5 Hip Hop Artists to Look for in 2009
1. Asher Roth
Asher Roth started generating major internet buzz in 2008 after the release of his mixtape The Greenhouse Effect. I’ve read things online about him and a lot of people compare him to Eminem. This is a horrible comparison. Sure, he sounds a little like Eminem, and flashes comedic wit in his rhymes, but he is far different. Roth grew up in a small suburban town in Pennsylvania and openly admits the first CD he ever bought was Dave Matthews Band’s Crash. After getting into music by Jay-Z, Roth turned to the rhyme game. However, Roth looks like he should be posing in a Target catalog rather than busting rhymes on stage. He himself even acknowledges this.
“I was always from the outside looking in,” said Roth in an interview with sixshot.com. “Hip-hop has always been very influential in the ‘burbs, it’s just a matter of where we could relate to it. You find a lot of kids that are really confused. You look at them and they’re dressed out of character. They don’t look right. I figured out, I don’t have to dress this way, but you can still love hip-hop.”
Roth’s raps are more concentrated on the college life, going out with friends, and straight up having fun. His music is nowhere near similar to Eminem. If we are really looking to compare this 23-year-old upcoming star, let’s look back to 1986 when the Beastie Boys first arrived on the scene, bridging the gap and bringing white people to rap music. They don’t sound alike, but the substance of their music is similar. Roth is set to release his debut album in March, but you can peep his first single I Love College now. Asher Roth is an artist you will want to know for 2009. Just watch Akon’s reaction to him when he first heard Roth’s music.
2. P.O.S.
Born Stefon Alexander, he was quite the busy man in 2008. His Minneapolis based rap crew, Doomtree, released their self titled debut album, while he also worked on his own upcoming third album, as he produced most of his own beats. Alexander is a known lover of the punk rock genre. In fact, he is currently in a punk rock band, called, Building Better Bombs. He was hesitant about joining the rap game back in 2001, but he discovered the creative outlet it offered and explored the genre better than Marco Polo explored Asia. In 2004, he released Ipecac Heat, and in 2006 he released Audition, which saw heavy influence from the punk genre.
Alexander has always been outspoken against mainstream hip-hop. He has been quoted saying that it can never be saved and that he doesn’t respect it.
“You will never hear one of my songs on the mainstream stations because I don’t cater to that style or audience,” said Alexander in a 2007 interview. “I am not trying to brag but I don’t listen to simple music and I don’t make simple music…I listen to and try to make music that is complex in some way, shape or form.”
Alexander has matured rather quickly with each release he is a part of. That is why his upcoming album Never Better, dropping this month is something to get your hands on. With his punk influence, he has certainly created a sound of his own that is unlike anyone else’s in the music world. He is the shining Doomtree member, which comprises of five Emcees (P.O.S, Mike Mictlan, Dessa, Sims, and Cecil Otter) and four DJs/Producers (Paper Tiger, MK Larada, Lazerbeak, and Turbo Nemesis). Listen to De La Souls or Half Cocked Concepts to get the full P.O.S. effect.
3. Kid Cudi
Born Scott Mescudi, he garnered attention after his release of A Kid Named Cudi mixtape this past year. More importantly it got the attention of Kanye West, and Mescudi was later signed to West’s G.O.O.D Music label. Mescudi shows off his talents not only in rapping, but also by singing his own hooks. His style is a mold of West, Lupe Fiasco, and Pharrell all in one with a dash of John Legend. Hip Hop heads got a taste of Mescudi when he appeared on West’s latest album, 808’s & Heartbreak, when he sang the hook on Welcome to Heartbreak.
Lyrically, Mescudi’s songs focus on being different, not having a need to be famous, staying true to oneself, love, sex and the enjoyment of a nice blunt. The best time to listen to Kid Cudi is sometime at night when you are left alone, and especially when you are listening to it through headphones. Since his music is very personal, you will want a personal setting for it. His music successfully gives off this radiance where the listener will be able to make something of a connection with the artist himself.
