Finesse2Tymes

Hometown: Memphis, TN

Finesse2Tymes began his career more than a decade ago as a member of Memphis Greatest Underrated, a rap group formed in the early 2010s alongside Moneybagg Yo and Blac Youngsta. Over the last decade, prison stints slowed down his momentum: after building a groundswell of local support in the few years prior, he was sentenced to five years in federal prison on a firearm charge in 2018. Upon his release this past summer, he hit the ground running, releasing a string of singles leading up to his 90 Days project in December. On “Finesse Duh P” he brings his world-weary delivery to his relationships, rapping in his gravelly tone over bluesy piano runs.

Homixide Gang

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Over the last few years, Playboi Carti has been building a roster that’s representative of Atlanta’s new underground with his Opium label. The artists that have signed on are unmistakably influenced by their label boss, but Carti also seems to draw inspiration from them as well: Beno, one-half of Homixide Gang, got quite a few shout-outs on Carti’s Whole Lotta Red and even had a song named after him. As Homixide Gang, Beno and Meechie play off of each other well, bringing a raucous energy to the buoyant beats on their debut album, Homixide Lifestyle. “Tatted” is an homage to their crew with a hypnotic hook repeated over a MIDI electric guitar loop and pounding percussion.

Luh Tyler

Hometown: Tallahassee, FL

Tallahassee rapper Luh Tyler has quickly become a buzzed-about name over the past few months perhaps largely because of his fluidly-delivered punchlines. His voice, which tends to rasp and crack in a way you’d expect from a teenager, lends his raps a distinct catchiness. “Law & Order,” currently his clearest breakout track, reworks a sample from the theme song of the hit TV series, as Tyler ends each line by lifting his voice into a high-pitched lilt, adding gravitas to each punchline: “I’m in Tallahassee, FSU, I’m with the Seminoles / Man, this jit be hating on me, swear that shit is getting old.”

Stone Cold Jzzle

Hometown: New Orleans, LA

New Orleans rapper Stone Cold Jzzle first started making waves outside of his city with the 2020 release of “Yup,” an energetic track that showcased Jzzle’s knack for the simple yet stylish anthem. With his new album Troubled, he seems to have further fleshed out his sound, which is decidedly New Orleans. He references local geography and his city’s rap history while still finding a palette that’s distinctly his own. “Flashout” finds Jzzle shouting out his neighborhood and reflecting on his school days in a sing-song flow over a simple drum beat and glittering bells. As the beat builds, he steps up the intensity, speeding his flow up to double time and rapping through gritted teeth.

Antha Pantha

Hometown: New York, NY

“I’m from Harlem, I don’t give a fuck what you think,” Antha Pantha raps at the beginning of her latest single, “Real Bitches.” The statement sets the tone for the song, which serves as an instructional track for Antha Pantha and those around, describing their attributes and the deficiencies of others. What else makes someone real? For Antha Pantha, this seems to be about authenticity: “I only wear makeup at a photoshoot / ’Cause I don’t need that shit just to look cute,” she raps in the first verse.

TS Lagga

Hometown: London, UK

2022 has been a breakout year for South London rapper TS Lagga, who’s taken the UK drill scene by storm at just 15 years old with a string of recent hard-hitting tracks. “On Us,” his most recent single, showcases the dexterity that has made Lagga one of the UK’s fastest-rising stars in recent months. He maneuvers between skittering production with punchlines and venomous threats. The track is somewhat reminiscent of an earlier, perhaps more exciting era of UK drill. But at his young age, it seems like TS Lagga will lead the scene’s way forward.

Xhulooo

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

After making his way through the online underground over the last few years—gaining momentum from the strength of multiple EPs and singles, particularly earlier this year with “Suburban”—Atlanta rapper Xhulooo has put forward his first full-length statement with his NVRLAST project. The project is a welcome change of pace from the rage beat-driven world of underground rap as Xhulooo opts for slightly more downtempo beats and melodies. “freezTag” has a Nintendo-inspired beat and its bleeps and bloops allow Xhuloo’s voice the space to become the star of the show.

Lil 30

Hometown: Louisville, KY

Louisville has emerged as a powerhouse for producing rap talent in recent years, and Lil 30 is the next rising star out of the city. After building a buzz earlier this year with “Ja Morant,” the Kentucky rapper has kept up the pace, delivering a number of impressive tracks over the last several months. “Right Hand Left Hand” is a menacing, no-nonsense track. 30 wastes no time over the ominously minimal beat, getting disrespectful and talking about his street credentials over the production.

Legend Yae

Hometown: Orangeburg, South Carolina

South Carolina rapper Legend Yae works in familiar sonic and emotional territory in his songs, trodding the same pain-filled path that has led other Southern crooners like Rylo Rodriguez and Rod Wave to national acclaim. Yet there's something off-kilter about Legend Yae’s approach that makes him stand out from the pack. On “Vanish,” he delivers a melodic hook, alternating between talking about the streets and a woman from Florida. But on the song’s verse, he dives into a mesmerizing, sped-up flow, taking the song to new heights.

Bigg Sugg

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

“Drinking Song,” the recent single from Cleveland rapper Big Sugg, has a straightforward aim: it’s a party song in the simplest sense. In Sugg’s hands, though, the song becomes much more visceral. As the drinks continue to pour, her flow and tone become more unhinged—her voice rising and falling over the cowbell-heavy beat as the effects of the liquor take hold. But, responsibly, she lets us know: “Guarantee, at the end of the night I won’t be driving home.”

10 Rappers You Should Know Right Now (December 2022)