The 20 Best Rappers in Their 20s

Image via Complex Original

Age: 24

Last Year’s Rank: 15

As a teenager in Philadelphia, Tierra Whack made a name for herself on the freestyle circuit under the name Dizzle Dizz. But it wasn’t until 2017, when Whack moved back to Philly from Atlanta, that she signed an Interscope deal and worked her way towards her breakout debut LP, Whack World. In lesser hands, the conceit of Whack World would fall apart under a critical microscope. But with each song clocking in at exactly one minute or less, the album is a concise, staggeringly rounded introduction to Whack’s radical vision of rap music. She’s the rare artist that uses label resources to her advantage, without succumbing to the demands of commercial commodities, and she’s only proven her merit with a slew of 2019 singles (“Unemployed,” “Wasteland,” “Gloria,” “Clones,” “Only Child”) that are decidedly longer, but because of Whack World’s unimpeachable aesthetics, not necessarily better. That’s not to say that these singles aren’t great, though. Tierra Whack’s run of full-length singles in 2019 proves she can do anything, and she can successfully translate her skills to a more traditional format. She’s here to stay. —Will Schube

Age: 23

Last Year’s Rank: N/A

Without releasing any official music of his own, Playboi Carti has been impossible to ignore in 2019. Perfecting an impressionistic baby voice flow that pushes the limits of what rap (and the English language in general) can sound like, Carti served as a crucial accent mark on two of the year’s best songs: Tyler, the Creator’s “Earfquake” and Solange’s “Almeda.” Stretching his vocals to bizarre, otherworldly places, he has found a way to make rap music that’s unlike anything we’ve heard before. Most listeners over the age of 25 don’t understand what the hell he’s doing, which is exactly how you know he’s on the right track. And in the process, Carti’s voice has become your favorite artists’ favorite instrument. Now, all we need is more solo material. Much to the disappointment of his rapidly growing fanbase, Carti’s hotly anticipated album Whole Lotta Red still hasn’t arrived, but that may not be due to fault of his own. He’s been the victim of countless leaks—some of which he’s publicly disavowed, even writing on Instagram, “I hate leaks.” The success of the unauthorized material does show just how popular Carti has become, though. When leakers got their hands on an unreleased collaboration with Young Nudy dubbed “Kid Cudi / Pissy Pamper,” the song went viral, and an unofficial upload soared straight to the top of Spotify’s U.S. Viral 50 chart. —Eric Skelton

Age: 24

Last Year’s Rank: 17

Denzel Curry has had a career’s worth of ups and downs before his 25th birthday. The 24-year-old from Carol City, Florida, was a young gun in SpaceGhostPurrp’s Raider Klan before the group dissolved. He found some success with early mixtapes like Nostalgic 64 and 32 Zel/Planet Shrooms, but with 2016’s Imperial, he introduced himself as Florida’s next great hope. That record, with its catchy singles and deep album cuts, showcased an MC as comfortable spitting double-time over trap beats as he was singing about cutting his dreads. The following year, he kept momentum going with TA13OO, which featured the standout single, “Clout Cobain.” Now with ZUU, released earlier this year, Denzel builds on the success of projects like Imperial, instead of moving away from it. “RICKY” is one of his best songs since “ULT,” and it vacillates between experimentation and pop aspirations with ease. Denzel Curry is the whole package. —Will Schube

Age: 24

Last Year’s Rank: 9

In early 2012, by appointment of the gatekeepers, Joey Badass seemed poised to save Real Hip-Hop. The Brooklyn high school student was preternaturally talented, a post-Golden Era classicist with a penchant for lyricism and a predilection for boom-bap. His debut mixtape, 1999, was a few months away, but to his faithful, he had already arrived. Joey hasn’t disappeared since, but his sound has evolved. He’s no longer the ’90s apologist who borrowed beats from seminal producers of the day—Dilla and Doom among them. He’s also no longer just a rapper. The artist born Jo-Vaughn Scott plays Leon on Mr. Robot and, fittingly, Rebel, an Inspectah Deck analogue, on Wu-Tang: An American Saga. And while 2019 was a relatively quiet year for Joey, musically, he and his Pro Era crew connected with Flatbush Zombies and the Underachievers to release the sprawling Beast Coast collective’s Escape From New York. For his part, Joey delivered abbreviated verses on the bulk of the project’s songs, gliding over beats that at times strayed far from his roots. As a rapper, though, he seemed at ease, even outside of his early comfort zone, as on the melodic “Coast/Clear.” So even as his cohort moves in a direction he rejected early on, and even if he limits the music he releases, Joey has proven himself able to keep up and keep himself in the conversation. —Lucas Wisenthal

