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2. Khalid
Khalid is a star in the making. The 18-year-old El Paso singer just graduated from high school and he hasn't been able to fully focus his efforts on music until recently, but his two newest songs, "Location" and "Let's Go," hint at the start of something great.
"Location" is a cool, breezy love song, and "Let's Go" is an all-out pop hit. With Khalid's robust, soulful voice, his future wide open with possibility, and it's a pretty safe bet that he'll be a household name within the next couple of years.—Jacob Moore
3. Starrah
Starrah had already worked on two of our favorite songs of 2016 before she released her own brilliant single "Rush." The Los Angeles-based artist is a songwriter as well as solo act, and she has credits on songs like Rihanna's "Needed Me" and Travis Scott, Young Thug, and Quavo's "Pick Up The Phone." The levels are very high.
For all those big name credits, it's "Rush" that has us mesmerized. It's the perfect balance of bubbly electronics, sticky pop hooks, and contemporary R&B style. There’s a long history of songwriters becoming stars in their own right, from Missy Elliott to Sia, and we wouldn’t bank against Starrah making a similar transition. Whatever she decides to do next, she certainly has our full attention.—Constant Gardner
4. Maggie Rogers
Maggie Rogers’ success story sounds too good to be true. But it all happened, despite the fairy tale narrative: travel to a remote western state, write a song about it, play said song for Pharrell during his visit to NYU’s recording studios, watch the video of that visit go viral, and see the record pop.
Between “Alaska” and Blood Ballet, her overlooked 2014 project that will likely go down in history as an unofficial demo, Rogers turns to nature samples in her music, wrapping birds, wind, and rocks in audible packages for the rest of us to enjoy. She makes music in the name of hope and exploration—all she has to do now is follow up "Alaska."—Alex Siber
5. Lil Yachty
Lil Yachty's charisma is inimitable. As with many young rappers (Yachty is only 18 years old), he's unconcerned with technical rapping skills, and this turns off a lot of hip-hop traditionalists. But when you start to accept Yachty for what he is and spend some time listening with an open mind, it's easy to become a fan. These days, Yachty is winning over a lot of those.
Unlike many of Atlanta's aggressive up-and-comers, Yachty's delivery is odd, gentle, and glistens with a childlike playfulness and hypnotic sense of melody. His debut mixtape Lil Boat establishes one of the most compelling new brands in hip-hop, and his features—on Chance The Rapper's "Mixtape" and D.R.A.M.'s "Broccoli" especially—make a strong case that most songs are better with a Yachty verse.
Lil Yachty is destined to have haters, but he's got the youth on lock, and when the kids love you, you're going to have a bright future. Either learn to love him, or get ready to be pissed off for the foreseeable future, because Yachty's only going up from here.—Jacob Moore
7. Innanet James
Few artists rival the energy of Innanet James. The Maryland MC raps like he recorded his verses while joyfully dancing down a city block, his youthful voice bouncing off building walls. The infectious vocalist hits a sweet spot somewhere in the crosshairs of Soulection swing and the playful storytelling of rap lore.
Darting from sensual ambitions to black pride to everything in between, James understands how to make art that entertains. Expect A Portrait for Free, his upcoming EP, to make a splash. Until then, let “Summer” soundtrack yours.—Alex Siber
8. Chester Watson
Chester Watson released an excellent album called Past Cloaks in early 2016, but the songs were all made when he was 15, 16, and 17 years old. The Florida rapper is now 19, and his latest album Spring Mirage—a collaborative effort with fellow Floridian Kent Loon—shows his versatility.
While Past Cloaks was packed with dim, sedated, jazzy hip-hop, Chester's more recent work is a little less mellow, with burly production and flows more deliberate than his earlier stream-of-consciousness style. The constant with Chester Watson is a cerebral, mood-altering approach to hip-hop unlike anything else coming out. Plus, like Guru said, it's mostly the voice, and Chester's got one perfect for rap.—Jacob Moore
9. Jorja Smith
When South London-based singer Jorja Smith introduced herself to the world, she did so in a subtle way. Her debut single "Blue Lights" opens up with production that is reminiscent of a sweet lullaby. But though the song is smooth and relaxing, this was no quiet entrance.
Smith began to draw some well-deserved attention almost immediately. The Dizzee Rascal sample at the end of "Blue Lights" demonstrated a deep connection with English music history, and Smith soon found herself with fans like Stormzy.
