Our Generation Music presents our 2025 “Artists To Watch” list. Looking to make a splash in the new year, here are the 25 voices you need to keep tabs on in ‘25. (Arranged in no specific order)
Let us know who else we should watch out for this year!
Words by Jon Barlas, Aidan C. Werder, John Cotter, Evan Heiges
1oneam
Spotify: 215K | YouTube: 13.2K | IG: 108K
1oneam lived between two states of mind in 2024: One Life and One Death, a sonic yin-and-yang that impressively separated him from the rest of the underground. The Milwaukee rapper’s budding rise wasn’t just fueled by the power of his two-album run, but by career-shaping tracks like “Death Of Me,” “Vogue” and “Whatchu Thought”—propelling 1oneam to the top of the wave alongside OsamaSon, Nettspend and others. Bred from the sonic undertones of pluggnb, 1oneam’s music embodies a late-night vibe you catch with your friends, however, there’s no specific scenario where he can’t be played. One of the most down-to-Earth and laid-back MCs in the UG, it appears you caught 1oneam just in time. Listen to his latest single “Penthouse” in the meantime. — Jon Barlas
2hollis
Spotify: 734K | YouTube: 79.5K | IG: 254K
Genre-bending in 2024 seemed to be more of a goal for most artists than an actual reality. But for every handfuls of pop-rap, country-rap, and other half-baked mishaps comes a standout. In 2Hollis, rage-rap fans were finally confronted with a harsh reality: dance music is fun, and it’s okay to have fun sometimes. When Ken Carson cold-called 2Hollis to bring him on his “Great Chaos” tour, many (myself included) were a bit confused. All it took was one performance to make it make sense, and I’m far from the only one. He’s like if David Byrne was raised on Skrillex, Black Kray and Skullcandy headphones. But the more comparisons I find myself trying to make to a 21-year-old, the more I’m reminded of what has made so many trailblazers like Bladee and Playboi Carti so successful in the long term; they clearly didn’t want to be compared to anybody else. His sound is chaotically controlled, grasping your wrist along the way as he plays in fields of grunge, trap, hyperpop, and leaves a blaze behind him, clearing a path for others whether he likes it or not. — John Cotter
Baby Kia
Swapa
Spotify: 357K | YouTube: 15.7K | IG: 66K
Swapa’s 2024 has been a whirlwind. The New York-based artist has solidified his place in the underground over the past year with his breakout album Armageddon—alongsides projects in Island, and Eigen as well as co-signs from Plaqueboymax and Slump6s. While his producer chops are certainly noteworthy, Swapa has become a key fixture in underground circles over the past year despite being relatively new to the scene. Swapa’s potential for growth is undeniable, and with a 2025 nationwide tour on the horizon, the rapper is poised for a full-fledged blow-up in ‘25. — Evan Heiges
Che
Spotify: 627K | YouTube: 91.7K | IG: 213K
Che’s rebranded himself entirely over the past two years, but 2024 brought forth an evolution no one saw coming. Closed Captions and Crueger were the foundation to the Atlanta rapper post name change from cheRomani+, as his latest album, Sayso Says, is the pinnacle of the Che experience: raw, unfiltered and unrelenting in energy. With tracks like “Pizza Time,” “miley cyrus” and “i rot, i rot” (which earned a coveted Lyrical Lemonade co-sign and music video), Che’s growth from 2023 to 2024 was exactly like we predicted in our Artists To Watch list last year. Now? Che’s tasked with following up a career year. And he’s more than up for the challenge. — Jon Barlas
Ian
Spotify: 5.1M | YouTube: 163K | IG: 883K
There are very few artists who’ve had a better year than Ian. At just 19, he’s dropped two Billboard-charting albums, earned a RIAA-certified gold plaque for his hit “Magic Johnson,” and sold out a nationwide tour. After the release of his debut album Valedictorian, Ian found himself at the center of a culture vulture debate, sparked by Pitchfork and Tyler, The Creator, who painted him as the reborn clone of 2012 Gucci Mane. Rather than halt his momentum, the debate only further cemented Ian as a force of change within the scene, carving his niche as an artist who blends a deep understanding of internet culture with quality music (much due to his producer sxprano). Alongside co-signs from Lil Yachty (“Hate Me”) and Chief Keef, Ian has solidified his place in the digital era’s evolving soundscape and key artist of the current wave. — Evan Heiges
