by Shamel Anderson
Published on: On January 09, 2026
Photography by BabyGirlFilms
Mariithekidd and the Music
mariithekidd (often stylized in lowercase), born Matas Orentas, is an Ireland-based Lithuanian rapper. Although he’s not an atypical artist, his discography can be categorized in three segments roughly. The clusters are atmospheric hip-hop, pop, and lastly psychedelic trap. His lo-fi capabilities, masterful production, and proficiency created a divide between him and some contemporaries. mariithekidd faced challenges as an artist due to the nature and structure of his music. He’s an artist who’s critically praised, but the reason can be attributed to the behaviors and tastes of the ‘average’ listener. For instance, in 2023, Space Sour reviewed mariithekidd’s EP Artist Vs. The World (at the time he was under the now-retired alias Yxng Kidd). Space Sour is a hub created by artists to support artists; they also noted that mariithekidd is very distinct. The ‘Underground Scene’ is unforgiving, toxic, and very biased, especially for rappers. Instead of conforming and succumbing to peer pressure, marii chose to improve upon a system that was already flawless. Then comes self-improvement; mariithekidd has been open about his faith, which can be seen with projects like “LIFT ME UP” and “Righteous.” Two pop titles are worth mentioning in this context, those being ‘UNFUCKWITTABLE’ and ‘Time Flies.’ These singles show him at his peak as an artist, both being pop-infused, and prove his genius. As far as psychedelic trap goes, our ratings on the top two projects are “NOBU” and “SPECIAL.” Lastly, his best hip-hop projects are Artist Vs. The World and The Switch Up.
The Lost Era
By the early 2020s, mariithekidd had established himself in Ireland, where he continues to reside. His career gained traction around 2022, although discoverable music can be dated around 2020-2021. Over the years mariithekidd has collaborated with several artists. The most prominent collaborator, appearing on "SPECIAL" (2023) and The Switch Up (2025), is raizo. Their joint efforts blend styles, with raizo contributing production and verses. Other artists include Amano, Chainsaw Luke, and BiGMoley. 2025 began with "OUT OF TOUCH," a standalone single. Following closely, "LIFT ME UP" was teased as a new single on January 28, 2025. The full release occurred shortly after in February 2025. This uplifting track emphasized themes of resilience and spiritual elevation, aligning with mariithekidd's mantra, "JESUS IS LORD." In March 2025, mariithekidd dropped "SOAR." Mid-year brought "Pasakyk," a single released in May 2025. This Lithuanian-titled track (translating to "tell" or "say") incorporated elements of mariithekidd's cultural roots, with introspective lyrics over beats that fused hip-hop and electronic influences. One of the standout projects was 'The Switch Up,' a collaborative effort of marithekidd and raizo. Closing out the year, "Righteous" arrived on December 19, 2025.