Earlier this year, NLE Choppa served up one of this year's biggest breakout hits with "Shotta Flow." Now, with nearly 100 million YouTube views for that single’s video under his belt and a major label deal currently propelling him to greater and greater heights, the skilled Memphis rapper is already on his way to being one of the most successful young up-and-comers in his craft. With less than a year of mainstream acceptance, NLE Choppa has also already earned a platinum plaque, adding yet another impressive feat to his name.
For Fans Of: NBA YoungBoy, Kevin Gates, DaBaby
NLE Choppa
With the current flood of new talent pouring from Detroit's contemporary rap scene, the Motor City is making a pretty strong case for hip-hop's greatest regional stronghold. Among that ever-growing and evolving crop of capable up-and-comers, Baby Smoove stands out as one of the most likely young Detroit rappers to become a star in the coming months. Having made an impact through a handful of successful videos on YouTube and his recent Mr. Percent Perfect, Smoove is on the cusp of an imminent national breakthrough.
For Fans Of: Sada Baby, Drakeo the Ruler, Valee
Baby Smoove
For the past year, the southern California-reared duo of Teeezy & Gudda Mack have unleashed a flurry of exceptionally impressive freestyles on Instagram and showcased an imitable chemistry on their collaborative Devils & Demons EP. When it comes to the combination of raw talent and aggressive delivery, you won't find a more skilled pair of emcees in the West Coast's current street-rap landscape. California has produced legendary pairings since the days of Tha Dogg Pound, and now Teeezy & Gudda Mack stand poised to hold this era's title.
For Fans of: Nipsey Hussle, Mozzy, Jay Rock
Teeezy & Gudda Mack
With just a handful of SoundCloud releases and popular, fast-rising music videos on YouTube on his resume, ComptonAssTG is already at the top of the current class of new and young talent tearing up the West Coast streets and speakers. As songs like "Trust My Instincts" and "40 Show" prove, the Compton representative is a master of effective, menacing gangsta-rap trigger-talk. Outside of a small handful of already-established local heroes, ComptonAssTG stands as one of 2019's likely breakout stars.
For Fans of: YG, Nipsey Hussle, ScHoolboy Q
ComptonAssTG
Lil Tecca, the teenage wonder of 2019, is the breakout star of the year. Barely old enough to drive, the Queens-bred native’s single “Ransom” is making its way to be one of the biggest records of the year. Everything this kid has put out has been gold. From "Molly Girl" to “Love Me,” to “Did It Again,” Tecca has a penchant for crafting intoxicating melodies that flows on just about any beat thrown his way, a la Travis Scott. He’s young and a bit raw, but if he can link up with the right producer and get the right tutelage, the sky's the limit.
For Fans of: Travis Scott, YNW Melly, PNB Rock
Lil Tecca
New York’s drill scene has been prospering regionally in New York City but never as big as its Chicago and UK counterparts. However, Pop Smoke — a Panamanian rapper from Canarsie, Brooklyn — is the newest star within the scene that’s turning heads and causing mass hysteria outside burrough musically. With a voice that will make James Earl Jones jealous, Pop Smoke dropped one of the songs of the summer with “Welcome to the Party.” But don’t call him a one-hit wonder — his newest tape, Meet The Woo, is nine songs of gritty, unadulterated punch-you-in-the-mouth music.
For Fans of: Rowdy Rebel, Sheff G, Skepta
POP SMOKE
Black Midi, a band from London that consists of Geordie Greep, Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin, Cameron Picton and Morgan Simpson, is the most exciting new group to come out from across the pond, and has already received universal praise for their debut album Schlagenheim. After KEXP’s 26-minute video of them went viral, the potential was evident. Once they were given the proper studio setting to create a polished product, the quartet made one of the best albums of the year.
