2022 was an incredible year for music, and with 2023 just beginning, it’s clear that things are only going to get better from here. The underground hip hop and R&B scene today is, in my humble opinion, more promising than it has been in over a decade, since the days when Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler, the Creator, Vince Staples, Mac Miller and others like them were just bubbling beneath the surface of the mainstream. Stylistically, this new crop of underground artists is more diverse than ever before, boasting incredible new talents in all categories including alternative hip hop, conscious rap, modern R&B, and any other genre you can think of. So, without further ado, let’s get into my list of top underground artists who deserve your attention in 2023.

  1. NCognita (@ncgonita on Instagram)

NCognita is one of the strongest pure emcees coming out of the underground right now, and she is poised to make 2023 her biggest year yet. Now 21 years old, Nita was born and raised in the Compton neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. After releasing “Hallucinogen” and “Clap Clap” as singles in 2020 while attending school in New Orleans, Nita went on to sign a record deal with Atlantic Records, becoming the newest powerhouse in their arsenal of hip hop heavy-hitters. Soon after, Nita released a 7 track EP entitled The Playbook in April of 2022, her first ever multi-track project, which included popular tracks like “Gangsta Lean” and “2x Freestyle.” Throughout the project Nita covers all her bases and gives us some insight into who she is as a person and also an artist, with some tracks detailing her own personal human experiences, while others focus on hard-hitting bars over classic, bouncy West Coast production. Regardless of the lyrical content, every track is delivered with a confidence and poise which belies her age and status as a new artist in the game. Since the release of this EP, Nita has landed freestyles with radio shows such as Apple Music’s Fire in the Booth with Charlie Sloth, Bars on I-95, and On the Radar Radio, all of which she bodied with ease and determination. Nita also managed to land a cameo and multiple soundtrack placements on the HBO hit show “Rap Sh!t” with “Clap Clap” and her new single “PMTWGR”. With that kind of quality and consistency, and with 2023 just beginning, I think we can expect to see some huge releases from NCognita coming soon, including a potential debut album on the horizon. Regardless, you better keep your eye on Nita. 

  1. Benji. (@avatarbenji on Instagram)

Up next on my list is the one and only Benji. Benji., who was born and raised in Pittsburgh but is currently based in Atlanta, is probably most well known for his work with Spillage Village, the popular ATL hip hop collective which is home to some of Dreamville’s strongest artists including J.I.D. and Earthgang, as well as Atlanta’s own prince of R&B, 6lack. His sound, which is often extremely positive and uplifting, is highly influenced by gospel music as a result of his upbringing in his childhood church’s choir. Over the past few years, Benji. has been working to cultivate his own solo career as both a singer and a rapper, hoping to break through as a stand-alone star amongst his Dreamville peers. While he himself isn’t signed exclusively to Cole’s label, instead choosing to stand with Universal’s indie label SinceThe80s, Benji. has worked with Dreamville-signed and adjacent artists on a multitude of projects, including SpillVill’s 2020 album Spilligion, their joint album Smile, You’re Alive! and his own hit single “Jorja”, which was his only release of 2022. He also showcased his skills as a live performer and instrumentalist (Benji. can really slap a bass) this past year as he joined Earthgang on their international tour. However, despite being relatively quiet as of late in terms of releases, it is no secret to his fans that Benji. has been working on his debut solo album for quite some time now, and many believe 2023 will be the year that listeners finally get to hear a project all his own. All I know is, you won’t want to miss it when it finally drops.

  1. Wakai (@wakai007 on Instagram)

Coming in at number 3 on the list, and a personal favorite of mine, is Baton Rouge’s own Wakai. As a completely independent artist with no major label assistance, this year alone Wakai has already released 2 full length albums to critical acclaim. He started the year off strong in March with his debut album To a Dark Boy, which boasts alternative, neo-soul influenced production and an incredible feature from the one and only Mick Jenkins. He then quickly followed it up in December with Travel Team, Vol. 3, the latest installment in his album series produced by knxwledge-inspired Baton Rouge beatsmith wavworld. Wakai’s style is nothing if not unique, with each flow following a lilting, captivating cadence reminiscent of Andre 3000, but simultaneously all his own. Influenced by his surroundings, Wakai’s entire style pays homage to his Baton Rouge roots and his love of both southern hip hop and neo-soul, citing artists like Outkast, Erykah Badu, and Earth, Wind and Fire as inspiration. He is also a large part of the BR-based hip hop collective Col-Der-Sac, which is home to many other extremely talented artists, some of whom you might see on Part 2 of this list. At this point, Wakai has done live freestyles for radio shows such as On the Radar, been featured in blog posts by outlets such as Lyrical Lemonade and Pitchfork, and amassed hundreds of thousands of streams on Spotify, solidifying himself as one of the most important hip hop artists in the underground scene today. If you haven’t heard of Wakai yet, you won’t be able to escape him much longer. 

  1. Jireh (@jirehpc on Instagram)

At number four on the list, we have yet another highly talented, refreshingly unique Louisiana-based artist, Baton Rouge born-and-raised rapper Jireh. Jireh is the latest underground hip hop artist to negotiate a deal with Jay-Z’s independent distribution company Equity Records, and it’s clear to see that he deserves it after getting a taste of his distinctive style and prolific discography. Jireh cites Isaiah Rashad and Earl Sweatshirt as two of his main influences, embracing the unorthodox styles of both rappers and utilizing their best qualities to help perfect his own laid back flows and cadences which, combined with his passionate, wordplay heavy lyrics and melodic, lo-fi production, evoke a sense of nostalgia as well as an undeniable need to bob your head along to his tracks. Jireh’s consistency speaks for itself; the rapper has released some kind of project every year for the last three years, including his 2021 LP Play to Win and his most recent endeavor, the 5 track EP Quit Playin’ from this past year, which he himself fully produced. Quit Playin’ is an impressive declaration of Jireh’s arrival in the rap game as an artist who refuses to have his talent and work ethic ignored. Also worth mentioning is the fact that in 2021, Jireh managed to land a feature from YGTUT, one of the most talented up-and-coming emcees in the South, and also one of Isaiah Rashad’s frequent collaborators. With each project, whether it be a single, an EP, or a full length LP, Jireh has shown immense growth in both his maturity and artistic craftsmanship; in other words, he just gets better and better. I think it’s safe to say that we can expect big things in the near future from the Baton-Rouge based emcee/producer.

  1. Jourden (@shesjustdifferent on Instagram)

Brooklyn-based emcee Jourden Cox, known simply as Jourden, is number 5 on my list for a multitude of reasons. In 2020 during the pandemic, after having released only two singles prior, out of the blue Jourden released one of the most unique hip hop EPs of the last 3 years, entitled It Only Took the End of the World. The six track project, which she released entirely independently, showcases her undeniably impressive arsenal of musical skills including her raw lyrical ability, control of cadence, understanding of wordplay, ability to be introspective, and impeccable beat selection. Stylistically, Jourden’s flow is reminiscent of both Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu, and the comparisons to these legendary artists don’t stop there. Throughout the debut EP, Jourden uses wordplay and descriptive language in her bars to address prevalent issues in today’s society such as poverty, racism, and more, all while keeping listeners captivated by her intricate flow patterns and skilled deliveries. In addition to Lauryn and Erykah, she cites historically great New York hip hop artists such as Biggie Smalls and A Tribe Called Quest as important influences to her sound. In 2021 after her EP’s release, her prowess as an emcee caught the attention of some big names in the music industry, most notably landing her recording sessions with frequent Griselda collaborator and producer Daringer. Since her EP, Jourden has not released any music to major streaming platforms, instead opting to release two singles entitled “Bubble Guts” and “GTFU” on YouTube this past year, each with their own music video. With this in mind, it seems as though Jourden is due for a project release in 2023, and I for one will be waiting with baited breath.

 

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