15 Up-and-coming Rappers To Watch Right Now

By Ben Leshan

*all Spotify monthly listeners are as of 8/12/21

EST Gee

Hometown: Louisville, KY

Age: 27

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 3,913,371

Where to start: Capitol 1, Lick Back

Even not-so-tapped-in rap fans have probably heard of Louisville’s EST Gee from his features on Lil Baby’s “Real As It Gets” and Jack Harlow’s “Route 66” (both of which he killed, by the way), but now it’s time for his own releases to get more mainstream attention. Gee raps with a rare hunger that makes every track he touches exciting, and he has the potential to explode in a big way. Signed to Yo Gotti’s CMG, Gee has the platform and the connections to make big moves in the industry. He released his mixtape Bigger Than Life Or Death just recently in July, and he has seen success with the record reaching number 7 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Gee doesn’t stray too far from his flow and doesn’t have much versatility in his sound, but he’s found his pocket, and the bigger the occassion, the more he rises to it with a great verse. There is a lane for a rapper like him, and his voice and energy are something different that should make him stick.

Scorey

Hometown: Syracuse, NY

Age: 22

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 1,234,366

Where to start: Love Letter, Dior You

Scorey, who is signed to Polo G and got his big break with a feature on the Chicago rapper’s song “Broken Guitars” has a knack for excellent melodies and bars that hit you in the heart. He is somewhere in the lane of artists like Polo and fellow Syracuse rapper Toosii, with an ability to appeal to more hardcore rap fans with his bars but land more in the mainstream with his sound and emotion. His song “Love Letter” may show the best potential in his catalog, with a super catchy chorus and a clear command of melodies. Scorey shows he knows just how to appeal to his listener’s emotions while also creating an unforgettable song structure. He is not quite as polished as bigger rappers in his lane, but there is certainly a whole lot of potential in Scorey. The melodic street rap subgenre has a lot of space in it, and we have seen many rappers do quite well commercially in that lane. As Scorey grows and gets his name out there you can expect to see him have a lot of success.

Hotboy Wes

Hometown: Waco, TX

Age: Unknown

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 319,483

Where to start: Soldier, My Lil Dance feat. Gucci Mane

Hotboy Wes is following Pooh Shiesty as the newest rapper signed to Gucci Mane poised to jump into mainstream success. The Texas rapper flows with the aggression of fellow Lone Star State products like Quin NFN, while his sound may remind other rap fans of a mix between NLE Choppa and Kevin Gates. Wes is also notably influenced by The Hot Boys, as evidenced by his moniker. Wes has the ability to rap straight bars, but he also works well with melody. “Soldier”, his most recent single, seems to be great evidence of what is to come, and that is a great sign. He is able to sing a chorus that immediately draws the listener into his struggles with the law and life in the streets, and he uses his big voice to really go in and tell his story on the verses. It shows that he has hit potential, but he also really has something below the surface that should differentiate him from the crowd. Especially now that he’s signed to Gucci, expect Wes to break out in a big way in the coming months.

Sally Sossa

Hometown: Houston, TX

Age: 19

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 810,603

Where to start: Back From The Dead, Star Song feat. Lil Durk

19-year-old rapper Sally Sossa has bars for days and a great voice to deliver them. The Houston product is following in the footsteps of Megan Thee Stallion as a confident Texas girl with great rapping ability and star-power. She also has the versatility to sing at a pretty high level, as evidenced by her Lil Durk collaboration “Star Song”. At just 19 Sossa already has top tier cosigns from Durk and Toosii (who is featured on her song “Right My Wrongs”), but she has star power on her own. Her song “Back From The Dead” is a great example of what Sally can do, showing off confident bars and an ability to flow at a high level. The lyrics aren’t anything we’ve never heard before, but the song sounds good, and it’s meant to be a club-type banger. There is just something about Sossa’s voice and vibe that exude star power. It’s clear that she is hungry to be a great rapper, and she is already really skilled.

Stunna Gambino

Hometown: Washington Heights, NY

Age: 19

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 8,379,144

Where to start: Demons, ZAZA

New York rapper Stunna Gambino has broken out in a major way since signing to Lil Bibby and popping up on a feature with label-mate The Kid Laroi. His feature on Laroi’s “Not Sober” has earned him a whole lot of listens, but Gambino is more than just a Laroi associate. Stunna’s style is clearly influenced by the New York melodic wave of A Boogie-type artists, and more closely resembles the sound of Brooklyn rapper JI The Prince of NY. Even though his music exists in a familiar lane, he has a unique tone and his voice sits in a higher register than similar rappers. Gambino’s catalog often falls into the category of pain music, singing about his struggles in the street over minor chords and 808s. “Demons” exemplifies everything that he does best, featuring an excellent chorus, and showing the ability to switch between different registers and tones to convey emotion. Stunna has room for growth, but as he continues work with Grade A productions, he likely will find his way onto top tier beats and really tell his story. He definitely has the potential to be one of the biggest artists in New York as he advances in his career.

