SEVEN UK rappers ready for a breakthrough moment
Welcome to the second British invasion...
The last three or four years has seen the UK’s underground rap scene go global in a way few could have seen coming, with the likes of fakemink, Lancey Foux, and scouse rap sensation Timothée Chalamet EsDeeKid finding unprecedented mainstream success within both hip-hop and chart circles. But bubbling under these scene heavyweights is a new class of artists ready for the spotlight to shine their way too. Here are my seven picks for Britain’s next big (rap)star…
Ledbyher
Perhaps the artist who currently possesses the most fully-formed artistic vision on this list, Ledbyher’s blend of jerk beats, cloud rap and alt-pop is also in my humble opinion, the most likely to gain mainstream recognition. Her vocal delivery has that dreamy quality to it that has long been a staple of a generation of female-led indie bands in the UK, but with an understated bite to it, bringing to mind a more mysterious and macabre Lily Allen. Now with major-label backing on her latest EP The Elephant, released just over a month ago, the trajectory for Ledbyher only seems to be an upwards one. MIDDLE OF THE ELEPHANT, conveniently sequenced slapbang in the middle of the project, is the clear highlight - an achingly beautiful beat punctuated with ethereal ahhs and Idioteque-esque synths, upon which she rides effortlessly with her minimal talk-singing flow. The future is bright.
snoa
Proving (along with the aforementioned EsDeeKid and many others) that you don’t have to move to London to be a force in the underground, Leicester rapper snoa has begun making a name for himself in the UK underground thanks to his ultra-prolific release schedule and versatility, with the youngster feeling equally at home on jerk, cloud rap, rage, grime and basically whatever beat you throw at him. Agenda, which has remained in my constant rotation since it dropped, is a perfect example of what makes him special, with his brutally raw and pained vocals bringing to mind what made the early days of the emo rap movement so special. Maybe the next step for snoa to really push on and break out is to cut down the releases and refine one or two exceptionally strong projects, but everything up ‘til now suggests that he’d be equally as happy to keep throwing up tracks and projects whenever he pleases, and really who could blame him?
Young Eman
After grinding his way into getting a song on a FIFA game (sorry, ‘EAFC’) you’d be forgiven for thinking that Sheffield rapper Young Eman had already made it, having achieved the hopes and dreams of every ten year-old boy in the UK. However, seemingly following a major reinvention since EAZI graced FC24, Eman has rapidly expanded his taste in production culminating in last year’s Steeze Kills. EP and the semi-viral duet with vocalist Eline Vherodia, Popstar in da Bits, a whirlwind rush of heady synths and scattering production tied together with a wonderfully nostalgia-inducing video that serves as an ode to youth culture in the British post-industrial landscapes of the late-2000s. Looks like Skins and shit. New single Páris continues to follow this hectic/electric style of production, and assuming this is a path he is continuing to explore, expect to see a continued rise in stature.
TR Gobrazy
Boasting the most menacing delivery heard in the UK since the glory days of UK drill (a scene he is appropriately familiar with having been a reasonably successful producer for a decade at this point), TR Gobrazy has recently struck out on a solo career that’s seen his production choice increasingly hone in on the murkiest, evilest beats coming out the capital - an appropriate backdrop for both his voice and his stories of personal and familial struggles as well as childhood poverty. Homeless is perhaps the culmination of this journey so far, as he continues to explore these lyrical themes overtop crushing 808s and distortion. It’s hard to think where you could push further than this, but if anyone can TR probably can. This is music to make your nan add three extra bolts on your front door. Although this guy did produce Sprinter, so maybe he’s a proper nice bloke in person.
kwes e
Being introduced to kwes e initially through his frequent collaborations with YT, it wasn’t until the release of juggin in the summer of 2024 that I really felt a spark of someone worth delving deeper into, but man has doing so been worthwhile. Embracing his Ghanaian heritage with subtle and not-so-subtle afrobeats influences that elevate his pop jerk sound has made kwes e a far more well-rounded artist than many in his lane, and that includes his choice of lyrical content, with a more sophisticated pool of references to delve into. Is this sound one that could become huge outside of the UK audience? I’m not so sure, but as it stands he’s surely setting a great example for young artists on how to weave your own identity and sound amongst the crowd, and if that leads to greater success it will be more than deserved.
SINN6R
I was most hesitant to include SINN6R on this list - due mainly to the fact his profile has already risen high enough that calling him an artist ‘ready to breakthrough’ seems a bit redundant, but why the fuck not? Being one of the few artists who have been able to successfully transition a stagnant UK drill scene into the ascendant UK jerk/rage movement taking over the country comes with a certain clout, and the combination of dark, heavy drill flows with in-your-face synths and melodies present on tracks like Personally makes fresh a stale genre, a feat that commands anyone’s respect. By all means expect to hear more from SINN6R.
Saam Sultan
Saving probably the longshot hope of this list ‘til last here, but Saam Sultan to me shows a lot of promise. Carving out his own lane with his upbeat and melodic choice of production, it’s hard to really pin down his influences. He comes across somewhat James Blake-ish, a little pre-2025 fakemink, a healthy dose of babyfather. But it’s a surprisingly fully-formed sound for someone so early into their career, and one that rightfully is starting to see some recognition. Locked In Love is his biggest hit so far, and the most in step with the rest of this list, but recent singles have gone in an increasingly more spacious and cinematic direction that leaves an expected upcoming album an intriguing prospect.
Thanks for checking out this article, and the SEVEN series in general if you have been. We have plenty more on the way in the future, I could have easily done a Part 2 here if the format allowed, maybe in the future? In the meantime, if you got any hot calls on the next up in the UK pop them down below and don’t forget to share the love!
Very nice. Looks like I’ve got a fair bit to check out
Damn idk what "jerk" is but apparently i'd better get educated 🤔