The 13 Best Teenage Rappers Right Now

From streaming to scamming, it has never been easier for a young person to buck the system and make money or gain attention quickly. Not particularly high on this list of ventures is making rap music, especially during a time when the market is saturated, artist development is neglected, and potential payout opportunities are decreasing. This might help explain the lack of young rap prospects under 20. To put it bluntly, the current crop of under-20 rappers is weak, which is unusual for a genre historically associated with the youth.

LL Cool J was just 16 when he debuted with “I Need a Beat”; MC Lyte was 17 when she became the first female rapper to release an album, the 1988 classic Lyte as a Rock; Nas was 18 when he rapped about “snuffing Jesus”; and by the time Lil Wayne was 19, he was already three albums deep, with all appearing on the Billboard Hot 100. And this phenomenon isn’t limited to the various golden years throughout the ’80s and ’90s; over the past 15 years, future stars like Joey Bada$$, Chief Keef, Earl Sweatshirt, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Kodak Black, Doja Cat, and XXXTentacion would make their first artistic marks before they could even legally vote.

As noted in our list of rappers in their 20s, the genre is dominated by the old guard, which seems to have stunted the growth of its younger artists. Some of the most exciting new rappers today—like LAZER DIM 700, Skaiwater, Xaviersobased, and Baby Osama—are in their 20s, while teenage rappers are often releasing material that’s so raw it can be incomprehensible to the masses. It doesn’t mean there aren’t talented teenagers, it’s just that the music is more insular and the names and references may not be that familiar if you’re not tapped into their respective scenes.

So, making this list had its challenges—but it wasn’t impossible. For our criteria, we prioritized the impact each artist has made so far and the quality of their music. Most haven’t achieved significant commercial success, so that wasn’t a defining factor, nor was influence, as most of these rappers are still too green.

Here are the 13 best teenage rappers right now.

13. Ian

Age: 19

Why they’re on this list: In a short period, he has become one of the most talked-about new rappers

Why they’re not higher: There’s a strong possibility that he is merely a gimmick, which doesn’t bode well for his longevity

What to make of Ian, the 19-year-old St. Louis-born rapper making waves this year? He presents as a sarcastic, preppy white kid from the suburbs, channeling a Richie Rich aura while rapping like Future. Is he a “culture vulture,” mocking hip-hop for profit? An “industry plant,” with backing from figures like DJ Holiday and Akon’s brother, veteran music exec Bu Thiam? Or is he just an earnest rap fan, following in the long tradition of white kids who love hip-hop and try to emulate what they hear?

Whatever the case, it’s undeniable that Ian has been a conversation starter in 2024. Much of the attention stems from his electric single “Figure It Out,” which showcases his potential with slick rapping and deceptively sharp rhyme schemes: (“These Japanese garments is handmade/whole body covered in shit that I can't say.”) He also has a knack for optics; his performance on “From the Block” went viral largely because he flipped the script of the premise, sitting at a table with his actual family instead of a street corner. And his video for “Figure it Out” features an appearance from Marshawn Lynch, who gets name-checked in the song.

Despite showing signs of real fan engagement—like when hundreds of people popped up for an impromptu listening session in New York City—his debut mixtape, Valedictorian, came and went with little fanfare. And yet, Ian still found ways to be one of the most-discussed new rappers of the year, despite the fact he didn’t have a solo charting hit. (His Lyrical Lemonade and Lil Yachty collaboration, “Hate Me,” cracked the Billboard Hot 100 back in July.) His most viral moment came when Tyler, the Creator called him out during an appearance on Mavericks with Mav Carter. Tyler was careful not to say any names, but everyone knew who he was talking about.

Ian isn’t the first (and won’t be the last) white rapper labeled as a borrower of culture. And ultimately, we’ll find out how genuine Ian is; history shows that if he’s all shtick, fans will sniff it out eventually, and Ian will just become another Lil Mabu. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

12. Ka$hdami

Age: 19

Why they’re on this list: One of the unsung heroes of the pluggn'b wave, with an innate ability to make catchy songs 

Why they’re not higher: Has struggled to achieve a breakout moment despite his influence

The DMV scene is littered with a nice crop of rising talent, figures like Nettspend, TyFontaine, and Joony are a few examples of the region's range and potential. But let’s not also forget about Ka$hdami; his big breakout moment is overdue since popping up on the scene in 2021 with “Reparations.”

