In recent years, the “Big Energy” hitmaker has become a household name. Because of this, some fans are asking that she work with other top-tier rappers, as opposed to up-and-comers. Earlier this year, Latto dropped the well-received singles “Issa Party” with BabyDrill and “The Grinch Freestyle” with Luh Tyler. Though the songs have received much acclaim, they have left stans divided.
“@latto girl we love you but you need to stop doing collabs with these unknown artists enough is enough,” said one Twitter user, in response to a preview of an upcoming collaboration with Atlanta rapper Anycia, “as fans we want to see you win and this will get you nowhere and a latto feature is losing its value. no more babydrills, luh tylers and whoever this is next era please.”
Y’all be getting besides y’all self..Shawty from the south side & she hard af Idc bout allat. I was an “unknown artist” before and mfs acted too big for me. Stream when we drop https://t.co/fCqVeLDJa8
Latto quickly shut this notion down, hammering home that she seeks quality in her collaborations, not necessarily levels of fame. She came to Anycia’s defense and reminded everyone that she was once an up-and-comer too.
“Y’all be getting besides y’all self..Shawty from the south side & she hard af Idc bout allat,” said Latto. “I was an ‘unknown artist’ before and mfs acted too big for me. Stream when we drop.”
Needless to say, Latto is here to uplift a new generation of rappers.
There are a lot of rappers who are leaving a huge impression on people this year. Two of those are Luh Tyler and Latto. Both of them are very young and fairly new to the game. But, they are figuring out how to become stars very quickly.
Latto played a huge part in Jung Kook’s song “Seven” becoming the fastest song to one billion streams in Spotify history. Additionally, she dropped one of the rowdiest bangers of the year with “Put In On Da Floor” and its sequel with Cardi B. As For Luh Tyler, his idiosyncratic raspy and low-pitch flow has been becoming a trend in hip-hop. He is been gaining more and more notoriety with more established names as the months go by.
Listen To “The Grinch Freestyle” By Luh Tyler And Latto
Now, he is working with the self-proclaimed best female rapper in Atlanta for a new holiday-adjacent single. “The Grinch Freestyle” makes a fun comparison to haters who are mad about their success early on in the industry. The music video is quite hilarious with a man riding around on a bicycle with green paint and a Santa suit on. You can check out the song on all DSPs, or the visuals above.
What are your initial thoughts on this brand-new single, “The Grinch Freestyle,” by Luh Tyler and Latto? After hearing this, do you think both should collaborate again in the future? Who had the better performance on this song and why? Which rapper has had the better year overall? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around Luh Tyler and Latto. Furthermore, stay with us for all of the best song drops throughout the week.
Quotable Lyrics:
Stand on business, pull up and get busy, pick a place (Buh) H**s ain’t tryna fight, they swingin’ belts and pullin’ lace (Buh, buh) Let that h* think I forgot, when I catch her, I’ma blank Got these diamonds out the sink, s*** water, hit like tank (Water) B*****s think they ballin’, but they really Ja Morant (They ain’t) Like a two-year-old in diapers, walk ’round like my s*** don’t stink
Hip-hop in 2023 was largely a game of hard left turns and stylistic leaps of faith. From Doja Cat’s bridge-burning fourth album Scarlet to Lil Uzi Vert’s wildly experimental Pink Tape, hip-hop artists went out of their way to subvert expectations and push the boundaries of the genre — and their fans. Don’t get it twisted, though; none of this was provocation for provocation’s sake. Instead, it was these artists’ way of paying homage to hip-hop’s roots in its 50th year — the true foundation of sonic experimentation and musical play, not just mean-mugging and tough-guy posturing.
So, no, our list this year (which includes a few projects released after last year’s cutoff) doesn’t feature too much gangsta rap or elitist encyclopedia rap. But we feel that it captures the true breadth of hip-hop’s contemporary landscape, from rappers who sound more like rockers to the most popular radio mainstays and the future stars bubbling just under the radar. Here are the best hip-hop albums of 2023.
