Monty!, J.Saenz, and 4NRhythm Explore the Loneliness of Fading Love on “Untold”

Independent hip-hop artists Monty!, J.Saenz, and 4NRhythm have joined forces on “Untold,” an emotionally charged melodic rap single exploring the painful reality of feeling disconnected from someone who is still right beside you.

Bringing together three distinct perspectives from North Carolina, Texas, and Arkansas, the collaboration blends introspective lyricism, melodic hooks, and honest storytelling to capture the uncertainty of a relationship slowly falling apart.

Produced by Monty!, “Untold” examines a side of heartbreak that doesn't always get enough attention. Sometimes, the hardest part of losing someone isn't watching them leave. It's realizing they've emotionally checked out while you're still fighting to make things work. Through verses that move between vulnerability, frustration, and acceptance, each artist explores a different stage of that realization, from fearing the thought of starting over to questioning whether the relationship is worth saving.

The track's ghost imagery reinforces that emotional distance, representing someone who remains physically present but feels increasingly impossible to reach. It's a compelling concept that gives “Untold” its emotional weight, particularly for listeners who have experienced the exhausting cycle of giving everything while receiving very little reassurance in return.

Beyond the music, the collaboration has an interesting origin story. Monty!, J.Saenz, and 4NRhythm first connected through producer Kato's Camp Kato, where they were selected among just eight artists from approximately 1,000 applicants. Their friendship eventually developed into a creative partnership, bringing together three independent musicians with complementary approaches to storytelling.

With “Untold,” Monty!, J.Saenz, and 4NRhythm deliver a relatable reminder that loving someone doesn't always mean you should keep holding on. Sometimes, choosing yourself is the most difficult decision of all.

“Untold” explores the loneliness of missing someone who's still physically present in your life. What personal experiences inspired this concept, and why do you think emotional distance can sometimes hurt more than an actual breakup?

J.saenz:

I think emotional distance can hurt more because you start making up the worst in your head. You’re worrying about things that haven’t even happened because you don’t know where you stand. At least with a breakup, you know it’s over.

4NRhythm:

For me, it comes from knowing that someone can still be in your life without you feeling close to them anymore. Sometimes you can feel them slipping away before either of you is willing to admit something’s changed. I think that’s what makes it so painful. With a breakup, at least you’ve acknowledged what’s happening.

Monty!:

I think the hardest part is not knowing what you’re supposed to do with that feeling. Do you bring it up, give them space, or wonder if you’re overthinking it? When someone is still there, you keep hoping things will go back to how they were. You don’t know whether to keep trying or start letting go, and that gives you a lot of time to get in your own head.

Each of you approaches “Untold” from a different emotional perspective. How did you decide which part of the story each artist would tell, and did hearing one another's verses change how you understood the song?

Monty!:

J did his verse first, and like five minutes later, 4 came back with his. I was like, “Dang, we really have something here.” We were writing about the same feeling, but you could hear that we’d each experienced it differently. I spent a whole day listening to what they both said, just sitting with it and figuring out how to tell my version of that story. We weren’t really deciding who would tell which part. It came together as each verse came in. And even though mine came last, I didn’t feel like I needed to tie everything up. Sometimes you’re still figuring it out, and I wanted to leave room for that too.

You met through Camp Kato after being selected as three of just eight artists from approximately 1,000 applicants. How did that experience shape your creative chemistry, and what made you realize you could build something meaningful together beyond the camp?

J.saenz:

We already knew how important it was to work with other artists, but being there in person and feeding off each other’s energy made it feel real. Connecting with 4 and Monty felt like we had always known each other. The talent was there, but our energy and what we wanted to do lined up too.

4NRhythm:

As independent artists, we spend so much time figuring things out on our own. It felt good to be around other people who take their music just as seriously. And we each brought something different. We weren’t trying to be the same artist.

Monty!:

That’s a big reason I travel to these events in the first place. I want to find people I can actually build with. Getting selected put us in the same room, but we wanted to keep making music together after camp was over. That’s what mattered.

The song uses the imagery of a ghost to describe someone who is present but emotionally unavailable. How did that metaphor develop, and what do you think keeps people holding onto relationships they know are slipping away?

Monty!:

It started with the production. I found that sample and felt like it was perfect for us to build around. From there, we each brought our own experiences to it. For me, hope is a big part of why people hold on. You remember how good it was, so you think maybe one conversation or a little more time will bring that back.

J.saenz:

And sometimes having that conversation means opening wounds you thought had healed. That’s something I touch on in my verse. You can be scared to start over, but staying can leave you feeling numb when the person is there and the connection isn’t.

4NRhythm:

That’s why the ghost idea fits. You can see them and feel them there, but you can’t reach them the same way anymore. Sometimes you’re holding on to the memories and the version of the relationship you keep replaying, instead of what’s actually in front of you.

All three of you have built independent careers while navigating different musical influences and personal experiences. What has this collaboration taught you about vulnerability in hip-hop, and how has working together challenged or expanded your individual approaches to songwriting?

J.saenz:

This reminded me that you don’t have to say something the same way for somebody else to understand it. We brought different experiences to the song, but we could still relate to each other. That’s what makes making music worth it for me. I used to expect the artists I worked with to match my style, and this showed me that the differences can actually make the record better.

4NRhythm:

There’s pressure in hip-hop to act a certain way, but everybody has moments of doubt or loneliness. Hearing three people talk about those feelings in their own way reminds you that you’re not the only one dealing with them. I’m used to being involved in every part of my music, so working together also meant letting someone else take an idea somewhere I wouldn’t have taken it myself.

Monty!:

For me, it was hearing what they said and realizing I had my own version of that feeling too. That’s why I spent a whole day listening before writing mine. It made me really think about what I was saying, instead of just what would sound good. You can have a completely different story from somebody and still hear their verse and go, “Yeah, I know that feeling.”