An original leader of the woozy pluggnb wave—popularized by fellow trendsetters Autumn!, Summrs and more—Ka$hdami offers a sonic niche that is wildly underrated amongst his peers. His mix of smooth-flowing bars and sliding, half-awake cadences ensnare you in a trance. In some ways, Dami is one of the most accomplished rappers on this list, with a solid catalog behind him, including his official debut album oasis and the just-released INFINITI. The 19-year-old’s ear for melding distorted 808s with fleeting melodies is as uncanny as it is satisfying.

Songs like “posed2be,” “Receipts,” “Head$hot” with Trippie Redd and “Different Timing” with Dro Kenji scratch the itch that OG SoundCloud listeners still cling to; touting a perfect balance of poise and charisma that few artists are able to achieve. No sound is a stranger to Ka$hdami, and as he continues to evolve, we can bet on the DMV MC furthering his artistic vision to break out of the underground. — Jon Barlas 

11. Tana

Age: 17

Why they’re on this list: He has already shown a tendency to consistently release diverse-sounding music

Why they’re not higher: He had more momentum a couple of years ago

The internet lets rappers go viral at such a young age nowadays, you can hear their voice drop in real time. Just a few years ago, Tana was rapping “I’m 14 and I got a bag.”. Now at 17, it’s like he’s gone through an entire career already—working in a bread factory to fund production equipment, crying to his mom when Lil Tecca noticed him, and dropping one of rage-rap’s strongest anthems, the serrated “Antisocial” with Slump6s. Where most rage stars are either surreal or sickeningly intense, Tana is fly and acrobatic, dodging between bass thuds and kinetic synths like they’re obstacles in a video game.

OK, his profile’s slipped a bit, but there are jewels worth tweezer-ing from 2024’s patchy BANA—like opener “Decatur,” where Tana stutter-steps over an opulent beat by Atlanta legend Zaytoven. More than anything else, he has a knack for choosing pristine, luxury textures. This year’s Rio Leyva-produced “Living Lavish” sounds like Tana’s gliding around a forest of trees made of silk—it’s easy to imagine the track turning a fashion runway into a moshpit. —Kieran Press-Reynolds

10. che

Age: 17

Why they’re on this list: He has a real knack for creating fun, experimental songs

Why they’re not higher: He is still very niche and hasn’t found a larger audience yet

che might have the slickest voice out of any teen rapper today. It slinks and dips around the drums, slowing down and speeding up with effortless grace. It’s fragile and glittery like a jewel-embroidered fabric. What’s often missing is a vision beyond the core sound of cursive raps and hyperdigital beats. che’s 2023 debut, closed captions, was riveting but occasionally monotonous, everything dissolving into a glitzy blur. But he’s clearly got an ear for the experimental: Early hits “agenda” and “euphoria” slung his jittery lightning bolts of vocals over gloriously twee 8-bit beats. His latest minor hit, “Pizza Time,” is as slapstick as it sounds—a glitchy tribute to the greasy food. The music video warps between a pizza party on a boat and che swaggering in a forest. Every second, an avalanche of memes and effects flash over and distort the screen. It’s a tantalizing preview of how alluring che’s musical world could get if he hones his aesthetic. —Kieran Press-Reynolds

9. Sha Gz

Age: 19

Why they’re on this list: His unwavering commitment to drill has established him as one of the most prominent rappers in the genre

Why they’re not higher: He tends to operate at only one speed

Despite the genre’s complicated and uncertain landscape, younger rappers have not abandoned drill music. In fact, Bronx drill rapper Sha Gz, already a veteran in the space, is doubling down on the sound, crafting some of the bleakest and most aggressive rap music coming out of the city. His most well-known song remains “New Opp,” a genuine banger that boasts millions of YouTube views, despite having been originally taken down from the platform.

Sha's commitment to drill is interesting. Like other rappers in the scene, he's openly discussed the limitations he faces being labeled a “drill rapper.” As recently as two years ago, he remarked that Bronx drill was on its “last leg,” even as he leveraged the sound to secure a deal with Columbia. And yet he can’t give the sound up. Much of his appeal lies in his raw delivery; regardless of production, he yells, rapping with an intensity that really never lets up. (I mean, if you want to talk about “scare the hoes” music...)