“I dont consider myself a genius, but i aint a dummy either,” writes Mescudi on his Myspace page.”If u like my music its not gonna b bcuz of some witty line i said or me bein political, its gonna b bcuz u connect with me as a person n u relate 2 my story.”
Listening to Man on the Moon or his single which first gave him major attention, Day N Night lets you discover just what Mescudi means by that statement.
Mescudi is also a darn good freestylist, just ask 88 Keys. His hook up with Asher Roth on DJ Enuff’s radio show was pretty tight also. Mescudi’s debut album Man on the Moon: Guardians is set for a spring release this year. Get the mixtape now and try to patiently wait for the album. You will want more Kid Cudi than Kanye West will be whining for awards.
4. Big Sean
Born Sean Anderson, he got his start throwing down raps at a local Detroit rap radio station. One day when Kanye West was there, Anderson’s friend called him to tell him to go rap for West. Anderson was hesitant, but showed up and freestyled for him. He also gave him copies of his tracks to critique. After staying in touch for a few months, Anderson finally got the call from West himself to sign to G.O.O.D Music label. Anderson would then first get serious exposure when his song Getcha Some appeared on West’s Can’t Tell Me Nothing Mixtape.
Being lyrically witty and armed with a flow that is certain to get your head bouncing, Anderson contains all the potential needed to become a major player in the rap game in 2009. His Finally Famous Mixtape Volume One is out already, and a second volume, that was originally due in November of 2008, has hit delays and is now set to drop sometime soon. His debut album is expected spring of this year and will feature guest spots by Kanye West, Pharrell, and The Dream. Loyal fans of those artists are likely to check the tracks they are on, but will discover the strength of Big Sean in hip-hop music. Anderson is easily the most interesting rapper to come out of Detroit in awhile, and it will be quite exciting to see what he can do to help the state of rap music in Detroit. All Night featuring Mr. Bentley, is a track everyone needs to check out.
5. Mike Posner & the Brain Trust
I read on some blog awhile back somewhere that Mike Posner & the Brain Trust is to rap as boobs are to women. You don’t need well endowed boobs to get the full pleasure out of a woman, but it is a nice extra asset. Coming out of the suburbs of Detroit, Posner has successfully merged hip-hop and pop music together to create this wicked fun kind of feel. Posner successfully showcases his musical talents and his ear for music with every song he works on. He currently attends Duke University, one of the most prestigious universities in the U.S., where he tries to balance making music, and schoolwork for his classes.
Posner’s fan base has been created thanks to word of mouth by his friends. The few songs he currently has available to his fans can be heard widespread in schools all over Michigan. His music is easy to relate to, since the lyrical focus is much like Asher Roth’s, making it easy for the average college student to find enjoyment among the songs.
Posner has also worked frequently with Big Sean, which an example of can be heard in one of the best mixtape tracks I’ve ever heard from Big Sean’s Finally Famous mixtape in 2007 entitled Smoke N Drive. Posner is smart enough to be a successful producer, along with heading a band, and it shows heavily in his music. He has all traits to become a huge role in 2009. The Brain Trust’s Only A Matter of Time mixtape is expected Mar. 1, and will be followed by an album. The Brain Trust members include: Eric Holljes on keys, and Jeff Oh on guitar. Posner and Holljes both share vocals on songs, where Posner’s raspy voice meets Holljes’ smooth pop singing. Check Cooler Than Me featuring Big Sean, and F’d Up Now (uses the love lockdown beat) out to see what all the buzz is about.
Their respective Myspace Music Pages:
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23 Responses to “5 Hip Hop Artists to Look for in 2009”
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asher roth is about to be huge same with kid cudi and big sean. but i think mike posner is gonna have to wait till 2010 until he fully gets up on that level.
