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2. Jazz Cartier
Hometown: Toronto
Genre: Hip-hop
P&P favorite Jazz Cartier performed (and killed it) at our No Ceilings show in New York, and his performance made it obvious why he's gaining fans so quickly. His energy is infectious, and his social growth just affirms that he's going to be on much bigger stages in the near future.
4. A.CHAL
Hometown: Peru/Los Angeles
Genre: R&B
A.CHAL only has a handful of songs out there, but he's already has already attracted plenty of attention, including that of BBC Radio 1 and Drake's Apple Music radio show. The hazy vibes and slurred melodies are addictive, and A.CHAL's production choices so far have been top notch.
6. Kai!
Hometown: El Paso, TX
Genre: Indie
Kai!'s SoundCloud page warns: "always in my feels so i'm sorry lolol." No need to apologize—the 17-year-old's sparse acoustic offerings have revealed a capital-v-Voice, and his music is easy to listen to and extremely accessible.
8. Eryn Allen Kane
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Genre: Soul
Yet another Chance the Rapper affiliate who is blazing their own trail. Eryn Allen Kane's Aviary - Act 1 EP dropped this week, and it's a stunner. Layered vocals, undeniable pipes, and shocking range are just a few reasons why she's up next.
10. Little White Things
Hometown: London
Genre: Alt-pop
"Step Back" may be the only song on Little White Things' SoundCloud, but its been enough to stir up a fair amount of excitement. The comforting pop-rock anthem shot up the Hype Machine charts upon its release, proving once again that folk chants and massive, anthemic hooks aren't going anywhere.
12. CHINAH
Hometown: Copenhagen
Genre: Pop
Three tracks, each slinkier than the last. That's a formula for success, and CHINAH is getting there one gentle synth at a time. Imagine a more subdued CHVRCHES and you're on your way, but there's a complex layer of instrumentation and arrangement involved in each song that sets CHINAH apart.
14. Cousin Stizz
Hometown: Boston, MA
Genre: Hip-hop
The latest track from Cousin Stizz opens with a surprising admission: "Ain't worried about coming up next." That's good, but it looks like it's happening that way whether or not he's stressing. Stizz has been floating around these pages ever since we heard "Shoutout" in mid-2014, and the release of his excellent Suffolk County mixtape this year has only accelerated his rise.
16. Chris Cartier
Hometown: Bronx, NYC
Genre: Hip-hop
"Salute" highlights the artist's multiple speeds, capped off by a school bell and a commanding verse. Cartier knows how to ride the beat, and the opener might find himself headlining sooner rather than later.
18. NEF The Pharaoh
Hometown: Vallejo, CA
Genre: Hip-hop
NEF the Pharaoh just put out a self-titled EP, and it didn't take long to catch on. With a truly unique voice and some catchy hooks by his side, NEF recruited the likes of Ty Dolla $ign and YG to show love, and the internet is following suit.
20. Alex Wiley
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Genre: Hip-hop
Alex Wiley certainly benefitted from his association with Chance the Rapper, but the Chicago MC is holding his own on "Navigator Truck." The track dropped this week with pitch-perfect production from YOG$, and it's another step in the right direction.
22. Aaron Taos
Hometown: Brooklyn, NYC
Genre: Rock
If you miss the guitar-driven rock songwriters of yesteryear, give Aaron Taos a spin. With a velvety voice and a style of songwriting firmly rooted in the days of Dinosaur Jr. and Built to Spill, he'll replace any nostalgia with a head-nodding excitement for rock's new wave.
24. Caleborate
Hometown: Berkeley, CA
Genre: Hip-hop
Caleborate has been at this rap shit for a while, but its his latest album, Hella Good, that's finally put him on. The rapper possesses a ridiculously smooth flow and a knack for vivid imagery, and he's been winning over fans while playing shows with Mick Jenkins.
26. Cloves
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
Genre: Indie folk
If the voice doesn't get you, the lyrics will. Cloves is aiming straight for the heart with her music, and she's hit the mark every time. Her latest, "Everybody's Son," only needs vocals and a guitar to take you down. Dive in while you can still say you were early.
28. Islandis
Hometown: Sydney, Australia
Genre: Indie-Pop
Some songs just feel good. "Home" is just that, a laid-back chiller from this Australian indie duo. Islandis' vocals are an ear-cleanser, subtly addictive and just up-tempo enough to have you reaching for the replay.
30. Villain Park
Hometown: Los Angeles
Genre: Hip-hop
Power in numbers. The phrase rings true for Villain Park, an L.A. rap group who are reminding the world how to spit in a squad. They're trading off bars and sharing the load of success as a result. Check out their Same Ol Shit EP to hear why.
32. Brayton Bowman
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Genre: Future funk
Brayton Bowman acted fast, and he's reaping the rewards. The artist recorded a creative re-imagining/mashup of Justin Bieber and Drake's "Hotline Bling," and the internet was all about it. But don't sleep on his original material.
34. Dave East
Hometown: Harlem, NYC
Genre: Hip-hop
Dave East is putting NYC back on the rap map, and he brought some friends along for the ride: the rapper's latest Mass Appeal release, Hate Me Now, feature verses from Styles P, Pusha T, Jadakiss, and Nas.
36. Sample Answer
Hometown: Dublin, Ireland
Genre: Indie
Sample Answer brought his out-front folk songs from Ireland to London, and he's been killing it ever since. His Textile Baby EP is a study in unique rock songwriting, recalling alt-J and The Libertines in equal measure.
38. Trapo
Hometown: Madison, WI
Genre: Hip-hop
With collaborators like Allan Kingdom and Max Wonders at his back, Trapo is making songs that sound far beyond his teenage years. His most recent project, The Black Beverly Hills EP, is an unforgettable collection of hoarse, uncomfortable truths delivered over full-bodied beats. Get familiar.
40. Jayaire Woods
Hometown: Woodside, IL
Genre: Hip-hop
Jayaire Woods' songs are involved productions, with layers of synths and percussion competing with his full-throated singing. You can tell after one listen he's leaving it all on the track, and it's starting to pay off.