Topaz Jones

Hometown: Montclair, NJ

Age: 28

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 299,346

Where to start: Black Tame, D.I.A.L.

Topaz Jones is bringing a funky and soulful side to rap while maintaining a strong sense of social consciousness and a focus on the bars. His work is somewhere in the vein of Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, not to compare the quality to one of the greatest rap albums of all time, but simply to say he is working with similar sonic and thematic influences as Kendrick was on that project. He is definitely not an artist aiming for pop stardom, but there is so much to like in his catalog that he had to make his way onto this list. “Black Tame” is the best example of what he does, as Jones rides the funky production with a great flow. He feels honest and authentic through his lyrics, like he is trying to make a personal connection with listeners that is often missing from newer rap music. His work feels polished and like he has an uncompromising vision. There is so much maturity and thought put into his work, and more people simply need to hear Jones for him to become a big name.

AG Club

Hometown: Antioch, CA

Group Members: Baby Boy, Jody Fontaine, Mick Anthony

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 1,016,410

Where to start: Memphis, NOHO feat. ICECOLDBISHOP

AG Club fall somewhere in between Brockhampton, S.O.B R.B.E., and the A$AP Mob as a Bay Area collective with a focus on innovation and artistic vision. Every song has the signature energy of the bay, but there are clearly other influences at play that create a unique sound for the group. There is a lot of vocal layering on their tracks that gives the music the mob-rap feel that they push with their image as a highly collaborative collective. The group decided to name their projects F*** Your Expections Pt.1 and Pt.2 for a reason, they don’t want to sit in the space of what is expected, they want to do whatever they want. That creative freedom leaves them in a good place, as they never miss on quality, and jump around from sound to sound. This is the kind of group that feels exciting to be a fan of because it feels like an emerging movement and not just some rap group. They have style, they have energy, they’re ready to change the game, and they are most likely the next big thing.

Che Noir

Hometown: Buffalo, NY

Age: 27

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 39,645

Where to start: Hustle Don’t Give feat. Apollo Brown, Black Thought, Hold It Down feat. Apollo Brown, Ty Farris

Che Noir is working with a Griselda cosign coming out of Buffalo, and she has proven to be a talented lyricist. She thrives on the kind of boom bap production that her fellow Buffalo rappers love to work on, and she makes sure that in all cases the bars come first. Noir definitely has a great ear for production that takes the boom bap style but has replay value in the modern era. Instead of trying to shift her music to fit was is typically most popular, she has clearly worked on her pen continuously to make sure she can sell records as a pure lyricist. She often has features on her songs, and it would be nice to hear more songs that have multiple verses from her, but whenever she gets an opportunity to spit she steps up and lays down a nice verse. There is clearly an attention to detail from Noir as she crafts each line and chooses each word with precision, and that will serve her well going forward in the rap game.

Remble

Hometown: San Pedro, CA

Age: 21

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 1,967,080

Where to start: Touchable, Gordon R Freestyle

Remble might just be the most unique artist on this list, developing a heavily anunciated flow that takes Drakeo The Ruler’s style and makes it less slick and more formal. He has gone viral on Tiktok because his sound lends itself quite well to acting out the lyrics. Something feels terrifying about the way that every word is so clear in Remble’s raps and he spins tales about gun violence and revenge. The combination of his unorthodox flow and the haunting production he uses makes every word just hit harder. “Touchable” is the most extreme example of Remble’s style, as he seems to intentionally make his voice monotone, adding an extra element to his normal flow. The result is definitely a hit, but his more traditional sounding records like “Gordon R Freestyle” also have a lot of great things going on.

Daniyel

Hometown: Portland, OR

Age: 19

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 134,959

Where to start: Lost Ones, 82nd

Portland rapper Daniyel got his big break when his video for “Lost Ones” landed on Cole Bennett’s Lyrical Lemonade channel. The 19-year-old has proven to be more than just that one record though. He is great with melody, lyrics, and delivery, and has a really strong voice with a lot of soul in it. His versatility is really strong throughout his debut 82 (which was featured in our Best Albums of 2021 So Far list), singing passionately over ukulele chords on “It’s Ok”, creating a soft and emotioanl anthem over floating piano keys on “Lost Ones”, and rapping with hunger about his city as he interpolates “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” by The Beasite Boys on “82nd”. It just feels like Daniyel is too artistic and polished this early in his career and has too good of a voice not to be a major artist to watch. He really has the voice to crossover into the pop world, and he comes off as a charasmatic and interesting person in interviews. The sky really is the limit for Daniyel.

Jay Loud

Hometown: Indianapolis, IN

Age: 21

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 201,913

Where to start: No Safety, Need It Back

Hailing from Indianapolis, Jay Loud moved to the Seattle area to chase his dream, and had to overcome homelessness before achieving a record deal. Now he’s starting to see big success with a voice that sounds a bit like Roddy Ricch with a more rnb-leaning sound. Make no mistake though, Loud is very much his own artist. The first thing that will strike you about his music is the pain and passion that he carries in his voice. “No Safety” is a great example of Loud’s ability to tap into his pain and sing about it in an amazing voice, as he sings about his struggles in the streets over a key and 808 beat. Jay is an interesting artist because he has the ability to do runs and simply sing at a higher level than the vast majority of hip hop artists, but he chooses to use those gifts to make rap music instead of just trying to be a singer. We’ve seen that work in big ways for artists all over the spectrum from Ty Dolla $ign to Morray, and Jay Loud has the voice to be a star.