Age: 26

Last Year’s Rank: 12

Since releasing his last full-length album, FM!, at the tail end of 2018, Vince Staples has continued to make his presence felt, popping up as a featured guest, experimenting with a new show, and extending his run as one of the best follows on Twitter. Let’s not forget, Staples was a part of Dreamville’s No. 1 album, Revenge of the Dreamers III, back in July, making the most of his brief appearance on “Rembrandt... Run It Back.” Vince excels most when he’s given the space to create a whole world, though. Throughout 2019, he has showed his knack for multi-dimensional storytelling with The Vince Staples Show, a sketch series that is centered around Vince’s music. “So What,” which appeared on the debut episode of the digital series, demonstrates Vince’s vibrant storytelling and buoyant flows. He followed that up with “Sheet Music,” which continues to play with comedic punchlines. In an era when artists often get caught up with chasing stylistic trends, Vince has successfully forged a lane for himself, experimenting with electronic, funk, and avant-garde sounds. —Jessica McKinney

Age: 26

Last Year’s Rank: 14

Young Nudy has quietly made more memorable projects in the past three years than some rappers put out in a lifetime. Look at the discography: his SlimeBall series, which saw its second and third editions released in 2017 and 2018, is a fascinating look at Nudy’s perspective of the streets; Nudy Land is a demented carnival ride of a mixtape from 2017 that serves as an early-career defining statement; and 2019’s Faded in the Booth and Sli’merre continue his run, while the latter of which is easily one of the best rap projects of the year. While there is certainly a diversity to the records Nudy has been providing, he has his wheelhouse, and he’s at his best when punishing grumbling, minimalist beats with gruff lyrics about robbing drug dealers and making sure his family eats. But with Sli’merre, Nudy switched up. Backed exclusively by Pi’erre Bourne beats, Nudy showcases a sticky, melodic side that falls more in line with the melodic-tinged crooners coming out of Atlanta. The way he blends this subtler side with his one-liners, littered with gunshot adlibs, makes for one of the defining albums of 2019. —Will Schube

Age: 22

Last Year’s Rank: N/A

Not only is YBN Cordae getting love from rap veterans like Dr. Dre and T.I., he also just received a major co-sign from the industry with two Grammy nominations. The young rapper has been turning heads for the past few years, but he really started to find his footing this year, with the release of his debut album, The Lost Boy. The 15-song project, which features guests like Pusha-T, Meek Mill, and Anderson .Paak, connected immediately with hip-hop listeners who were starved for a newcomer that posessed youthful energy and a throwback emphasis on lyricism. Cordae isn’t just retreading old tricks from decades past, though. He continually finds ways to keep things fresh and relevant for a 2019 audience, mixing in mosh-ready songs like “Kung Fu” with soulful, introspective offerings like “Family Matters.” YBN Cordae can do it all. And he’s still only 22, so who knows how high he might land on next year’s list. —Jessica McKinney

Age: 23

Last Year’s Rank: 18

With a trove of platinum and gold plaques dating back to 2016, New York’s A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie has been one of the most commercially successful rappers of the last few years. He’s also been undeniably influential on the melodic sound that has helped bring his city back to mainstream rap prominence (think Lil Tecca and Lil Tjay). A Boogie’s discography is crammed with irresistible hooks (“My Shit,” “Look Back At It”) as well as some genuinely affecting bars about his Bronx upbringing (“Jungle”) and early career realities (“4 Min Convo”). He has shown a willingness to take big swings, as evidenced by International Artist, a project of collaborations with acts from across the world that had high highs and low lows. The universality of his sound has made him an extremely popular guest artist for rappers like Gucci Mane, Rick Ross, and Chief Keef, as well as acts in different genres like Ed Sheeran, Maroon 5, and Kehlani. Often, he can feel like a bridge between Drake-type slick pop and street rap, which is an enviable place to be in 2019, and one A Boogie seems poised to occupy for years to come. —Grant Rindner

