I’m always down to support some local artists, so when I heard these guys go to a local high school, I decided to check them out. It’s weird…usually I’d ignore a group who’s first song I heard involved having sex with a mango, but there’s something really catchy about “Fuck My Life,” so I checked out more stuff. These guys have some serious potential. They’re a trio made up of two lyricists and a producer, and they’re making crazy good music for guys their age. Hit the link to go to their official website where you can download all of their mixtapes and click through to their Myspace, Twitter, and more.
This kid is ridiculous. He’s only 16 years old, but his beats are crazy and his instrumentals always go perfectly with the acapellas he chooses. Big Z does a different sort of remix– he takes a song and creates a brand new beat for it then throws the acapella on top. Sometimes, he even throws another artist in on the song (so you can hear Jay-Z and Biggie, Asher Roth and Weezy, and others rapping together). The kid’s definitely got a nice future as a producer. Hit the links below to download his two mixtapes, and click through to his YouTube page to hear practically his whole discography (including a couple mashups).
Big Z Remixes- The Reading ft. Asher Roth and Lil Wayne
Reinvention, the latest hip-hop duo to emerge from Philadelphia, is going to be drawing a lot of comparisons to Chiddy Bang in the future. Not only are both made up of an emcee/producer duo, but they also both take indie music samples and twist them around to create electro-hip-hop singles. Oh, and they also both hail from the same school, Drexel University. As similar as Reinvention is to Chiddy Bang (who really can’t be beat), they bring their own strengths to the table. DJ Entendu provides the beats, and Will Thomas (aka Classic) drops the rhymes. It’s a solid combination, and any band that samples Florence & the Machine and Grizzly Bear is one I want to hear more from. Check out their first single below, and hit the links for their Myspace page and official website.
If there’s one thing you need to make it as a hip-hop artist today, it’s creativity. Olu, an 18-year-old rapper from Cleveland, Ohio, has plenty of that and it shows through his work as an emcee and a producer. I first heard about Olu through a friend who sent me a link to his Myspace page, and I was instantly impressed by his song “Don’t Let Me Go,” sampling The Fray’s “Never Say Never.”
His mixtapes show his creativity even more, using samples from everything from Ratatat to Matt & Kim to Ke$ha, and they also show off some solid rhyming ability. His mixtapes Boy Meets World, Preview, and Preview 2 are available now, and Olu’s already begun work on his next mixtape, entitled Ink. It’s going to contain a lot more content produced by Olu himself, but that’s definitely not a bad thing. He’s definitely got some formidable talent, and you shouldn’t be surprised if you start hearing the name “Olu” a lot more in the hip-hop game in the future.
Check out “Don’t Let Me Go” (Produced By Olu) below, and hit the links to download his mixtapes and visit his Myspace page.
A lot of people have said that hip-hop is dead. With songs like “Turn My Swag On” and “You’re a Jerk” topping the charts and artists like Soulja Boy and Gucci Maine ruling the radio, who can blame them? However, there are quite a few artists out there who are revitalizing hip-hop and making it a respectable genre once again. Working right alongside these artists are some amazing producers, young and old, who are helping these artists bring hip-hop back. We’re going to introduce you to some amazing upcoming producers who we believe are the future of the game. Today is volume 1 which features one of our personal favorites, Xaphoon Jones.
1. Xaphoon Jones
Not many people would expect a white boy from Philly to become one of the best new hip-hop producers out there, but Xaphoon Jones is perhaps the most exciting figure in the future of hip-hop production. Working both in his band, Chiddy Bang, and as an individual DJ, Xaphoon has some incredible skills when it comes to music manipulation. Just listen to “I Wanna Know Now” off the Xaphoon Jones Mixtape Volume I in which he mashes up MGMT’s “Kids” and Bob Marley’s “I Wanna Love You” so perfectly that it’s scary.
For some of his crazy beat-making skills, download Chiddy Bang’s The Swelly Express mixtape. Listen to songs like “Danger Zone” and “Now U Know” and you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about. Even though Xaphoon can conjure up some crazy beats, his best attribute is his incredible ability to build a song around almost any type of sample. Using samples from artists ranging from Passion Pit to Kid Cudi to Sufjan Stevens, Xaphoon incorporates them in ways you’d never imagine and works them seamlessly into his signature hip-hop/electronic style. If you plan on following hip-hop in the future, Xaphoon Jones is definitely a name you’re going to want to remember.
