There’s been a lot of discussion about whether rap has been falling off lately. But how can it be in its flop era when there is an abundance of refreshing incoming rappers bringing new energy, styles, and charisma to the genre?
Each year, we takes a moment to spotlight up-and-coming rappers who are making waves in the hip-hop scene, and 2023 was no exception, boasting a lineup of impressive talents. New Orleans artist Rob49 created a memorable imprint on the year with his solo project 4 God II and featured appearances on collaborations like Lil Durk’s “Same Side” and Travis Scott’s rambunctious anthem “Topia Twins,” earning Rob49 one of his first charting singles of his career. Meanwhile, Karrahbooo also garnered attention with her impressive freestyle on “On the Radar,” and young Dominican talent J Noa blew us away with her Tiny Desk Concert, filling a needed gap in the popular Latin music space with pure Spanish language rap. Meanwhile, Texas artist BigXthaPlug is making loud waves with his bold presence and commanding delivery on tracks like “Rap Niggas.”
If 2023 demonstrated anything, it’s that rap is in capable hands with the new wave of artists emerging on the scene. From talents like Rich Amiri to Anycia, Hardrock, and Ben Reilly, here’s who to look out for this year.
YTB Fatt
For fans of: EST Gee and Moneybagg Yo
Listen to these songs first: “Get Back,” “Shot Off Gumbo” and “Calm It Down”
In less than a year, YTB Fatt has made a name for himself in the music industry with his unique style. His song “In My City” is a tribute to his hometown and showcases his gritty delivery, slimy flow, and warnings about his natural tendency to take down his opponents. Moneybagg Yo recognized Fatt’s talent and brought him on board as a part of Loaf Boyz Ventures, a partnership with 10K Projects. In 2023, Fatt collaborated with Trippie Redd on “Snail Shells” and with his OG on “Shot Off Gumbo,” proving that he can hold his own in the industry. He also released hits like “Get Back” off of his 15-track album “Who Is Fatt” and closed the year with “Foxes Only.” Fatt’s hard work and dedication to his craft are evident, and we can expect to hear more from him this year.
Karrahbooo
For fans of: Lil Yachty, Remble, Flo Milli
Listen to these songs first: “Running Late,” “Splash Brothers,” “Box 40”
Mixing a deadpan flow with dismissive quips and equally effortless confidence, Karahbooo embodies impenetrably sly, unaffected cool. She hasn’t been rapping for all that long, but after being discovered by Lil Yachty and joining The Concrete Family, she wasted no time before showing she could rap her ass off. For “Running Late,” she mixes serious matters like family talk with wry put-downs with seamless ease, while “Box the 40” is an exercise in effortless snark. She can rap, but just as importantly, she understands aesthetics, and she’s got the charisma to swirl it all together. —Peter A. Berry
ICECOLDBISHOP
For fans of: Kendrick Lamar, JID
Listen to these songs first: “THE GOV’T GAVE US GUNS,” “OUT THE WINDOW”
ICECOLDBISHOP has been kicking around since at least 2018, but things started falling into place for the South Central, LA native last year when he released Generational Curse after signing with Epic Records. On “OUT THE WINDOW” he delivers bars typical of his style, “I don’t got no time for no English class lecture hoe/Boy we fuck with science cause they taught us how to measure dope.” The best (and worst) thing going for ICECOLD is that his voice is reminiscent of a young Kendrick Lamar mixed with some of the cadences of Ab-Soul. It can be tough for some longtime fans to get over, but people said that about JID early on and his career is doing just fine. —Insanul Ahmed
41
For fans of: Cash Cobain, Sleepy Hallow, Sheff G
Listen to these songs first: “Bent,” “Fetty,” “Deuce”
Despite the steady decline of hip-hop collectives over the past few years, the trio of Kyle Ricch, Tata, and Jenn Carter have been making waves in the city thanks to their natural chemistry, uncontainable energy, and ability to adapt. They first gained notoriety in the New York drill scene because of their viral diss song “Notti Bop,” but have since transitioned away from dissing and have taken the city by storm with their party banger “Bent.” At its core, New York drill has always been about energy, and 41 is bringing a reinvigorated feeling to the city. —Jordan Rose
BabyDrill
For fans of: Young Nudy and 21 Savage
Listen to these songs first: “32 Freestyle,” “Slight Dub,” “Start To Hate”
Atlanta has reigned as the most dominant rap city over the last decade. However, due to incarceration, death, and an overall sway in the court of public opinion, the guards are changing, which has made room for acts like BabyDrill to rise up. His hot-off-the-press narratives about voyaging through the streets of the South were captured all throughout his breakthrough project Drill Season (2022). Heard in highlights like “32 Freestyle” and “Start To Hate” is a recipe of barbaric lyrics and shuddering production that mimics the praised execution of his Slaughter Gang and PDE affiliates 21 Savage and Young Nudy. That trio tapped in with one another for the sinister MadMan cut “Slight Dub” last year, Drill’s biggest song to date outside of links with Latto (“ISSA PARTY”) and The Kid Laroi (“WHAT’S THE MOVE?”). Add “Duntsane” with Nudy in the mix and there’s a strong brew of boiling collaborations that are pointing fans toward BabyDrill’s short but stirring solo catalog. At this point, it’s a given that his growing brand of Southern drill will continue to ravage speakers in 2024, one way or the other. —Kemet High
J Noa
For fans of: Young Miko, Snow Tha Product
Listen to these songs first: “Autodidacta,” Tiny Desk Concert
Dominican rapper J Noa, who has deemed herself “the daughter of rap,” is a force, spitting savagely and smoothly in a “Latin music” landscape that is deft—and in need—of both her sound and feel. While reggaeton continues to take off and expand its global reach, Noa is keenly aware of the power, and impact, of its predecessor and leans into rap as a means of sharing pointed thoughts, generating important conversation (on everything from politics to race) and achieving personal growth, quite literally. At 17, Noa was signed to Sony in January of last year, and released a strong introductory EP sans features, Autodidacta; its title track speaks to her pen’s skill, with a mention of Bizarrap as the only talent on her list of who she’s currently vying to work with. She released the project whilst finishing high school. It’s safe to say this young lady’s talent is both firmly rooted and ripe. —Ecleen Luzmila Caraballo
Aliyah’s Interlude
For fans of: Azealia Banks, Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice
Listen to these songs first: “IT GIRL”
Everything about Aliyah’s Interlude and her breakout song “It Girl” sounds like what your older millennial sister hates about Gen Z. “It Girl” is filled with phrases that litter TikTok like “AliyahCore,” declaring “I’m cunt, bitch,” and her Spotify bio even reads, “i’m just in my popstar era.” The song has bouncy dance floor energy, but the artist born Aliyah Bah brings a conceited flair that makes it perfect for any party you can sneak into during Fashion Week, essentially picking up where Azealia Banks’ “212” left off. If we’re talking too much about that one song it’s because it’s literally the only song the Atlanta born but NYC based artist has out. Still, she’s the only artist on this list who can already boast about having features in the New York Times and Time magazine. Her success feels preordained because she’s been going viral since 2020 as a beauty influencer, known for mixing Y2K fashion with Harajuku style. She says she genuinely cares about music and didn’t go into rap just for money, so we’ll see what else she has in store, but in the worst-case scenario, she can just keep serving looks. —Insanul Ahmed