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Home • Radio

Underground Artists Trailblazing Their Way To Mainstream Music

Time to update your playlists
Underground Artists Trailblazing Their Way To Mainstream Music
By Kenyatta Victoria · Updated May 1, 2024

We all remember the time when we knew artists like Nicki Minaj, Summer Walker or Kendrick Lamar as underground talents who were hungry for the world to know their songs. There’s nothing like discovering your new favorite artist and watching them rise to the top and enter mainstream media. 

These artists provide a new playlist for your ears as they reach each genre of rap, R&B, rock and pop. They are creating a new sonic bed for us to lay in and just vibe. Check out these underground creatives paving their path.

Kari Faux

If you were around the 2015 through 2018 SoundCloud run, Kari Faux was somewhere in your playlists. The Little Rock-born rapstress has reached new heights since her popular “No Small Talk” single. Faux has released her first album Lowkey Superstar, took notes from Beyonce for Chloe & Halle’s song “Fake” and her latest viral track “Me First” debuted on Colors. 

Article continues after video.

Big Jade

Beaumont bread, Big Jade is the next hottest rapstress coming from Houston. Her short stature is overflowing with gritty lyrics mixed with a vintage slow-ride southern flow. Cruise through the city by adding her latest song “Gangsta Activity” or social hit “Dem Girlz” featuring Beatking and Erica Banks. 

Article continues after video.

Jopa$

The rappers coming out of New York are on a mission to take back their place in Hip Hop, and Jopa$ wants in. A trap-inspired sound mixed with a dark fast paced flow, the Valley Stream native makes music for a weekend turn-up with his recent track “Ce Soir” and “Undies.” A must for those, “one of those nights” type of link-ups. 

Article continues after video.

London Hill

The Bronx native goes by the nickname Ms.30 minutes as she continuously delivers quick verses in the booth. She recently received a major co-sign from fellow New Yorker Nicki Minaj who featured Hill on the “Likkle Miss” remix and later announced her as one of her new artists signed to her label. 

Article continues after video.

NaomiG

NaomiG brings her authentic Chicago sound through her music. She’s found her own voice in a wave of melodic rapping that benefits her as she continues experimenting with her artistry. As she climbs her way to the charts, she’s moving to keep Chicago in the conversations surrounding great music.

Article continues after video.

Lebra Jolie

Jolie had her encounters with viral moments online with her song “Now What,” but now she’s ready for her me season. She released her self-titled EP and signed with Interscope Records ready for everyone her hear her down-south Houston flavor. 

Article continues after video.

Rican Da Menace

Rican Da Menace exudes confidence, charisma, and control with her bars. The raptress provides slick punchlines and lyrical dominance to her sound. Hailing all the way from Baltimore, she continues to follow her passions of spitting fire lyrics and empowering her fans. 

Article continues after video.

Lauryn Harris

If you’ve missed the raspy yet jazzy sounds of Amy Winehouse, then you’ll love the sweet tunes of Lauryn Harris. Whether you’re going through the cycle of break up and need to listen to “Hardhead” or want to groove to a vintage neo-soul feel to her latest project Prima Diva, Harris has an underrated voice ready for the charts.

Article continues after video.

Josh Levi

The Houston native is creating his own world with his afro-futuristic aesthetic in his sound and projects. The 24-year-old meshes the genres of pop, r&b, rock, and hip-hop accompanied by hard-hitting vocals. 

Article continues after video.

MiLES

The 18-year-old artist has the initiative to make genre-bending sounds. He brings together an eclectic mix of sounds to take listeners on a sonic journey of creativity, originality and authenticity.  

Article continues after video.

Zae France

France is an artist who studies the key elements of R&B being quality writing, a message and of course, vocals. He was recently signed to Def Jam/ Compound Entertainment and is gearing up to release his third project full of his R&B flavor.

Article continues after video.

Lele Lima

This Brazillian singer is ready to be a part of the merger between R&B and international music. With the rise of afrobeats and reggaeton, she’s ready for listeners to hear more of the sounds in Brazil through its instruments and culture. 

Article continues after video.

Meet Me At The Altar

Meet Me @ The Altar is a woman-of-color pop-punk trio that met on YouTube through their shared love of Paramore and Twenty One Pilots. The band wants to be the role models they didn’t have growing up in the alternative music scene.

Article continues after video.

Tyla

Tyla’s sound pushes boundaries and opens up a conversation surrounding the diaspora representation in music. She infuses pop and R&B, with the thrill of South African amapiano and a mystical approach to production that makes every track feel like a new experience.

TOPICS:  arts black culture music new music
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