Xaphoon Jones- I Wanna Know Now (Bob Marley x MGMT)
In today’s world of music, it seems like every man, woman, and child is releasing a mixtape, recording an album, or going on tour. It makes it hard to distinguish between the good music and the stuff that’s not so good. That’s where we come in. We’ve assembled a list of eight hip-hop artists who we think are going to blow up in this next year. These guys are all very talented, and they have what it takes to make it in the game. Keep listening, because you’ll be hearing from them soon.
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J. Cole
Hailing from Fayetteville, North Carolina, Jermaine Cole began rapping at the age of 12 and quickly developed a signature style and flow. He then went on to attend St. John’s University in New York City on an academic scholarship. After releasing his first mixtape, “The Come Up,” he caught the attention of Jay-Z and became the first artist to be signed to Jay-Z’s new Rocnation label. He followed this up with a second mixtape, “The Warm Up,” which was even better than his first. He has been compared to Nas, Eminem, Drake, and more, but he’s got his own signature style that sounds more like a blend of these and others. He’s got some of the best rhyming ability and flow out of anyone on this year’s list, and you’ll deffinetely be hearing him featured on many tracks this coming year (including Jay-Z’s “A Star is Born”). He’s currently working on his first album, so keep your ear out.
Check this out: Lights Please
Download these songs:
1. Last Call
2. World is Empty
3. Hold it Down
Mike Posner (and The Brain Trust)
It’s not so often that you hear about a white kid who’s a student at Duke making a name for himself in hip-hop. That is, however, exactly what Mike Posner, and his band The Brain Trust, are doing. A while back, he released his first mixtape, “A Matter of Time,” which turned out to be one of the best mixtapes of the year. He’s got one of the most distinct voices and sounds out of all the newcomers, and his self-produced songs are a testament to his skills as an artist and producer. Now, while finishing up his senior year at Duke, his is recording both his first album and his second mixtape. He was recently signed to J. Records, and despite keeping busy with school and recording, he’s spending most of his weekends this year playing concerts at various college campuses throughout the country. Keep an ear out for both his songs and his collaborations with artists like Big Sean, Wale, and Kid Cudi (his distinct raspy voice makes for some catchy hooks).
Check this out: Drug Dealer Girl
Download these songs:
1. Still Not Over You
2. Halo
3. Cooler than Me
Big Sean
Big Sean got his big break in the music business when he was signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music Record Label in 2007. Since then, he has released two mixtapes and worked with some of the biggest names in the hip-hop industry. While his skills as a rapper and his rhymes are sometimes questionable, he makes very catchy songs and has a unique voice and sound. He’s also done some great collaborations and remixes, including “Rollin” with Jackie Chain, “Loser” with Lil’ Wayne, and “Who Knows” with Mike Posner. He and Posner, who met working at a Detroit radio station, make a great team, so look out for the two of them together in the future. His first album, Finally Famous, is set to drop in spring of 2009 and will feature artists like Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Pharrell Williams, and The Dream. For now, download his mixtapes for free from his website here. http://www.uknowbigsean.com/
Check this out: Smoke and Drive ft. Mike Posner
Download these songs:
1. Dreams
2. Who Knows ft. Mike Posner
3. Tomorrow
Wiz Khalifa
This guy’s been around for some time, and he’s released a few successful singles, but he still hasn’t achieved the fame he deserves. Khalifa’s incredibly talented, but the fame seems to be coming slower for him than for some of the other guys in his position. However, following the release of his successful “How Fly” mixtape with Curren$y, he seems to be getting some more recognition, and with his second album coming out later this year, it won’t be long before you’re hearing a lot more from him. He’s already released one album and six mixtapes, and he’s put out some very good songs. “Say Yeah” and “Make it Hot,” two of his earlier songs, were actually pretty popular. The majority of his music, however, has passed under the radar. Don’t let that deter you, though. This guy’s good. Check out his mixtapes, including the very recently released “How Fly,” a collaboration with Curren$y.
Check this out: Boarding Pass
Download these songs:
1. Say Yeah
2. Make it Hot
3. Rollin Up
Chip tha Ripper
While Chip’s been pretty big in the Cleveland, Ohio music scene for a while, it wasn’t until he started working with fellow Cleveland native Kid Cudi that he began to get national recognition, and for good reason. The two make an incredible team, as shown by their collaborations “Ask About Me,” “T.G.I.F.,” and more. In fact, he and Cudi plan on doing an album together titled “Almighty GloryUS.” He’s also worked with Akon, Big Sean, GLC and some other well-known names in hip-hop. However, some of the best stuff he does is completely on his own, though that work has gotten the least recognition. He’s got a sold verse on the track “Hyyer” from Kid Cudi’s new album, so that should help him get some more listeners. If he keeps working hard and collaborating with some more well-known artists, it won’t be long before Chip is a well-known and respected name in hip-hop.
