21 LA Artists That Are Going To Fuck Shit Up This Year
This is our rundown of 21 LA artists that look ready to dominate in 2018. Keep each of these talented individuals on your radar.
21. Lil Dubb Kill aka The Pimp Pimp P
Yes, he only has one song out. Yes, he’s more well known for his ridiculous antics on Instagram than he is for his music. But, Lil Dubb Kill aka The Pimp Pimp P has used those tools to double his following in less than a month, and his song ‘P Talk’ is approaching 50k plays. He’s well connected in LA hip hop as the little brother of Desto Dubb, and he’s gotten support from 03 Greedo, The StincTeam and more. People can’t get enough of this dude - don’t expect that to change in 2018.
20. Solomonilla
Solomonilla is flying well below the radar right now, and we’re honestly not sure why. He’s got a captivating image thanks to stand out visuals, but they haven’t taken off the way you’d expect. His music is typically calm, and he has a pretty nonchalant presence on social media, which may explain why he isn’t blowing up quite yet. But, with amazing records like ‘Top Down Pt. 2’ and ‘Whole Life’ already under his belt, he seems to be on the right path. Not to mention he is managed by one of LA music’s biggest journalistic influences - Hefstradamus. 2018 will be a year of major growth for this young artist.
19. Roddy Ricch
One of Compton’s many bright young talents is Roddy Ricch, who had himself a hit record in 2017 with ‘Fucc It Up.’ His album Feed The Streets was well received, and he was able to build a solid following thanks to his smooth flow and melodic delivery each time out. Roddy is still finding his own personal sound, but every song sounds good - no matter how he’s rapping. Once he hones in his individual style, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with.
18. 1TakeJay
Another Compton artist, 1TakeJay was able to make a name for himself in 2017 thanks to his hit song ‘To Da Neck’ which racked up over 500k plays across SoundCloud and Youtube. This high energy rapper has an impeccable delivery to go along with a limitless amount of bars, and he keeps getting better. Some of his best verses all year came on Joe Moses’ album, Til Death Do Us Part, where 1TakeJay was able to display his skills over some of the biggest producers in the game. He and the whole 1TakeTeam are poised to do big things if they keep the same work ethic in 2018.
17. Kee Riche$
Kee Riche$ might’ve made more progress than anyone else on this list in 2017. The Compton rapper was able to leverage his success on Twitter with his freestyle videos, and turn those looks into real fans. He closed out the year with a complete project and debut album, Get Rich, which was even better than could be expected. Add in the fact that he signed to DJ A-Tron’s ADLA label, and you have a massively productive year for Kee Riche$. Look for the progress to continue in 2018, especially if he can start putting out consistent visuals.
16. Chris O’Bannon
Chris O’Bannon is one of the most talented artists on this entire list. Depending on what song your listening to, he has a number of different sounds ranging from R&B to club bangers. Each style is executed to perfection each time out, as he really doesn’t ever put out anything that isn’t his best work. In addition to a number of singles, he released one project last year, TRUCOLORS. Instead, he used 2017 to focus a lot on production, working with some of the Bay Area’s biggest names including SOBxRBE and Nef The Pharaoh. Expect a lot more music from Chris O’Bannon this year, as he has truly perfected what he does.
15. AzCult
This cutthroat trio of artists is our sleeper pick for this year. They don’t have the hype that some of the bigger names on here have, but they have as much breakout potential as anyone. Whether it’s South Central rapper AzSWAYE, LA bred AzChike, or AzBenzz out of Compton - any of these guys might take off in 2018, and they’ll take the rest of the cult with them. Their chemistry as a group is on par with any collective in the city, but they stand out thanks to their musical diversity. None of them are making the exact same kind of songs, but that’s what makes them so appealing. Stay tapped in with the AzCult this year.
14. Rucci
Inglewood rapper Rucci had a monster year in 2017. An unfortunate theme of it was #LongLiveSeanMackk, due to the death of his close friend and longtime collaborator Sean Mackk. Rucci didn’t let that stop him from making a splash in 2017; if anything, it seemed to motivate his drive when it came to music. ‘Go Rucci’ was a local hit without a doubt, and his project Dawgystyle has received nothing but praise from listeners. If he can combine this momentum with more quality music and visuals, he could be looking at an early takeover in 2018.
13. DC The Don
DC The Don’s young career received an early boost thanks to his relationship with the Ball family. Lonzo Ball used his song ‘Everything 1K’ in his first commercial for his controversial signature shoe, and has given him multiple shoutouts. In 2018 DC has a chance to step out of that shadow, though. His music is already addicting thanks to his vocal ability, and as his lyricism improves he has a chance to really captivate young listeners. He’s still a student at Chino Hills high and could use the support of his school to launch his career into legit stardom.
12. Petty Petty
Petty Petty is well connected among LA’s new wave of rappers, and if he keeps progressing, 2018 can be big for him. He released a solid project in 2017 titled PettyTheft, as well as a number of singles and collabs with artists like Ralfy The Plug, AzChike and others. His flow and use of slang compares to Drakeo The Ruler, an artist that the city can’t get enough of right now.
