Spec Kay aka Kareem Adeniran is an up-and-coming rapper from New Jersey whose biggest musical influences span across hip-hop royalty, top-tier lyricists, and genre-fusing pioneers.
conswank is a rapper and singer from Burligton, VT inspired by Pro Era, Tom Misch, and weed smoke.
Imani Nichele is a rapper from Detroit, MI, now based in Chicago, IL. Being a fan of poetry early in life, Imani naturally transitioned to music as she “started craving different mediums to let [her] thoughts exist inside of.”
HAAWWS is a Boston rapper who lists his biggest influences as Rihanna, ScHoolboy Q, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Michael Jackson, Prince, J. Cole, Drake, Dr. Dre, and Beyoncé.
Kiana Tenille describes her sound as “euphoric,” and lists her biggest musical influences as Brandy, Beyoncé, and SZA.
Jiles is a rapper from Brockton, MA, and a cofounder of the collective, Van Buren Records.
Tireek is a rapper from Brooklyn, NY. Growing up in the hip-hop mecca of New York City, Tireek was surrounded by hip-hop culture throughout his whole childhood.
Wes Denzel is a rapper from San Antonio, TX. He lists his biggest influences as Nelly, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Pharrell Williams, OutKast, and Cash Money acts Big Tymers, Juvenile, and Lil Wayne.
Justin Michael is an artist from Houston, TX. His biggest musical inspirations span a variety of genres - Frank Ocean, Michael Jackson, Post Malone, and Linkin Park.
V!lla aka Vabyface is a rapper from Baton Rouge, LA. He is a member of the COL-DER-SAC collective.
Xavier Top Floor is a rapper residing in Los Angeles, CA. Growing up in a Nigerian household with 5 older siblings, Xavier was exposed to a plethora of music from a young age.
4ever lost is a French music group blurring the lines of Pop and alternative R&B to make music in a genre they refer to as “Eclectic Pop.”
Mack Swans aka Jamal Livingston is a rapper and producer from New Orleans, LA. Mack first got into music during his high school days.
Tundra aka Jaden Martin kicked off his career in the entertainment industry as an actor at age 10. He has appeared in movies like After Earth and television shows like The Boys.
will cherry lists his biggest musical influences as D'Angelo, Kanye West, and Frank Ocean.
After making contributions to albums from Denzel Curry, Meechy Darko, and EARTHGANG, Shawn K is ready to shift the spotlight on himself.
Blessing is a self-described rebel and a singer, songwriter, and guitar player from Houston, TX.
Free Party, coming from Largo, MD is the next great rap duo. They were greatly inspired by OutKast, Kanye West, Lauryn Hill, and Kendrick Lamar.
Omari M’$ is a rapper from Queens, NY. He describes his sound as “ luxury meets down to earth.”
Memoir. aka Jordan Spence is a rapper from Brooklyn, NY. His biggest influences are Kendrick Lamar and Big Sean.
D-Bibbs is a rapper, singer, and producer from Birmingham, Alabama. Learning from a musically gifted father, he has been “developing his musical prowess since the age of 2,” and is able to play both jazz and classical instrumentation.
Omni ! lists their most significant influences as AG Club, BROCKHAMPTON, A$AP Rocky, Timbaland, DJ Screw, and Run The Jewels.
Zero McKenzi is a rapper from Brooklyn, NY, who says his music sounds like a modern-day André 3000, but if he were from New York rather than Atlanta. Other than the legendary 3 Stacks, Zero McKenzi says he has also been greatly influenced by Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole.
Blvck Svm is a rapper from West Palm Beach, FL, currently living in Chicago, IL. Despite his whereabouts, Blvck Svm says that his sound is more fitting with New York-style rap, listing MF DOOM as his favorite rapper.
Ray Jones is a singer and rapper from Houston, TX. Around the age of 9, Ray’s mom bought him a CD player and a collection of about 200 CDs from a bootlegger. The collection included albums of artists from Michael Jackson to Nirvana, and it was being introduced to artists like these that truly marked the start of Ray Jones’ journey in music.
A.N.I aka Lani is a rapper from Beaumont, TX, currently based in Chicago, IL. At the age of 11, A.N.I started playing the saxophone, helping him develop a love for music at a young age. However, it was not until college that he took up rapping, seeking another creative outlet.
Deshawn Visionz is a rapper from Sacramento, CA, currently living in Atlanta, GA. Deshawn says that he decided to start making music in2018 in order to motivate a friend of his who also was making music. Soon after, Deshawn Visionz attended a Saba concert, which gave him the push he needed to start getting serious about making music.
