20 British Rappers to Listen to in 2018

British rap is in an exciting place right now. Grime veterans like Dizzee Rascal, Skepta and Wiley are regularly releasing music while newer MCs like Stormzy, AJ Tracey, and Jammz are reaching more listeners than ever, both inside the country and abroad. The wave of more melodic, Afrobeats and dancehall- influenced music is vital too, with J Hus putting together one of 2017's best albums with Common Sense.

Raw rap that doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of street life is well accounted for too—Giggs is still going strong and Nines charted in the Top 10 with the unforgiving One Foot Out last year. Crews like Section Boyz and 67 have been winning over the past few years too, with their success a precursor to the currently exploding UK drill scene. Projects like the New Gen album help to make sense of some of the interweaving strands of contemporary British rap music, while the alternative, boundary pushing approaches of artists like Blue Daisy, 808ink, and Rocks FOE must be saluted.

This list isn't about those artists, though. Here are 20 artists, most of them newer to the game and still rising, who you should get in your listening rotation for 2018.

Octavian is a special talent. "Party Here," released in December, wasn't his first song, but it's an immediate highlight, a rap song with a style that's hard to pin down. Octavian was born in France and grew up in London, but he sounds like the future. 

"Party Here" has it all—sharp observational rapping, memorable melodic moments, and an incredible beat that oscillates between tension and release. Octavian made the "Party Here" video on a small budget with his friends, and the vivid colors and collective energy provide the perfect accompaniment to the song, too. Online buzz and even Drake cosigns followed its release, and Octavian kicked off 2018 with more music. "100 Degrees" shows a darker side to his sound, and was released with another excellent video.

SL is from Croydon, a grey suburban town just outside London, and he's part of the buzzing UK drill scene. At only 16 years old, he is also one of the UK's most exciting and intriguing talents. He released the hypnotic, violent "Gentleman" in 2017 and at the time of writing the video now has nearly 15 million views on YouTube.

"SL is a unique case," Ciaran Thapar wrote in our extensive piece on the UK drill scene. "This is not only because of his laid back style of rapping compared to more high energy contemporaries. It is also because up until now, rather than standalone talents, crews have dominated the drill scene." With a conversational delivery, witty but poignant observations, and high budget videos like "Tropical," SL goes into 2018 with a lot of momentum. So far, he hasn't missed.

Beyond the artists on this list, there is a lot of talent in the UK drill scene right now. Learn more here.

Whether she's singing soulfully over jazzy beats or turning up over booming 808s, IAMDDB shapes every song to fit her own unique style. From Manchester via Portugal and Angola, she refers to her style as "urban jazz," but really it's hard to pin down across three EPs, Waevybby Vol. 1, Vibe Vol. 2, and her latest release, Hoodrich Vol. 3.

Tracks like "More" from Hoodrich see her inhabiting the world of contemporary R&B, but on "Conjouring" her talents as an MC are on full display. "Shade," her biggest track so far, brings it all together in a ridiculously catchy package of rapping and singing, and the video is great too. With cosigns from Bryson Tiller, who she supported for some dates of his European tour, and Jorja Smith, and a ton of great music already to her name, IAMDDB is doing everything right.

Coming from the city of Northampton, rather than London or even rap hotspots like Manchester and Birmingham, slowthai is doing things his own way. Sonically, his music blends grime, rap, and trap, but there's a raw spirit that runs through it all, a punk energy that makes it hard to look away.

His debut EP, slowitdownn, came out early in 2017, and was followed by the impressively varied I Wish I Knew EP in November, both packed with a mixture of sharp comments on everyday life and witty boasts. "T N Biscuits," a favorite from the first EP, was re-released with a video to kick off 2018, and it's the perfect introduction. Slowthai compares himself to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Mona Lisa in quick order, but there's one line that says it all: "Mainstream tunes, couldn't make one." Point taken.

You might not know the name, but Ramz is now a pop star in England. Last year, the British rapper/singer made a song about meeting up with a girl in his friend's room at university. In January 2018 that song, "Barking," would have beat out Eminem and Ed Sheeran for No. 1 on the UK chart if Drake hadn't come out of nowhere with "God's Plan." 

Regardless, Ramz' come up has been crazy, and "Barking" is an addictive melodic hit with a catchy, carefree energy. While this one is definitely more melodic Afro-swing than rap, his older tracks prove he can really spit too, and wherever Ramz goes next, 2018 is going to be a very exciting year for him.