11. Almighty Suspect
Almighty Suspect came up with FrostyDaSnowmann, and you can hear it in his high energy, almost paranoid way of rapping. He had a falling out with Snow in 2017, and will now look to make his own splash this year. If he keeps putting out hyperactive songs and visuals, look for this artist to start generating some big time buzz in the city and beyond.
10. Indica
Indica is a really dope artist that we need on our pages a lot more in 2018. He’s a wavey artist who loves to record songs on island-type hip hop beats. He’s carving out his own niche in the age of melody rap, and has already built a fan base that truly loves what he does. Visuals might be his greatest strength, as he put out a ton of them in 2017. His music is mad catchy, and with the right video he could easily have a viral hit at some point this year.
9. BLVC SVND
BLVC SVND might’ve worked harder than anybody else on this list last year. He released over 100 tracks across 6 projects, and really carved out his own lane in LA’s highly saturated pool of talent. His lethal combination of rapping, producing and engineering give him an edge when comparing him to other artists trying to make this kind of aggressive, almost violent music. With the right visuals in 2018, BLVC SVND has the potential to become a national star. His enigmatic style and personality will reel in fans from all ends of the hip hop spectrum.
8. Spiffie Luciano
Spiffie Luciano has a highly refined sound to his music. His vocals are crisp and his melodies land every time out. But, he isn’t JUST melodies like some other artists. His lyrics are emotional and honest, vividly depicting his rough life in the streets of LA. His connections to artists like 03 Greedo and Mozzy will continue to pay off, but he doesn’t need a hand out to get on. The music will speak for itself all year long.
7. Desto Dubb
Mr. Awful Lot Of Cough Syrup was able to turn a viral video into a successful clothing brand in 2017, and he turned his reputation in the streets into a legitimate rap career. He seems to be serving juice to everybody sipping it in the city, keeping him connected to LA’s hottest artists like Shoreline Mafia, The StincTeam and more. His biggest power move of 2017 was linking with Lil Pump on tour and on their song DestGang. This move widened his reach and got his music out to a whole other demographic that has really started to embrace what he does. He could be headlining his own tour in 2018 if he plays his cards right.
6. DUCKWRTH
DUCKWRTH has an opportunity to be LA’s response to Chance The Rapper. Not only because of his awesome music, but also because of what he stands for and what kind of impact he wants to have on the city. His music is all over the place - somehow mixing all the best elements of hip hop, pop, and alternative rock. His colorful image is highly gravitational, and he pulls in new fans with every visual he drops. He’s been performing some of the biggest festivals of the year including Rolling Loud SoCal, and is almost a sure bet to enter the national spotlight in 2018.
5. Jooba Loc
Jooba Loc is only 20 years old, but he’s been a staple in West Coast hip hop for years now. Since coming up under Snoop Dogg, he has progressed every single year, and fully stepped out of his shadow in 2017. He has a name that is recognizable all his own, and has turned that into a loyal fanbase in his hometown of Long Beach. His chilling honesty is almost shocking at times - he isn’t afraid to leave out any detail about his life and upbringing. That sense of genuine authenticity will continue to help him rise up the ranks of LA’s heavy hitters in 2018.
4. G Perico
G Perico’s success is already here and just getting started at the same time. He draws comparisons to Eazy-E, and for good reason. The dude is just cool as hell, with a unique way of dropping knowledge in a way that can only be described as iconic. ‘All Blue’ and ‘Affiliated’ were standout tracks in 2017, that characterize and embody every aspect of what makes LA rap so amazing. It’s hard to tell how far he can go, but if he leverages his success right, G Perico could enter the upper tier of LA rappers in 2018 and start to legitimately compete with artists like Kendrick and Nipsey.
3. The StincTeam
The flu-flamming phenomena that is Drakeo The Ruler got out and immediately reclaimed his throne atop LA’s budding hip hop scene. Now, in 2018, he and the rest of the StincTeam look poised to take their success to whole other level. Electrifying charisma and an impeccable sense of style make the team of Drakeo, Ralfy The Plug, Saysothemac, Good Finesse, Bambino, Ol Greedy Bastard and Ketchy The Great a sure fire bet to blow up this year. When Ketchy The Great gets out of jail, look for him and the StincTeam to build on that hype and become household names in the hip hop community.
2. Shoreline Mafia
2017 was hella wavey for Shoreline Mafia, as they saw their fanbase go from a small dedicated bunch of kids to all of LA county. Just check out one of their shows if you need proof. They’re packed to the max with sweaty teens looking to wild the fuck out to every song they have. Their potential in 2018 is limitless - they have the viral potential of Lil Pump, with music that has even more personality and flair. Are they LA’s version of A$AP Mob? Maybe a trap oriented Odd Future? Nah - they’re Shoreline Fuckin’ Mafia and they will own 2018.
1. 03 Greedo
03 Greedo went from a best kept secret to one of the most popular artists in the LA area in 2017. Everyone is slapping his music, and he dropped a ton of it in 2017 with five projects and over 150 songs. Everything about him draws people in, from his style on the mic to his likeable personality. His beef with RJ has already gotten him even more notoriety to kick off this year, but he didn’t need it. His million dollar record with Alamo Records only secures his spot at the top of LA’s rising stars. 2018 will belong to the Wolf Of Grape St. and there is nothing that anybody can do to stop that.
