The Top 10 New School MCs

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The Top 10 New School MCs

Hip-Hop is constantly progressing, with older MCs falling by the wayside, while new, hungry talent enter the game. The shelf life of most artists is extremely limited, but there are always a crop of fresh faced rappers with the potential to have lasting careers. The criteria for this list boils down to which ‘New School MCs’—limited to artists with only one proper album, at most, to their credit—have the potential to become rap superstars. So before you fail to comprehend, an artist like Drake was disqualified since Take Care was his sophomore album.

That said, the following ten artists, in no particular order, combine different amounts of rhyme talents, social media savvy, charisma and other nuanced factors essential to making a lasting mark in the rap game.

Think about how many rappers were can’t miss prospects, that dropped an album or two and vanished. Now realize how few actually are still rocking with respect.

Did your favorite new jack MC make the cut? If not, feel free to let us know who we missed in the comments. Click the #s below.

KENDRICK LAMAR

It’s hard to look at Kendrick Lamar and see anything but a Hip-Hop prodigy. The good kid from Compton effortlessly set himself ahead of the competition with his 2011 release Section.80, a mind-blowing 16-track album that made him undeniable to any remaining skeptics.

Kendrick’s breakthrough into the scene started in 2009. Undergoing a name change from his alias K.Dot, the budding artist made his debut with the release of The Kendrick Lamar EP, which received well over a hundred thousand downloads alone. A year later he let loose of his follow up mixtape O.verly D.edicated, a rude awakening for “MC’s” that had been merely skating by on mediocrity.

Aficionados can trace Kendrick’s career even further back to his novice efforts Training Day and C4, a re-make of Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III. Though not as lyrically developed, his talents were obvious, especially on his numeral narrative “Best Rapper Under 25.”

A co-sign from Dr. Dre couldn’t hurt either. Kendrick’s name made headlines on headlines after the public caught wind of his feature on the mythical Detox album. Even though we have yet to see the fruits of these labors, Kendrick assured us that “it’s coming.”

It remains undisputed that Kendrick Lamar raised the bar for rap. What truly makes him deserving of this list though, is his fresh approach. It’s uncanny the way he retells stories in a way that makes you feel like no one has ever rapped about that topic before.

J. COLE

How do you live in the shadow of a legend, and manage to stand firmly on your own two feet? Debuting an album #1, achieving Gold status and a Grammy Nomination aren’t bad starting points. J. Cole answered every critic he had in 2011. With no overly popular radio single to his debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, he proved that there is success in staying true to yourself in Hip-Hop music.

Prior to Cole’s 2011 debut, he released several mixtapes that were seen as classic compilations, and a testament to his overall artistry. However, over time the doubts began to pile up, as to whether or not it was Jay-Z’s shadow that was hindering Cole’s growth. Cole answered that call with a monster verse on Hov’s “A Star is Born,” and assisted Miguel on his single “All I Want Is You.” If that wasn’t enough convincing, Cole addressed all doubters with his Jay-Z assisted, “Mr. Nice Watch”.

Cole’s sophomore album will say a lot as to how far he can go, and after setting the bar so high with his debut, consistency will be key. The talent for Cole to remain towards the top of the list among his peers is definitely there. His ability to produce a majority of his own music also bodes well for his longevity, and staying power. J. Cole is for sure, a star to watch in 2012 and beyond.

BIG K.R.I.T.

The K.R.I.T. stands for King Remembered In Time, and in 2011 Big K.R.I.T. solidified himself as a rhyme and production heavyweight.

Early in the year, the Mississippi rapper released his second official mixtape of original music, Return of 4Eva, a smashing blend of vivid lyricism and soul stirring beats. It was the follow up to 2010’s K.R.I.T. Wuz Here, the mixtape–which also played more like an album–that made everyone take note of this mega-talented Southerner.

