10 Artists That Deserve More Attention Than Taylor

MD
MD
Aug 25, 2017 · 9 min read
  1. Cupcakke:
  1. Her birth name is Elizabeth Eden Harris, but I will always refer her to Cupcakke. Even though this list isn’t in any type of order as most favorite first, I gotta say that Cupcakke is life changing. The first song of hers that I heard was Deepthroat. This song went viral overnight and everyone can agree the hypersexualized lyrics were comical, but relatable to anyone who is a thirsty hoe deep inside. She released music late 2012 on her YouTube channel and now she has a song with Charlie XCX called “Lipgloss”. She was raised by her single mother and they spent four years in Chicago homeless shelter. She got an early start in music and poetry at the age of 10 with involvement in her local church. Now she makes rap music with lyrics talking about sucking dick, commentating on sexual assualt, showing support of the LGBT community, and condemning racists cops. Cupcakke might have dirty tweets and music, but she is worth the listen. Her album Queen Elizabeth is available now. My Favorite Track of Hers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRt-ygEuOe8
  2. Brockhampton:
  1. This collective with leadman Kevin Abstract already has two albums out.They self released their first mixtape All American Trash in 2016. Their first album Saturation was released three months ago. They recently released a new album August 24 called Saturation II. After giving this new album a listen, BROCKHAMPTON is a new group that deserves your coins. It was started by two high school friends under the name of ALIVESINCEFOREVER. The band disbanded in 2014 and rebanded as BROCKHAMPTON. The lyrics have a refreshing flow and the new album is worth a full listen through. Making music about being a gay rapper and perfecting having light R&B music to go with their honest flow is destined to make them a new template for boy bands in the Year of Our Lord 2017. Don’t forget to check out their show American Boyband on Viceland. My Favorite Track of Theirs: https://tidal.com/track/77708131
  2. Dua Lipa:
  1. Her music career began at 14, but I watched her “New Rules” music video just last month. I hate it when I just discover an artist like years after they’ve released music. But you need to grow before other people are put on your music. And now with over 100 million views, Dua Lipa has been on the rise to be the new pop singer in the US. Matching the song styles of Little Mix, Dua Lipa’s song “New Rules” is her going through a checklist of why she shouldn’t pick up the phone on a guy she’s still hung up. The music video shows a diverse representation of young women in different pastel outfits that match the beautiful hotel the video is being show in. When you listen to her sing the track acoustically, you can’t help but wonder why it took so long for you to discover the natural talent. And I am absolutely ready to let Dua Lipa happen. My Favorite Track of Hers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2vBLd5Egnk
  2. Superfruit:
  1. Starting out in the popular acapella group Pentatonix, Scott Hoying and Mitch Grassing of PTX have released a new EP called Future Friends under the name of their group YouTube channel. Scott and Mitch had their own seperate comedy YouTube channel while in Pentatonix. Upon arrival, you can see this channel consists of artist medleys and collabs with your favorite YouTubers. They are still Pentatonix, but now they have joined forces as a new power pop duo to release a two part EP. Part 1 is out now and Part 2 is available September 15. They released their single Bad 4 Us on YouTuber with a cute music video about two princes going to rescue their princesses, but the princesses fall in love with each other at the end. Their new EP is a 7 track electro-funk masterpiece with back to back summer anthems, such as Imaginary Parties, Bad 4 Us, and Heartthrob to name a few of my favorites. Don’t forget to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/sup3rfruit . My Favorite Track of Theirs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8N5X-2xAbg
  2. SZA:
  1. Solana Imani Rowe self released her first mixtape See.SZA.Run. Her debut studio album was released this year and it has been on repeat on my Tidal stream for months now. Her beautiful voice is unlike any popular singer in the mainstream. Ctrl is an album that focuses on relationships with guys who are unreliable, but you can’t seem to let go of. Many songs have had men in their feelings, like Weekend, Love Galore, and Supermodel. Her music really talks about guys who want to sleep around, but don’t see the purpose of women doing the same. Her album really looks into the emotional complexities of being the other woman. It goes from the sexual part of it in Love Galore and then the loneliness of it all in The Weekend. SZA remains completely unbothered and continues to glow in every musical performance she is giving this year. She has been doing amazing from having Drew Barrymore having a cameo in her music video for her song Drew Barrymore to performing her hottest track Love Galore on Jimmy Fallon. Her fresh neo soul sound has got me ready for any new music she will be releasing maybe next year. My Favorite Track of Hers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp45V_M4Akw
  2. Cardi B:
  1. I have to say first of all that I love Cardi B. Going from Love and Hip Hop to being a flouring rapper right in front of my very eyes, I know that I’m not the only one who is proud of the come up. All of her raps talk about how amazing her life is now and how she doesn’t care about those who doubt her. Everyone you know has been bumping hard to Bodak Yellow all summer and I am excited to her to continue to succeed throughout the year. My Favorite Track of Hers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ph6yj9rEVs