Big Mali

Hometown: Raleigh, NC

Age: 19

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 13,078

Where to start: 4,5,6, Outro

Big Mali flows with the hunger of mainstream North Carolina rappers like DaBaby and Stunna 4 Vegas, but with her own unique spin on the style. She hasn’t quite done numbers yet, but her voice and rapping ability at 19 years old are quite impressive. She has so much confidence on the mic, and that gives her so much potential to break out in a big way. There aren’t many rappers this early in their career who feel like they have found their voice and know exactly how to sound polished on their records. “4,5,6” is a great example of Mali’s ability, as she flows over heavy 808s, trap drums, and hard piano hits with a lot of energy and intensity. Mali has star potential because she flows at such a high level and her vocal delivery is so direct and energetic. You want to listen to every word she says, and that will serve her well.

Kenny Mason

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Age: 26

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 514,282

Where to start: Pup, Play Ball

Kenny Mason has been doing his thing for a while now, but he still lands on this list because he doesn’t get nearly the love that he deserves. The 26-year-old Atlanta artist is incredibly versatile and talented, and he has a great body of work behind him, even turning in a project that made our Best Albums Of 2021 So Far list. Kenny is a true artist who is clearly in it for the music, as he barely even shows his face on social media and always has the most to say when the mic is on. He has the rare ability to rap at a top level, but also to shift between genres. He can go back and forth between records like “Much Money” with Freddie Gibbs, a slow boom bap type song, and songs like “Play Ball”, which is a rock song with a rap verse in the middle of it. Everything that Kenny makes has undeniable energy, and he makes sure everything he releases is top quality. Mason isn’t making music in order to become a pop star, but he has room to grow significantly in his lane because he music is just so good.

Kalan.FrFr

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Age: 26

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 667,748

Where to start: Look At Me, Never Lose You

Kalan.FrFr has the westcoast vibe and melodic flare of artists like Blxst and Ty Dolla $ign. His music feels cool in the way that only a California artist can make. His voice sits somewhere more in the pocket of an artist like Vory, but he stays in his westcoast bag, rapping on beats with high drifting synths and door slams. Kalan.FrFr has the swag of an RnB artist while making records that ride rhythmically more like rap songs. He has the kind of voice that sounds good on every track, and he is just so smooth on the beat. “Look At Me” is a great song, as it shows off his tone so well, the production is phenomenal on its own merit, and he flexes incredible confidence as he rides the beat. There has always been a market for cool westcoast artists with confidence and great vocals, and Kalan.FrFr should be able to carve out a nice lane as he grows going forward.

Bizzy Banks

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Age: 22

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 659,146

Where to start: Don’t Start Pt. 2, Bandemic

Bizzy Banks is the next star to pop from the Brooklyn drill scene. Ever since its inception years ago, the subgenre has produced countless mainstream stars from Pop Smoke to Fivio Foreign to Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow, and Bizzy has that it-factor. He doesn’t quite have the booming voice that differentiates artists like Pop or Sheff G, but his rapping ability is high level, and he has a great ability to pick beats that give songs immediate hit potential. Bizzy’s greatest strength as a rapper is his ability to flow nonstop with an easy confidence that makes you believe every word he says. On “Bandemic” Bizzy raps over a vocal sample and drill drums, flowing with a lot of energy and coming through with intimidating bars. Bizzy has proven that he has the ability to craft song structures that have anthem potential, and that is the gold standard for a drill artist. Expect Bizzy to really emerge as one of the biggest drill artists in the world going forward.

Deante’ Hitchcock

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Age: 28

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 467,998

Where to start: How TF feat. 6lack, I Remember

Deante’ Hitchcock has been rapping at a high level for years, and he’s grown to the point that he deserves to be seen as one of the best rappers out. The biggest thing that first strikes you about Hitchcock is his voice, a powerful tone featuring a southern drawl that you just can’t forget. His music is perhaps most reminiscent of fellow southern lyricist Big K.R.I.T., featuring an unforgettable southern accent with great lyrics and storytelling. He might be the most criminally underrated rapper on this list, as he has a top tier pen, and has an excellent quality project under his belt with 2020’s Better. Deante’ is great at rapping about love and his struggles in a way that feels vulnerable, but also reflects on how uncomfortable vulnerability can be. “I Remember”, the intro to Better, is a great example of what Hitchcock does, as he tells the story of his come up masterfully, flexes great pure rapping skills, and shows off his amazing voice. Deante’ Hitchcock deserves his recognition, and more of it is definitely coming.

Enjoyed the post? Check out our playlist of songs to introduce you to these emerging rappers!

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