What did you do the year you turned 21? Hip-hop prodigy Fashawn earned a spot on the cover of XXL magazine, toured the world and built a rep as one of rap’s new rising stars.

Fashawn’s debut album, “Boys Meets World,” was heralded by critics and fans alike as one of the best albums of 2009 for its gritty, street-wise and intelligent rhymes. Some even compared his introductory opus to Nas’ brilliant “Illmatic.” It was enough for XXL to name Fashawn to its list of hip-hop’s best freshman.

In 2010 he toured domestically with Wiz Khalifa, then followed that up with a Talib Kweli tour. Fashawn is also no stranger to the International Hip Hop scene touring with Dilated Peoples in 2009 and most recently Rakim in 2011. From coast to coast, and from continent to continent, everyone agreed — they weren’t seeing some fly-by-night novelty act, they were seeing one of hip-hop’s freshest new voices.

Many took notice: He worked with Grammy-winning producers Dr. Dre, DJ Khalil and Alchemist, featured on songs with J. Cole, Aloe Blacc and a handful of tomorrow’s future stars. Skateboard apparel company Etnies and urban clothing line Orisue both turned to him for endorsements. Camp Woodward, the biggest extreme sports camp in the world, recruited him to create a song/tv commercial and his hometown Fresno Grizzlies (AAA baseball) have made custom Fashawn merchandise to sell at their events. So that’s legendary hip-hop producers, international clothing lines and a pro sports franchise all wanting to be part of Team Fashawn

With a strong hip-hop pedigree (think Rakim’s merciless rhymes plus 2pac’s outlaw spirit plus Nas’ effortless flow) and a loyal fan base of young listeners, Fashawn seems poised for the long haul.

SonReal is a new school leader. With a 2013 Juno and MMVA nomination, this young artist has independently put all eyes on him through consistently putting out interesting innovative material. Notorious for releasing mixtapes that have an album feel, it is easy to see why SonReal is at the forefront of not only Vancouver’s hip hop scene, but the Canadian music industry as a whole.

With a number of successful releases under his belt, SonReal began 2012 with the release of the final two singles from 2011’s Where’s Waldo?. Both reaching 100,000 views within their first few weeks online, SonReal kept the buzz alive with the release of an 18 track mixtape titled, Words I Said in April 2012. Directed at the promotion of his summer release, Good News, Words I Said spread across the Internet quickly. With support from some of the largest hip hop blogs such as, 2dopeboyz.com, NahRight.com, HipHopDX and more, Words I Said developed an awareness and anticipation for SonReal’s upcoming Good News. Up Up Up was the first single from Good News and the driving force leading into it’s release. A video accompanied the single and was an instant smash once Much Music awarded it “heavy rotation” on their TV network. Good News was released July 25th and has been labeled the largest stepping stone in SonReal’s career.

After turning many heads in the industry, the Vancouver rapper signed a recording deal with the independent label, Black Box Records responsible for emcees, Shad and Classified. His first release via Black Box would be a collaborative project with fellow Canadian rapper/producer, Rich Kidd. The Closers was recorded in seven days in a private Hollywood studio. SonReal and Rich Kidd had united East and West and made an 11 track album the country could stand behind. Fans did exactly that. October 16th, The Closers debuted at #3 on iTunes Canada’s hip hop charts, next to Macklemore and Kanye West. The Closers then went on to be nominated for Rap Recording of the Year at the 2013 Juno Awards. SonReal and Rich Kidd celebrated their newfound success by embarking on a nationwide tour in promotion of the project and shared stages with such artists as, Down With Webster, Mac Miller and more.

With Summer on the horizon, SonReal has began working on new solo material due for a fall release. With plenty of visuals in store and plans to be performing on a stage near you, 2013 looks like it will be the introduction of SonReal to an audience greater than he has ever reached before.

We’re from the badlands…” A musical reputation like the one Atlanta holds can play blessing and curse to up and coming artists. On the one hand, the city’s rich history and vibrant creative scene provide constant inspiration; on the other, established lanes and expectations can make it difficult to break the mold and get people to take notice. West Atlanta duo EarthGang isn’t worried about fitting into easy boxes–they’re happy to follow the drums, drugs, and ideas that inspire them most, whatever they may be. Rappers Johnny Venus and Doctur Dot would just as soon jam with the Arctic Monkeys and wake Frida Kahlo from her grave to do their cover art as they would fire up a Clipse record and rap along. “Atlanta’s music scene has gone through so many changes in the past 15 years alone. When we started, everybody from the Westside was talking about trap music. There was only one type of sound you’d hear coming from Atlanta, one mainstream sound you hear. For us, there really was no blueprint,” says Venus. “Even if there was, we weren’t about to follow it. We were just doing what we do, like people on the frontiers heading west: No one told them what to do. They set up shop and did it how they wanted to do it.” Most rappers probably don’t cite molecular gastronomy or Pink Floyd’s Live at Pompeii as muses, but Venus and Dot dedicate themselves to taking influence from the unexpected and bringing listeners into the worlds they’re exploring. Whether observations about the decay of their home city, tales of intimate encounters, reflections on the younger years, or visions of their future, EarthGang vividly, viscerally renders the music of their minds. “When you listen to our album, we want you to feel like you’re on a trip, like where you are now is exactly where we want you to be for that period of time.” A peak at where what they’re working on might take you? “Our new music sounds like jaguars fucking in the jungle.”

Rich Jones is a prolific Chicago artist, community figure, and veteran of the cultural scene. Known for his versatile and evolving style, his new album, The Shoulder You Lean On, firmly plants the hip-hop rooted artist as a powerful songwriter and singer. Jones began in Chicago as part of the group Second City Citizens where he explored his talents as an MC. The group founded a monthly hip-hop showcase in Chicago, now known as All Smiles, that has become a staple in the local scene and has continued for over five years. Through various collaborations with people like Supa Bwe, Taylor Bennett, and The O’My’s, Jones gained praise around the city, eventually being voted second best rapper in the city by the Chicago Reader in 2016, right behind Chance The Rapper. Jones shifted from straight rapping into a more melodic style, culminating in his lush, poppy 2017 release VEGAS. That EP, and several loose singles, prompted appearances in NPR, Chicago Tribune, FOX 32’s Good Day Chicago, and Consequence of Sound.