Hip hop and rap are having a strong resurgence in 2018. Of course, both genres have always been big and always been loved - but the unmatched profile of artists like Kendrick Lamar and Cardi B and groups like Brockhampton have showed us that rap is continuing to innovate and there's no signs of that stopping.
But even your Kendricks and your Cardis started somewhere. So let's shine a light on some of the artists on the come-up, both overseas and right here in Australia.
Hobo Johnson
Hobo Johnson brings a whole different style to the rap game, splicing emo-esque big gang vocals from his band in with slam poetry and quick-fire verses. It's super fresh, super positive and we're so, so keen to see the dude visit Australia this New Year's.
read more: why hobo johnson should be your next favourite artist
Joyner Lucas
Massachusetts rapper Joyner Lucas first caught people's attention with the viral song, I'm Not Racist, a politically-charged track taken from two perspectives - a white man and a black man discussing race relations. But since then, Joyner's worked with Chris Brown on a collaboration album and just weeks ago, dropped a song with one of his idols Eminem on the rap legend's new album Kamikaze.
Jesswar
Brisbane-based Jesswar is another rapper who's flying the flag for savage lyricism and deliberate flow and her song Savage is one of the best examples of this. Aggressive but empowering, Jesswar's performed with Tkay Maidza, supported Flo Rida and is soon supporting Thundamentals on tour this November.
Dylan Joel
We're just starting to hear new tunes from Dylan Joel for the first time since 2015's debut album Authentic Lemonade - this week he dropped the rumbling track Done Witchu, as well as a bigger, more polished song called Hollering Love. He's got a fresh sound, renewed focus and he's also hitting the road with teen sensation Ruel through half of October around the country.
Bryce Vine
It was hard to escape the 30-year-old New Yorker's hugely successful song, Drew Barrymore, which has scored him 80 million streams and counting. Inspired by the sounds of Third Eye Blind and blink-182 growing up, Bryce's tunes are influenced by the alt-rock stylings of his youth - he was even in a punk band while he was at college at the famous Berklee College Of Music! We're waiting for a debut album from Bryce at the moment and we can't wait.
Kwame
Kwame's song WOW made everyone who heard it say just that - the Western Sydney-based rapper had such a fresh sound and some amazing production on that track. His star's been rising ever since with a new EP called Endless Conversations, support slots with Tkay Maidza and Skepta and just last week, an explosive new song with a group called Savour The Rations, featuring local rappers Domba, Raj Mahal and Gibrillah. Expect really big things from the freshly 21-year-old rapper - he's already getting stages absolutely heaving.
Pardison Fontaine
A long-time friend and collaborator of Cardi B, Pardison just dropped a new song with Cardi called Backin' It Up and it shows off not only what Pardi's packing but also one of Cardi's best verses. He's cited as one of the songwriters of Bodak Yellow and now that he's starting to shine, we're super excited for what's to come from him.