Age: 26

Last Year’s Rank: 2

Chance the Rapper has had an up-and-down year in 2019, but his impact is still undeniable. In July, he dropped his highly-anticipated debut album, The Big Day, and although it received some criticism from fans because of bubblegum raps about marriage and love, Chano used the project to demonstrate his growth and maturity. Just six years ago, Chance was rhyming about his Xanax addiction on Acid Rap, and now he’s living out his days as a husband and father of two kids. The common thought among some circles is that rappers make the best music when they’re high on drugs or heartbroken, but Chance is showing kids you can still win when you’re healthy, happy, and in love. This approach isn’t for everyone, but for Chance, who is still a mainstay on the Billboard charts and getting major opportunities (like double duty as host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live), it’s working just fine. —Jessica McKinney

Age: 27

Last Year’s Rank: 5

After having a groundbreaking 2018, Cardi B hopped off the fast track to success and decided to take the scenic route. She dropped a few records throughout 2019, including her solo anthem “Press” and the seductive collaboration with Bruno Mars, “Please Me,” but none of her musical releases have created a buzz as meteoric as “Bodak Yellow” or “I Like It.” Of course, that’s mostly due to just how high of a bar she set for herself. While the Bronx rapper has slid a few slots from last year’s list, she’s figured out ways to make sure her presence is still felt, from features on DJ Khaled’s “Wish Wish” to Blueface’s “Thotiana (Remix).” And she’s done it all while raising a newborn child. There’s still something undeniably compelling about Cardi B, and even a slow year (when it comes to musical output) can’t completely diminish that. —Jessica McKinney

Age: 29

Last Year’s Rank: N/A

In an era defined by melody and a trend of artists choosing to eschew technical skill for a looser feel to their songs, Atlanta’s J.I.D stands out as a rapper who loves the act of rapping. Through solo projects like 2017’s The Never Story and 2018’s DiCaprio 2, as well as his rousing contributions to this year’s Dreamville compilation, Revenge of the Dreamers III, he’s shown a gift for knotty, intricate wordplay and nimble, downhill rhyming. As he’s honed his talent, J.I.D has become a sharper songwriter and storyteller, which has manifested on efforts like “Off da Zoinkys,” an impressively uncorny drug PSA, and “Workin Out,” a weary, melodic anthem about how hard work doesn’t always pay off. While he’s capable of tackling weightier topics, his speedy delivery and quick wit makes him an ideal contributor to raucous crew cuts like “Wells Fargo” and Buddy’s “Link Up.” With smart, incisive bars, and a self-aware sense of humor, J.I.D. is perhaps the most universally liked Dreamville member (outside of J. Cole), and a versatile talent who brings an array of stylistic offerings to the table. —Grant Rindner

Age: 24

Last Year’s Rank: N/A

Young Thug’s school for extraterrestrial crooners has become increasingly strict in its acceptance, but graduation rate is clocking in at close to 100%. Near the very top of the class is Lil Baby, who used his Thug-indebted flow and Jeffrey’s co-sign to launch his career into the stratosphere. There was 2018’s Drip Harder, with partner-in-crime Gunna, but in 2019, Baby doesn’t need a co-sign. The just-released “Woah” finds Baby treading similar territory as he’s always explored, but the way he delivers these lines confidently, yet slightly off-beat, suggests a development in the rapper’s style. His innate knack for melody is what got him to rap’s upper echelon in the first place, but now, Lil Baby seems to be emerging as a multi-dimensional talent. It’s easy to become swallowed by the success of those around you, and there have long been whispers that Gunna represents the stronger half of their collaborative LP. But Baby’s persistence and constant improvement has him emerging as his own entity—outside of Atlanta, Thug, Gunna, and anyone else. —Will Schube

Age: 26

Last Year’s Rank: N/A

It’s always Lil Baby and Gunna, Gunna and Lil Baby. With the duo’s ascent after Drip Harder, it’s easy to forget just how special Gunna’s Drip Season 3 is. Drip or Drown 2 has some serious highlights, too, but with 3, Gunna emerged as an absolute force—both within Atlanta and nationally. The Metro Boomin-backed beats are silky and simple, giving Gunna ample room to flex his vocal chops, using ad-libs to turn melodies into harmonies, instead of merely backing up his rhymes. Gunna makes three-dimensional music. His verse-chorus structure is fairly simplistic, but it’s still impossible to predict where he’ll go from line to line. In that way, he’s like Young Thug, but his voice is more naturally smooth. Thug is an abstract artist; Gunna is a classicist. There’s nothing wrong in sticking to tradition, and Gunna is a better-trained historian than everyone else. Drip or Drown 2 gave him the room to figure out his style, featuring turns from only Thug, Baby, and Playboi Carti. While he trips more often on that tape than Drip Season 3, the highs are thrilling. Gunna has always been Thug’s heir apparent in Atlanta, and like his mentor, his final destination might be out of orbit, too. —Will Schube