Check this out: Club Rockin ft. Akon
Download these songs:
1. I’m Fitted
2. I Didn’t Know You Strip ft. Young Ray
3. Hyyer w/ Kid Cudi
88-Keys
88-Keys is still a relatively unknown artist, and for a while he’s been riding on the coattails of some of the bigger artists he’s worked with (Kanye West, Kid Cudi, etc.) He served as an opening act in Kid Cudi and Asher Roth’s “Great Hangover Tour” along with B.o.B., helping to increase his popularity a bit. He’s got a very unique sound, perhaps the most unique out of any artist on this list. His debut album, The Death of Adam, was executively produced by Kanye West and was released in August of 2008. He’s still got a long way to go before he’s a household name, but he’s definitely got the capabilities to be a strong force in hip-hop. He’s got some great connections, a lot of talent, and he puts on an incredible live show.
Check this out: Ho is Short for Honey ft. Kid Cudi
Download these songs:
1. Stay Up! (Viagra) ft. Kanye West
2. Wasting My Minutes ft. Kid Cudi
3. True Feelings
Cory Gunz
Lyrically one of the best artists out there, Cory Gunz gained fame after some of his incredible freestyles got out on the web via youtube and other sites. In fact, if you search his name on Youtube, pretty much all you get for the first couple pages of results are freestyles. While his freestyles are pretty nasty, this guy also has some really good regular songs. Obviously, it’s his lyrical ability that really sets him apart from other rappers like him. In fact, he wrote one of the original verses for Lil’ Wayne’s “A Milli,” but Weezy later replaced it with one of his own. Gunz came back with his own version of “A Milli” that’s pretty sick. He’s already released seven mixtapes, so the real question is when is this guy gonna release his first album? We’re not exactly sure, but we can’t wait.
Check this out: Richer than Richie
Download these songs:
1. Gamble on Me ft. T-Pain
2. Heartless (Kanye West Remix)
3. Get Right Tonight
Chiddy Bang
Though still in their first year of college and still relatively unheard of, Chiddy Bang represents the future of hip-hop groups. This four-man group from Philadelphia calls their style a hip-hop/electronica fusion, but listening to their music it’s clear that they embody a wide range of musical genres. They’ve sampled everything from MGMT to Kid Cudi to Passion Pit to Radiohead in their music, and it really works. In addition, their front-man, Proto, provides some great lyrics to go along with the backbeats provided by the rest of the crew. These guys are only in their first year of college, and they haven’t even released a mixtape yet. However, they are one of the most exciting prospects in the hip-hop world. While we wait for their first mixtape to drop, check out their profile on Song Cloud and download the free songs there. http://soundcloud.com/chiddy-bang
The self-proclaimed “best rapper alive” just got better. Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 3 lives up to, if not exceeds, it’s lofty expectations. Hova lives up to his reputation as the cockiest MC in the game with lines such as: ” I don’t run rap no more, I run the map” and “10 number 1 albums in a row, who better than me?” After years of self-hype and praise, it sounds like Jigga-man is finally living up to the title.
The album features an all-star lineup. The majority of the tracks are produced by Kanye West while Timbaland, No I.D., Al Shux, and the Neptunes also contributed. The bp3 is packed to the brim with well-known guest artists such as Alicia Keys, Drake, Mr. Hudson, Pharell, Kid Cudi, Swizz Beats, Kanye West, Young Jeezy, Luke Steele (of Empire of the Sun), Rihanna, and J. Cole (Jay-Z’s first artist signed to the new RocNation label). J. Cole is featured on “A Star is Born” and he has a nasty verse, giving a sneak peak of his unique flow and creative lyrics. Be sure to keep an eye on this young and talented upcoming artist in ‘09-’10.
Overall, The Blueprint 3 is Jay-Z at his finest. The album was already highly anticipated in part because of the instant success of Jay’s previously released singles “Run This Town” ft. Rihanna & Kanye West (already reached #3 on U.S. Billboard Hot 100) and “D.O.A.” (#24). With all of the star power and flat out solid work, this hit-maker may just have produced his 11th straight #1 record. I encourage you to go cop Hova’s album and I have no doubt you’ll be glad you did.
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