Def Jam took note of K.R.I.T. talents, signing him on the dotted line for the honor of releasing his forthcoming debut, Live From The Underground. K.R.I.T. is next in line from a strong heritage of artists like UGK or 8Ball & MJG, known for expert lyricism over bass heavy beats. But the difference is K.R.I.T. is poised to breakthrough into the mainstream if he drops the right record.

Armed with his trusty rhymes and his own instrumental, bet on K.R.I.T.

JON CONNOR

Jon Connor is a product of the Flint, Michigan music scene, making his debut in 2005 with his mixtape The Calling Pt 1. A year later he followed up with Everybody Hates Connor, a cocky-toned effort chock full of industry beats, proceeded by The Calling Pt 2 and Jon Connor as Vinnie Chase: Season One.

Connor showed major growth, with a more polished sound on his 2011 mixtape Season 2. Described by The Smoking Section as “exhibits of raw lyricism,” the emerging artist continued his theme of personal narratives.

Describing himself as a mirror to the hood, Connor keeps the public interest by consistently producing earnest storytelling. The MC has had some fortuitous moments in his career, sharing the stage early-on with the likes of KRS-ONE to getting a co-sign from Busta Rhymes, but his mark in Hip-Hop isn’t contingent on these short-lived peeks at fame.

Jon Connor’s vivid storytelling and street chronicles bypass the fraudulent flossing of the drug game by most MCs, but hits more home with detailed epics of losing his father to drug addiction and seeing friends murdered at close range.

Not one to conform to “hipster” labels or pressures of pop influenced music, Connor is able to win listeners over by making music that is inspired by reality. The ambition, struggle, and determination in his music speak more volumes than talk of the Hollywood lifestyle that seems far off and nearly unattainable to so many people.

Right now Connor walks with the people and has amassed a loyal following but as he continues to uplift the hood with his motivational and reality driven rhymes, he’ll soon lead.

B.O.B.

Similar to Wiz Khalifa, B.o.B. crossed over to the land of the unidentified genre. B.o.B. showed us glimpses of his gritty-ish rap style with “Haterz Everywhere” and “B Is For B.o.B,” but his mainstream recognition was for his alternative influenced music such as the tunes heard on his debut album, The Adventures of Bobby Ray, and most of his earlier work.

B.o.B. released a slew of mixtapes including The Future, Cloud 9, Hi! My Name is B.o.B and Who the F#*k is B.o.B?, all of which demonstrated his niche musical mannerisms. His unconventional approach was a set-up for a promising career, catering to a broad demographic.

Contagious singles like “Nothing On You,” “Don’t Let Me Fall,” and “Airplanes” made him a mainstream success, but what really makes B.o.B. a staple artist is his mastering of the cross-genre art. Even though most of his beat selection might not hold a tinge of Hip-Hop, he’s able to tailor his lyricism to compliment it without compromising creative value. On one of his mixtapes, appropriately titled No Genre, B.o.B. exercised that craft well, revisiting more authentic rap styles while continuing to dabble in waves of pop somewhere in between.

At times the Grand Hustle artist seems to struggle with finding a happy medium, something he addressed in a recent interview when speaking on his next album. The Atl-ien shared that he found a balance on the follow up to his debut, producing a more mature, less experimental sound.

NICKI MINAJ

Despite her huge personality, and elaborate style of dress, it’s hard to deny Nicki Minaj’s ability on the mic. Anyone that can get on a record with Rick Ross, Kanye West, and Jay-Z, and come out with arguably, the song’s best verse, deserves respect.

Nicki released hit after hit in 2010, with “Your Love” and “Right Thru Me” reaching #1 and #2 on the Hot Rap Songs list. In addition, she struck it big with “Check It Out,” “Roman’s Revenge,” “Moment 4 Life,” and “Did It On’em.” The success of these records, catapulted Nicki’s debut album, Pink Friday, to nearly double platinum status, as of November 2011, totaling over $1.6 million albums sold.