Age: 25

Last Year’s Rank: 7

Until we get Eternal Atake, the youths will be cantankerous. But at least we have some new songs to hold us over. Do “Free Uzi” and “Sanguine Paradise” already rank in the upper portion of his catalog? There’s certainly an argument for it. “We be throwin’ money in a spiral,” “Money keep comin’ in, I can’t lose,” “I just made a hundred K, it was quicker than a Vine…” Is there anyone better at talking about money right now than Uzi? The only thing Uzi does better than talk about stacks is spend them. He’s hip-hop’s great fashionista, and he’s also one of the best songwriters of this younger generation of rappers. Uzi could retire now and have a top 10 worth of world-class hits. He may actually do it, which is the scariest part, but every few months he re-emerges to tease us that Eternal Atake is on the way. I’m tempted to say Uzi is the Jay Electronica of our generation, but even the thought alone is heartbreaking. Plus, there’s no one like Uzi, and there never will be. Eternal Atake may come tomorrow, or it may arrive in five years. But even without dropping much music, Lil Uzi Vert has established himself as a uniquely fascinating figure in a genre full of them. —Will Schube

Age: 27

Last Year’s Rank: N/A

At 27 years old, 21 Savage has figured out how to successfully balance authentic street rap with mainstream appeal. His music is a soulful balance of autobiographical anecdotes, vulnerability, and, well, savagery. 21 began his career with a relatively narrow range, but his 2018 album, i am > i was, opened up his scope, showing his ability to express a multitude of experiences and emotions. In turn, he was rewarded with multiple Grammy nominations (all while dealing with ICE immigration issues). And just when some thought they had him figured out, 21 switched up his focus yet again, appearing on R&B remixes of Jhene Aiko’s “Triggered” and Normani’s “Motivation.” Of course, 21 adds a little aggression and street cred to these records, but he also reveals new layers of his own depth and sensitivities. This dexterity is what make him so intriguing to watch and will continue to help him reach new audiences. —Jessica McKinney

Age: 24

Last Year’s Rank: N/A

It’s been a great year for an exciting new wave of female rappers, highlighted by the rise of Megan Thee Stallion. The Houston rapper’s May project, Fever, is drenched in sex appeal and confidence, guided by Meg’s skillful control and relentless delivery. Her single “Cash Shit,” featuring another 2019 standout, DaBaby, is one of the best collaborations of the year, which will undoubtedly end up high on everyone’s Best Songs of 2019 lists. Big flexes and seductive bars on wax are nothing new, but Megan brings a fresh new energy to the formula, focusing on inclusivity and positivity. And despite the internet’s effort to wage a battle of the sexes this summer, Meg confirmed that her “Hot Girl Summer” was a movement that welcomed everyone. She recently announced that her debut album is coming in 2020, so get used to seeing Megan Thee Stallion high on this list in years to come. —Jessica McKinney

Age: 28

Last Year’s Rank: 3

Last summer’s ASTROWORLD (and the ensuing tour) was the crest of Travis Scott’s stardom, a wave big enough for him to coast on into 2019 and maintain height throughout. Travis only dropped one solo song this year—albeit one with enough hype that it damn sure felt like a whole project was releasing—but that’s all he needed to. If there’s one undeniable litmus test for determining who the “it” rapper of the moment is, it’s by gauging how often peers seem to be hitting their line. In 2019, Travis Scott’s phone hardly rested on the hook. Quite simply, there was nary a high-profile rap release that went live without a feature from La Flame tucked somewhere on the tracklist. Other times, as with 21 Savage’s “Out for the Night” or Thugger’s titanic “Hot,” Travis popped up for memorable remixes. Whether mixing it up outside of the box with James Blake, linking with ScHoolboy Q, or giving rising Texas native Maxo Kream a supportive look, Travis was just active enough to keep his name in the ring. Back-to-back nationally televised appearances at the Super Bowl and the Grammys was a hell of a way to start the year. By the end, 2019 represented a potent reminder that Travis is sharp as ever, and the entire industry is waiting to see what he’ll do next. —Frazier Tharpe