Smith has shared two more singles since "Blue Lights," and they've shown her versatility and range as an artist. For "A Prince," she did the unexpected by sampling music written in the 17th century, while she upped the tempo ever so slightly for "Where Did I Go?" What didn't change, however, is the fact that Jorja Smith is one to watch.—Adrienne Black
11. Kamaiyah
The golden coast has yet another album artist armed with hitmaker potential. "Every song gon' be good if I sing," Kamaiyah accurately boasts on "Out the Bottle," the trunk-rattling ego-booster that helps lead off the Oakland artist's debut tape A Good Night in the Ghetto. It's just one highlight in a project full of standouts.
The tongue-in-cheek positivity of the title manifests itself throughout the Bay Area native's work. Her swaggering presence could go toe-to-toe with industry vets and the embrace of independent, sensual expression is a welcome addition to slapping production.
Hypnotic, sing-song raps and heartfelt moments of tragic storytelling ("For My Dawgs") have the potential to take Kamaiyah to the top—in fact, she just featured on a song with YG and Drake. Expect more big names artists to come knocking in the future.—Alex SiberÂ
12. A.K. Paul
We've seen the name A.K. Paul appear on credits and collaborations, but his first solo single has been a long time coming. Paul released only one song in 2016, but "Landcruisin'" is strong enough to warrant inclusion in this list. There's also the matter of The Paul Institute, a mysterious group started by A.K. and his brother Jai.
We have yet to hear anything else from either Paul brother since "Landcruisin'" dropped in late March, but we have to assume there's more coming—it would be a cruel move to make all this noise, ask for everyone's phone number, and then release nothing.
Even if that's the case, "Landcruisin'" is something special, a weird and wonderful slice of sassy guitar rock that proves that talent runs in the family.—Graham
13. Liss
XL Recordings has long been known for providing a home to forward-thinking talent (M.I.A., Dizzee Rascal, Jai Paul, and Vampire Weekend, to name a few), and they keep the streak going with teenage Danish band Liss.
Liss' music is built on a strong pop foundation so prevalent in Scandinavia, but instead of cookie-cutter production, their music is organically fluid, impressively dynamic, and irresistibly soulful. On songs like "Sorry" and "Try," lead singer Søren Holm steals the show as the backdrop melds sounds ranging from tropical to electronic. Sometimes pop music starts to sound repetitive and watered down, like the best of it has already come and gone and we've collectively run out of good ideas to switch up the format. Then a band like Liss comes along.—Jacob Moore
15. 24hrs
24hrs appeared seemingly out of nowhere with a fully formed sound and a bunch of hits. The first song we heard was "Stylist," a rap/R&B hybrid packed with pop culture references, full of quotable lines, and riding some crazy production from Apex. Across the whole of his Open EP, 24hrs raps and sings in effected vocals, giving his boasts, romances, and late night tales an otherworldly air.
The production, from Apex, Bugzy Mogues, and NonStop, is incredible throughout, an ominous, edgy take on ATL rap production, but what elevates 24hrs' music is his songwriting—the hooks and melodies on every song are top level. We still don't know much about the enigma behind the music, but we do know that he has the potential to be a huge star.
"What's the secret behind your unique sound?" we asked 24hrs earlier this year. His answer: "It’s just a lot of sauce."—Constant Gardner
16. EMI
Working with producers like Rex Kudo and Charlie Handsome certainly helps your chances in music, but production can only show an artist the door. EMI crossed the threshold in 2016. The Seattle singer first caught our attention with "Phantom" back in February, and we were immediately hooked.
She's followed it up with two strong singles since, "Hit Me" and "Sip It Slow," and has continued to release music with a unique marketing strategy: the next song comes only when her SoundCloud streams reach a certain point. When "Sip It Slow" hits 500,000 (it's currently at 428,000), we'll hear what's next.—Graham
18. Broderick Batts
There's so much exciting hip-hop coming out of Florida right now, and between the rising talent like Kodak Black, Chester Watson, and Denzel Curry, the diversity of rap styles is staggering. Broderick Batts isn't one of the most buzzing names right now, but he may have the most crossover potential of them all.
Batts is a rapper, but he can put together a fine pop song too, as evidenced by the supremely catchy "Kate Moss 1989." His music is bright, fun, and addictive, and we're banking on at least a few more feel-good anthems before 2016 comes to a close.—Jacob Moore
20. Vintage Lee
With just two songs to call her own, Vintage Lee is making a lot out of little. The Boston-bred teen reps her city’s Roxbury neighborhood—home to local trailblazer Michael Christmas—and it shows on “Hennythings Possible.” The three-minute declaration oozes attitude. A concise serving of motivation with a sharp edge, the song’s icy piano adds a degree of menace to the artist’s swaggering raps.