For Fans of: Death Grips, The Heist, Rage Against The Machine
BLACK MIDI
The dream of breaking out after forming a band in high school with your best friends isn’t a hope many of us cling to these days. But LAUNDRY DAY, a quintet from Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan, is just that and has the potential to be huge. Sawyer Nunes, Etai Abramovich, Jude Ciulla, Henry Weingartner and Henry Pearl are all high school seniors at the Beacon School by day, but moonlight as an up-and-coming band with the Jedi Master of Music himself, Rick Rubin, acting as their mentor. Three albums in, with HOMESICK being their best and most recent project, LAUNDRY DAY has chops to become something more than a high school dream.
For Fans of: Brockhampton, Ryan Beatty
LAUNDRY DAY
Just 18 years old, Rema has a future as bright as any new artist in any genre. Birthed from humble beginnings in Benin City, Nigeria, Rema is a part of the new Afrobeat generation that’s blending traditional West African sound with influences from reggae and trap music, making a sound that resonates with a wide range of listeners. After dropping his breakout single “‘Dumebi,” which collected over four million YouTube views, and releasing two new mixtapes — his self-titled EP in March and Rema Freestyle EP this past July — it isn’t a question of if he’ll become a star, it's how fast.
For Fans of: Lil Tjay, Mr. Eazi, Young Thug
Afrobeat is beginning to break into pop culture. The music subgenre has always produced innovative artists but within the last couple of years — with the help of the internet — stars such as Burna Boy, Davido, Mr. Eazi and more are making lasting impacts outside of Africa and on major music charts around the world. One of the newest faces of the scene is Santi, a 26-year-old DIY artist who’s becoming the face of the 1990s baby creatives scene coming out of Nigeria. Born Osayaba Andrew Ize-Iyamu, the reclusive talent is a paradigm of a cultural melting pot, blending lo-fi nostalgia with a fusion of his Nigerian roots and western influences. His debut album, Mandy & The Jungle, is the sound that will lead the alternative music scene coming of West Africa.
For Fans of: Popcaan, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, WizKid
REMA
SANTI
New Gen is HYPEBEAST’s new series that spotlights the most promising up-and-comers in the music game. Every season, we will highlight 10 of the most talented and/or buzzworthy new artists from all corners of the globe, across all genres.
If Latin trap was the latest genre of music to see a popularity spike in pop culture, other niche groups are also finding huge success. Over the last few months, there’s been a resurgence in indie bands and Afrobeat musicians that have started to break out among their respective genres, alongside Brooklyn’s drill scene, which has continuously played second fiddle to its Chicago and UK counterparts.
As the new season gets underway, here are 12 of the most promising up-and-coming artists you should check out for Fall 2019.
Fire tunes that will make you move.
New Gen: Fall 2019
AzChike
For Fans of: YG, SOB X RBE, E-40
LA's AzChike stands firmly at the forefront of a modern West Coast rap-renaissance, having helped bless his area with a type of fresh, exciting creativity that hasn't been seen since YG transitioned from jerking and "Toot It and Boot It" to mainstream magazine covers and Barney's shelves. Virtually every song he's put out in 2018 has had the potential to be a regional hit, having gone on to soundtrack parties and filled up cruising playlists across the West. Alongside fellow AzCult members AzSwaye and AzBenzz, he’s a large part of why West Coast hip-hop sounded like it did in 2018. Now in the same R Baron-helmed camp that brought us the ascents of Drakeo the Ruler and 03 Greedo, AzChike is just one big record away from becoming his state's next headlining star.
Lil Dude
For Fans of: 21 Savage, Gucci Mane, Migos
Alongside his close friend, musical affiliate and fellow DMV underground king Goonew, Lil Dude has created a signature style that's being imitated as much as Valee's. Mixing together calmer-toned vocals with agile, breathless flows, the "Trapnana" originator slithers across menacing, bass-heavy beats as if every new record is a freeform sonic experiment. In the same fashion as Atlanta superstars Young Thug, Gunna, Future and Lil Baby, Lil Dude uses his voice as an instrument, adding unconventional, psychedelic twists and turns to raw street music. As the codeine-coated melancholy of recent releases like “Magic” and his experimental, progressive approach to production prove, he also holds the type of of versatility that almost guarantees longevity. With his cult following expanding beyond the boundaries of the underground, expect his next run of videos and projects to quickly catapult him to new commercial heights and critical breakthroughs.