The growth of UK drill has been driven by one-off YouTube music videos and freestyles, but making an entire project that doesn't lose energy or get repetitious is a different challenge altogether. Skengdo and AM, members of South London group 410, cracked the code with 2Bunny, an unforgiving ten track project that dropped in December.

The entire project is produced by veteran dup D Profitt, whose ominous melodic flourishes complement the booming drums and provide a perfect backdrop for the two MCs to deliver their raw bars. Their contrasting voices—Skengdo's higher pitched with quicker flows, AM's a deep, imposing snarl—provide an interesting contrast, and although the subject matter centers on drugs and violence, there are moments of emotion too. "Active but inside I'm very lonely," balaclava wearing AM raps on standout track "Macaroni." With a huge number of artists making drill in the UK right now, Skengdo & AM is one duo that have to be be on your radar.

In 2016, London artist Not3s released a song called "Addison Lee (Peng Ting Called Maddison)." It's a melodic track about paying for a girl to come over (using London cab service Addison Lee) with a gentle half-sung delivery, and over the course of 2017 it went viral. The young artist released a full project called Take Not3s towards the end of 2017, and it proved that "Addison Lee" was no one off with subsequent hits like "Aladdin" and "My Lover."

Not3s seems to write sticky hooks with ease, and his low-key delivery means you might not even realize his songs are stuck in your head until a few days later. His style sits somewhere between pop, R&B, rap, and Afrobeats—a mix some in the UK are calling Afro-swing—but whatever it's called, it's working. With undeniable pop appeal, 2018 might be the year when Not3s really breaks out worldwide.

Denzel Himself is a DIY artist with creativity to spare. Producing, rapping, directing his videos (he's a former film student), and more, Denzel brings a raw energy and dark vision to the British rap scene. Describing himself as a "straight-edge hardcore punk," he is inspired by the New York hardcore scene as much as he is by Dilla and Tyler, The Creator. His tracks and videos can be intimidating and unforgiving, especially "Bangin," but the payoff is worth it. His next project is set to drop in 2018, and if you want something a little different, you'll want to watch out for Denzel Himself.

If the fast pace of grime or the intricate slang of UK drill makes it difficult to connect, check out Nafe Smallz. His style, especially on current bubbling hit "Gucci," is one that anyone who listens to contemporary popular rap music will recognize. With a melodic hook and effects on his vocals, the track has more in common with Travis Scott or Smokepurpp than Skepta or Giggs.

21-year-old Nafe Smallz still puts on for his hometown of London on his new project, Movie Music, which dropped in January, with features from Stefflon Don, Chip, Yung Fume, and Swift and Sleeks from Section Boyz. Mixing bars, melodies, and a generally widescreen approach to songwriting, Nafe Smallz is an intriguing addition to any playlist of British rap music.

Jeshi is a Londoner in his early 20s making experimental, thought-provoking hip-hop that's impossible to put in a box. The World's Spinning Too Fast, his December mixtape, is best consumed in one sitting, a collage of blunted lyricism, drawled spoken word, airy beats, and moments of beauty that emerge from the late night hedonism.

Production on the project comes from Mura Masa, Lauren Auder, Tev’n, and many more, but in the end the project is all about Jeshi's unique way with words. The rest of the world is still catching up, and Jeshi's got a lot to say.

All Flohio's moves seem to be calculated, and it feels as if she's building momentum for a big year. The south London rapper has collaborated with producers like L-Vis 1990 and God's Colony, showing that she can ride beats from the more experimental end of the spectrum without any problems. Flohio's delivery is sharp and aggressive, and she kicked off 2018 with a bang. Her live debut of a brand new song called "Bands" for a Colors video is enough to shake anyone who has been sleeping awake.

Blay Vision is a true double threat producer and lyricist—last year he followed up his excellent Turner Ave. album with a collection of hard-hitting instrumentals, The Vision 2. This is about his talents as a rapper, though, and the North Londoner can deliver powerful messages and poignant insights even as he's riding punishing grime beats. 

On Turner Ave., Blay takes influence from the sounds of his formative years, from Bone Thugs N Harmony to Sega Genesis soundtracks. Blay isn't flashy, but what he's saying needs to be heard.

If you need some summer playlist staples, get into Belly Squad's catalog. The London trio (Ty, Ross, and Yung Max) is putting a UK spin on Afrobeats, informed by grime, rap, and dancehall as much as the African music that was around Ty and Ross growing up (Yung Max's father is Jamaican, and was in a roots reggae band). Bringing a sense of fun and an infectious energy to all their songs, Belly Squad's greatest asset is their natural ear for catchy, instantly hummable melodies, and it was just that which drove the viral success of their breakout track "Banana." 