Dave Blunts
Spotify: 879K | YouTube: 80.5K | IG: 346K
Can he put down the cup? This year, we shall see, but the run Dave Blunts had at the back end of 2024 was nothing short of iconic. Now focusing on his health, Dave’s out of pocket sense of humor (“I love all my N****S, but I promise I’m not a F****T”) and Juice WRLD-influenced melodies initially caught the attention of fans in late 2023. However, a ceaseless stream of projects (dropping four in total over the past year) kept the Davenport, Iowa native in rotation all year long. It wasn’t just the music for Blunts that earned him a spot on our A2W list, though, his personality worked wonders for his virality, appearing in some sort of clip on almost every niche news account. Even his tiff with Snoop Dogg at Juice WRLD Day sparked headlines across the music world. But where does Dave Blunts go from here? Has he already peaked? Will an tour/album (or perhaps a different content avenue) rear its head in 2025? We’ll be watching closely for what his next move will be. — Jon Barlas
Glokk40Spaz
Spotify: 738K | YouTube: 132K | IG: 268K
GLOKK IS FREE. Glokk40spaz flooded the game with music upon his release from jail this past summer, swiftly dropping four projects in 2024 in unrelenting succession. Along with a joint tape with OsamaSon, the Atlanta rapper’s Da Real Oso stands as a testament to sly grittiness and swag the new Atlanta currently boasts. From earning co-signs from SoFaygo, Duwap Kaine and D Savage (saying “he’s the reason why I wanted to rap”) to drawing comparisons of Chief Keef and NBA Youngboy, Glokk is armed with a ferocious cult following that has supported him through his highs and lows. With much more in store for 2025, his ability to “spaz out” in the studio shouldn’t be understated. Glokk40spaz is rap’s secret weapon taking aim at the top of the game. — Jon Barlas
Edward Skeletrix
Spotify: 158.3K | YouTube: 25.7K | IG: 61.5K
Need an escape? Edward Skeletrix provides many avenues. The Florida-born, Atlanta-based rapper, producer and visual artist (whose real name is Edward King Bass IV) is an experimentalist at heart—his Instagram bio lists himself as a “magician” other than anything else. His euphoric, dark-trap soundscape and willingness to push sonic boundaries as a producer (under previous aliases in “cight,” “shieldLess” and “syckli”) are hauntingly beautiful—capturing the attention of names like Night Lovell and XXXTENTACION (“elegant“) during the height of SoundCloud era. Since then, he’s been hard at work building out the “Edward Skeletrix” project. A stream of oft-released, experimental singles, and work with fellow up-and-comers like Brennan Jones in 2024 would lead to his greatest project yet: A double album entitled Museum Music and I’m A Monster, released on New Year’s Day. The project debuted at No. 7 on Spotify’s Top Albums Debut chart from Jan. 3-5: a testament to Edward’s growing buzz in the underground, as Museum Music expands beyond the confines of human existence, taking listeners to another sonic realm altogether. An artist that prioritizes the quality of his art more than anything (peep his coinciding art installation in NYC last month), Edward Skeletrix is a voice that begs to be heard throughout 2025. — Jon Barlas
Rio da Yung OG
Spotify: 2.4M | YouTube: 587K | IG: 1.1M
The half-decade that Rio da Yung OG was in federal prison felt a lot longer for Michigan’s still-flourishing rap scene. Much of that regional growth has now reached nationwide acclaim, and during Rio’s time away, the world saw the likes of Babytron embraced by a cultural force in Eminem. Finally, Rio returned home last month with one of the best “First Day Out” freestyles I’ve ever heard, reminding us of the harsh and comedic overtones that the scene has been missing out on. Rio states “I had a 40 year-old man callin’ me big bro” as he hops off a jet and into a Rolls Royce, mere hours after his release. That stark dichotomy of tragedy and comedy is as old as time, and no one is more deserving of being your rapper’s favorite rapper this year than Rio da Yung OG. — John Cotter
Fimiguerrero
Spotify: 764K | YouTube: 20.6K | IG: 73.5K
