In 2018, it’s difficult to define what “underrated” means. Often, when listeners think of the term, they picture a rapper who is getting no looks—someone who is putting their music out (and good music at that), but it still having a hard time getting by.
But the reality is, the term “underrated” can mean a lot of different things. In other words, there’s levels to this. Most of the time, if an artist is underrated, they may be receiving some recognition, but still can’t seem to the capture the mass exposure that’s available. They don’t find themselves part of the daily conversation initiated by the DJ Akademiks’ Instagram page or other prominent music resources. While not every rapper strives for this specific type of recognition, not getting it certains limits their accessibility.
We often forget this, but virtually all of our favorite rappers start out as underrated. There was a time where Kendrick Lamar was overlooked enough to have a controlled performance in a Best Buy. But it’s all part of the rap process. Today, the number of rappers that are grabbed from obscurity and thrown into the spotlight overnight is absurd, but it wasn’t always like that. In the past, rappers had to go through the ups and downs and fight for coverage and radio play before they ever achieved success.
Here we’ve highlighted 18 underrated rappers, all with varying levels of success. Some have previously been on the brink of stardom; some have yet to blow up beyond their initial breakthroughs. It’s a collection of artists that all bring something new to the table, and many of them had actually to watch other artists run off with styles and trends they set in motion. But again, unfortunately, that’s rap.
Each one of these rappers has put in the work. Hopefully the acknowledgement eventually comes and they are underrated no more. Here are the 18 most underrated rappers right now.
Unotheactivist
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Over the years, Atlanta rapper Unotheactivist has become a celebrated figure of the Soundcloud era, helping to craft a style that Playboi Carti has since brought to the mainstream. He continues to be appreciated on Soundcloud, as well as by his peers, but is still striving for the Billboard success that many expected him to have by now. If his output remains as high-quality as his 2017 debut Live.Shyne.Die, he won’t be appearing on lists like this for much longer.
Wiki
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No rapper can bring New York City out like Wiki can. The Big Apple has held the energetic wordsmith close to its since he became the talk of the town 6 years ago. Now, he has expanded his sound into one with some broader appeal, but he hasn’t fully strayed from what made fans initially gravitate to him. For now, he’s an underground mainstay, who will hopefully one day stumble into mainstream success.
Smino
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There aren’t many rappers who would have been able to make an album as uniquely bouncy as Smino’s debut blkswn. The St. Louis rapper, along with one of Soundcloud’s best producers, Monte Booker, has found a style that suits him; he may be only one project away from becoming a rap star.
Payroll Giovanni
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It’s hard enough for an artist to achieve universal album acclaim once throughout their career, but Detroit rapper Payroll Giovanni has already done it twice. The Doughboyz Cashout rapper paired with super producer Cardo to go from a local standout to a rapper respected by the genre’s most critical fans. Now if he only he could catch that mainstream wave.
Cupcakke
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Twenty-year old Chicago rapper Cupcakke, is not only a social media phenomenon, but also happens to make very good music. Her raunchy and often hilarious lyricism has helped her cultivate an incredibly loyal and adoring fan base. Sure, her tweets about semen might make some uncomfortable, but it’s their loss.
G Perico
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California rapper G Perico has not only offered up a refreshing take on West Coast gangsta rap, but has also brought some importance back to the mixtape cover. You won’t find a rapper as suave on the West Coast—or beyond, for that matter.
Mozzy
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In an era where rappers seemingly turn themselves into characters with the specific purpose of going viral, artists as honest as Sacramento rapper Mozzy are a rarity. Because of his realness, Mozzy has become an artist revered by his contemporaries, leading to a shout out out from Kendrick Lamar at the Grammys and a feature on Black Panther: The Album.
Wifisfuneral
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Wifisfuneral is sometimes forgotten among others in South Florida’s booming rap scene, but he doesn’t deserve to be. What Wifi brings to Florida is versatility; he can flow as well as Ski Mask The Slump God and hold a melody on par with Kodak Black. It’s only a matter of time before the Sunshine State spotlight shifts over to him.
J.I.D
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If someone ever tries to tell you that Atlanta rap isn’t the same anymore, first of all, cut them out of your life; that’s blasphemy and you don’t need that in your life. If you’re not ready to cut them out (might be a little harsh), show them Dreamville signee J.I.D. Not only is J.I.D a refreshing voice in Atlanta’s always crowded rap scene, but if a rapper from the South was able to make Funk Flex bark like a dog after his freestyle, you know he’s legit.
Sheck Wes
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Harlem rapper Sheck Wes has yet to be mentioned in conversations about the upper tier of New York rappers. But with both G.O.O.D Music and Travis Scott in his corner, it’s only a matter of time until his enigmatic style reaches the rest of the city and beyond. If nothing else, NBA heads will be appreciative of his future top 10 draft pick honoring “Mo Bamba.”
Lou the Human
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Staten Island rapper Lou the Human has been compared to early Eminem more than enough times already; while that’s certainly flattering, the comparison is slightly unfair, because Lou is much more than that. It won’t be long until the rapper who prides himself on his imagery-heavy lyrical style is able to break through, despite being from the forgotten borough.
Denzel Curry
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We mentioned the South Florida rap scene earlier, and there’s another name that doesn’t get nearly enough buzz down there: Denzel Curry. The Carol City rapper has done more musically for the area than just about anyone, being a Raider Klan disciple and helping birth the state’s distorted bass heavy sound, along with Ronny J. It’s hard to believe he’s only 23 years old—and still getting better.
Rico Nasty
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Maryland rapper Rico Nasty has a star ready image, music good enough to appear in one of today’s most relevant television shows, and fans belting her lyrics at packed shows across the country. She has proven that she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make a name for herself; the only rational reason why she hasn’t been met with more open arms in rap is gender bias. There’s no doubt that that’s the next barrier she’ll knock down.
Noname
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Noname has long been the female counterpart to Chitown’s Chance The Rapper. She had one of 2016’s most anticipated albums, and when it finally dropped, it was met with acclaim from pretty much everyone. Unfortunately, she still has yet to be regarded with the same esteem as rap’s other top storytellers. Still, the level of success she has reached is admirable, and will only increase when we get the follow-up to Telefone.
Lil Skies
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Most rappers who find Soundcloud stardom dominate the headlines, finding themselves with daily stories on both TMZ and DJ Akademiks’ Instagram page. But Lil Skies is different; his success has been much more subdued, as he simply goes about his business and masters his infectious hook writing. This subdued success has caused many to overlook him; let’s hope that ends soon.
03 Greedo
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At this point, the only thing standing in the way of 03 Greedo’s and success is his own legal trouble. Also, like most West Coast rappers, he’ll have to fight twice as hard to receive recognition on the opposite coast for his complete projects like The Wolf of Grape Street.
IDK
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Name another rapper besides IDK with a debut album feature list that includes Chief Keef, Yung Gleesh, MF Doom, and Del the Funky Homosapien—you can’t. Over the past couple of years, the Maryland rapper has developed quite a following, and his music continues to become more and more refined.
Little Simz
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Versatile London rapper Little Simz has been impressing for a number of years now. Her laid-back, calm, and collected rapping style has made her the perfect rap figure to shut down platforms like NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert and Boiler Room. She continues to take advantage of every opportunity she’s given, despite the lack of U.S. acknowledgment and recognition. If she keeps doing that, though, she won’t be underrated for long.
