Lil Baby — It’s Only Me

Once upon a time, Lil Baby was the rap rookie of the year (just 13 months into his hip-hop career). But 2018 was a long time ago, and today Lil Baby is one of the biggest, brightest stars bringing Atlanta’s rap scene to the national stage. This year, Baby has released the official song for the World Cup, and continued to open himself up on the mic with alchemic flows. With his new album It’s Only Me, Lil Baby says what we were all thinking five years ago: he is rap’s Mt. Rushmore.

Prince Swanny — Swanology

TriniBad pioneer Prince Swanny blends rap and dancehall to show off “what’s really going on in Trinidad.” On his new album Swanology, he details the pain of growing fame across 14 tracks. Each song employs a different texture, while Swanny’s voice shapeshifts between gruff declarations of street life and sweetened confessions of love and lust. He is the hottest thing in Caribbean music, and arguably has been since 2021’s “Catch 22.”

Pabi Cooper — Cooperville

Welcome to Cooperville, home of the Amapiano anthem. South Africa’s Pabi Cooper has enjoyed an expedient rise since the early 2022 release of “Banyana Ke Bafana.” From wishing to be a soccer referee to making club smashes, the “10 African Artists You Should Know” alum has changed the course of her life out of, at first, necessity, and now for the thrill of making danceable music for any occasion.

Read more about Pabi Cooper in our Re-Upped feature

Mavi — Laughing so Hard, it Hurts

This wasn’t originally the Mavi album we were supposed to get. The Let The Sun Talk follow-up was called Shango, and it’s done—and shelved. It was heartbreaking for the young rapper, but as he looks back, putting Shango away had to be done to allow Laughing so Hard, it Hurts to develop. This new album is a personal opus for Mavi. He delves so far deep inside himself, it’s a wonder how he makes it out alive, and with so much healthy self-reflection.

Sebastian Mikael — PHILEO

“Soul is the main ingredient,” Sebastian Mikael said in 2019. The R&B singer’s subtly groovy sound started developing following a breakout single in 2013 and a stunting label situation. In the nine years since, he’s refined his artistry and released a pack of projects, one of which that’s home to his biggest song to date, “Time.” Today, Mikael releases PHILEO, a brisk six-pack that feels like finally breathing out and relaxing your shoulders. Mikael’s ear for funk productions keeps the project engaging and effortlessly cool.

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