Januarta The Goat aka Januarta Raja Dira Tome is a rapper and singer from Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia. He says that Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, and XXXTENTACION are the artists the have had the biggest impact on him as a musician.
Osay aka Osayuki Uwumarogie is a rapper and singer from Chicago, IL, and is currently living in Atlanta, GA, where she relocated in 2018 after landing an internship with Generation Now, a subdivision of Atlantic Records.
Gio Genesis is a singer and rapper from New Windsor, NY. He lists his biggest influences as Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Tyler, The Creator, Frank Ocean, and Stevie Wonder.
Ozer aka Samuel Owens is a rapper from San Francisco, CA. Around the age of 6 years old, Ozer became fascinated with a young Bow Wow, and from this point forward, he dreamed of doing music and started writing.
Malik Elijah was taught by his father at age 4 to play the drums. Since that day, Malik’s love for music has only grown.
HANZ is an artist from Lake Hiawatha, NJ. HANZ first remembers falling in love with music as a child, listening to gospel music at his Haitian church.
Eric Penn is an R&B singer who grew up singing in church, and decided to switch up the subject matter and make it a career.
Qdajuice aka Quincy Bones aka Terry Overby is a rapper and brand visionary from Cleveland, OH. He first became intrigued by rap music at a young age, when he purchased his first album, The Massacre by 50 Cent.
Rich Fingerss aka T. Jones is a rapper, engineer, and music studio owner from East Point, GA. His music is inspired by artists like André 3000, J. Cole, Lupe Fiasco, Nas, Kendrick Lamar, Nipsey Hussle, Curren$y, Rick Ross, and Big K.R.I.T.
iNTRO aka Desmond McAdoo is a rapper inspired by artists like Lil Wayne, Mac Miller, Mick Jenkins, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Homeshake, Lucki, The Weeknd, and JMSN.
2ssaint aka Malik Hayes fka Stoke is a philosophical rapper and producer from Cleveland, OH that describes his sound as “a cosmic interrogation of self and a reclamation of ancestral memory for the sake of black futures.”
Newman is a Raleigh, NC-based emcee and co-founder of the label, Ten $teps Ahead. Newman lists his biggest influences as Kanye West, Jay-Z, Lupe Fiasco, Gnarls Barkley, Kid Cudi, Young Thug, Mos Def, Pharrell, OutKast, Nas, and Lil Wayne.
Jayellz is a rapper and entrepreneur, who built the company, Zero Below Grillz with just $800 in his bank account.
Thunderous Knight aka Darrians Hayes who describes his sound as powerful, versatile, and unique, and can light up a whole room once you press play.
Van Buren Records is a Brockton, MA-based hip-hop collective and self-described, coup d’état. On some songs, you can expect to hear a variated Valee flow or a dark, Maxo Kream vibe, on others you can expect to hear something like a new-age, Del The Funky Homosapien, and other times you might even get an Elton John sample.
Goldie Rebel aka Joseph Townsel has a sound that brings you back to the origins of Memphis rap music. With some of his biggest influences being Memphis legends like the duo, 8ball & MJG, as well as Project Pat, this only makes sense. Still, Goldie Rebel lists other influences outside of Memphis as Pimp C, Wiz Khalifa, and Curren$y.
Chelsea Pastel aka Chelsea Ferguson grew up listening to artists like Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, MC Lyte, Missy Elliott, Nicki Minaj, Paul Wall, Mike Jones, and Crime Mob who all greatly influenced her artistry.
NURD is a singer and songwriter inspired by legends like Nina Simone, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, and Miles Davis.
Al-Doms is the most recent unique hip-hop act out of the state of Virginia, which also blessed us with artists like Timbaland, Clipse, The Neptunes, and Missy Elliott.
Blue Nightmare aka Christopher Dorismond is a Miami-based rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, and dancer.
Nuke Franklin is a Cleveland-based rapper inspired by ScHoolboy Q, Tyler, the Creator, Mac Miller, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, and Kid Cudi.
Sierra Sellers took early musical inspiration from Destiny’s Child, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and India.Arie.
Chuck iNDigo recorded eight of thirteen tracks from No Moor Bay Days in 2 weeks before releasing the project in 2020 at age 26.
Inspired by the likes of DJ Quik, Bone Thugs, and Cypress Hill, Los Angeles rapper, JAHMED dropped his debut project, THEBOOFMOBILE in March 2020.
DijahSB aka Khadijah Payne may be the most exciting up-and-coming rapper coming out of Toronto, Canada.
Quadry lists his influences in artists like André 3000, Gil Scott-Heron, the Fugees, and Lil Wayne.