While his style may seem one-dimensional at first glance, a closer look reveals there is subtle depth. On “Crazy Story,” a tribute to King Von, he employs a similar storytelling technique as the late rapper, spitting lines like:

“Let me tell y'all a story, shit got lit (like)And shit hit the fanI don't know, but it jammedShit stopped clickin' once I had the chance.”

And his latest track, “Do Badz”—which may or may not be a diss to rival rapper Dougie B—is a fun song unencumbered by his relentless screaming. Sha will probably never be a mainstream star. But his commitment to the scene, one of the most important rap movements of the last five years, should account for something. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

8. 2Sdxrt3all

Age: 18

Why they’re on this list: He embodies Atlanta’s new sound, which is eccentric and innovative

Why they’re not higher: His abrasive style has yet to win over broader audiences

Atlanta is clearly in a state of flux, with a new class of up-and-coming rappers bubbling. While the young Atlanta rappers of the early 2010s demonstrated hit-making prowess early on, this new crop is embracing more extreme, eccentric behavior.

Other than LAZER DIM 700, no young Atlanta rapper embodies this moment quite like 2Sdxrt3all. Armed with fiery flows and rambunctious ad-libs that capture the essence of the new wave, his animated rapping style and hieroglyphic-esque name—it’s pronounced “dirtball,” by the way—are particularly striking.

His songs brim with stank-face-inducing energy and red-eyed outbursts that strike a balance between shouts and rollercoaster raps. At times, he whispers sweet street-life nothings, only to jolt listeners with monstrous growls and explosive screams. This is where the “adlib god” truly shines, finding pockets to deliver spikes of startling serotonin. 2Sdxrt3all’s latest album, ADLIBGOD (naturally), is an ode to his muddy, charismatic cadences—especially on highlights like “HANDOUT” and “I WILL.”

2Sdxrt3all is undeniably unique, but I do wonder how long he can ride this abrasive style. The charm of 2Sdxrt3all lies in the element of surprise he provides when you first listen to one of his new songs. But is that novelty sustainable? Here’s hoping he can elevate this energy in the future to make it last. — Jon Barlas

7. SugarHill DDot

Age: 16

Why they’re on this list: He has quickly become one of the most versatile drill rappers in New York

Why they’re not higher: It’s unclear whether he can strike the right balance between pop and street rap needed to reach the next level

If you’ve been following the New York rap scene, you’re probably somewhat familiar with SugarHill Ddot, a drill child prodigy who came up rapping alongside the Osama brothers, DD and the late Notti. At the young age of 14, he was already gathering local buzz, with songs like “I Wanna Love You” and “Evil Twin Pt 2” racking up millions of YouTube views.

It’s a familiar drill story: A young street rapper gains traction using the sound, only to realize there are limitations to confining themselves within the subgenre. This is also the story of SugarHill Ddot, who is trying to shed some of his drill skin. Compared to other rappers in his position, Ddot has a real knack for versatility and showcases a willingness to take traditional New York drill to new and different horizons.

His debut album, 2 Sides of the Story, released last month, illustrates this new breadth. Some tracks offer a frenetic yet wistful club-drill fusion, particularly his collaborations with MCVERTT, the breakout Newark-based Jersey Club producer behind “I Just Wanna Rock.” These collaborations have resulted in impressive, Hot 97-ready love songs like “Let Ha Go” and “I Cannot Love You Again.” Other tracks feature a more melodic, emotional variant, such as the wailing vulnerability of “Tweakin’.” Given his range, it’s clear why he’s earned co-signs from a diverse list of industry titans, ranging from Drake to Lil Durk.