Age: 28

Last Year’s Rank: 1

Awarding Tyler, the Creator the No. 1 spot on the 2018 iteration of this list, we praised him for carving out his own lane within rap. By building his own empire far away from the fickle whims of the mainstream music industry, and avoiding the pitfalls of chasing every new trend that pops up, Tyler has put himself in a very enviable position. Having attracted a fiercely loyal group of fans who support him in any new artistic direction he chooses to take, he’s largely free to create without the limits of expectation. As a result, we’ve been treated to wildly ambitious works like his 2019 release, IGOR, a freewheeling album that defies traditional song structure conventions as it blurs genre boundaries to give us otherworldly gems like the Playboi Carti-assisted “Earfquake.” Despite the album’s unorthodox form, Tyler’s fans still pushed it to No. 1 on the Billboard charts. So it feels a little strange for Tyler to fall two spots from last year’s list after delivering one of 2019’s best (and boldest) albums, but that’s only because he strayed even further from rap on a synth-heavy project that’s full of R&B, funk, and neo-soul influences. Before IGOR arrived, Tyler even warned fans, “Don’t go into this expecting a rap album." But, as he proved with excellent verses on songs like “What’s Good” and “A Boy Is a Gun,” he can still rap with the best of them when he wants to—and he’s still one of the very best rappers in their 20s. —Eric Skelton

Age: 28

Last Year’s Rank: 4

For the entirety of Young Thug’s career, he has operated a few steps ahead of mainstream trends. When he first broke through, Thug’s experimental approach to rap and occasionally indecipherable lyrics were often too far left of center to connect with a wide audience. Unorthodox choices like recording a full country-inspired rap project and wearing a dress on an album cover alienated some fans. By 2019, a whole generation of artists—ranging from Gunna and Lil Baby to Lil Nas X—had come up in Thug’s wake and wouldn’t stop gushing about his influence. But he hadn’t achieved the commercial success many had expected of him, and a No. 1 album still eluded him. That finally changed with the release of So Much Fun—a project in which he consciously gave fans what he knew they wanted for the first time. “I always put music out for myself,” Thug explained during an interview with TIDAL. “This album, I focused on what people like. I always knew what people wanted to hear.” Fortunately, the end product isn’t a neutered release that strips away the experimentalism that has always made Thug so great. So Much Fun still has plenty of thrilling quirks—his duet with Lil Uzi Vert over the sounds of birds chirping on “What’s the Move” is a top 10 moment of the year—but Thugger manages to pull together one of the most focused and cohesive releases of his career. The world is finally catching up to the genius of Young Thug, and he took advantage of a golden opportunity to reach more ears than ever before. —Eric Skelton

Age: 27

Last Year’s Rank: N/A

DaBaby was snubbed out of a Best New Artist Grammy nomination this year, but let’s be honest: the Charlotte native is easily the best breakout rapper of 2019. He started the year strong with Baby on Baby in March, highlighted by the hit single “Suge,” which showcased his knack for witty metaphors and punchlines. Just six months later, he returned with Kirk, which went straight to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. DaBaby’s husky raps over simple, booming beats arrived at a time when the industry needs them most. While most rookies are blurring the lines between rap and R&B and making melodic music, DaBaby prefers to power through three-minute songs with vicious and raunchy bars. The one knock against him at this point in his career is that some of his songs end up sounding very similar to each other. But with recent efforts like the introspective Kirk opener, “Intro,” DaBaby proved he has the range to switch things up and stay relevant far past his breakout year. For now, his method is working just fine. Beyond his technical skill, he also possesses a natural charisma that shines through brightly in his Reel Goats-directed music videos, which are comedic and engaging in the same way Ludacris or Busta Rhymes’ visuals were in the early 2000s. DaBaby is the full package—a throwback rap star. It might surprise some to see a newcomer jump to the very top of this list so fast, but his impact is undeniable. In 2019, no artist has more Hot 100 hits than DaBaby. So not only is he rap's Rookie of the Year—even pop powerhouses like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Billie Eilish couldn’t top DaBaby this year. It truly is the year of the Baby. —Jessica McKinney