By Mason Rosse
With music-making software becoming more easily accessible, there are more artists to listen to than ever before. Of course, there are the artists that everyone knows, but there are many talented artists that never get noticed. My classification for an underrated artist is an artist with under 100k followers on soundcloud, and very little public attention. Here is my list of artists that you are going to want to listen to. (In no particular order)
Part 1 (From May 2020):
Alternative (Pop/Rap/R&B Combined)
Aries (May: 80k followers on soundcloud October: 83k on soundcloud)
Aries is the most followed artist on this list, but is still very underrated. He has a very unique sound that just makes you feel happy. Aries’s production always paints a happy picture, and his lyrics are catchy and they will be stuck in your head forever. Aries is one of the most versatile and talented artists in the industry right now. His modern style of music makes him unique for those interested.
Rap
Surf (May: 9k followers on soundcloud October: 10k on soundcloud)
Surf is a talented artist that is a diamond in the rough. As of the moment his music isn’t the most professional, or the most polished it could be, but he has a lot of time to grow and he shows a lot of potential. He is so versatile in the world of trap, and his music just wants to make you bounce. If you like trap music, he is definitely worth a listen. His most recent album is pretty good, with only a couple of songs I don’t like here or there. I personally like 3AM, but I will let you make your own opinion.
Baby Keem (May: 19k followers on soundcloud October: 29k on soundcloud)
Baby Keem is your rapper’s favorite rapper. He gained some attention through tik tok and his songs Orange Soda and Moshpit, but he still deserves so much more. His newest album is greatly acclaimed throughout the rap industry, despite the public not giving him much recognition. His interesting voice, catchy lyrics, and untraditional flows make him relaxing and engaging to listen to. He is especially unique, and his music takes you into his own domain of rap.
Drill (A subsection of rap)
Sleepy Hallow (May: 30k followers on soundcloud October: 64k on soundcloud)
Sleepy hallow is the main catalyst of the drill wave of New York, and deserves to be heard all over the music population. Sleepy Hallow is a very talented artist and brings his own new idea to the world of drill. He has the same drill aesthetic that New York has fallen in love with, but with a calmer and more collected twist to it. His most recent album has taken the rap scene by storm, and his song, Deep End Freestyle has over 100 million plays on spotify.
Sheff G (May: 34k followers on soundcloud October: 68k on soundcloud)
Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow are close friends, and you should check out their collab: Panic Pt. 3. It’s a drill anthem. Sheff G has a similar style to Sleepy, but in my opinion Sleepy is better. You should still check out Sheff G because he makes some great music, and if you’re going to listen to Sleepy, you might as well listen to both.
Part 2– Written In October of 2020
Alternative
Jacob Collier (11k followers on Soundcloud)
(Collier’s music is farthest from Rap out of anyone on this list)
At only 26 years old, Jacob Collier is a refreshing mix of nostalgia and modern production. Google lists him as a Jazz/Funk/Classical/Pop/R&B artist, but he’s much more than that. He puts so much time and energy into all of his tracks, with each of his songs having 150+ sounds and tracks. If you pay attention to the different sounds in each of his songs, you can really admire the complexity of his music. If you are going to sleep, chilling out, or just want to check out a new unique style of music: Jacob Collier is the artist for you.
Rap(General)
Ag Club(3.9k followers on soundcloud)
Ag Club is 100% going to be big. They have great music, great energy, and an overall great group (not to mention that they have some of the best music videos on the market). If you like A$AP Rocky or any modern lyricists in general, you will definitely like Ag Club. Their song Memphis is currently gaining a lot of attention (it’s a great song), and if there is any time to be early to a wave, jump on this one now. An underground rap group that makes phenomenal unique music? You’d have to be psycho to turn that down. Their style is not for everyone, but it’s worth listening to, at least to see.
Drill
Quelly Woo (2.4k followers on soundcloud)
Quelly woo is a new Drill artist that has way too little exposure for the quality of music that he releases. His song Bacc Out has 500k views on soundcloud, and each one is deserved. In this song, his delivery almost seems uninterested while his flow carries all of the energy that the song needs. Quelly Woo is the opposite of a one hit wonder, with most of his songs keeping the same energy. If you are looking for a traditional NY drill artist, Quelly Woo is someone you should check out.
Bizzy Banks (20k followers on soundcloud)
Bizzy Banks is one of the best drill artists in New York, but he does not get close to enough recognition. Bizzy has an impressive discography, with songs like: Top 5, Don’t Start, and Pop Out (all songs that I recommend). Bizzy already has many Drill hits, and he will continue to make more. He is an artist with the potential to blow up.
Honorable mentions: 22Gz, Brakence, Brent Faiyaz, Smooth L, JID