Aminé and Kaytranada – Kaytraminé
Amine/Kaytranda
The term “album of the summer” gets tossed around quite a lot lately, but this joint effort from the Portland rapper and Canadian dance producer earns it with 11 breezy-yet-diverse approaches to the seasonal sound and its related topics. From the glitzy, mellow “Rebuke” to the funk-tinged Pharrell feature “4Eva,” the lively spirit of the warmest months of the year comes through in ways both unexpected and comfortingly familiar. – Aaron Williams
Blxst & Bino Rideaux – Sixtape 3
Blxst, Bino Rideaux
Blxst and Bino Rideaux stumbled upon their secret sauce with “Savage” from Sixtape in 2019, and the third installment, Sixtape 3, is the LA rappers’ most complementary offering yet. “Shaq and Kobe, it’s only right if we three-peat,” Blxst poses in “Road Runnin.” Blxst and Bino trade alley-oops, lyrically and thematically. The provocatively lustful “ Doin Yo Stuff” is balanced out by the romantic, slow jam-adjacent “Get Away,” and the groovy “Baccseat” brings the opposing emotions under one roof. The empathic dunk is “Blueprint,” where Blxst and Bino cleverly flex “boss sh*t.” No lies were told. – Megan Armstrong
Chika – Samson
Chika
Chika’smental health struggles have been heartbreaking to witness. Instead of retiring from rap, with the guidance of trained professionals, her album, Samson reveals the kinks in her armor. Through the project, listeners learn that Chika is a mystery that even she herself is still figuring out. The unabashed biblical references sprinkled on Samson stress that both Chika’s bars and professional footsteps have been ordered by a higher calling. Samson is Chika emerging from the belly of the beast, ready to stake her claim in the rap scene. – Flisadam Pointer
Doja Cat – Scarlet
Doja Cat
While Doja Cat and her antics have proven polarizing over the past few months, her ability to make hits is undeniable. On Scarlet, Doja prioritized lyrics and her hip-hop craft overall, showcasing her abilities on the confident and assured “Go Off” and the horrorcore-influenced “Demons.” Though she’s previously denounced her past pop hits, old habits die hard, notably with the infectious “Paint The Town Red.” – Alex Gonzalez
El Michels Affair & Black Thought – Glorious Game
Black Thought
Listen, you can go ahead and call me a stodgy old crank for continuing to value technically superior exercises in formalism in 2023. That’s fine. Black Thought remains the (read: THEE) finest bar-for-bar, straight-up rapper in hip-hop to this day and it’s worth honoring that — especially when he possesses the awareness to pair his prodigious talents with production worthy of the finest funk-soul excursions into ’70s Classicism this side of Adrian Younge’s Luke Cage soundtrack. – A.W.
Gunna – A Gift And A Curse
Gunna
If I told you a year ago that Gunna, after the success of chart-topping success DS4EVER, would be releasing a “comeback” album in 2023, you’d probably call me crazy. However, that was the case for the Atlanta rapper this year. Gunna was one of many indicted in the ongoing YSL RICO, and his image with the public took a turn for the worse when he accepted a plea deal for a release 10 months after his imprisonment. Gunna was called everything from a snitch to a traitor, and while the facts proved otherwise, his fourth album A Gift & A Curse also proved that he wouldn’t let them hinder his career. So with it, Gunna delivered one that silenced his critics, set forth a summer hit with “F*kumean,” and etched itself into the conversation for album of the year. – Wongo Okon
J Hus – Beautiful And Brutal Yard
J Hus
When most folks think of UK rap (at least here in the US), they primarily think of grime or drill, two categories that are great representations of Black diaspora culture in the island nation. However, that’s also a woefully incomplete and reductive understanding. Fortunately, more people are bound to get hip to J Hus’ unique fusion of Afropop and dancehall sensibilities with hip-hop swagger and flows, thanks in large part to the Drake co-sign he receives on “Who Told You.” But there’s also the cheeky takedown of phony tough guys on “Masculine,” the sly come-ons of “Nice Body” with Jorja Smith, and the overall counter geographical tropical vibe to recommend J Hus’ latest. – A.W.
Jack Harlow – Jackman
Atlantic
Jack Harlow heard the complaints about his last album, Come Home The Kids Miss You, and responded in kind with a 10-song salvo of tracks that saw the Louisville rapper revert to the hungry, intensely-focused artist he was as he freestyled and battle-rapped his way to the top. The highlights: “They Don’t Love It,” “Gang Gang Gang,” and “Blame On Me,” which saw his talent for conceptual songwriting flexed to a degree fans hadn’t seen for nearly two years. – A.W.
