Buffalo rapper Protect is the driving force behind the Ball Hog Collective. The group also includes well known streamer BruceDropEmOff, who has quickly built an impressive reputation. Meanwhile, Protect is steadily establishing his name within the underground hip hop world. Being from Buffalo, some might assume his style would follow the raw sound made famous by Griselda. Instead, Protect chooses to create his own direction. That approach can be heard on the track "Undercover Groupie," which features the airy autotune and stripped back production that has become popular in today’s underground scene. Protect is clearly someone worth keeping an eye on as 2026 moves forward.