Blueface
For Fans of: 03 Greedo, Young Thug, YG, Gucci Mane
Say what you will about his "unconventional" -- to say the least -- delivery, Blueface is one of hip-hop's most impressive recent success stories. Swiftly propelled to his side's top spot thanks to the astounding organic explosion of "Deadlocs," "Thotiana" and "Respect My Crypn," the fast-rising LA rapper has turned head-spinning and polarizing viral triumphs into a meteoric rise that could be compared to Migos after "Versace." Adding fuel to the fire: Drake is a huge fan, Quavo has been spotted in the studio with him, DJ Mustard has popped up at his recording sessions and a YG collaboration out now.
1TakeJay
For Fans of: YG, Nipsey Hussle, RJ
Ever since listeners were given a taste of what it was like to live a "day in the life of a player named Quik," the West Coast has always been hip-hop culture's foremost supplier of party music -- whether it was bottle-breaking, beat-down-your-block records or smooth cuts that feel at home in the middle of a Sunday night session with Art Laboe. Carrying on that proud, substance-streaked tradition, 1TakeJay has become the latest hero for his coast's nocturnal set. Separating himself from the pack, the slick-tongued proponent of the fast life blends together tightly-wound flows, 200 mile-per-hour energy and the playfully-arrogant shit-talking of like-minded regional cohorts like Drakeo the Ruler and Blueface. As raw snippets of future releases go viral within hours and the views of his videos near the million-mark, 1TakeJay stands as one of his scene's most promising new acts. If he continues at this pace, superstardom is inevitable.
Japanese Breakfast
For Fans Of: St. Vincent, Grimes
The solo project of Michelle Zauner, Japanese Breakfast has racked up millions of views and listens in recent months thanks to the act's genre-agnostic approach to experimental indie, rock and alternative. Zauner's Japanese Breakfast project has received a flood of critical acclaim since its inception, and Zauner herself is also an award-winning author. Japanese Breakfast blends together various cultural influences from around the world, connecting with listeners on levels outside of just the usual sonic bonds. While many have noted contemporary rock's lack of innovation and creativity as of late, Japanese Breakfast stands as one of the most forward-thinking, progressive acts in that field. Breaking boundaries on all sides, Zauner's solo effort stands poised to be one of indie's biggest forces in 2019.
Baby Keem
For Fans of: Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Playboi Carti
At the age of 18, Baby Keem has already left his sonic signature on projects like ScHoolboy Q's CrasH Talk, Jay Rock's Redemption and the critically-acclaimed Black Panther soundtrack. Some of the rap industry's strongest heavy-hitters, like producers Cardo, DJ Dahi and Sounwave and music business mastermind Brock "Brocky Marciano" Korsan, have thrown their support behind him, nearly ensuring a successful career ahead of him. With an almost indescribable mix of melodic-yet-unpredictable flows and off-kilter, low-slung production forming the backbone of his current sound, Baby Keem is already laying the foundations for a lane in which only his output can fill.
Baby Smoove
For Fans Of: Brainfeeder, Stones Throw, Thundercat, The Internet
At the age of 18, Baby Keem has already left his sonic signature on projects like ScHoolboy Q's CrasH Talk, Jay Rock's Redemption and the critically-acclaimed Black Panther soundtrack. Some of the rap industry's strongest heavy-hitters, like producers Cardo, DJ Dahi and Sounwave and music business mastermind Brock "Brocky Marciano" Korsan, have thrown their support behind him, nearly ensuring a successful career ahead of him. With an almost indescribable mix of melodic-yet-unpredictable flows and off-kilter, low-slung production forming the backbone of his current sound, Baby Keem is already laying the foundations for a lane in which only his output can fill.