Music moves quickly these days. With so many new artists popping up, it can be difficult for any rap fan to keep pace. Our monthly column 10 Rappers You Should Know Right Now cuts through the noise to tell you the rising hip-hop artists on Audiomack you should be paying attention to. Listen to standout selections from all 10 artists as a playlist below.

Yung Sinn

Hometown: Stone Mountain, GA

Hailing from Stone Mountain, Georgia, Yung Sinn (formerly known as Yung Sinner) is poised to be the next rising star out of 21 Savage’s Slaughter Gang. On “CD Freestyle,” one of his breakout tracks from this year, Sinn showcases the sinister, matter-of-fact tone that also helped make his label boss one of the most exciting rappers in the South during the mid-2010s. “CD Freestyle” is built around a sparse instrumental which makes some of Yung Sinn’s more unsettling lines—“Poke a n**** brain out with this stick like I be playing pool”—all the more menacing.

Kenzo B

Hometown: The Bronx, NY

Kenzo B has quickly established herself as one of the most technically gifted rappers in the currently dominant Bronx drill scene. Since her breakout single “Bump It” at the top of this year, she’s been on a tour de force, including a stop by the influential On The Radar freestyle series. “Make It Lit” is another lyrical exercise. Over an ethereal vocal sample and Jersey club-like bass, she maintains her sharp edge, stating at the beginning of the track, “Top two and I’m not two, bitch.”

FCG Heem

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL

Over the last two years, following in the footsteps of fellow Floridian Rod Wave, FCG Heem has made his own contributions to the sound known as “pain rap”—often crooning over bluesy beats about defiance in the face of struggle. His new project Shallowside Baby is full of stories of betrayal, losses, and wins in spite of it all. “No Excuses” finds Heem meditating on how far he’s come and the danger that still lurks for him around every corner.

Set Da Trend

Hometown: The Bronx, NY

Over the last few years—perhaps since the tragic death of Pop Smoke, the movement’s de facto leader—it seems like the male voices of New York drill have gotten even more hoarse and bark-like. Rising rapper Set Da Trend’s delivery has only gotten more and more aggressive over the past year, compared to his smoother raps on posse cuts like “What You Gon Do.” His gravelly voice on recent tracks like “Want Me To Lose” is a noticeable change. On “I Can’t Lack,” another recent single, the bark in his voice is muted, reduced to a whisper at first, but steadily builds into more of a yell as the song goes on.

Allstar JR

Hometown: Detroit, MI

Allstar JR has been a consistent presence in Detroit rap for more than half a decade at this point but, like some of his peers in a city crowded with rap talent, he’s also been consistently improving. “Run Through It,” a recent collaboration with Detroit production pioneer Helluva, is nicely concise. Over a smooth D’Angelo sample, JR delivers an anthem for both the dealers and their customers, even if his appreciation for the latter is purely superficial.

Fetty P Franklin

Hometown: Charlotte, NC

North Carolina’s Fetty P Franklin has been making a name for himself regionally for the last five years, becoming known as much for his sense of humor as he is for his reality raps. Franklin has a thick drawl and a conversational tone that can make his songs feel intimate but, on his latest project Tell It Like It Is, he often opts for a more uptempo sound. The title track on the project strikes a balance between the two. “Well, let me tell how it is here, if you ain’t never lived here / I be thanking God every day that I ain’t dead or in a wheelchair,” he rhymes at the beginning, setting up a street-level view of his Charlotte neighborhood.

Onlybino!

Hometown: Broward County, FL

Born in Jamaica but raised in South Florida, Onlybino! has risen through the ranks of the online rap underground with his melodic amalgamation of pluggnb and rage sounds. After releasing his debut project luv2hat3 in May, he’s continued to put out a steady stream of singles. “Flossin” finds Bino leaning deeper into the smooth and melodic, reflecting on his recent growth over a synth-driven beat. “I ain’t even in my 20s, yeah, my wallet’s in its 30s,” he announces before the beat drops.

Lebra Jolie

Hometown: Houston. TX

After breaking into the mainstream with last year’s “Now What,” Houston rapper Lebra Jolie continued her momentum this year with anthemic tracks that showcased her dexterity. Her recent single “Think It’s Funny” is an energetic track that pairs Jolie’s upbeat delivery with Babyface Ray’s laid-back cool. Over a bass-heavy beat, the two trade gendered bars about splashing out, declining to spend, on their significant others. Jolie is a perfect foil for Ray’s understated flow, as she brags about coaxing money out of the men around her.

DaeDalTM

Hometown: Broward County, FL

Recently, Florida rap has been moving in divergent directions, as various regions of the state have put their own spin on menacing “drill” and even adopted a distinct Detroit influence. DaeDalTM, a rising rapper from Broward, instead opts for a melodic and straightforward path. On “Racks,” he teams up with fellow Florida rising star Scy Jimm, sliding into a few different vocal pockets over a mournful guitar melody.

RealBleeda

Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA

Much of Baton Rouge rap’s recent history has been dominated by one main figure, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, whose influence looms large over the city. Still, though many of the newer voices emerging from the city have defined themselves around him stylistically—or defined themselves with the sound of opposing camps—there’s still room for some to push the sound forward. RealBleeda, a teenage artist from Baton Rouge, does so on his latest release, “Hunt 4 U,” an extremely catchy, gut-wrenching track.

10 Rappers You Should Know Right Now (October 2022)

FCG Heem Is Fort Lauderdale’s Native Son