Music Recommendations Based on Artists You Already Like

We got tired of getting music recommendations from computers. Maybe one day, computers will be able to understand music and automate music discovery better than human beings. But so far, there hasn't been a music discovery app that has gotten it right. No algorithm, social networking service, or customizable radio station has been able to nail it down. There's still nothing quite as effective as a friend saying, "You like so-and-so? Check this out."

That's why we started our recommendations series. It has all been in an attempt to help, but it's probably one of the more controversial things we do. Every time we say, "If you like [insert artist name], then check out [insert artist name]" we see replies: "STOP COMPARING ARTISTS TO OTHER ARTISTS." It's not about that. If you're looking to discover new music, the fastest way to do it is to dig in based on what you already know you like. We hope you find something you like.

Don't forget to check out our weekly updated Spotify playlist here and monthly SoundCloud playlists here.

In a time when conscious rap feels played out for many people, how can a rapper comment on their own culture without sounding washed? Look no further than Jay IDK for the answer.

This DMV newcomer demonstrates that tasteful social commentary is within reach—though it may take a talented wordsmith to pull it off. Thankfully, Jay IDK has bars for days. And flows, too. In his newest single “I Picture,” Jay comments on the consumerism built in to hip-hop culture, gracefully treading the line between sarcasm and earnest expression in a manner that makes the track worth listening to on repeat.

Jay IDK is not “conscious rapper”—he’s just aware, observant, and talented. Pre-order his new record Empty Bank to hear the latest from this young talent as soon as it hits the streets.

Digital production is the industry standard for a reason—it’s simply liberating. More so than ever before, producers today have an effectively unlimited number of sounds to work from when creating. What makes TOULOUSE unique is not his use of digital audio workstations, but the way in which he uses them.

By working mainly from stock sounds, which are the audio samples provided to the user for free within programs like Logic and Ableton, TOULOUSE creates a structure for himself which he then works to subvert. However, listening to his latest track “So You Know I Care,” we’re hard-pressed to find any signs of stock production options. This indicates that TOULOUSE is more than just an architect building songs out of other people’s materials—have a listen below to see how far TOULOUSE has gone to ensure his songs sound fresh, authentic, and unique.

Chance the Rapper is one of our favorite artists, but there’s only so many time we can listen to his discography on repeat. We’re sure that his career is far from ending, that the next decade will be filled with releases as satisfying as his latest work Coloring Book was— but in the meantime, we recommend that you check out Noname.

Hailing from the same Chicago scene that helped launch artists like Chance and Vic Mensa, Noname delivers a unique take on the neo-soul style that her city has become known for in recent years. Her debut project Telefone is one of the most impressive releases of the year. Originally slated to drop back in 2014, the delays in the album’s production only provided more time for the artist to perfect her warm and personal sound.

After a few days of listening, we've decided that Eli Sostre’s music sounds best at around 3 a.m. Perhaps that’s because the New York newcomer writes and records the majority of his music past midnight. "You just get more in touch with your emotions, up late,” he told us.

But regardless of when you listen, Sostre’s music delivers the emotion and energy of late-night thinking, a sound that has come to characterize many artists on Drake’s OVO label. In fact, Sostre just finished up a tour with OVO affiliate and fellow New Yorker Amir Obe—between the two of them, Sostre and Obe demonstrate that their sounds stretch far beyond the city, even if the New York lifestyle may have informed their lyrics and artistic intentions.

Check out “Vibe With” below to understand why we believe Eli Sostre is up next.

If you enjoyed Disclosure’s recent foray into electropop, check out California newcomer Michl. His newest track “Broken Roots” is a great case-study for a comparison between the two artists. Everything addictive about “Latch” is here: a falsetto hook, impeccable production, and minimalist garage rhythms that help decorate the more straight-forward pop beat that drives that track.

However, Michl should not be written off as an imitation. In fact, his music feels distinctly more emotive, probably due to the easily discernible lyrics that keep the listener’s attention throughout his tracks. This expressive element separates Michl from his numerous Soundcloud peers. Emotion is in no short supply for Michl—listen to “Broken Roots” below for a look into his heart.

With the release of her debut album For All We Know, NAO has cemented herself as one of the most promising young voices out. The most interesting aspect of NAO’s music is the way she seamlessly integrates soul, jazz, and funk elements into otherwise straight-ahead pop tracks. And then there's that voice, reaching impossible heights and surprising the listener with left-field harmonies.

You just never know what to expect next when NAO is playing—when you think she’ll go high, she goes low, and vice versa. Check her positively delightful track “Girlfriend” for an idea of why we’re so excited by this promising act.

Perhaps the most endearing quality about Vic Mensa’s music is it’s passion. Especially on his earlier releases, it’s obvious that Vic is dedicated to achieving success on his own terms. And if you appreciate the sound of that struggle, check out Angelo Mota.

Angelo Mota’s flows are a reflection of his drive—they simply don’t stop. This New Jersey newcomer just keeps rapping, no matter what kind of beat is thrown his way. In his newest single “Oath,” Mota is joined by frequent collaborator Sipho the Gift, whose production and guest verse help frame the hustle perfectly. Listen to the track below and stay tuned for a full-length project from Mota soon.

Like BANKS and Wet, Woodes knows how to extract every last drop of sweetness from the traditional pop song. What she does next is totally up to her—she could pass that ingredient on to a producer to cook up an indie-pop banger or keep it to herself, crooning over sparse production to create a haunting, vocal-focused track like “Daggers & Knives.”

As a solo artist, Woodes excels. Her voice, packed with wonder and whimsy, lends a sense of adventure to whatever instrumentation she chooses to grace with her talent. Though she’s yet to release her debut project, we're sure that when she does, it’s going to be great.

Anyone who has taken the time to explore beyond Skepta knows how varied of a genre grime can be. Though the basic elemental characteristics remain the same, it’s easy for grime MCs and producers to embellish and decorate that traditional grime frame with their own unique styles.

For fans of Novelist and the Ruff Sound genre he's creating, we recommend you check out Tuckz. A member of the collective Vision Crew, Tuckz raps over beats slightly faster than traditional grime fare—this slight adjustment allows him to switch flows at will, riding the beat at a relaxed half-time pace or speeding up his delivery to match the sped-up beat. These unique beats and variations in flow are the characteristic elements of the Ruff Sound, and we can’t wait to see what Tuckz does next.

Check out “Physical” below for a look at this exciting new sub-genre.

Xavier & The Thrill is a rapper from Chicago, but as we've seen again and again with artists from the Chi, that only tells half the story. Xavier mixes elements of psychedelia and rock with modern rap sounds to create a heavy, heady, multi-layered sound.

Xavier and Ab-Soul's music doesn't sound exactly the same, but both come with left-field ideas and incorporate various styles into their rap music—there's always a lot to take in, from deeply personal lyrics to swampy, ominous production.

Listen to "Tears Of Legend" to see why we're excited for Xavier & The Thrill's album Thrill, expected September 3.

SAINt JHN is more of a singer/rapper than a rapper, but if you like Jazz Cartier for his robust voice and dark, dramatic production, check this out. SAINt JHN is from Brooklyn, and he's got more music coming up including rap-focused work and music more along the lines of "Roses" that highlights his songwriting skills and singing ability. Stay tuned.