Who’s Next Class of 2022:
GloRilla set THE TONE for going viral to superstardom. The Memphis rapper had the internet/streets on fire with “FNF,” which got her signed to Yo Gotti’s CMG. She released a collaboration with Cardi B. On “Tomorrow 2,” and is featured on Ciara’s “Better Things.” GloRilla was nominated for her first Grammy, performed at the AMA’s and BET Hip Hop Awards, where she won the Best Breakthrough Artist award.
Coi Leray dropped a playlist worth of hits, like “Twinnen,” “Blick Blick” ft. Nicki Minaj, “Big Purr” ft. Pooh Shiesty, and her latest banger, “Players.” Our girl D.J. Saige the Heavy Hitter, remixed “Players,” and it’s gaining worldwide attention. The Boston, Massachusetts rapper, who was raised in Hackensack, NJ, is showing the universe she’s putting in the work! Coi Leray performed at our legendary Who’s Next concert in 2019, and we love to see her evolution.
Doechii is the hottest artist from Tampa, Florida, setting the world on fire! During her breakout year, she became Top Dawg Entertainment‘s first female rapper and got signed to Capitol Records. Doechii performed at the BET Awards + earned an MTV Music Video Award nomination for Push Performance of the Year.
Brooklyn rap duo the Girll Codee, which consists of ShaaBiggaa and Hiii Siddity is a rare team. Their unique back-and-forth rap style, paired with their bomb lyrics, shows, bars, still matters. They’re signed to 300 Entertainment, dropped their debut self-titled E.P., and performed at our Summer Jam concert for Festival Village.
It’s been a successful year for Bronx lyricist Connie Diiamond. She got signed to Def Jam Recordings. The Queen of Drill stopped by Ladies Night on Hot 97 and said there’s more to her than that genre, so be on the lookout in 2023. She’s featured on The Heavy Hitter DJ Mike Medium’s new show, The Midway.
Young Devyn is one to keep your eyes on. With cosigns from Cardi B., and Meek Mill, Devyn’s pen game is rare, raw, and real, with various tunes from rap, drill, melodic, and soca. She doesn’t curse or sell sex in her rhymes and has a “Bod Gal” movement, empowering women. She’s signed to 4th and Broadway and headlined our Who’s Next showcase.
New Orlean’s Grammy-winning Ambré is a breath of fresh air in the R&B space. Roc Nation’s newly signed artist delivers a unique sound, mixing jazz with melodic trap music. Her latest E.P., 3000, which pays homage to Lil Wayne and Juvenile, shows a more personal/vulnerable side of her.
Bed-Stuy Brooklyn’s Lola Brooke has the whole world screaming “Don’t Play With It.” The single received cosigns by Funk Flex, Meek Mill, JT, Cardi B, Saucy Santana, H.E.R, and even Kim Kardashian. Lola Brooke is coming, and she’s just getting started!
Billy B is putting in that work, one step at a time. She’s featured on Lola Brooke’s “Don’t Play With It,” and they performed the smash hit at Rolling Loud NY. She also has collaborations with Sha EK, Fergie Baby, and our own Funk Flex has been spinning an exclusive track, only heard on Hot 97.
Coco Jones is a true star, landing a role on Peacock’s Bel-Air, plus putting life back into R&B music. The South Carolina artist signed with Def Jam and is genuinely an I.T. girl.
Hustler of the year: K Goddess. There’s no denying that B.K.’s K. Goddess is consistently putting in the work. She won out Hot 97 Who’s Next contest and performed on Festival Village.
Armani White laid the blueprint for going from Tik Tok famous to global status. His formula is simple, make “happy hood music.” Armani’s viral hit “Billie Eilish,” landed him on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The Philadelphia native scored a record deal with Def Jam, performed at the MTV EMA, and brought out NORE during the BET Hip Hop awards. Armani headlined our Who’s Next showcase and debuted his new single “Goated.”
The U.K. music scene is gaining more U.S. mainstream attention. London rapper Central Cee dropped one of the biggest songs, with “Doja,” first releasing it on Tik Tok, then it made its way to radio and other digital spaces. He made history, becoming the first U.K. rapper to hit one billion streams in one year. His other tracks, like “Let Go,” and “One Up,” are also heating up the streets.
Drill is taking over and Sha EK is part of the wave! During a private industry dinner, the 19-year-old Bronx rapper said, “I just wanted to show n*ggas that I didn’t have to diss nobody. I’m an artist. I can really rap and that’s all you are going to hear [on the new project RETURN OF THE JIGGY] is real music.”
Dougie B is having an exciting year. He was featured on fellow Bronx rapper, Kay Flock’s “Shake It,” which also features Cardi B. And Bory300. DJ Drewski made history at Summer Jam, bringing Cardi B out to perform the song during Festival Village.
Philly’s 2Rare had a lot to say this year with hot singles like “Dump It Dummy, “Lil Mama,” and his viral hit, “Q-Pid” ft. Lil Durk. He’s signed to American record executive Mel Carter, who has a joint venture deal with Warner Records. 2Rare is one of Mel’s first artists signed to his Second Estate Records.
Hailing from Newark, Warner’s signee, Bandmandrill is putting Jersey club music on the map. “I really feel like I bought Jersey club to the whole world, I was the first one that had that Tiktok sh*t. With TikTok, you could blow anything up. Now all you see on TikTok is club music,” he says.
Asake is one of the biggest Afro Beat artist of this year. He’s been making noise underground, but rose to fame this year with his Burna Boy assisted track, plus music with Russ, Fireboy DML, SPINAL, Fridayy, and more.
If you think R&B is “dead,” Jinell will make you have a change of heart. The NJ artist makes a name for himself, delivering fun but soulful music. His singles, “What You Like,” ft. Miles, “Title,” and “Set It Off” show off his incredible vocal capability and diversity in sound.
Hustler of the year: Arin Ray – It’s a bad idea to sleep on him. The Cincinnati, Ohio singer, signed to Interscope records, showed the world you could take a break from music and return stronger. On his project Hello Poison, he shows off his falsetto capabilities while singing about complicated/toxic love situations that we can all relate to.