Killer Mike – Michael
Killer Mike
Killer Mike has put out six solo albums and four as a member of Run The Jewels over the past 20 years, yet Michael could very well be his debut album. It’s certainly his most biographical; on songs like “Down By Law,” “Motherless,” and “High & Holy,” he introduces us, for what feels like the first time, to an adolescent Michael Render, detailing the trials, tribulations, and temptations that gave us the controversial, outspoken figure Killer Mike has become. With a Southern Baptist soundscape and show-stealing turns from André 3000, Fabo, Young Thug, and more, Michael gives us our clearest picture of the rapper yet. – A.W.
Lady London – S.O.U.L.
Lady London
For the past few years, the Bronx, New Yorked-based rapper has been raising her profile with a stream of impressive freestyles, endearing herself to the internet’s community of hardcore hip-hop traditionalists. With S.O.U.L. (Signs of Universal Love, she finally delivers on their investment, offering a collection of songs that show she can stick to a concept and execute it at a high level. With samples of the classic hip-hop that influenced her style and guest appearances from some of R&B’s most vibrant presences, like Jeremih, Tink, and Capella Grey, S.O.U.L. solidifies London’s place as one of boom-bap rap’s strongest torchbearers. – A.W.
Larry June & The Alchemist – The Great Escape
Larry June
The Great Escape is a portal to idyllic, immaculate bliss. It’s like the musical version of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations — taste-testing beats and flows — as Larry and Al traveled together while recording. The likes of Action Bronson (“Solid Plan”) and Ty Dolla Sign (“Summer Reign”) sweeten the pot, but the substance is found in June’s straightforward lyricism complementing The Alchemist’s trippy soundscapes. “I get impulsive, if I want it then I go and cop it,” June raps on the hazy “ 60 Days,” unintentionally causing an unshakable impulse for a fresh Larry June and The Alchemist joint album every summer. – M.A.
Lil Uzi Vert – Pink Tape
Lil Uzi Vert
After almost two years of delays, Lil Uzi Vert’s sprawling Pink Tape finally arrived in July with a disarming array of styles and sounds to choose from, displaying the full range of dimensions the protean Philly rapper has always offered but rarely unleashed all at once. Paring down a list of 1,500 song ideas to the 26 represented here should be considered an accomplishment in itself, but for those songs to also represent such a diverse spectrum of musical influences from alternative and metal to something I can only call techno-rap is an exciting distillation of how much more territory hip-hop can explore. – A.W.
Lil Yachty – Let’s Start Here
Motown Records/Quality Control Music
Is Lil Yachty’s experiment in psychedelia technically hip-hop? I think the point he makes with Let’s Start Here is: who cares? (We’re including him here because of how Yachty got his start, the mode of the music he primarily makes, and the fact that he spends as much of this rock-inspired effort rapping as he does singing.) Yachty’s always bristled at the thought that he could be limited to just one genre. Here’s the strongest argument in his favor. – A.W.
Luh Tyler – My Vision
Luh Tyler
Luh Tyler is like the perfect synthesis of predecessors such as Kodak Black and Lil Tecca, with the carefree confidence of pre-graduation youth and the poised, deceptively clever pen game of the frequently incarcerated gangster rapper. By combining his natural gifts with an easygoing, unpracticed charisma and subject matter centered more around teenage fantasies of luxury lifestyles than drug game-produced shootouts, Luh Tyler cleans up the typical Florida approach to hip-hop without losing his cool. – A.W.
Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains
Metro Boomin
Arguably the most dominant producer of the streaming era, Metro Boomin comes close to creating his magnum opus with this late 2022 compilation (which is after Uproxx’s cutoff for Best of 2022 consideration). His full curatorial superpowers go on display in Heroes & Villians as he assembles his own Avengers of rap titans — or a Legion of Doom if you want to see it another way. 21 Savage, Future, Migos, Travis Scott, and more help fill out the roster, but the star here is always his production, skillfully tying them all together. – A.W.
Noname – Sundial
Noname
Noname isn’t in rap to make friends but to platform important causes. On her latest album, Sundial, Noname uses the project’s brief run time to have an intense communal conversation, as she’s so militantly pointed out during her triumphant NPR Tiny Desk Concert. Nothing and no one is off limits. Sundial is sharply witted banter about politics, classism, racism, and more. Whoever said rap was in its flop era clearly hasn’t listened to Noname’s Sundial because the project is a lyrical masterclass and a brilliant display of what craftsmanship sounds like. – F.P.