Speaking of Durk: Ddot is following a trajectory similar to the Chicago legend, figuring out the right formula for blending street and pop records to take his career to another level. —Dario Mccarty

6. 310babii

Age: 18

Why they’re on this list: He has hit-making instincts and ability

Why they’re not higher: “soak city (do it)” is a major success but he has to show he can do it again

It’s hard to find a teenager who had a better June than Inglewood native 310babii. He heard his viral song “soak city (do it)” play as he crossed the stage at his high school graduation, receiving a platinum plaque at the same time he accepted his diploma. A week later, he performed the track in front of thousands at Kendrick Lamar’s “Pop Out” show at the Kia Forum. That song has reached over 100 million Spotify streams and rejuvenated the “Squabble” dance on TikTok, which was further popularized in end-zone celebrations from athletes like Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud.

That’s what having a hit record will do. Now the question is: Can he build off of it? The signs are promising. At the top of the year he released nights and weekends, an album full of party starters that can add a jolt of energy to whatever room you’re in. During an era when teenagers are making inward-looking, internet rap, 310babii is very consciously making outside music. This extroverted style is why he exudes confidence in both his stage presence and his lyricism. —Rashad Alexander

5. STAR BANDZ

Age: 16

Why they’re on this list: She is a talented MC who clearly cares about the craft of rapping

Why they’re not higher: She still hasn't released a full-length project, which would truly demonstrate the full scope of her abilities

STAR BANDZ is a 16-year-old rapper from Chicago who has built a cult following over the past few months with an off-kilter, rapid-fire, machine-gun delivery. She stands out in an era of young rappers who over-index as “unique” but don’t necessarily have the skills to back it up.

Her breakout hit, “Yea Yea,” contains zippy punchlines over an unorthodox, somewhat challenging beat. She goes off, rapping lines like “Lord knows I sin a lot, still go to church to send a prayer/ I hardly come outside, I'm like a villain in my lair/ If I catch her broad day/ I'm like Buffy, I'm a slayer.” Notably, there is no cursing in her verses, giving her music an age-appropriate, PG-13 type of vibe.

STAR BANDZ has landed on some reasonably impressive stages, opening for Veeze and Luh Tyler, and she’s about to embark on a tour with Sugarhill Ddot later this year. She’s nowhere near the biggest rapper, numbers-wise, on this list and she has yet to release a debut project. But you can see the potential, and it’s also encouraging to see someone her age dedicated to just rapping her ass off—pardon the cursing.—Dario Mccarty

4. Baby Kia

Age: 17

Why they’re on this list: He has a truly unique rap style with traces of horrorcore

Why they’re not higher: The style is polarizing, and it’s unclear how far he can take it

Who needs coffee when you have Baby Kia? The 18-year-old Atlanta rapper is one of the faces of crashout music, a form of bass-heavy, horrorcore hip-hop characterized by an aggressive, yelling vocal delivery. His 2023 viral single, “Let’s Play A Game,” was polarizing; some were jarred by its high energy and offbeat flow, while others praised its rebellious nature. The track tackles familiar themes in street rap, but with an intensity and imagery that feel more like a horror film than traditional rap. (“Let’s play a little game I made / All you gotta do is pick a candy bar, one got a blade.”) The dark sound hasn’t dimmed Kia’s run, with “Let’s Play A Game” garnering tens of millions of streams. His IRL presence has also started to grow. We’ve seen him start mosh pits at Rolling Loud and perform at Druski’s Coulda Been Fest at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.

His debut album, CRASHOUT, is incredibly intense, packed with abrasive production and disgustingly vivid lyrics (“.50 Cal' rip his intestines, doctor said he need a kidney.”) As his DSP streams began to multiply, so, too, does the chatter around what the future of Atlanta hip-hop will look like. It seems like Kia is also considering the same for his own career. On his most recent releases, he’s taken a calmer approach. His single “GLOVES & DRACS” offers the same type of dark lyricism but at a more subdued volume, potentially making it more palatable for a wider audience. —Caitlin LoPilato

3. Nettspend

Age: 17

Why they’re on this list: He has an enthralled, rapidly growing fanbase that is fully invested in the Nettspend experience

Why they’re not higher: He’s an interesting vocalist but has shown weakness as a writer

Nettspend, the 17-year-old from Richmond, is both the most despised and adored underground rapper in recent memory. At shows, feverish fans treat him like new-gen Justin Bieber and celebrate his amorphous “aura”; online critics demean him as counterculture for brain-rotted Fortnite addicts, calling him an appropriator for being a white teen rapping about loving lean and wondering if there’s actually anything beneath the shiny surface or if he’s just another Matt Ox-like figure​​. The hate seems to be in direct response to the adulation, baffling those who can’t comprehend how this squeaky kid is going viral with barely coherent raps.

