R&B/Hip-Hop

Though he wasn’t even born when Law & Order first debuted in the early ’90s, Luh Tyler cleverly flipped the famous TV theme song and released a remixed version in 2022. After watching his stock skyrocket, Tyler caused more shockwaves when he unleashed “My First Show.” The Tallahassee teen’s whimsical delivery and puckish wordplay are befitting, considering he hasn’t even sniffed 18 yet. Looking to blossom as Generation Now’s third star behind Jack Harlow and Lil Uzi Vert, Tyler is oozing with potential, especially after his exhibition on fan favorites “Change My Wayz” and “Back Flippin.” – CARL LAMARRE

FLO is playing the long game. R&B diehards may recognize the trio’s name from 2022’s viral “Cardboard Box,” but after spending 2023 putting in work on developing their live show and forthcoming debut LP, this U.K. girl group could very well become a household name. Last year, the trio scored their biggest chart success yet with the Missy Eliott-assisted “Fly Girl,” won the rising star award at the BRITs and churned out standout performances at festivals like Wireless and Glastonbury.

In lieu of an LP, they released a three-pack that further honed their unique blend of Afrobeats, Y2K pop and R&B. With key collaborator MNEK excitedly teasing their debut album on social media, it looks like the decision to take their time crafting their first full-length record will pay off handsomely. – KYLE DENIS

Rap was built on the art of sampling. Every generation finds new methods and new genres to pillage in hopes of creating something new and fresh. Cash Cobain, the Bronx-born rapper and producer, has done just that: Dubbed the “sample god,” Cobain has built a reputation on flipping everything from pop culture ephemera like the theme song to Moesha to pop-rock hits like the Plain White Tees’ 2006 Billboard Hot 100 chart topper “Hey There Delilah.” 

The connective tissue between these seemingly disparate creative impulses (usually found on YouTube) is Cobain’s take on Jersey club percussion. His songs all play with tension — using frenetic drum programming to simulate a build-up. But unlike the club songs he studied, there’s rarely a release. He keeps the energy pent up like a roller coaster before a drop. It all makes for an entertaining backdrop for his and frequent collaborator Chow Lee’s sex-soaked lyrics. The most exciting part of all this, however, is that he’s just getting started. — DAMIEN SCOTT

From theater student to R&B star, Naomi Sharon embraces the spotlight taking centerstage as the First Lady of OVO. Last October, the Caribbean-Dutch singer mended broken hearts with her atmospheric Obsidian debut. At the suggestion of Drake, Sharon took a creative leap of faith outside of her comfort zone to explore more dance-leaning and Afrobeats-flavored sonics, which led to sanguine tunes. The outcome was favorable, giving the acclaimed LP a warmer and nostalgic aesthetic. Her “Nothing Sweeter” single set the bar even higher for 2024 as Sharon channeled Toni Braxton’s “Un-Break My Heart” on the angelic guitar-laden love letter. – MICHAEL SAPONARA

What happens when you mix an intoxicating Afrobeats/amapiano drum pattern with traditional R&B and pop elements, tied together with melodically enchanting vocals? One of 2023’s biggest breakthroughs: Tyla’s sultry global hit “Water.” 

The South African singer’s catchy, self-styled “popiano” sound, coupled with a viral TikTok dance and remixes featuring Travis Scott and Marshmello, not only garnered major league success — No. 7 on the Hot 100, making her the highest-charting African female soloist ever on that tally, after Miriam Makeba’s No. 12 peak with “Pata Pata” in 1968 — but it also gave the 22-year-old her first Grammy in the new category of best African music performance. With her latest single “Truth or Dare,” upcoming debut album and first headlining tour in March, Tyla is poised to carve a more indelible stateside imprint for herself … and for African music. — GAIL MITCHELL

The Canadian-Ethiopian singer-songwriter, and first lady of The Weeknd’s XO label, has made a name for herself in the last two years with her otherworldly, sultry blend of R&B and pop. Chxrry22 grapples with leaving past lovers behind and adjusting to the star lifestyle on her whimsical debut EP The Other Side, while on her sophomore EP Siren, she further wields her beauty and beguiling voice to get exactly what she wants because she knows exactly who she is – that girl. Chxrry can simultaneously deliver intimate jazz club-ready songs like “The Falls” and blissful dancefloor records like “Do It,” and that sonic versatility, anchored by her supple vocals, will have her taking over stages around the world.  – HERAN MAMO

Maintaining mystique while building a buzz is a tough juggling act for emerging artists to handle in the social media era, but 4batz and his ski-mask aesthetic have walked the tight-rope to perfection. With only two tracks to his name on streaming platforms, the Dallas-bred alt-R&B singer is on the precipice of a ‘24 explosion as a bidding war has ensued between multiple major labels for his services. “You runnin’ out of shoes to wear, so I bought you another pair,” he croons on the airy “act ii: date at 8” in a caption-worthy bar made for the debt-friendly Generation Z. In addition to cracking the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time thanks to “act II,” 4batz has even caught the eye of his A-list peers, with co-signs from Kanye West, Drake and SZA to name a few. — M.S.