7. Khalid:

Grabbing my attention and my heart with his debut single Location, Khalid had definitely been popping in everyone’s stream with slow R&B songs of teenage love, heartbreak and innocence. Being raised by his mother in Georgia, Khalid Robinson lived in various locations due to his mother’s career in the military. In his Fader documentary, he calls his mother his biggest musical inspiration and you can see the glow in her smile when she talks about talented her young son is. He is signed to Right Hand Group, RCA, and Columbia, His single Location is double platinum and he sold out his 21 city tour. I am honestly so proud of him because he such a young man who is still being very humble. He has such a natural talent for singing and songwriting and I am in love with him. Like with his music and him. He’s gorgeous!!! Have you seen his Instagram? My Favorite Track of His: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPfJnp1guPc

  1. Vince Staples:

8. Vincent Jamal Staples was featured as a part of the 2015 XXL Freshman class and released his debut EP Hell Can Wait in 2014. His debut album Summertime ’06 was released in 2016 and his second album Big Fish Theory was release in 2017. All of his music has lyrics talking about inequality black people deal with from the American justice system. Staples lives a straight edge lifestyle in California and gives assistance to a YMCA program that teaches tech skills to eight and ninth grades at Hampton Middle School. Vince is actually one of my favorite rappers because he’s pretty real in my eyes. Every one of of his interviews, he speaks in a soft voice about how much he hates rap beef because it’s corny in his eyes. He is often sarcastic during interviews in a humorous way that’s deadpan and unique. His music often focuses on topics like gentrification and how we need Tamikas and Shaniquas in the oval office in BagBak. That’s my favorite line of his. But combined with his simple style and honest outlook on life, Vince is an artist who deserves to be pushed in the mainstream, so we can see more artists who aren’t going to beat around the bush on difficult topics that aren’t always discussed. My Favorite Track of His: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6iAzyhm0p0

9. Lizzo: Melissa Jefferson is the electric hip hop artist you have been waiting for. Her debut album Lizzobangers was released in 2013, but I am so glad that she has continued to flourish from there. It followed with Big Grrrl Small World and then Coconut Oil was her major-label LP of 2016. I first listened to Lizzo with her popular and colorful song Good As Hell. Every Lizzo music video displays an array of diverse plus size dancers who are bopping along to Lizzo’s lyrics about self love. Lizzo’s music focuses on relishing the sheer beauty of your own body and owning how you feel over outside forces that will make you feel any different. Her recent single Water Me has her own body as the cover art and it is magnificent! Her Good As Hell music video focuses on the versatility of black hair and how getting your hair done can do wonders for your mood. Performing her song Good As Hell on the Samantha Bee show, Lizzo is standing out as a full bodied goddess who is here make music that make you feel on top. If you are looking for an empowered lady for your gym playlist, crank up Lizzo’s powerful voice that will make anyone feel like they are queen of the world. An example of her amazing confidence is this verse from her song Coconut Oil: I thought I needed to run and find somebody to love/ But all I needed was some coconut oil/ Don’t worry ‘bout the small things, I know I can do all things/ Mama always told me it would be alright. My Favorite Track of Hers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49I6JrUnSQg

10. Kamaiyah: Kamaiyah Johson is an Oakland rapper who was recently inducted into the 2017 XXL Freshman class. She has associated acts with Drake and Yg. With her new sponsorship with Sprite, Kamaiyah is confident in herself by self declaring herself the Oakland rap queen. Her music focuses on the jovial beat with the rise of depressed mumble raps surfing through the mainstream. She already becoming known as one of the best rising MC’s and is an amazing independent artist at the moment. All her music surrounds how it’s still kind of cool to broke and being positive. Her flow is pretty jovial, but in way that wants you to put yourself first. She reminds me of a young Lil Kim, who she cites as her biggest music inspiration. Kamaiyah’s style is definitely like ghetto boujie. I’m excited for people to catch up with her because I can just see her going places. My Favorite Track of Hers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8G8Iw8VHNs

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MD

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MD

Podcast:https://soundcloud.com/manika-dulcio My Blog: http://dulciom.blogspot.com Tumblr: https://hereswhatithink0.tumblr.com/

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