Oddisee – To What End
Oddisee
Oddisee, one of the most consistent voices operating in the rap world for the past decade or so, has reached an impasse with himself about why he does what he does. And, in the spirit of true talent, he winds up using that as inspiration on this, his 10th studio album, which questions the nature of aspiration. To What End finds Oddisee wrestling with not just his goals and ambitions but what they might cost and whether it’s all really worth it. For us the listeners, it is. – A.W.
Offset – Set It Off
Offset
“I could’ve kept it to myself / They can’t be too upset,” Offset raps on “Blame It On Set.” We can’t blame him for letting three-plus years elapse between his 2019 debut solo album, Father Of 4, and October’s Set It Off after listening to the latter — a conceptual LP soaked in meticulous artistry. Not even tasteful Michael Jackson cosplay on the album’s cover overshadows Offset’s authenticity. He’s at total ease — equal parts playful (“Jealousy” featuring Cardi B) and vulnerable (“Say My Grace” featuring Travis Scott). Be thankful he didn’t keep these bars to himself any longer. – M.A.
Quavo – Rocket Power
Quavo
It wasn’t the Migos reunion we wanted, but Quavo’s first solo album since 2018’s Quavo Huncho gave us something else we needed: An album of emotional growth from one of rap’s most stoic hitmakers. It’s his most adult music yet, expanding on the emotional fallout from the loss of Takeoff, yes, but also detailing how Quavo became Quavo — and how Migos became Migos. There’s a vulnerability in tracks like “Hold Me” and “Greatness” that deepens his usual boasts and gives dimension to the sharp-sighted trap bangers that have come to define Quavo’s career. – A.W.
Sexyy Red – Hood Hottest Princess
Sexyy Red
In this business, one of the dangers of getting too invested in what looks to be a promising young talent based on one compelling single is having that investment bust out when a full project lacks the magnetism of the song that got you invested in the first place. Fortunately, that didn’t happen with Sexyy Red, the sassy St. Louisan who captivated us with the delightfully disaffected “Born By The River,” followed up with the relatable ratchetry of “Pound Town,” and paid off our interest by not retreating a single step on Hood Hottest Princess, which turned out to be every bit as uproariously lascivious as her breakout singles. – A.W.
Skyzoo x The Other Guys – The Mind Of A Saint
Skyzoo
A masterfully executed concept album inspired by the characters and events of the drug-game epic Snowfall, The Mind Of A Saint finds Skyzoo putting his feet in the shoes of the show’s principal criminal mastermind. Sky writes through the perspective of an older, wiser Franklin Saint who turned to the pen instead of the bottle — after all, he did finish the project before the final season had aired — but even with two layers of functionalization, the words and themes ring true. – A.W.
Teezo Touchdown – How Do You Sleep at Night?
Teezo Touchdown
“Maybe they were gonna be a painter until somebody said they couldn’t paint / Maybe thought they was the next Jean-Michel ‘til somebody yelled, ‘No, you ain’t,’” Teezo Touchdown sings on the unorthodox alt-rap “Impossible.” The other 13 tracks on his fiercely authentic and genre-defiant debut album, How Do You Sleep At Night?, confirm (at least) two things: Teezo didn’t listen to anyone who might have told him he couldn’t, and he’s not interested in becoming the “next” anything — unless it pertains to his entrancing individual evolution. – M.A.
That Mexican OT – Lonestar Luchador
Manifest/GoodTalk/Good Money Global
Aside from having one of hip-hop’s most luxurious pseudonyms, Texas native That Mexican OT also had one of its most outstanding projects of the year. Although his native Bay City is an hour away from Houston proper, he fits right in alongside its continuum of throaty, laid-back rap stars (which also includes, in some circles, Bun B, despite his hailing from Port Arthur, similarly removed from the city itself). On Lonestar Luchador, the gravely baritone with which OT spits first catches you off-guard, then lures you in with its smoky texture, like the state’s best barbecue. The standout is “Johnny Dang,” but “Cowboy In New York,” “Barrio,” and “Groovin” are all well worth the spin. – A.W.
