Each year offers the commitment of earth-shatteringly fresh music and New Hip Hop Artist worth keeping an eye on. The year 2011 is no different. While no one on this list will shift 10 billion units or end up being the next Jay-Z, they all make remarkable music. They all should be heard. Here’s to show you. First on the list is Danny Brown: He’s got a way of making the familiar sound original. Where Nas once saw hope in the face of poverty and informed that the buck that bought the bottle could’ve struck the sweepstakes, Brown is frightened he won’t ever find an answer to the ugliness he sees on earth.
Welcome to the realm of Big K.R.I.T. The Mississippi MC is the complete package. You’ll be amazed if he doesn’t have a big year in 2011. Kanye West caught a whiff of the Atlanta MC’s remix of Yelawolf’s “I Wish” and right away went looking for him. The 26-year old lyricist spent much of 2010 killing freestyles and wrecking guest features. He’s a classic example of seizing every opportunity to shine. Look for his GOOD Music debut in 2011.
Kendrick Lamar: Once he made that leap, Kendrick Lamar efficiently placed himself on the path to success. His mixtapes bump tougher than most albums. He raps like he’s battling a cold, but once your ear sets to his voice you are in for a hella ride. Boog Brown: In a perfect world, Boog Brown would have been a star. There’s always an undercurrent of emotive nuance in her voice. One moment she’s projecting a somber elegance. The next, she’s singing superbly in a calm, confident tone.
The Niceguys: Niceguys are generous with bombastic drums but stingy with lightweight boasts. Slivers of fashion abound in their music, but they take a back seat to metaphor-driven rhymes, humour, and psychological depth. If the Houston group follows up with a strong outing in 2011, they certainly won’t go unnoticed for a long time. L.E.P. Bogus Boys: Chicago’s own L.E.P. (Lower End Professionals) Bogus Boys provides that rare combination of wild ambition, inventive videos, and creativity that’s often absent in street rap. Part of what makes the duo so enchanting is that they continually attempt to connect with the listener.
New hip hop artist Preemo: Preemo continues to be bubbling under the radar for most of his career. Despite falling a strikingly impressive album, Concrete Dreams, and a brilliant mixtape, Flight 713, in 2010, he didn’t get the attention he deserves. The Texas native isn’t in a hurry to give up his sound for a shot at fame. Concrete Dreams is enjoyable from cover to cover. It’s the type of music Kanye was making when he first started – dark, raw, personal. One of the biggest Hip Hop Artists to watch is Big Sean: Big Sean has been patiently standing in Kanye’s wings for many years now. Look for Sean to flourish on his Finally Famous mixtape series with the release of a similarly titled debut sometime in 2011.