Her voice is an aesthetic in itself. She bends syllables and adds subtle flourishes that make for a compelling listen. In short, Lee’s a stylistic magnet, a raw example of effortless personality and flair. If recent events are any indication, Vintage is poised for a strong second half. Fresh off of a charged performance opening for Cousin Stizz at the first-ever Boiler Room set in Boston, online movements are translating to real world progress before our eyes.—Alex Siber
21. Avelino
Avelino is due in more ways than one. First off, there's the voice: the English MC is in possession of a baritone that is at turns warm or menacing, but you always know whenever it's his turn at the mic.
Then there are the raps themselves. Avelino is hungry for more, and it comes across his rhymes. "Man, I had to shine shoes to make my wrist glow," he raps on "F.Y.O." "I had to grind food so we could flip dough." His lines are filled with deep reflections and honest reasons why he's a cut above: "I'm easily honest cause it's hard to lie / About the things that leave you scarred for life."
His Fuck Your Opinion EP, which dropped in April, is one of the year's best. Avelino's previously released tapes contain features from artists like Stormzy and Bonkaz, but this latest release was a huge step forward for Avelino as a solo artist. It's not grime or boom-bap—Avelino is in his own lane, finding beautiful melodies between hard-knocking production, and it's working.—Graham
22. Desiigner
When the year began, Desiigner's single "Panda" was an admittedly catchy track that had some potential to be more. By the beginning of February, there was no denying it: "Panda" had taken on a life of its own, and Desiigner had embraced its virality wholeheartedly.
On its own, "Panda" buzzed just enough to start grabbing some attention, but it wasn't until Kanye West remixed the single for "Pt. 2" on The Life of Pablo, that the single really took off. But when it topped the charts—well, none of us expected that.
Although Desiigner has yet to deliver a full project, or release a single to follow up "Panda," you can't talk about young talent in 2016 without mentioning his name. 2016 has been a massive year for Desiigner so far.—Adrienne Black
23. Bonzai
British producer Mura Masa put us on to Bonzai through a number of musical collaborations and by releasing her new EP on his label, Anchor Point Records. 19-year-old Bonzai is an American born, Ireland raised, and currently London-based artist, and she blends experimental electronic production with R&B and pop vocals throughout her Sleepy Hungry EP.
It's a combination of sounds that is becoming increasingly popular, but very few artists bring such a level of creativity or deliver such a coherent end product as Bonzai. "Daniel Gets It Wrong" is a glitchy dance music extravaganza, "No Rest" is a chant-heavy, vocal-driven pop-rave song, and "Lights On" is a moody R&B song. Three very different styles, but they all fit together so well in her hands. Keep an eye on Bonzai.—Constant Gardner
24. Kaiydo
Kaiydo hears colors and sees sounds—synesthesia, something he shares with one Kanye West. A background in graphic design exercised the Orlando rapper’s pink matter, and it shows in his music. The 19-year-old artist has shared four songs in six months, and each release comes complete with a distinctly styled piece of cartoon artwork that tastefully reflects his former career path.
Radiant, warm hues encircle the Florida rapper's lax deliveries on "Lottery" and "Arcade," songs in which dreams of jackpot winnings and aerial city-gazing encircle one another with a smooth charisma. A charming voice and sly wit make this upstart a must-listen.—Alex Siber
25. Seramic
London-based producer and vocalist Seramic is keeping mysterious for the moment, but don't let that distract from the quality of all the music he's released. First up was "People Say," which starts off smooth and soulful and reaches for the heavens with a choir later on.
Seramic told us that artists like Prince, Sly and the Family Stone, Funkadelic, D’Angelo, Outkast, and Kendrick Lamar inspire him, and although his music is proudly and undeniably influenced by the past, there is enough of a modern edge to keep things interesting.
On his debut EP Found, Seramic brings together soul and funk with jagged Jai Paul-esque pop, all powered by the raw power of his voice. It's a blend that has us wanting to both hear more and know more about the man behind the music.—Constant Gardner
26. dvsn
In my mind, dvsn's Sept. 5th album was a deal breaker—not just for the two producers who comprise the group, but for Drake's entire OVO Sound label. Majid Jordan's album had left me cold, and pre-Views, doubts were swirling about Drake's abilities as an A&R.
But dvsn came through. Starting with "Too Deep" and continuing through "Hallucinations" and "Do It Well," the album is stacked with sensual falsettos and booming bass.
They're a worthy addition to the current stable of electronic R&B singers and their album, largely devoid of features, shows they can hold their own. But there's no doubt this was an OVO team effort—the credits are littered with the squad, and Drake brought them on Views for a feature on "Faithful."—Graham
27. The Playlist
These artists are the future.