Travis Scott – Utopia
Travis Scott
Five years removed from his last album and returning to the spotlight after a two-year absence, Travis Scott offers a view of Utopia that may run counter to our expectations but certainly illuminates exactly where the Houston rapper sees himself. While he goes back to what’s worked for him on tracks like “Hyaena” and “I Know?” he also blasts his way forward with the fan-favorite “Fe!n” and recaptures his and Drake’s charming chemistry on “Meltdown.” If Utopia doesn’t set the standard for the rap world around it as Astroworld did in 2018, it feeds Travis’ base, laying a sturdy foundation for the future. – A.W.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Luh Tyler has gotten into the Thanksgiving holiday spirit. While most looked forward to the culinary spreads laid out for others to enjoy, the Tallahassee, Florida rapper is locked in on the plates of money he’s counted throughout the year. The XXL Freshman star follows his “Brand New Blues” and “Weeks” singles with a new reflective record. On “Change My Wayz,” Luh Tyler thinks about the progress he’s made in his career in less than one year.
“Damn, I gotta change my ways / Now it’s sixty on my neck, remember my chains was fake / ‘Member back whеn times were hard, we prayed for better days / But now I’m gettin’ paid / Now I’m bringin’ home them racks, I’m fillin’ up the safe / Now I make like thirty bands, that’s just to rock the stage,” raps Luh Tyler.
For the official video, he tapped directors George Buford and Cotto Over Did It to drive home the point that all of his hard work and high-life living is bigger than him. He does it to secure a legacy for all of his loved ones.
Watch Luh Tyler’s new video for “Change My Wayz” above.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
In Luh Tyler‘s video for “Rapper Of The Year,” the fast-rising teen captures his first Rolling Loud performance rocking for a massive crowd. In typical Luh Tyler fashion, the song eshews a traditional verse-hook structure in lieu of a stream-of-consciousness flow that highlights Tyler’s freestyle ability. “I ain’t ever wrote a song, no I don’t need no pad or pen,” he boasts. “They say i’m rapper of the year, I got them n****s mad again.”
In the video, Tyler is joined onstage by one of his musical inspirations in Kodak Black, as well as his mom, who looks as excited as anybody to be dancing around with her son as he raps songs from his debut album My Vision, which dropped via Atlantic in March of this year. The Tallahassee native has been busy since; in June, he was selected as a member of the 2023 XXL Freshman Class along with GloRilla and Lola Brooke, and earlier this month, joined Moneybagg Yo on the Memphis rapper’s Larger Than Life Tour.
“Rapper Of The Year” is the title track from a three-song release (abbreviated as ROTY, which also included the songs “I’m Him” and “St. Nick.”
Watch Luh Tyler’s “Rapper Of The Year” video above and get the accompanying project here.
DD Osama and Luh Tyler are here with a brand new single called “Pup.” Both teenagers are bringing bars about climbing to the top of the rap game while putting others in their place. The hook goes, “He jumped, he jumped on the mic and rapped ’bout motion / All that just a bluff / N**** I done touched [?] now I need more, that ain’t enough / N**** actin’ like he big dog, know he just a pup / They be trying to hold you down, these n***** mad to see you up.” It is an aggressive trap anthem with a simple beat, but the lyrics are what makes the song interesting.
This is also the first time Osama and Tyler have been together on the same track and this song could lead them to running it back. It has already racked up 400,000 views in just over a day and there is a reason for that. Both rappers are making a name for themselves quickly, but it is also because of the visuals that go with “Pup.” In one of the most wild videos of 2023, it is both hysterical and unexpected what transpires.
The music video opens with an elderly couple talking about what they see across the street in their neighborhood. Both are speaking in Spanish and the grandpa is confused as to why the kids (Osama and Tyler) are dressed the way they are. The grandma is siding with them saying, “There’s nothing wrong with that. That’s the trend.” What proceeds is the grandma joining in on the the party the two rappers are at and she is having a blast.
What are your thoughts on this new track“Pup” by DD Osama and Luh Tyler? Who had the better verse and should these two work together more? If you had to rate how wild the music video was from one to 10 what would you give it? We want to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, keep it locked in with HNHH for all the hottest song releases and breaking news around the music world.
Quotable Lyrics:
Yeah, we made it to the top now, we get into them blues N**** know we steady takin’ dubs, no, we won’t ever lose Jump up on the mic, I beat it up, I give that b***h a bruise Yeah, we gon’ run that paper, just stack it to the roof Yeah, stack it to the roof, we gettin’ paid, ain’t nothin’ knew
Luh Tyler’s status continues to grow as the days pass and this new freestyle is just more proof of that. About a month ago Detroit rapper Babyface Ray dropped his tribute to the newcomer featuring Los and Nutty. It was a shoutout to the Florida kid who is making waves on the east coast. Ray even says at the beginning of the track “On my Luh Tyler flow s***.” Fast forward a bit, we now have Tyler’s version of his signature style.
