5) Action Bronson– The former gourmet chef turned rapper is grilling up more than hot meals lately. The rapper who is most known for rapping about food, and sports teams has been on a roll recently dropping solid project after solid project. The Queens native, with a distinct voice (often compared to Ghostface Killah), is a hot commodity in the rap industry and has been featured on projects with Mac Miller, A$AP Rocky, and Chance The Rapper. Action Bronson’s debut full length album “Mr. Wonderful”, is set to drop later this year, and hearing the singles that he has already dropped for this album make me more than excited for this project.
4) Chance The Rapper*- This Chicago native may have the best flow in the game. Chancellor Bennett (A.K.A. Chance The Rapper) has only dropped a few projects, but the future is bright for him. The 21 year old found breakout success after he dropped Acid Rap in 2013. The mixtape, which has been downloaded over 900,000 times was nominated for breakout mixtape at the 2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards. Although Chance The Rapper is working on his first full length album, (under the collective name of his group, The Social Experiment) but it hasn’t stopped him from being featured on several songs with Childish Gambino (who critics compare him to), James Blake, and Lil’ Wayne.
3) Isaiah Rashad*- The Tennessee native that is signed by west coast label, Top Dawg Entertainment (Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul) is the best of both worlds. Infusing his southern pop with his west coast lyricism, the 23 year old has shown promise to be one of the new faces of rap. His flow is catchy and his words are about more than material things. Isaiah caught a lot of ears when he was featured on Black Entertainment Television’s 2013 Top Dawg Entertainment Cypher. In 2014 with Top Dawg Entertainment he dropped his “Civilia Demo” and I highly recommend it. It’s worth the listen. This year he has been quiet but I expect that to change soon. Don’t sleep on Mr. Rashad.
2) Flatbush Zombies– This rap trio is nothing short of incredible. Composed of, (From left to right, of the picture) Erik The Architect, Meechy Darko, and Zombie Juice, the trio has mastered the art of rapping right after the other,which probably stems from being lifelong friends. Whether it’s on their Clockwork Indigo EP featuring The Underachievers, or songs that they continuously drop on Soundcloud, The Zombies are just getting better. The Brooklyn natives, that are all childhood friends, have done collective work with rappers like the A$AP Crew, Juicy J, Danny Brown and RZA Not to mention, Erik The Architect also produces all the beats that the group raps over. This trio really should get some more recognition because their sound is ambitious, unique, and something that only comes around once in a blue moon.
1) Joey Bada$$- The most promising of them all is Joey Bada$$. This 20 year – old has an old hip-hop soul and the music that he creates is beautiful. Like all of the rappers on here, Joey raps about more than money and fame, but it is the way that he delivers his line that makes him stand out more than the rest. Joey turned heads when he was featured on the song “One Train” by A$AP Rocky at only 18 years of age. At this time Joey had only dropped his first mixtape “1999” but the Rapper’s following started to get larger and rumors started flying around about him signing to Jay-Z’s label Roc Nation (which didn’t happen). About a year later he dropped his second mixtape, “Summer Knights”, under the label and group name “Pro Era”, and it just made people want more. On his 20th birthday, this year, he dropped his first album correctly titled B4.Da.$$ which spells out Badass, but also means, before the money. The album, which was the biggest one to come out this year, in my opinion, was met with high praise, and Joey has been rightly named the East coast savior of rap.