9ina

Hometown: Columbus, OH

9ina first rose to prominence a few years ago alongside fellow Columbus, Ohio spitter Bidney Blood. On songs like “Heavy Steppers,” the pair showcased an electric chemistry with the shit-talking and aggressive style that would become a trademark for both artists. On “Rubberbandz,” 9ina’s latest single, she borrows from a Project Pat classic and ups the ante with her delivery, rapping in a sturdy yell about the control she has over the men around her.

Johnny Cocoa

Hometown: Beaumont, Texas

With the release of his breakout single “On God” in 2021, Texas artist Johnny Cocoa began to turn heads—there were even rumors that Drake was considering signing him. A year after the initial buzz, Cocoa has returned with his debut full-length, I Am Who I Am. Across the project, Johnny Cocoa displays the same catchy, melodic delivery that brought him attention in the first place, alternating between more upbeat and introspective lyrics. “Prayerful Thoughts” falls into the latter category; on the Tago-produced track, the Beaumont native meditates on his journey up until this point.

RiskTakerLeek

Hometown: Meridian, MS

RiskTakerLeek isn’t the first rapper to use seminal rap group Hot Boys’ iconography to build the structure of a song—Bankroll Fresh and others have done the same—but the Mississippi rapper still makes a significant contribution with his lyrical exercises, built around a frantic beat. Leek’s “Hot Boy” is more of an acrobatic attempt, as he compares himself and those around him to the iconic members of the group.

Certified Trapper

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

Over the past year and change, Milwaukee’s Certified Trapper has emerged as one of the most original artists in rap. Constantly releasing largely self-produced projects, and shooting hilarious videos to accompany his singles on what seems like his iPhone, it seems as though he has an unquenchable urge to put his thoughts out in bars. “Snatcher” is a typically minimalist Certified Trapper production, complete with steady claps and a catchy flute melody. “Bad bitch snatcher, bitches trying to tip me,” he repeats on the hook.

Gizwop

Hometown: Washington, DC

D.C. rapper Gizwop may have come across a winning new sound with his latest track, “Aint Done Nun.” His flow and accent are unmistakably D.C., but the song’s ping-ponging claps and constant bass hits punctuate his words in a way that I’ve never heard in a rap song from the DMV. The beat seems to buoy up Gizwop’s words as he raps on top of it, discussing recent losses and impending revenge.

Wizz Havinn

Hometown: Tallahassee, FL

Tallahassee rapper Wizz Havinn has an ear for eclectic beats, rapping over twinkling melodies and Detroit-style percussion with ease as he does on his recent project, Mr. Too Sticky. “Perky Glee,” a highlight of the tape and his breakout song so far, has key hit-making elements: an anthemic beat and a memorable, captionable opening line. “I got it figured out / If you wanna make a bigger profit, use a bigger pot,” he instructs at the beginning of the track.

HorseTheOne

Hometown: Detroit, MI

After signing with Tee Grizzley’s Grizzley Gang last year, Detroit rapper HorseTheOne has been steadily applying pressure with one-off tracks. “Members,” one of his strongest loosies over the past few months, finds HorseTheOne going in over an appropriately sinister production from Ant Beats. At first, Horse’s fly tone seems subdued and lackadaisical but, as his verse goes on, he amps up the energy. “It get dangerous where I’m from / They gangbanging where I’m from / Ain’t sparing angels where I’m from,” he rattles off midway through the song, finding his pocket.

Smokingskul

Hometown: Naples, FL

Just before dropping off a collaborative tape with Rx Papi, Florida rapper Smokingskul delivered a new solo track, “Tek On Me.” He often opts for a shouted delivery, imposing himself on the beats he chooses, and his latest effort is no different. Over busy percussion and a mellow melody loop, Smokingskul offers a somewhat depressing proverb in the song’s hook: “I can tell a real gun from a fake one / You ain’t know the percs fake ‘til you take one.”

AyooLii

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

Something is clearly in the water in Milwaukee. AyooLii, who sometimes collaborates with Certified Trapper, has his own buzz building with “Soul Train.” The track is incredibly fun—filled with the same claps that characterize much of CT’s production—and finds AyooLii teaming up with underground fixture Duwap Kaine for an updated version of the track. The two trade entertaining verses back and forth, both letting their syllables stretch over the busy production.

Sexyy Red

Hometown: St. Louis, MO

Sexyy Red has become known for flipping references into incredibly enjoyable new tracks: “Slob On My Ckat,” a 2021 breakout for the St. Louis rapper, repurposed La Chat’s flow from her 2001 classic. On her latest single “FYM,” Sexyy Red revisits a more recent staple of the early internet era: Lil B’s “Like A Martian.” Over the pulsating synths and pounding beat, Sexxy Red deftly repurposes the silly, hedonistic energy of the original for herself, repeating on the hook, “I’ma fuck yo man, bitch / I’ma fuck yo man.”

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