2TYME Awards 2025 Project of the Year: Dead by 5AM by Tye Henney and Showly
- 2TYME Music
- Feb 16
- 3 min read
The collaborative project Dead by 5AM by Tye Henney (New Haven, CT) and Showly (Bridgeport, CT) earns Project of the Year at the 2TYME Awards 2025.
Released on November 28, 2025, the 13-track project stood out across the Connecticut hip-hop scene for its consistency, collaborations, and independent momentum, ultimately surpassing 100,000 streams across platforms.
Built and released independently, the project’s growth reflected organic support rather than industry push.
The project arrived at a time when collaboration was defining the direction of Connecticut hip-hop in 2025, making its release feel timely as much as impactful.
Want to see all 2025 winners? Visit the full 2TYME Awards page.
Dead by 5AM Project of the Year Impact on the Connecticut Hip-Hop Scene
Dead by 5AM represented more than a joint release. It marked a moment where two Connecticut artists aligned creatively and delivered a full body of work that connected with audiences across the state while expanding its reach beyond it.
Standout records like “CT’s Finest” and “Money Ain’t A Thing” helped define the project’s identity and quickly became highlights during live performances and online circulation.
How Dead by 5AM Bridged Connecticut and New York Through Collaboration
A major highlight came with “Bulletproof Glass 2” featuring New York artist Neek Bucks, linking his New York presence with the Connecticut foundation built by Henney and Showly.
Another key collaboration, “CUT THIS MIC OFF” featuring Chello, added to the project’s visual rollout.
The project also spotlighted Connecticut talent:
Fuego Base (Hartford County) — “Game Pavillion”
Jayrock Jax (Hartford County) — “Saints Sinner”
These collaborations gave the album a regional identity that reflected multiple corners of the CT music scene.
DeadBy5AM Brand, Fashion, and Music Rollout Behind the Award-Winning Project
Dead by 5AM functions as both the title of the project and the name of the New Haven–based clothing brand established by Brenton Schumaker. The dual meaning tied the music directly to the brand’s identity, making the release feel like an extension of the DeadBy5AM creative vision rather than a separate rollout.
That overlap between music and fashion gave the project a unified presence, where the sound, visuals, and branding all carried the same concept.
Live Performance and Webster Theater Moment That Elevated Dead by 5AM
The momentum carried into live performance, most notably at the Webster Underground Theater in Hartford on November 11th, where Tye Henney and Showly headlined in front of a crowd of over 200 attendees, with the room by far packed from front to back.
The DeadBy5AM brand was also on-site screen printing merchandise live during the show, giving fans a direct connection to the project beyond just the music.
That night included previews of “CT’s Finest” and “Money Ain’t A Thing,” which had the venue fully engaged, alongside performances from each artist’s individual catalogs.
Moments like this helped the project translate from streaming platforms into a real-world experience.
Why Dead by 5AM Won Project of the Year at the 2TYME Awards 2025
Dead by 5AM secured strong fan support during the voting process while also standing out in the 2TYME evaluation model through its consistency, collaborations, live impact, and independent success.
The recognition of Dead by 5AM Project of the Year reflects how the release connected with listeners and the wider Connecticut music scene.
Dead by 5AM captured a moment for both artists and the Connecticut music landscape — which is exactly what Project of the Year is meant to recognize.
Want to explore every category from this year?
Follow Tye Henney on Instagram: @TyeHenney
Follow Showly on Instagram: @Showly54
Follow Neek Bucks on Instagram: @NeekBucks
Comments