Atlanta remains a hotbed for upcoming rap stars, with Hunxho leading the crusade. His penchant for heartbreak and confessionals is reminiscent of another ATL titan in Future Hendrix. Drenched with syrupy melodies, Hunxho’s breakout mixtape, For Her, gained traction upon its release, becoming a fixture on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart, reigning supreme for four weeks. Songs like “Your Friends,” “Yes” and “Bad Bad” are strong indicators of a sly songwriter adept at reeling in the opposite sex with relative ease. – C.L.

Between Jenn Carter’s lethal lyricism, Kyle Richh’s snarling growl-inflected flow and TaTa’s irresistibly boisterous energy, it’s difficult to name another contemporary rap trio with synergy as effortless and charismatic as 41. Hailing from the thoroughest borough of Brooklyn, NY, 41 spent 2023 nurturing their grassroots support through roof-shaking live shows and a string of viral and regional hits, “Bent” chief among them. With one full-length project under their belt (41 World: Not the Album) and a sobering outlook on how to continue innovating the over-criminalized New York drill scene, 41 has all of the ingredients needed to parlay local and Internet virality into quantifiable cross-medium success. – K.D.

It’s hard to believe how masterful Elmiene sounds at the still-tender age of 21. But the proof is in watching the U.K.-based singer-songwriter effortlessly showcase his soothing, lyrical tenor by way of the EP Live at RAK Studios. Among the set’s mesmerizing highlights is his freestyle work on “Someday.” Released at the top of 2024, Elmiene’s latest features four tracks from his sublime 2023 EP Marking My Time, whose guests include Syd and Sampha. Between steadily building word of mouth after his track “Golden” helped soundtrack Virgil Abloh’s final Louis Vuitton show and a North American tour last year, Polydor/Def Jam Recordings’ Elmiene is poised to become one of R&B’s next-gen breakthroughs. – G.M.

The genre-defying Nigerian singer-songwriter, whose moniker “Bloody Civilian” is inspired by the military violence she witnessed growing up in Abuja, isn’t afraid to hold back. “How to Kill a Man,” her electrifying debut single from her cathartic debut EP Anger Management, could instantly draw in anyone just based off its alarming title, but its hypnotic basslines, deceptively honeyed vocals and humorously villainous lyrics about “twerking on your grave” are what really captivate listeners. Bloody’s unique fusion of Afropop, R&B and psychedelic music, as well as her unapologetic spirit, has made her a force to reckoned with — and she’ll continue shining as one of Nigeria’s boldest new voices.  – H.M.

Last year, Jordan Ward moonwalked his way to stardom with his silky vocals and flashy footwork. Once a dancer for Beyonce, Justin Bieber and Becky G, the St. Louis dynamo leaped FORWARD into the R&B stratosphere with his debut album of that title. The project’s single, “White Crocs,” was a sneaky cultural hit, earning rave reviews from Tyler, The Creator, 6LACK and other hitmakers. A nimble double-threat in the singing and dancing departments, Ward’s polished attributes will only gleam brighter after already gracing NPR’s Tiny Desk, the Dreamville Festival and an opening slot on JID’s & Smino’s co-headlining tour last year. – C.L.

Not many artists’ road to stardom include a stint in the National Guard. Rob49 carried the “yeet, yeet” momentum of “Vulture Island” into 2023, where he survived a frightening Miami shooting to deliver his robust 4GOD II project and earn a frenetic guest appearance on Travis Scott’s blockbuster UTOPIA. The New Orleans native also checked a dream collaboration off his bucket list when he connected with one of his hip-hop heroes in Lil Wayne for the skittering “WASSAM BABY,” starting ‘24 on a heater. – M.S.

The Swazi-born, South Africa-based DJ earned her title as the “princess of amapiano” in the last two years after an Instagram video of her whining her hips to Young Stunna’s “Adiwele” during one of her sets went viral. “I tend to use my dance moves to translate the music, so you’re going to see what the song says even if you don’t understand it,” Waffles previously told Billboard.

Since then, she’s spread the South African house subgenre all over the world, from becoming the first amapiano act to perform at Coachella last year, to having her tantalizing debut single “Tanzania” used in a dance break during Beyonce’s Renaissance World Tour. And as amapiano’s signature log drums and high-pitched piano melodies continue growing popular outside of the continent, Waffles will continue being one of its predominant figures.  – H.M.

While Afrobeats is having a well-deserved moment, Odumodublvck is working to shine a bit of the spotlight on Nigerian rap. The 30-year-old Abuja native broke out two years ago with his hit single “PICANTO,” which made him a bonafide star in his home country. And now, after releasing EZIOKWU, his first project in partnership with Native Records and Def Jam, Odumodublvck is hoping to leave a mark in the U.K. and the U.S. Will it work? We think so. His ear for melody and his interpretation of U.K. drill (“Saint Obi”) show a versatility needed to reach the heights he’s trying to hit. “I just try to make it interesting and melodic,” he once said. If he keeps doing that, his star will continue to grow. — D.S.