Rap Battle: These 18 Hip Hop Artists Are About to Tear Up the Music Scene
In an industry completely saturated with undiscovered talent, it's hard to keep up with the next big things before they blow up over night. Long gone are the days of relying on the radio to tell you who and what to listen to. With the rise in popularity of websites like Soundcloud and Bandcamp, young artists are taking the proverbial reigns in order to create music on their own terms, and the payoff for some has been extraordinary. The musicians to most successfully capitalize on the free-for-all game changer that is the internet? Rappers grounded in hip hop.
It's no surprise that the genre, which permanently changed the face of the music industry in the '80s, is the first to catch on to the endless possibilities of the world wide web. Proving they're true pioneers, these hitmakers are making a name for themselves the only way they know how: by keeping it raw and real. For many, putting it all out there for free has resulted in lucrative record deals and major exposure.
Click through to discover some of the hottest new faces of the genre.
1/19In an industry completely saturated with undiscovered talent, it's hard to keep up with the next big things before they blow up over night. Long gone are the days of relying on the radio to tell you who and what to listen to. With the rise in popularity of websites like Soundcloud and Bandcamp, young artists are taking the proverbial reigns in order to create music on their own terms, and the payoff for some has been extraordinary. The musicians to most successfully capitalize on the free-for-all game changer that is the internet? Rappers grounded in hip hop.
It's no surprise that the genre, which permanently changed the face of the music industry in the '80s, is the first to catch on to the endless possibilities of the world wide web. Proving they're true pioneers, these hitmakers are making a name for themselves the only way they know how: by keeping it raw and real. For many, putting it all out there for free has resulted in lucrative record deals and major exposure.
Click through to discover some of the hottest new faces of the genre.
2/19Allan Kingdom
City: St. Paul, Minnesota (by way of Winnipeg Canada)
Claim to Fame: He was featured on Kanye West's international single "All Day" that also features Theophilus London and Paul McCartney. He doesn't play by the rules, which has put him on a fast track to success. Counting himself as a writer and producer, Allan is working with the best artists in the industry, making him one of the most promising new up-and-comers in the game.
Getty Images3/19Awkwafina
City: Forest Hills, Queens
Claim to Fame: She walks the line between comedy and rap, appearing as a correspondent on MTV's Girl Code. Part Chinese, part Korean, the artist (whose real name is Nora Lum) is more than just an Asian rapper. Awkwafina is proud to be a native New Yorker, so she spits about the difference between her and the twenty-somethings who moved here on "Mom and Daddy's trust fund." She attended Laguardia High School, where Nicki Minaj and Azealia Banks also studied.
Getty Images for SXSW4/19Bishop Nehru
City: Spring Valley, New York
Claim to Fame: He was one of the first people signed to Nas' Mass Appeal Records alongside Boldy James and Fashawn. He started laying tracks under the name Kelz Scott when he was 13 years old. Releasing music on the Odd Future forum led to opening for Wu-Tang Clan on their 20th Anniversary European tour.
Getty Images for Anheuser-Busch5/19Chance the Rapper
City: Chatham, Chicago, Illinois
Claim to Fame: In January 2015, Bennett was listed #7 on the "Forbes 30 Under 30" 2015 music list. He first started gaining popularity after releasing his second mixtape Acid Rap, which was listed on multiple best album lists that year. The list includes 26th for Rolling Stone, 12th for Pitchfork, 4th by Complex, and a favorite of NPR's. He starred opposite Erykah Badu in the 2014 film Black Dynamite as Bob Marley.
Getty Images6/19Chief Keef
City: Chicago, Illinois
Claim to Fame: His second mixtape Back From The Dead 2 was ranked 25th in Rolling Stone's list of the 40 best rap albums of 2014. Gucci Mane is a regular collaborator and full-time mentor. Rapper, Common, has praised Chief for his innovative contributions to the industry.
