diff --git a/src/views/detail.js b/src/views/detail.js
index f804ace..096d60e 100644
--- a/src/views/detail.js
+++ b/src/views/detail.js
@@ -119,42 +119,56 @@ export async function loadArtistDetail(artist) {
   const _bgCover = _firstAlbums[0] ? coverUrl(_firstAlbums[0].coverArt, 512) : null;
   const bgSrc = img || _bgCover;
 
+  // Gate reveal on pfp + bg + color all ready — nothing shows until everything is set
+  let _pfpReady = false, _bgReady = false, _colorReady = false;
+  let _heroRgb = null;
+
+  const _revealHero = () => {
+    if(!_pfpReady || !_bgReady || !_colorReady) return;
+    if(_heroRgb) {
+      const [r, g, b] = _heroRgb;
+      hero.querySelector('.artist-hero-tint')?.remove();
+      const tint = document.createElement('div');
+      tint.className = 'artist-hero-tint';
+      tint.style.cssText = `position:absolute;inset:0;background:linear-gradient(to right,rgba(${r},${g},${b},.55) 0%,rgba(${r},${g},${b},.25) 55%,rgba(${r},${g},${b},.6) 100%);pointer-events:none`;
+      if(overlay) hero.insertBefore(tint, overlay);
+    }
+    requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+      hero.style.transition = 'opacity 0.25s ease';
+      hero.style.opacity = '1';
+    });
+  };
+
+  // Preload bg — only set background-image after it's in cache
   if(bgSrc) {
     hero.style.background = '';
     const bgEl = document.getElementById('artist-hero-bg');
-    if(bgEl) bgEl.style.backgroundImage = `url('${bgSrc}')`;
+    const _bgImg = new Image();
+    _bgImg.onload = _bgImg.onerror = () => {
+      if(bgEl) bgEl.style.backgroundImage = `url('${bgSrc}')`;
+      _bgReady = true; _revealHero();
+    };
+    _bgImg.src = bgSrc;
+  } else {
+    _bgReady = true;
   }
 
-  const _revealHero = () => requestAnimationFrame(() => {
-    hero.style.transition = 'opacity 0.25s ease';
-    hero.style.opacity = '1';
-  });
-
   if(img) {
     const pfpWrap = document.getElementById('artist-hero-pfp-wrap');
     if(pfpWrap) {
       const pfpImg = document.createElement('img');
       pfpImg.className = 'artist-hero-pfp';
       pfpImg.alt = '';
-      pfpImg.onload = _revealHero;
-      pfpImg.onerror = _revealHero;
+      pfpImg.onload = pfpImg.onerror = () => { _pfpReady = true; _revealHero(); };
       pfpImg.src = img;
       pfpWrap.prepend(pfpImg);
       document.getElementById('artist-hero-pfp-initial')?.style.setProperty('display', 'none');
+    } else {
+      _pfpReady = true;
     }
-    // color tint — async, fades in via CSS so it never pops
-    _extractColor(img).then(rgb => {
-      if(!rgb) return;
-      const [r, g, b] = rgb;
-      hero.querySelector('.artist-hero-tint')?.remove();
-      const tint = document.createElement('div');
-      tint.className = 'artist-hero-tint';
-      tint.style.cssText = `position:absolute;inset:0;background:linear-gradient(to right,rgba(${r},${g},${b},.55) 0%,rgba(${r},${g},${b},.25) 55%,rgba(${r},${g},${b},.6) 100%);pointer-events:none;opacity:0;transition:opacity 0.5s ease`;
-      if(overlay) hero.insertBefore(tint, overlay);
-      requestAnimationFrame(() => { tint.style.opacity = '1'; });
-    });
+    _extractColor(img).then(rgb => { _heroRgb = rgb; _colorReady = true; _revealHero(); });
   } else {
-    _revealHero();
+    _pfpReady = true; _colorReady = true; _revealHero();
   }
 
   // ── Bio ──