He raps a lot about his rise to fame, bragging about his jewelry and the influence he is now spreading as just a 17-year-old. It is a three-minute cut that sees Tyler flow effortlessly over the simple but effective beat that lets his lyrics shine. What is also cool about this song is its accompanying music video. Lil Uzi Vert makes quite a few cameos throughout, which shows how far Tyler is coming along. It is also worth noting these two have a song out together.
Furthermore, these are not the only two versions of this song. On Friday (August 18) BabyTron put his own spin on the same beat. What all three have in common are the themes they talk about. That being their come up in the rap game and this could lead to something really intriguing. What if all three of them came together for a remix of this song?
What are your thoughts on the “Luh Tyler Flow (Freestyle)?” Who made the better version between him, BabyTron, and Babyface Ray? Do you think that these three should make a remix together? We want to know what you have to say, so be sure to put your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, keep it locked in with HNHH for all the hottest song releases and breaking news around the music world.
Quotable Lyrics:
Ice on my hands shit so cold
We ain't goin' broke no more
He cuffed the h** ne broke the code
Young n**** dripped out head to toe
Luh Tyler has been blowing up lately in the Florida rap scene, but his rise could lead to him becoming more of a household name. Born specifically in Tallahassee, there is a lot of great talent from the sunshine state. Denzel Curry, Rick Ross, T-Pain, Kodak Black, and many more. He is only 17 years old so he still has plenty of career ahead of him, which is exciting.
His debut project is titled My Vision and its highest streamed song on Spotify is “Back Flippin.” It has racked up over 18 million streams, which is impressive due to the fact that he has just a little over two million monthly listeners. He has gotten to work with more recognized names such as DDG and he also appeared on the movie soundtrack for Fast X. Now, he is on the road to virality in this latest Instagram video. Luh Tyler made an appearance on an episode of “A Whole Snack” on the Velvet Residence YouTube channel.
Recently, Luh Tyler has been fawning over female rapper Rubi Rose. Most people have been lately on the internet, and the youngster is the next man in line. In the YouTube video, Tyler is having a blast during the interview and laughing, smiling, and being grossed out by Japanese snacks. One of the questions was to name three songs by the Lexington, Kentucky native and he simply could not muster up even one name. Hopefully, this does not ruin the man’s friendship with Rubi Rose because he seems like a fun kid to be around.
What are your thoughts on the continued friendship between Luh Tyler and Rubi Rose? What did you think about the video? Why do you think he could not name any songs by her? Who’s music do you listen to more? Be sure to tell us everything in the comments section below. Additionally, keep it locked for all things music with HNHH.
Luh Tyler is a 17-year-old rapper from Florida who is having a breakout year in 2023. The rapper first blew up last year when his song “Law & Order” went viral on TikTok. His quick rise to fame culminated in him being chosen as a 2023 XXL Freshman in this year’s class. In March of this year, he released his debut mixtape. The project is called my vision and already saw Tyler getting some big-time attention with BabyTron featuring on the project. The mixtape also includes the song “Back Flippin,” one of the rapper’s biggest hits to date. He followed it up shortly after with a deluxe version of the project which contained a new song called “Ransom” featuring Lil Uzi Vert.
Now Lil Uzi and Luh Tyler are back in the studio together. The two clips feature the pair listening to some new music they’ve been cooking up. More specifically it shows Uzi dancing to the spacey beat of a song while both of their adlibs hover over it. While the two seem like they’re very much into the new material, fans in the comments were more mixed. “Music with this tyler kid?? L,” reads one of the top comments. “uzi finna carry,” predicts another. Check out the clips of new Uzi and Luh Tyler music below.
Lil Uzi Vert has been collaborating quite a bit recently. The “Just Wanna Rock” rapper is working on their second new album of 2023 following Pink Tape earlier this summer. The new project, Barter 16, is themed around Young Thug’s Barter series. For that reason, Uzi has been working with some Thugger collaborators like London On Da Track and Birdman.
