So far, 2015 has proved to be a pretty good year for rap music. With well-seasoned artists dropping highly anticipated albums, like Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp a Butterfly" or Drake's "If You're Reading This It's Too Late," it is hard for young and up-and-coming rappers to get the same kind of acknowledgement as the big name stars. However, a few rappers possess the natural ability and some of the connections to make them artists to watch for the remainder of 2015 and early 2016. Here is my list for the top five new artists.
1. Cyhi the Prynce
While not as young as the rest of the artists on this list, Cyhi definitely belongs at the number-one spot for best upcoming rapper for 2015. While he is no novice to the rap game with an impressive nine mixtapes under his belt, none of them have gained him the national attention he rightfully deserves. Signed to Kanye West's GOOD Music label after Beyoncé convinced West to take him on, Cyhi has appeared on West's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" as well as GOOD Music's compilation album "Cruel Summer." His last two mixtapes, "Black Hystori Project" and "BHP 2: N.A.A.C.P.," have gained him more media attention for his mix of lyricism and commentary on the black condition in America. His upcoming album titled "L.I.O.N" does not yet have a release date, but the hype is growing.
2. Vic Mensa
Hailing from the hotbed of talent that is Chicago, Vic Mensa has certainly shown how the artists from his town have influenced him and his music. He names rap artists like Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, Lupe Fiasco, and Kanye West as influences; the latter is featured on a few singles from his upcoming album. He has received wide recognition for his lyrical ability and was even a part of XXL Magazine's 2014 Freshman Class. What will set him over the top this year will be the success of his highly anticipated debut album, "Traffic." With this album, he should be able to jump into the mainstream rap world.
3. Noname Gypsy
Also from the city of Chicago, this young woman has the chance to change the world of hip hop. In an industry often considered an all-boys club, Noname could quite possibly innovate the game through her use of lyricism, which is currently missing from modern rap. While Noname has an unstoppable flow, she does have one flaw. We need more work from her! Aside from a few features, like on her childhood friend Chance the Rapper's track "Lost" off of his mixtape "Acid Rap," she has not had much other work. On the bright side, she is currently working on her first mixtape with Donnie Trumpet called "Telefone."
4. KYLE
KYLE's one flaw is his voice. Some say he has a weird, nerdy voice that can get irritating. This one issue may prevent him from going mainstream. But those who can move past this will see a fun, goofy rapper who has a sound all of his own. He originally started his rap career under the name K.I.D. and started releasing mixtapes at the age of 17. After he gained a bit of a following, he decided to change his stage name to his birth name and released his debut album, "Beautiful Loser." His comedic lyrics are matched with his surprisingly delightful singing voice. His sophomore album, titled "Smyle," was just released this month and has received positive reviews so far.
5. Isaiah Rashad
Another rapper named to the 2014 XXL Freshman Class, Rashad has also received critical acclaim for his EP "Cilvia Demo." It even debuted at number 40 on the U.S. Billboard 200. However, this still hasn't vaulted him to mainstream status. While he is still somewhat unknown in the mainstream world, he is associated with some bigger names in the industry. He is signed to Top Dawg Entertainment, the same label as Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q. He also went on tour with Schoolboy from March to June of 2014. As of right now, he is working on the untitled follow up to "Cilvia Demo," and it is set to drop later this year, amongst high anticipation.