His writing doesn’t always hit deep, but the vocal cadences are delightfully erratic. They’re like a more electrifying version of the dazed, phantasmal flow of his friend and New York underground pioneer Xaviersobased. Nett spasms around the beat like a graffiti artist tagging at 3x speed, spraying ad-libs (“Slut truck! Wait, wait, waah! Fuh!”) and molten gurgles everywhere. It’s perfect for attention-deficit Gen Alpha teens craving a quick hit of musical dopamine. Deft at making every song drop feel monumental and shocking fans with unexpected moments (meeting up with Anna Wintour; apparently getting in a sample-clearance fight with Deftones; an early, rare collaboration with Duwap Kaine), Nettspend has also already shown a knack for theatrical flair, which will only bolster his trajectory. —Kieran Press-Reynolds

2. DD Osama

Age: 17

Why they’re on this list: He has emerged as one of the more popular New York drill rappers in recent years

Why they’re not higher: Momentum has stalled since his explosive 2023 and he still hasn’t released a follow-up to Here 2 Stay

New York drill rappers are often burdened with having to grow up fast, and DD Osama’s life and career are no different. He exploded onto the scene with his younger brother, Notti Osama, in 2022 when their track “Dead Opps” caught fire on YouTube. Not even a year later, Notti was murdered and the then-15 year old DD took that pain and put it all into his music. He maintained the momentum that he and his brother started, dropping his debut album, Here 2 Stay, in 2023 which included previously released YouTube hits like “Letter 2 Notti” and “40s N 9s.” DD is 17 now, and like the drill subgenre itself, the content of his music has started to lose its spark. He’s had a slower 2024, dropping a number of songs but no real follow-up to Here 2 Say. Still, the potential he showed on that initial project is strong enough for him to make a high appearance on this list. And DD himself knows what he has to do to take the next steps. Last year, he told Complex that the old form of violent drill is “washed” now, and he has since experimented with more melodic flows on songs like “East Side West Side,” which still utilizes his gruff voice and a sprinkle of classic drill flows. He will have to learn how to diversify his rap repertoire to sustain his career into his 20s, but DD Osama already has a level of popularity that's on par with New York acts a decade older. —Jordan Rose

1. Luh Tyler

Age: 18

Why they’re No. 1: He is the most polished and accomplished rapper among his teenage peers

Let’s start with the “Law & Order” video. The camera follows Luh Tyler, a baby-faced teenager in rose-tinted sunglasses and gold grills, cruising in the back seat around his hometown of Tallahassee, Florida. The star potential—or aura, as social media would say—is overwhelming. He is rapping over a beat that samples Law & Order, a show that has been around longer than Tyler has.

“Law and Order” was only the third song he released up to that point, but it marked the beginning of his trajectory, which would eventually lead him to his current position as the No. 1 teenage rapper. Within a couple of months after “Law and Order,” he signed a deal with Atlantic, and released his first mixtape.

He’s now 18 and settling into his rap identity. He’s a flosser and player, so he doesn’t have the violent persona of some of the drill rappers on the list. And he doesn’t experiment much with melody or Auto-Tune. Instead, he utilizes a laid-back, nonchalant flow and cadence reminiscent of Detroit figures like Veeze or Babyface Ray. He rarely raises his voice, which is enriched with an infectious twang that is easily adaptable. He also knows how to hang with older contemporaries. He’s collaborated with some of Florida’s finest, from Kodak Black to Bossman Dlow to BLP Kosher, seamlessly entering their worlds while staying true to his own style.

So far, Tyler has released two tapes: My Vision in 2023 and Mr. Skii just last month. While both projects have their moments, neither feel fully realized. (Which might explain why some of the excitement around Tyler has faded a bit.) Tyler is a talented artist but it’s clear he’s still growing. And even as he has these stepping stones—the big-name collaborations, the global tour dates with A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, the viral song every couple of months—there is still another level to be reached. He can get there though, he has the bars, persona, poise and polish. He just now needs to put it all together. —Caitlin LoPilato