Getty Images for BET7/19Dej Loaf
City: Detroit, Michigan
Claim to Fame: Her single "Try Me" peaked at #45 on the US Billboard Hot 100. She was recently selected to be featured in XXL magazine's 2015 Freshman Class. Drake has quoted her songs on Instagram. Eminem featured her on "Detroit vs. Everybody" in 2014.
Getty Images8/19Despot
City: Queens, New York
Claim to Fame: He’s never released a full-length album, but has participated in the underground New York rap scene for over a decade. His 2007 tour with Ratatat put him in the spotlight.
Getty Images9/19Earl Sweatshirt
City: Los Angeles, California
Claim to Fame: He was discovered by Tyler, The Creator and joined Tyler's rap group Odd Future. After attending boarding school in Samoa, he released his debut studio effort, Doris. In 2013, he was nominated for BET's Rookie of the Year award. He was recently for XXL magazine's 2015 Freshman Class.
For The Washington Post10/19GoldLink
City: Washington, D.C.
Claim to Fame: His first song, "Electric Relaxation" achieved 30,000 plays within a month on Soundcloud. After performing at SXSW to rave reviews, GoldLink spent all of June on tour with DJ Kidd Marvel. He requires an iHop per diem in his rider. How badass is that?
WireImage11/19iLoveMakonnen
City: Atlanta, Georgia
Claim to Fame: Signing to Drake's label, OVO Sound. The video for his hit song "Tuesday" has received over 94 million views on YouTube. He got his start on MySpace — throwback anyone? It clearly paid off.
Redferns via Getty Images12/19Joey Bada$$
City: Brooklyn, New York
Claim to Fame: He was discovered on YouTube in 2010. By 2013 he had been featured in XXL magazine's Freshman class. He performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in January 2015.
Getty Images13/19Little Simz
City: Islington, England
Claim to Fame: She counts Kendrick Lamar as a fan, and her fourth mix tape Blank Canvas was released via Jay Z's website. She attended St Mary's Youth Club, which counts Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke among their notable alumni. She's also done some acting on television.
Getty Images14/19Pia Mia
City: Guam
Claim to Fame: Her single "Do It Again" peaked at #2 on the Billboard Bubbling Under 100 Singles chart. Pia was featured on the Divergent soundtrack in 2014. She counts Kylie Jenner as one of her best friends. Her fans include Tyga and Chris Brown.
Getty Images15/19Raury
City: Stone Mountain, Georgia
Claim to Fame: Turning it up at MTV's Artists to Watch Showcase and Bonnaroo, starting his own music festival (Raurfest), and being tight with Kanye. He counts Willow and Jayden Smith as some of his best friends. He’s signed with Columbia Records.
WireImage16/19Tink
City: Calumet City, Illinois
Claim to Fame: Timbaland, who signed her to the Mosley Group under Epic Records, claimed that Aaliyah's spirit appeared to him at the 2015 SXSW festival to describe Tink as "the one." Her mixtape, Winter's Diary 2: Forever Young, was featured as a top 10 album in Rolling Stone (#8) and Billboard (#9).
FilmMagic17/19Vic Mensa
City: Chicago, Illinois
Claim to Fame: He was featured alongside Sia on Kanye West's track “Wolves," which he performed with them on Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary episode. He’s currently signed to Roc Nation.
VMG via Getty Images18/19Vince Staples
City: Long Beach, California
Claim to Fame: He’s currently signed to multiple record labels: ARTium Recordings, Def Jam, Blacksmith Records, and A.G. He was recently featured in Sprite's "Obey Your Thirst" documentary series after he toured as a supporting act on Mac Miller's The Space Migration tour.
Getty Images19/19YAZZ the Greatest
City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Claim to Fame: His role as Hakeem Lyon on FOX’s series Empire. Born Bryshere Y. Gray, Yazz played on his high school's football team and didn't discover music or television until after an injury. He’s currently signed with Columbia and is filming his second season of TV's #1 show.