Conglomerate’s Fimiguerrero is part of an exciting pocket of the UK scene. Along the likes of Lancey Foux, YT and fakemink (who are all mentioned on this list or in year’s past), Fimi is perhaps one of the more underappreciated assets the UG offers. That’s not to say he isn’t primed for the spotlight. Albums like Black and Immigrant were gritty glimpses into Fimi’s cool yet abrasive sound. However, 2024’s New World Order saw a more calculated side to the Kent native’s catalog. Tracks like “Vogue,” “Gucci” and “Ménage À Trois” were packed with unbridled charisma, showcasing Fimi in a new light altogether. While touting a handful of collaborations with Lancey and Len prior to their team-up as CONGLOMERATE, Fimi is the most enjoyable part of the 16-track LP (listen to “Spanish Guitar” for a litmus test). He’s come into his own in 2024, as 2025 looks to be a true ascension with the UK UG fully shining bright. — Jon Barlas
Star Bandz
Spotify: 860.6K | YouTube: 125K | IG: 832K
Theres a contradictory nature to Star Bandz‘s music; It’s playful yet menacing. Melding seemingly harmless lyrics over traditional drill elements, it’s hard to believe she’s just 16 years old. Her debut album, Estrella, recruited a slew of star features in Veeze, Luh Tyler as well as consistent contributors Sugarhill Ddot and BabyChiefDoit. Star is the freshest face out the Chi, with tracks like “Yea Yea,” “Bigger Better Badder,” “Cut Throat,” “4 Deep” and more flooding For You pages and taking her to viral acclaim in ’24. Her name is all that you need to know; she was a Star as soon as she hit the scene. Don’t expect her to burn out as the new year settles in. — Evan Heiges
Hardrock
Spotify: 422K | YouTube: 26.3K | IG: 109K
A down year for Hardrock is a career-180 for most up-and-coming artists. Off the back of his debut album 1of1 in 2023, the Atlanta rising star took time to build his credibility outside underground circuits this past year—touring with Ski Mask the Slump God certainly raised his stock. As far as music, though, Rock sparingly dropped throughout 2024, sharing a 9-track EP, My Gift To You, in April and rode the high of a successful festival circuit (Summer Smash, Rolling Loud etc.). Rock held the underground in a chokehold with tracks like “kickdoors,” “WA/VE” and his breakout track “Feel Alive” just over a year ago—he became our 2023 OGM Rookie Of The Year because of it. But now, Rock is shaking off the rust and is gearing up for a bounce back in 2025. Dropping “Deadass” in the middle of December, Hardrock continues his climb as one of the more mysterious yet star-powered voices in the UG. It’s only a matter of time before he makes the jump. — Jon Barlas
BabyChiefDoIt
Spotify: 2.9M | YouTube: 185K | IG: 295K
An embodiment of where Chicago is and where it’s going, BabyChiefDoIt is the portrait of the youth movement in the city. Viral tracks like “Nachos” and “Too Slow,” featuring fellow Chi-Town native and OGM A2W Star Bandz, not only put BCDI on the map, but provided competition (and an edge?) over Atlanta’s viral “crash out” wave. Baby’s bombastic, menacing sound pulls roots from drill legends in Chief Keef, Von and Lil Reese (listen to “The Viper” to hear what I’m talking about), merging it with the distortion and energy littered throughout all sections of the underground. BabyChiefDoIt isn’t moving in small numbers either, he’s moving militant and “destined for greatness,” like he says on “Inside Out.” “Nachos” has accumulated over 3 Million views on YouTube since its release in November—touting over 50 Million views in total across his channel. It’s cause for taking a deeper dive in his catalog, with his double-disc debut album, Animals Only (Ice Cold), injecting the game with flowing street raps and a commanding presence (regardless of age) not found anywhere else. — Jon Barlas
Nino Paid
Spotify: 964K | YouTube: 83.5K | IG: 172K
Nino Paid transforms pain into power, sharing his story through rare glimpses of raw intention. The 23-year-old DMV rapper captivated fans in 2024 with his debut project Can’t Go Bacc—which recounts vivid reflections of loss, addiction, and faith. Blending vulnerability with resilience, Nino went viral seemingly from the start of his career, with his breakout single “Pain & Possibilities” amassing nearly 7 million streams on Spotify—putting his artistry on a pedestal for the better. Since then, Nino has relentlessly dropped in 2024, sharing singles like his internet hit “COOLIN” with BabyChiefDoIt and Plaqueboymax as well as collaborations with Seddy Hendrix and Highway. Make no mistake, Nino’s getting paid big bucks in 2025 as he continues garner the respect of underground ears.