Uzi has long been a big fan of Young Thug and said so even more in a recent GQ interview. Uzi called Thugger “My OG” and spoke on both their friendship and Thug’s influence over their career and music. What do you think of Lil Uzi Vert and Luh Tyler recording new music together? Let us know in the comment section below.
While a lot of the ongoing celebrations of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop have focused on where hip-hop has been, it doesn’t make much sense to focus only on the past. No Hip-Hop 50 celebration should be considered complete without taking a look at where hip-hop is going.
As The Notorious B.I.G. once pointed out, no one could have seen where rap music and hip-hop culture would have ended up at the outset, but in the same vein, even he couldn’t have seen how things would turn out 30 years after he recorded “Juicy.”
That makes it a fun and unique challenge – it’s impossible to predict where hip-hop could be in another five years, let alone fifty. Still, if these young rising stars have anything to say about it, the genre should be in great hands.
Here are 10 rising rappers who have the potential to dictate what hip-hop could look like in the future.
Cash Cobain
Rap fans have often been ambivalent about embracing the avant garde. For every Young Thug who blows up, there are a dozen rappers with squeaky or slurred voices who never gain traction among hip-hop heads, who can be as fickle as they are loyal. But when they do decide that they love a new artist with an original ken, they can be as devoted as they once were skeptical.
Cash Cobain is one of those artists who has a chance to go either way. The self-declared “sample God” of New York drill, the Queens native has a flow that is slippery in ways we haven’t heard from trap rappers who have earned the same descriptor. His unabashed pillaging of millennial R&B hits certainly makes him more likely to earn fans than foes, and even if he never hits it big in the traditional sense, his style is guaranteed to influence someone who does.
Central Cee
As much as stateside rap heads have held the UK’s grime and drill artists at an arm’s length in the past, that reticence to embrace hip-hop’s extended family from across the pond has slowly eroded in recent years. Part of this may be due to the clever backdoor those cousins have utilized; drill production, which originated in London’s underground rave scene, is now a familiar fixture on the streets of New York.
Be that as it may, Central Cee doesn’t water down or hide his Shepherd’s Bush, London origins or influences. And while he hasn’t crossed over to US radio, those in the know have accepted him as the future of the British rap regime. It helps that he’s closely associated with a prior favorite in Dave, with whom he collaborated on an EP, Split Decision, earlier this year. It was well received, with its single “Sprinter” peaking at No. 1 on the UK charts. And just in case there was any doubt about his viability with a Yankee audience, he’s got that coveted Drake co-sign via his “On The Radar” featuring The Boy himself.
Chris Patrick
An indie rapper who doesn’t sound like an indie rapper, East Orange, New Jersey’s Chris Patrick has gained a small but extremely vocal following blending the sort of cerebral rhymes commonly associated with artists on the independent scene with thumping, anthemic beats that wouldn’t sound out-of-place in a crowded club or blasting out of car stereos on a sweltering summer day.
Patrick’s 2022 album X-Files is much like its namesake; it started out a cult favorite, but now, a wider audience is curious to see what all the fuss is about. Patrick’s next project will undoubtedly have a larger impact, proving that there are more directions that independent rappers can still go.
Flyana Boss
In Uproxx’s profile of the viral sensation rap duo, group member Bobbi LaNea asserted that they are “paying tribute to what hip-hop truly is.” Their clever use of nursery rhymes in their lyrics harkens back to Run-DMC’s use of the old “Peter Piper” tongue twister, and Flyana’s back-and-forth flow recalls the intricate routines employed by classic pioneers like the Furious Five and Beastie Boys.
Though Flyana Boss burst onto our timelines with the splashy social smash “Miss Me,” they are no one-hit wonders. They have a solid discography that proves that the well of ideas runs deep – but past that, their lasting legacy will be kicking open the door for future “weird Black girls” to express themselves through hip-hop in unconventional ways. Whether that’s wearing elf ears, name-checking Kanekalon, or just being willing to cause a commotion in the local convenience store, there’s value in what they’ve already done.
Kenny Mason
Rap and rock go hand-in-hand. From “Walk This Way” to Collision Course, the shared rebellious spirit of the two in-your-face genres has made magic throughout the past five decades. And sure, there have been some missteps – nu-metal, anyone? – but in recent years, the covalent bond between rap and rock has generated some truly compelling combinations courtesy of acts like Rico Nasty and Trippie Redd.
