Complex released their best rapper’s in their 20’s. It sucked so here is who I would add
The Kid LAROI
Age: 21
We might be starting off with a controversial first pick but I will always stand by the notion that I believe the Kid LAROI is a rapper at heart and no amount of pop records could change that for me.
At just 21 years of age he has already eclipsed over 3 billion streams on the song “Stay” Ft. Justin Bieber, is a top 100 artist on Spotify, and has constantly pushed the boundaries of his sound more than anyone I have heard from recently.
He has just released an album titled “The First Time” and he really dives deep into his bag creating this druggy, psychedelic sound while also curating captivating lyrics that listeners can resonate with. Laroi has a unique ability to make his music line up with the social trends of the current time. Everytime he releases a record you can almost guarantee it will be the source of the next viral video.
In the past couple years he has shown that he belongs in this industry and you can really see that from the quality of his work. He has been able to transform himself into this Hip-Hop star that very few could see coming from the beginning. With that being said I believe he deserves a spot on the list.
Joey Bada$$
Age: 29
I can understand how maybe the Kid LAROI flew past some radars, but the fact that Joey fucking Badass was left off this list really does not sit right with me in the slightest. This man has been at the top of Hip-Hop since he was a teenager and none of those sorry writers at Complex could find it in their gutless souls to add him to this list? Absolutely disgraceful and you need to be checked out. It is hard to even have to find a way to justify this because his whole career has done nothing but show why he should be on every list that exists in the Hip-Hop category.
In 2012 he dropped the album “1999” instantly becoming a classic for all Hip-Hop lovers. Some of these songs are timeless and the fact that this was one of the last times we heard from Capital Steez makes it that much more enjoyable.
A big argument in the rankings that Complex gave was how recently the artist has released any music or has made a hit. That was something they made very clear at the beginning but clearly did not live up too because they proceeded to add Chief Keef to the list. Don’t get me wrong, he deserves to be there in every aspect (don’t hurt me) but don’t bring up time lines and how recent projects are if he is getting added to this list.
Joey Badass has not only made himself a household name from a young age but he has also kept it up by releasing countless hit songs and many different projects. He has not slowed down at all and everything he releases is still loved by fans. If there is only one person that I would endorse to be added to this list more than the rest it would be Joey Badass.
Denzel Curry
Age: 29
I will be the first to tell you that I very much respect the trajectory of Denzel Curry’s career and what it took for him to get to the position he is in today. From getting written off as a one hit wonder early in his career with his breakout single “Ultimate” to making himself a staple of the industry by releasing multiple albums with many co signs from legendary artists such as Outkast. Denzel has found a way to pave his own lane and he will be the first to tell you all about it.
Denzel has been in the industry for seemingly so long it is easy to forget how young he is. He has been able to creativity make his sound something other artists yearn for. The whole process from the lyrics to the music video is crafted perfectly and every detail is thought out.
Not only does he push creative boundaries but he is very consistent. He seemingly never takes a break and continues to try and find new sounds every time he steps in the studio. I like to think of him as Lil Yachty before Lil Yachty. Everyone likes to say how Yachty is pushing boundaries musically and always trying new things but Denzel has been finding a new sound every time he makes a new record.
I think the kind of talent you find in Curry is not one that comes along too often. He does not listen to critics or haters, he puts his head down and gets to work creating things that he knows him and his true fans will enjoy. I have seen this man dominate the game for years and in my opinion he has every right to be added to this list.
NLE Choppa
Age: 21
To be perfectly honest this took me some convincing. I initially saw a tweet about how NLE Choppa was snubbed from this list and I didnt necessarily agree right away. I knew he made decent music but he always felt like he was making music more for social media than the actual art of music itself.
As I took a deeper dive I realized that his man has been a key part of Hip-Hop the past couple years and he definitely deserves a spot on this list. NLE Choppa found out very early on how he can get people to like his music, make them like you first. He began to market himself incredibly well, making social posts and creating trends with his music, he was relating with the people who consumed his content. He was able to do this based on his young age and liveliness. He is the same age as all the people watching and listening to his content, he realized that the content he makes is also the content he enjoys and from that moment on it took off.
You still can not open a social app without hearing an NLE Choppa song or seeing his face on your screen. He completely shifted from that fake gangster rapper persona and realized that people enjoyed the funny vibrant nature of who he actually was as a person.
From the music to the marketing, NLE Choppa found his lane and went full throttle on the gas pedal. He has done great things in the Hip-Hop space and has been doing things to expand him as an artist for years. You may not like the music but you have to admit that the guy knows how to make himself into a successful business and for that reason I would add him to the list.
LUCKI
Age: 28
If one of these picks I have on this list was to be deemed controversial I would have to say that it would be LUCKI and I very much understand why but please hear me out. You can not have listened to any Hip-Hop or even call yourself a fan if you have not heard of LUCKI this past year. It seems like he has been everywhere but also seems like he came out of no where which instantly grabbed my attention.
As a big fan of Detroit rap I know that the influence is more than prevalent but he is single handedly changing the rap game right in front of our eyes. His cult following is something that Hip-Hop has been missing for some time and he knows exactly how to market himself to be well known and mysterious at the same time.
One aspect I love about LUCKI is his range and influence he has in his music. No song sounds the same and you can always hear influence from other generations, artists, and songs. The mystery of who LUCKI is makes his influence on the Hip-Hop community that much more powerful.
The more I listen the more I find myself falling deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole on who this man actually is. If I had to add one “underground” artist to the list LUCKI would take that spot every time. He is coming in like a wrecking ball while turing all heads in the room and that is why I believe he should be added to this list.