Lexa Gates
Spotify: 502K | YouTube: 29.4K | IG: 231K
When we spoke at the top of 2024, Lexa Gates was coming off a year-long self-imposed musical sabbatical. Since then, she hasn’t left off the gas, releasing her critically-acclaimed album, Elite Vessel, and embarking on an international tour with support from Jonah Love. Elite Vessel marks a significant evolution in her sound; its live instrumentation, and sampling signals a move beyond the YouTube beats of her earlier work. The lead single, “I Just Can’t Be Alone,” produced in collaboration with Billy Lemos, exemplifies her genre-melding style, drawing comparisons to Westside Gunn, Amy Winehouse, and any number of artists. Lexa operates at a level well beyond her contemporaries, thinking out of the box even when she’s trapped in one. — Evan Heiges
YT
Spotify: 347K | YouTube: 6.5K | IG: 49K
Never in my 20-plus years on planet Earth have we seen the UK underground as hot as it is right now. In 2024, the UK arrived in the States like never before. The first proper charge arrived over the summer with YT’s “Black & Tan,” which promptly took over the internet on both sides of the pond thanks to Tola’s infectious jerk infused bars as well as a key Lancey Foux feature and an absolutely insane retro visual from La.uzza. He followed up his breakthrough moment with similarly awesome singles and elaborate visuals for “Prada Or Celine” and “MVP” with Fimiguerrero (another member of Conglomerate). Fueled by addictive jerk beats and a flurry of hilarious memes, Oxford-graduate YT has swagged his way to the forefront of the underground. And while he’s been active with a loyal cult fanbase for years, in 2025 YT is looking more like an international superstar everyday. — Aidan C. Werder
Loe Shimmy
Spotify: 3M | YouTube: 120K | IG: 308K
Loe Shimmy has been one of Florida’s best-kept secrets for years. As one of the leading proponents of the increasingly popular brand of barely awake street rap sweeping the nation, the Pompano Beach native has been a quiet favorite amongst famous Floridians like Lamar Jackson and Kodak Black, Drake, and cool kids on the cutting edge in search of unique sounds. In 2024, Shimmy perfected the recipe for his nonchalant street melodies and arrived in the mainstream with “For Me” – easily one of the fan-favorite songs of the year leading to a rare Brent Faiyaz remix and his first appearance on the Billboard Charts. And a testament to his status as one of your-favorite-rappers’-favorite-rappers, he’s been one of the most sought after features for hot new artists on the rise from Cash Cobain to Luh Tyler to Jorjiana. Fresh off his billboard debut, a crazy feature run, and one of the street’s favorite songs of the year, in 2025 the top is Loe Shimmy’s. — Aidan C. Werder
Nine Vicious
Spotify: 49K | YouTube: 2.7K | IG: 16.9K
Nine Vicious’ debut project, Studio Addict, not only has taken the underground by storm, but embodies the rising rapper’s diligence—er, addiction—to his craft. Akin to a Destroy Lonely-Young Thug hybrid, who also hails from Atlanta, Nine is naturally vicious on the mic. Oft-released tracks like the viral “u fancy” intrigued fans throughout the last month of 2024, as Nine’s intricate, rage-matic beats and warbly, Thug-esque cadences have quickly earned the respect of underground ears to kick off 2025. Along with a loose affiliation to YSL—claiming the collective on track 3 (“Tokyo”) off Studio Addict—it’s clear Nine already has the new year on lock. — Jon Barlas
skaiwater
Spotify: 618K | YouTube: 74K | IG: 145K
Skaiwater is the truest definition of “genre-bender.” The 24-year-old British-born singer, rapper and producer’s second album #gigi was an instant highlight of the ‘24 underground scene—packed with irresistibably catchy hooks (you can thank Katy Perry for that inspo) and shimmering production that personified a summer fling. Blending Skai’s signature electronic, hip-hop and Jersey club influences, #gigi proved to be their most complete work yet, and one of the year’s most exciting new releases because of it. Tracks like ‘light!’ and the then-viral “rain” went platinum on our playlist, backed by skaiwater’s undoubted musical instincts and sense of flair. Alongside features on tracks with Lil Nas X, KARRAHBOOO, 9lives and others, #gigi seemed like the first time skai dipped their toes into mainstream circles, only growing into more of a sleeping pop giant as 2025 wages on. — Jon Barlas