Their first EP came out last year and the workrate hasn't slowed since. Belly Squad seems to be writing catchy hits for fun, and with music that can connect with the streets as well as the charts, they're in a great spot right now.

A hit song or viral moment is one thing, but creating impactful, lasting pieces of art is much more difficult. That's the kind of challenge Kojey Radical takes on, and overcomes, with his music. Kojey is a multi-dsiciplinary creative with a background in visual art, and that much is clear in his vivid videos and cover art. His sound is a mix of rap and spoken word, delivered in a striking, powerful baritone, often confronting thorny socio-political issues as well as themes of identity, religion, and self-belief.

On In Gods Body, his most recent project, the collaborators reflect the scale and ambition of the project, from singers like Shola Ama and Collard to fellow boundary pusher Obongjayar and legendary MC Ghetts. Kojey Radical has a lot to say, and the confidence to say what he means. It's a powerful combination.

"3 a.m. real life shit." That's how A2 describes his sound on the 11-track BLUE, and it's accurate. The production is dark and often ominous, and the subject matter feels honest, ranging from late night ruminations on women to plotting a path to greatness. Producing the project himself, rapping, and dropping melodic flows too, A2 has a clear vision, and he's executing it successfully.

"When it comes to the music it has to be a reflection of me and I’m not all bright and vibrant and loud, I’m pretty reserved and quiet," A2 says. "It’s moody, everything I do is moody, the sounds are moody, the energy is moody. I wanted to be honest and truthful, when everyone pretending they’re a superhero, I didn’t want to be fabricating anything.” 

Sit back, zone out, and listen to A2.

North Londoner MoStack had a big 2017 but 2018 is set to be even bigger. Last summer, he released his High Street Kid mixtape and finished off the year with winning features on Dave's "No Words," Steel Banglez' party anthem "Bad," and Not3s collab "Celebration." Like J Hus, who he's collaborated with multiple times, MoStack can come through and deliver a killer hook but he can rap too, and his cheeky sense of humor comes through the more of his music you listen to. With more exciting collaborations on the way, you can be certain that MoStack will be everywhere this year. 

House of Pharaohs are a London rap and art collective who released an album called Real Faces last year. The album opener got a Frank Ocean cosign when it was played on Blonded RADIO, but even before that their buzz was building. Sam Wise is part of the crew, and he's been impressing on solo tracks too, whether they're summery, laid-back tracks like "Lizzie" or faster paced rap workouts like "Rack Up."

Sam Wise also appeared on fellow rising talent Octavian's "100 Degrees," and whether its solo tracks, features, or House of Pharaohs music, if he keeps up the same work rate, he'll be hard to ignore in 2018.

Mist's new EP Diamond In The Dirt is out February 9, and it will start off what should be his biggest year yet. The Birmingham rapper has already built up a dedicated following with honest, thoughtful bars that reflect on his life in the streets but strive to make his situation better through music for himself, his crew, and his daughter. The death of Mist's mother comes up often, as does his time in jail, on reflective tracks like "Madness" and M I S to the T EP tracks "Karlas Back" and "Smokey." 

Mist's music videos are always impressive, and last year he told us, "I feel visuals are the realest way of putting my music to my fans. I give them the tracks and then follow up with a movie-like visual, which should always take them on a journey. My videos show me accomplishing goals I always wanted to achieve as a kid so they are seeing my life goals via my music."​ With producer Steel Banglez proving a perfect collaborator, Mist is building an impresive catalog.

So far we've focused on rising artists on the cusp of breakout years, but now it's time for a certified legend of British rap music: Giggs. Even before a whole new wave of US rap fans discovered his deep, booming voice on Drake's More Life, Giggs had released multiple albums and mixtapes, collaborated with B.o.B. and Waka Flocka Flame, and cemented himself as one of the most important British rappers ever.

His latest project was excellent 2017 surprise mixtape Wamp 2 Dem, and Giggs isn't going to slow down anytime soon. Whatever year it is, you should be listening to Giggs.

Wiley is the godfather of grime, and another legend who seems to be reenergized and reinvigorated. He's been making music since the early 2000s, and his career spans everything from brutal diss tracks to chart-ready crossover hits. 2017 saw him return with Godfather, his first studio album in three years, and he's not slowing down as Godfather 2 is due out in February 2018. Wiley's catalog is intimidatingly huge, but, besides listening to his latest album, dig in to his history here.