Hey i agree with most of your top fives with exception to two. First, P.O.S. is already an established wrapper with his own demogrphic and it would be quite difficult to pop out into the mainstream. Second, I agree with the comment above me; mike posner & the brain trust is a big project. They are really creating a new type of genre and i believe that will take until at least 2011 for people to worm up to their music. Some replacements: Wale, an artist who has tons of connections and some great, no super great free mixtapes. his stock is rapidly increasing. Second is Charles Hamilton. His lyrics and beats speak for themselves.
Thats all i gotta say. but nice post otherwise
dont mind my spelling errors haha
To the last poster…
I don’t think this article was about artists that will hit the mainstream, it seems more like artists you should listen to because they’ll have new material coming out this year. I agree that P.O.S certainly already has his own demographic, but the the service of this piece seems to let the reader tune into some artist they may not have heard before. I’ve heard of all these artists except Mike Posner. I don’t know if he’ll ever hit big, but this article let me know about him, and I’m digging the music.
yeah mccafferty i agree with you Wale is amazing! have you heard his song with colin munroe called will i stay, its a great song.
This was definitely my favorite article to read on here. I’m not so crazy about Asher Roth as everyone else is…but POS, Posner, Big Sean, and Cudi have my ultimate respect! You need to show some DT love though. The group needs to be exposed to the world.
PS. In response to that one homeboy’s comment about POS….tell him to read the whole article next time instead of just skimming through it. You clearly quoted POS explicitly saying that he despises mainstream rap and never wants to be a part of it. In my opinion…POS should be #1. Sims would be on here too.
PSS. LOL @ "wrapper"
I’m done picking on the kid. I’m sorry. lol
Haha yeah i suppose i did skim past P.O.S’s little chronicle there but that was mainly because i already have the highest respect for his music and believed he has been somebody to look for since Ipecac Neat in 2004. And by mainstream i mean the higher stream of underground. i.e. ghostface killa, Wu-tang clan, Mos Def, Talib Kweli etc. You don’t hear any of these guys on the radio but are still widely popular and considered "underground".
PS.
T-Baby should definitely be on that list. haha http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aktLRiWXfqg
haaaaa. f’n t-baby
By the way Lisa, I’m sure Doomtree will make their way onto the site in the near future.
Mike Posner is going to be huggggggggge.
this guy is another to look out for….. just heard him yesterday, asked arpnd and they sayhis buzz is growing fast. guy named toon. here is a link to his music. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toon/45059412480
the sad thing is that you guys are probably right about this list.
cudi and p.o.s. are the only decent ones on it and that’s just pathetic. cudi sounds like saul williams lite and p.o.s. couldn’t sound more mainstream if he hired the matrix.
and asher? seriously? why not just call his album i love date rape? what we really need is another rich kid making music about getting drunk and ignoring things like being on beat.
http://www.revernation.com/toon
Eric enlighten us with your favorite hip hop artists as everyone else seems to be left in the dark? I mean I love me some Saul Williams, but…if you’ve got better, drop it on me.
Looks like a bunch of sissy boys if you ask me…
to the poster above…you’re an idiot
DRAKE is number 1, Charles Hamilton is number 2, Kid Cudi is number 3, Fabolous is number 4(listen to swag surfing remix & his verse on turn my swag on remix), and i dont care about 5 at this point…who cares how many new songs they come out with they still wont be as good as the fire these guys will be sayin on tracks…quality over quantity
Drake is more overrated than asher roth
[...] we’ve been on this guy since the beginning. Definitely the biggest snub from XXL’s “Freshmen [...]
all these niggas suck except 4 kid cudi. i say that for two reasons. one. kid cudi keep it real. two. i ain’t heard of none of these pussies and the last nigga ain’t even no nigga and he got good parents and all that shit. i ain’t hatin on the man but he ain’t no fuckin musician and neither is none of these other pussies. u wanna hear some real music come to my page. Bloomington Stand Up!!!!
to the poster above, your music is horrid.
[...] album, only to be disappointed when it finally came out. I included Roth in The Urbanian’s 5 Hip-Hop Artists to Look for in 2009, and now I regret that. There’s a plethora of rappers I want to insert into that spot, and [...]