prettifun
Spotify: 98K | YouTube: 15K | IG: 49.8K
It’s not bold to say that prettifun had one of the best underground albums of the year for many reasons. But one truly sticks out to me: Fun House feels like peak Uzi, but reincarnated. Off-the-wall and carefree, prettifun’s debut project (which acts as a deluxe to pretti) asserted his status as an emerging artist of his own (previously producing tracks like Che’s “Pizza Time” and “miley cyrus” on Sayso Says). However, “Man Of The Year” was a sonic personification of the moment the Charlotte native had in 2024—becoming a solo star in his own right. With all the momentum heading into the new year (and presumably continuing his ties with Che, protect and more), prettifun has all the tools and talent to take ’25 by storm by, admittedly, keeping his sound fun and overwhelming fresh. — Jon Barlas
UntilJapan
Spotify: 202K | YouTube: 10.5K | IG: 47.8K
Easily one of the most anticipated acts in the game, Untiljapan is one of the few artists left with a genuine air of mystery. Little is known about him, and without even showing his face until recently, he’s been a hot topic amongst the underground for literally years since he first started dropping in 2022. His 2023 project SAFE TRAVELS was a huge hit amongst fans, artists and critics alike; with seemingly universal consensus that the highly dynamic, melodic sound he’s building feels perfectly of the moment and ready for the big time. After dropping “Feel Like We Back” and a handful of singles at the top of 2024, the mystery only grew as he remained relatively quiet for the rest of the year. That was until he made a big splash at Rolling Loud Miami with his first ever live performance in December. Judging by the reaction, and the cryptic hints trickling out of his social media teasing new music in 2025, it definitely feels like we back now. — Aidan C. Werder
Concrete Boys
Concrete Boys are an intriguing storyline to follow heading into 2025. Amid the departure of core member KARRAHBOOO, Camo!, Draft Day and Dc2Trill, all of which are preparing for their own solo drops in the new year, are left to carry the weight. Perhaps the most enticing (to me at least) is Camo!, who has the least amount of music of all three group members not named Lil Yachty. Nevertheless, as Boat and co. continue to go up, it’s hard to look past the foundation they’ve built as a group to not be worth a nod in this year’s Artists To Watch. Collabs are to be expected on whatever solo efforts they drop in ’25, but be sure to look out for Camo, DC and Draft Day as Concrete looks to craft more viral moments on their own (and hopefully without a nudge from Lil Yachty). — Jon Barlas
Vontee the Singer
Spotify: 101K | YouTube: 7K | IG: 39K
A sexy drill specialist out of the Bronx, Vontee the Singer‘s specific combo of R&B-sampled croons and animated rap blurs the lines of NYC’s revitalized drill wave—and 2024 saw him shine brighter than ever before. Releasing his breakthrough project Lovers & Friends, featuring Cash Cobain, Bay Swag and more, Vontee packs a punch within any genre you need him for. On tracks like “IMU” with Cash and his latest single “Shoulda Know” (which samples Tyler, The Creator’s “Best Interest”), Vontee injects a now-signature, suave aura on each of his tracks. While his name bears “the singer,” Vontee can certainly do it all on the mic. — Jon Barlas
fakemink
Spotify: 72K | YouTube: 5.2K | IG: 22K
At just 19, fakemink has solidified himself as one of London’s most interesting emerging voices. Dubbed as a pioneer of the UK’s “jerk wave,” his self-coined genre blends the energy of jerk rap with lush, flowing production. His debut project, London’s Saviour, in 2023 was a nod to both his ambition and creative philosophy. The project not only cemented fakemink’s reputation as an experimental force, but also earned him co-signs from the likes of Lancey Foux and Bakar. Known for his work ethic, fakemink released over 50 songs in 2024 alone (listen to his latest “War Clothes” here). Besides music, his creative vision has drawn comparisons to Alexander McQueen for the way he merges London’s grit with high-fashion influences and his signature “dirty luxury” mantra in his visuals. — Evan Heiges