakthrough moment.

From his introduction alongside DJ Enuff to building his independent label, appearing on On The Radar and exploring new musical territory, he has continued adding chapters to his career.

With when will u call?, he's not asking listeners to forget the rapper they've come to know. He's inviting them to discover another side of him. And that's exactly why he's someone worth getting familiar with.

Listen to Iman Nunez's when will u call? on Apple Music: