2022 has been a stellar year for hip-hop fans. The genre is once again reaching new heights with new artists continuing to emerge from all over the world. There is no question that hip-hop has no shortage of rappers and singers. However, some will always stand out from the rest. Here are the ten rising hip-hop stars of 2022!
1. Jack Harlow
Jack Harlow is the epitome of the term “TikTok famous,” but don’t be fooled by his sudden popularity because he is actually an incredibly talented rapper. The Kentucky-born rapper took over the Internet with his debut single, “What’s Poppin’.” The song became a colossal hit, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning six-time platinum status in the U.S.. After the success of his breakout single and debut album, That’s What They All Say, Jack Harlow followed it up with the massive single, “First Class,” which topped the Billboard Hit 100 and entered the charts in 37 countries.
2. Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X is responsible for the record-breaking single, “Old Town Road.” The song, performed with country music star Billy Ray Cyrus, took the number 1 spot in the Billboard Hot 100 for nineteen consecutive weeks. The Grammy-nominated single earned a diamond status for selling over ten million units in the U.S. After “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X continued to release megahits, such as “Industry Baby” featuring Jack Harlow and “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).”
3. Mark Tuan
Mark Tuan from boyband Got7 is more than just your regular Kpop idol. As the group’s main rapper, he actually got some mad skills and excellent bars that are up to par with most formidable Western hip-hop artists. Mark, who already has a solid fan base with Got7, recently released his debut solo album, The Otherside. His singles have also been amassing millions of streams online. We bet that there’s more to come from this Los Angeles rapper, and we’re here for it!
4. Latto
Alyssa Michelle Stephens, famously known as Latto, first gained prominence when she appeared in the reality TV series, The Rap Game as Miss Mulatto. Her singles “Bitch from da Souf” and “ Muwop,” performed with Gucci Mane, were both certified platinum in the U.S. Latto, who debuted in 2016, has earned numerous accolades since her debut. In 2021, she won a BET Award for Best New Artist followed by four MTV Video Music Awards nominations in 2022.
5. Yung Gravy
Yung Gravy took over North America this summer with BBno$ for the massive Baby Gravy Tour. Emerging in 2016, Yung Gravy was one of those artists who gained traction on Soundcloud and even earned platinum status for his breakout single, “Mr. Clean.” In 2022, Yung Gravy released his first Billboard Hot 100 charting hit, “Betty (Get Money).”
6. BBno$
Canadian Rapper, BBno$, has been around since 2105. His music started gaining recognition in 2019 when he performed and released “Lalala” with Y2K. The song was reported to have reached over 800 million plays on the music streaming platform Spotify. The following year, BBno$ received a nomination for the Fan Choice Award and Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the Juno Awards.
7. Suicideboys
Hip-hop duo Suicideboys, stylized as $uicideboy$, is another product of Soundcloud fame. Members Ruby da Cherry and $crim started uploading their self-produced tracks on the music-sharing platform. Suicideboys soon started their own label, G*59 Records, and became one of the top underground hip-hop artists.
8. Kid Laroi
Kid Laroi released one of the biggest hits of 2022, titled “Stay.” The song, featuring Justin Bieber, peaked at number 1 for seven non-consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. The song won several Billboard Music Awards, ARIA Music Awards, and APRA Music Awards. “Stay” was regarded as the song of the summer and became a colossal hit all over the world and topped the charts in over 20 countries.
9. Lil Darkie
Lil Darkie has been making waves since its debut due to its controversial nature. The rapper masquerades as a cartoon character, reminiscent of an eerie mascot of Darlie Toothpaste, created by a Chinese company. Lil Darkie is the namesake of visual and recording artist Joshua Hamilton. Lil Darkie has released numerous viral hits, such as “I Can See Clearly,” “GENOCIDE,” “Banana Pie,” and “HOLOCAUST.” In 2020, the animated hip-hop artist has been reported to have grown from 40,000-month listeners to one million listeners on Spotify in less than a year.
10. Flo Milli
Female rap wunderkind Flo Milli dominated the airwaves with her hits, “Beef FloMix” and “In The Party.” Both songs went viral on TikTok, eventually earning gold certifications. Her 2020 mixtape, Ho, Why is You Here? was included in Rolling Stone’s 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time. Moreover, the album also helped her secure a nomination for Best New Artst at the 2020 BET Hip-Hop Awards.