Age is simply a number, as is the case with many singers and musicians since some of the finest rappers of the present are well into their 20s. The top rappers are getting many fans, regardless of whether they’ve recently dropped a hot new mixtape, started on SoundCloud, or have been active for a few years.
In addition, despite their youth, they are touring the globe and making CDs. Whatever the critics may say about hip-hop music, these young rappers have all established themselves as household names in some fashion. Below are 10 Popular Young Rappers in their 20s.
42 Dugg, 28
.@moneybaggyo "See Wat I'm Sayin"👁 video out NOW❗️#CMG 🔥🎥🔥https://t.co/Uqz9jyvmc9 pic.twitter.com/H4J63VAAX7
— 42Dugg (@42_Dugg) May 27, 2022
This year, a quiet, tense whistle has emerged as one of rap’s most thrilling noises. Sometimes it’s said in a pleasant, lighthearted manner. Sometimes it’s threatening. In either case, it suggests that a memorable verse is coming soon. 42 Dugg doesn’t recall the precise moment he started whistling at the start of his songs, but the practice has since evolved into a signature move for the musician.
It is the first sound you hear on both of his massive songs with Lil Baby, “We Paid” and “Grace,” and it is present throughout all of his subsequent collaborations with musicians like Meek Mill (“GTA”) and Marshmello (“Baggin'”).
42 Dugg is known for his distinctively swaggering delivery and doesn’t sound like anyone else in mainstream rap. His drawl immediately identifies him whenever he appears on a song, even without the whistle. We’re still learning about the young Detroit artist’s background on albums like “Young & Turnt 2,” but it’s obvious he’s already discovered his distinctive musical niche in modern rap.
He’s already receiving accolades from musicians like Tyler, the Creator, who dubbed “We Paid” “the foundation of rap music, making him the most developed rookie of 2020. And after his breakout year, we expected him to only build on that momentum in 2021.
Denzel Curry, 28
Denzel Curry never ceases to amaze me. He was one of the few musicians that started the SoundCloud rap trend and survived its ups and downs, evolving into a rapper with genuine staying power and a wide range of musical influences. He collaborated with the equally versatile producer Kenny Beats this year on the eight-song “UNLOCKED” album.
The project, which resulted from a brief 3-day recording session, allowed Denzel to experiment with new musical directions while drawing influence from classic East Coast rappers like DMX and Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
All of Denzel’s raps on the album are delivered immediately, keeping you on the edge of your seat. They are all high-energy and combative without getting out of hand. It’s hard to know where he’ll take you in advance, but the voyage is always replete with witty allusions and subtly profound truths.
Megan Thee Stallion, 28
Megan Thee Stallion experienced a whirlwind of a year in 2020. She has been embroiled in several scandals that have made headlines in her personal life, including a legal dispute with her record company and a terrifying shooting. Still, she hasn’t allowed any of this to hinder her work. Megan’s upbeat attitude in the face of bad news has much to do with why she has gained so much popularity rapidly, but the girl can rap, too.
Listen to her freestyles, please. Megan blasts through beats in songs that are typically less than two minutes long, asserting herself as one of the best rappers (male or female) working today. She released her EP, “Suga,” toward the end of January.
The project isn’t likely to rank among Megan’s best works, but she shines at writing self-assured, sex-positive songs. Not to be overlooked, Megan appears on two of the most extensive records of the year. Beyoncé, another hottie from Houston, appeared on the remix of “Savage,” which she used to take over TikTok. Few rappers can say that, thus early in their careers, they secured a Beyoncé feature.
She then made a special appearance on “WAP,” where she contributed two sassy verses that showcased her sex appeal and ease of control. She successfully finished the year with the release of her eagerly anticipated debut studio album, “Good News.” Despite all the commotion, Megan ensured that her year’s defining narrative was the caliber of her music.
Joey Badass, 28
Sometimes it helps to remember that Joey Badass is only 25 years old. The New York rapper considered the city’s greatest rap hope, has reportedly had three careers since debuting in 1999 in 2012. He was 17 years old and euphoric with the success of his “Pro Era” career.
His early excitement began to fade as Joey attempted to strike a compromise between his artistic goals and the needs of his label in terms of sales. But it’s simple to overlook that he released his most recent album, “All-Amerikkkan Bada$$,” in 2017.
It speaks to Joey’s impact that he can remain relatively quiet for three years and still be one of the most well-liked rappers in the five boroughs. Still, he did return earlier this year with a powerful three-song EP titled “The Light Pack,” featuring standouts like “The Light” and the Pusha-T-assisted “No Explanation.”
Lil Baby, 28
Little Baby has been incredibly reliable amid a notoriously erratic year. After releasing one of the year’s best rap albums in February (My Turn), he has continually exerted pressure without being obnoxious. He released a deluxe version of the album three months after he first released it, and, I can’t believe I’m saying this, it managed to make the record better rather than worse.