Kenny Mason’s music, on the surface, seems to stem from that tradition, but shot through with an undercurrent of indie sleaze – the sort of shoegaze-y, fuzzed-out rock that took over pop culture throughout the late aughts. Mason is equally comfortable collaborating with festival rap faves like Denzel Curry and JID as he is imbuing his output with the alt-rock vibes of My Bloody Valentine and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
LaRussell
There’s been a lot of talk lately about how crowded and repetitive festival lineups have gotten. With so many events in the space and only so many rappers around with the sorts of followings that justify their placement, it stands to reason that a lot of the same names have been popping up on many different rosters.
LaRussell, who hails from Vallejo (just like fellow indie rap pioneer E-40), could easily be a standout of one of those lineups. Instead, he’s more likely to pull up in your neighbor’s backyard to play a show for a few dozen folks at a time. His backyard tour concept is just one of the innovative spins he’s putting on the independent rap hustle. He’s kept up a steady stream of self-released projects and singles, punctuated by semi-regular appearances on your favorite radio freestyle shows. He’s perking up a lot of eyes and ears, proving that there are alternatives to same-old-same.
Lady London
If you’ve ever found yourself complaining about the prevalence of so-called “pussy rap” among today’s flourishing cadre of female rappers… Well, first of all, stick a sock in it. That complaint’s old, dusty, dried-up, and overdone, in addition to being terminally untrue. Today’s buffet of talents offers such a wide range of voices and styles that whining about a bare handful of modern rap artists – especially when they’re nothing compared to some of the genre’s pioneers – is a waste of your own time, in addition to being pretty annoying to everybody else.
But, it also makes it obvious that you haven’t been looking for alternatives like Lady London, who has recently received co-signs from the likes of Ciara, who tapped her for the remix of “Da Girls” with Lola Brooke. She’s exactly the sort of lyrics-focused MC that critics of female rappers say they want, and she’s only getting more popular by the day. She’s the proof that there are plenty of bars-first women in rap, and she’s kicking open the door for more to follow.
Luh Tyler
He’s been called the coolest teen in hip-hop, but Tyler’s success portends something larger. For years, hip-hop was all about cool; rappers exaggerated their fashion sensibilities, material possessions, and successes with the opposite sex first and foremost. Somewhere along the way, it became more important to have a good story; “keeping it real” was paramount, but only so long as “keeping it real” meant “keeping it gangsta” or baring some gut-wrenching trauma.
Luh Tyler is too busy talking to girls and telling you about his income for all that. And while that’s not exactly new, the way he does it, with laid-back panache and subtly clever lyricism, is refreshing. He doesn’t try to impress you, so he does. With that as his calling card, he’s helping swing the pendulum back the other way. Think of him as a Larry June for the zoomer set.
Ray Vaughn
For a decade, Top Dawg Entertainment felt like the premier hip-hop label thanks to its core artists, which included Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q, and of course, Kendrick Lamar. But lately, that core has been less visible than ever as it feels a little bit like Jay and Q have lost interest in music and Kendrick has moved on from the label. Sure, the remaining members are still working on new music, but it’s been a long time coming, and the label could use some fresh blood to energize the buzz around itself.
Enter Long Beach’s Ray Vaughn, who brings a level of passion and hunger to the same sort of street-centric, philosophical music the original TDE roster was known for. But while they were enamored of lo-fi, moody production that highlighted the heady material, Vaughn emphasizes energetic street bangers – exactly the sort of sounds needed to revitalize and anchor TDE as it enters its new era with a fresh cast including Doechii, Zacari, and Reason.
Yes, “FreakyT,” the breakout single from North Carolina rapper TiaCorine, is representative of the Winston-Salem native’s talents. But that’s not all she has to offer. Thanks to a colorful presentation – like a lot of today’s young talents, she counts anime as foundational to her artistic identity – she’s got an eye-catching style that makes her impossible to overlook. But past that, she’s got a wide variety of approaches, as demonstrated on her 2022 mixtape I Can’t Wait.
The diversity of style she embraces is very emblematic of her generation. From the video game-glitch-hop to pop rock to dreamy pop, she’s willing to try anything – and she sounds great doing it. There will soon be more artists like TiaCorine than not, as hip-hop kids continue to embrace the breadth of popular culture and weird internet movements, incorporating them into rap standards and transforming both sides of the equation.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
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(@Latto) December 26, 2023
