2015 has already been an incredible year for Hip-Hop. We have reviewed numerous albums from some of the major players in the game and there will be plenty more in the upcoming months. And while the mainstream segment of the genre has been at the forefront of everyone’s attention, the independent scene has also been thriving in 2015. There are an endless list of artists who are making quality music, with some making great strides as they work to gain national notoriety.
Keeping this theme in mind, HHNM has decided to compile a list of 5 rising artists who are on the verge of moving beyond the “internet fame” and into the next grouping of household names in the world of hip-hop.
Learn about each artist below and be on the lookout for more feature articles from us in the near future!
Vic Mensa
One surefire way of frustrating an artist is to constantly compare him/her to one of their peers. Early on in Vic Mensa’s career, he was continuously categorized in the large shadow of Chance The Rapper due to both artists coming from the same camp. However, fast forward to 2015 and it is Mensa who has set himself up for mainstream success whereas Chance has opted to stay on the independent route with his Social Experiment band. Since releasing his breakout mixtape INNANETAPE, Mensa has naturally switched up his style to a sound that caters more to the urban contemporary radio audience (see “Down On My Luck”). Mensa has also greatly benefited from his relationship with Kanye West, with his feature on “Wolves” and Ye’s assistance on “U Mad?” resulting in mutually rewarding collaborations. All of these factors have been essential in Mensa’s recent signing to Roc Nation, and the sky is the limit for this multi-dimensional artist who has both the hunger and skill-set to be a leading force in the years to come.
Must Listen Project: INNANETAPE
Mick Jenkins
Chicago has become a hotbed of young talent over the past several years, producing a wide variety of artists who have made their presence felt across the board. While Chance The Rapper and Vic Mensa (see above) tend to receive most of the attention, one of the more impressive emcees from the area who is flourishing goes by the name of Mick Jenkins. His 2014 mixtape The Water{s} was met with instant acclaim with Jenkins earning rave reviews for his passionate delivery of well-crafted song concepts. The vividness of Jenkins’ wordplay consistently resonates over his aptly suited production choices, and it is clear that the Chi-town wordsmith is still growing as an artist. While Jenkins may never be a radio darling type of rapper, respecting lyricism has become trendier amongst the mainstream audience nowadays and Jenkins has the capability to build his sound in a manner which will grow his already devoted fan-base.
Must Listen Project: The Water[s]
Vince Staples
From Odd Future affiliate to Def Jam signee, the journey of Vince Staples has been an interesting one and the product of Long Beach has come into prominence over the past few years. With a raw lyrical ability and unique cadence powering his refreshing take on West Coast gangsta rap, Staples earned the respect of his peers very quickly after releasing his Stolen Youth and Hell Can Wait projects. Summertime ‘06 (set to drop on June 30th) will be the first official studio album from Staples and the chances that it accelerates his potential rise to stardom are quite high considering his current trajectory. With a natural talent and veteran producer No I.D. in his corner, look for Staples to make a major splash this summer.
Must Listen Project: Hell Can Wait
DeJ Loaf
DeJ Loaf has been dropping quality mixtapes since 2011, but it was last year’s hit single “Try Me” which reached a viral level of popularity.The Detroit singer/rapper is working to build off of that long-lasting momentum with appearances on big songs like Omarion’s ‘Post To Be’ remix, Game’s ‘Ryda‘ and Kid Ink’s ‘Be Real‘, and her distinct voice should help her maintain the buzz she has earned. DeJ certainly brings that star level appeal to her music, but it is her sharp bars and organic production choices that will ensure her longevity in the game. Once Def Loaf delivers a fully thought out body of work and offers up a few more singles for the masses, her position will be solidified.
Must Listen Project: Sell Sole
GoldLink
GoldLink may still be an unknown name to some, but his upbeat blending-of-genres style is bound to catch the attention of a larger audience as the year rolls along.This mysterious DMV native burst onto the scene last year after delivering one of 2014’s more innovative projects The God Complex. His impressive debut not only received rave reviews, but also led to working relationships with the likes of the legendary Rick Rubin. That alone should give you an idea of where GoldLink’s career is heading. With an outstanding attention to detail both lyrically and sonically, expect GoldLink to further enhance is already well-polished ‘Future Bounce’ (as he likes to call it) sound.
Must Listen Project: The God Complex