Lil Baby’s deluxe release included a half-dozen additional tracks that were arguably even better than their predecessors (including two of the very best songs of the year, “My Turn” and the 42 Dugg-assisted “We Paid”) during a year in which countless rappers released bloated deluxe albums full of dull songs to pad streaming numbers. And what’s scarier is that he improves even more as the year progresses.
After George Floyd and numerous other Black people were killed by the police a month later, he produced “The Larger Picture,” the most powerful protest song of the year, which detailed his encounters with racism.
Cordae, 26
Waiting until August to enter the scene and release “Gifted” with Roddy Ricch, which quickly amassed millions of streams, Cordae has had a relatively quiet 2020. The fact that it was released the day after Cordae turned 23 is a simple reminder that the MC has already achieved more success than most of us would ever experience.
Since “The Lost Boy,” Cordae has played his cards wisely, remaining largely unassuming but still letting slip the occasional reminders that he’s one of the best young MCs in the game.
Waiting until August to enter the scene and release “Gifted” with Roddy Ricch, which quickly amassed millions of streams, Cordae has had a relatively quiet 2020. The fact that it was released the day after Cordae turned 23 is a simple reminder that the MC has already achieved more success than most of us would ever experience.
Roddy Ricch, 25
Roddy Ricch utterly dominated the first quarter of 2020. Roddy dominated the charts after releasing his outstanding debut album, “Please Forgive Me for Being Antisocial,” in early December. PEMFBA topped the Billboard 200 for a total of four weeks. The song “The Box,” which spent eleven weeks at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, was named the most-heard song of the year’s first half.
Yet this was not an instance of a bland, radio-friendly performer turning hot and cold. Roddy didn’t need to rely on gimmicky advertising or a too-simple voice. He chose to instead concentrate on a winning formula of catchy melodies and illuminating storytelling as he wrote songs on his experiences growing up in Compton, as described in a December 2019 interview with Complex. Although he is the most understated new superstar in rap, his music is more than capable of speaking for itself.
YoungBoy Never Broke Again, 24
The work ethic of YoungBoy Never Broke Again is unrivaled. He is inspired by equally prolific veterans like Lil Wayne and Gucci Mane in his passion and capacity to release several highly successful projects each year. In this list, he constantly publishes more albums than anyone else. He released four astounding solo projects—two of which topped the Billboard 200—and two joint ventures in 2020 alone. A complex YoungBoy was unveiled in 38 Baby 2, which came out in April: a young adult yearning for love and connection and a wildcard destined to cause havoc.
He then questioned his allies and foes while using Top, which slanted toward his violent impulses. He also discussed his trauma and how it affected his mental health. You can’t dispute that YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s kind of street music is reaching the general public in a manner that no other artist in his generation has been able to. It might not be on everyone’s weekend playlists, though. He deserves all the praise for it.
Polo G, 24
Less than a year separated Polo G’s first two albums, “Die a Legend” and “The GOAT,” which introduced the world to his colorful, dismal storytelling. Martin & Gina” is a love-laced tribute to Polo G’s lover and features Lil Tjay as his debut hit.
Lyrics like “We from the trenches, we got onto the finer things/Now you went from H&M to a designer fanatic” show his evolution. Even if The GOAT is more upbeat, G continues to sell sad rap, as seen on the song “Epidemic” from September of this year, which laments dearly departed friends and those in his path who will meet the same death.
Baby Keem, 23
“ ORANGE SODA “ out nowhttps://t.co/jCfIVZutkz pic.twitter.com/j2YZpXnJSZ
— baby keem (@babykeem) November 13, 2019
Baby Keem should be the center of attention right now. The 20-year-old rapper became a sensation with his breakthrough album Die For My Bitch last year, and ever since then, he has been creating buzz and anticipation. Keem released two new tracks in March, “Hooligan” and “Sons & critics freestyle,” following his appearance as the star of the Kendrick Lamar-backed PgLang visual mission statement that served as a prelude to his season.
Both songs demonstrate his strengths. In which Keem substitutes his abstract chanting for a conventional melodic chorus, Hooligan is an anthem for rebellious souls. “Sons & Critics Freestyle” and “Hooligan” are unusual records with rapid flows and distinctive high-pitched yelps. Baby Keem, who only has a limited body of work to his name, has yet to rise to the Top of his age group, but at only 20, he’s off to an incredible start. Keem is only getting started, but the promise he has already displayed has led to this year’s industry excitement.
References
- Jessica McKinney, Eric Skelton, Will Chube, The 20 Best Rappers in Their 20s This Year (2020), retrieved from https://www.complex.com/music/best-rappers-in-their-20s-2020
- Web Post, Who Is the Best Rapper Under 25 Right Now?, retrieved from https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-rappers-under-25/ranker-music
- Web Post, The Best Young Rappers And New School Rappers, retrieved from https://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-young-rappers/ranker-hip-hop