Young Money’s first lady is now set to release her follow-up, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, on Valentine’s Day. She took the opportunity to also release another shot in Lil Kim’s direction, on “Roman in Moscow,” followed by “Stupid H*e”. While she’s gotten mixed reviews on the two records so far, she’s sure to give us more as we get closer to her release. Remember, she didn’t get much buzz around her release of “Massive Attack,” and then followed it up with six straight hits, including her multi-platinum “Super Bass.”

Nicki is now a Pop star appearing on the covers of magazines like Elle and W, earning her spot on this list as one to watch easily.

BIG SEAN

Patience paid of big time for Louis Vuitton Sean. After years of being Kanye West’s virtual understudy, Big Sean stepped into the limelight and seized his moment. Sean first peaked the Hip-Hop world’s interest with “Get’Cha Some” from Yeezy’s Can’t Tell Me Nothing mixtape in 2007. A gang of the Detroit native’s own music, via his Finally Famous mixtape series, proved that the talent was there, and him letting anyone who listened know he invented the Supa Dupa Flow only reinforced his potential. But questions still lurked about him being able to deliver on the major label stage.

Sean’s debut, Finally Famous, featured production from No ID and spawned a bunch of hits like “My Last,” featuring Chris Brown, “Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay,” featuring Kanye West, and “Dance (@$$).” The Def Jam rapper proved he was no one’s sidekick, even landing on the cover of The Source Magazine.

MAC MILLER

Mac Miller enjoyed a very successful 2011 as the Pittsburgh native received a Gold plaque for his single, “Donald Trump” and topped it off with an appearance on the Forbes list.

Miller’s popularity skyrocketed with the co-sign of the aforementioned mogul, who deemed Mac “The Next Eminem.” But Mac was already a viral sensation even before the Donald mentioned his name. The 19 year-old has an uncanny bond with many of his fans, which exceed close to 2.5 million between his Twitter and Facebook Pages. Mac’s huge following helped him debut his album, Blue Slide Park at #1, which is an astonishing accomplishment for an independent artist.

An ever improving flow, choice beat selection and a respect for art means Miller a star in the making, and can only go up from here.

WIZ KHALIFA

Developing a cult following with his niche brand of “herb” friendly lyrics, it seems only right that Wiz Khalifa would eventually reach mainstream success.

The Pittsburg native released his first album Show and Prove in 2006, after joining the Rostrum Records roster. Harboring a classic Hip-Hop vibe, the opus got the attention of Rolling Stone Magazine, who dubbed the young Wiz an “artist to watch.”

A brief stint with Warner Brothers Records was the product of several projects, including Grow Season, Prince of the City 2, Star Power and Flight School. Despite a number of appearances and collaborations, his debut album with the label never saw the light of day.

Parting ways with Warner, Wiz continued working with Rostrum and quickly became a trailblazer for the indie Hip-Hop scene. Circa 2009, Wiz joined New Orleans MC Curren$y to release their joint effort How To Fly. Khalifa stepped into new territory with this release; more melodic beats and even a bit of “singing,” if you call it that.

The rapper quickly made his way onto everyone’s watch list, scoring a spot on XXL’s coveted Freshman List, and The Source’s Rookie of the Year. Somewhere between releasing his Kush and Orange Juice mixtape and selling out shows with Yelawolf, Wiz’s career creeped to new heights.

Even a little marijuana trafficking couldn’t stop the rising star, who crossed over to the mainstream when he released his viral single “Black and Yellow” under Rostrum/Atlantic.

Releasing his Atlantic debut Rolling Papers, Wiz abandoned his underground roots for a more label-friendly style of sing-songy rap. He may have lost some fans along the way with his cross-genre transformation and all, but what’s more important is the way he was able to cultivate a loyal fan base organically, while rising to mainstream fame.

MEEK MILL

How do you shine on a team, Maybach Music Group, whose marquee act, Rick Ross, is one of the biggest stars in Hip-Hop. By dropping undeniable music. That’s exactly what Philadelphia spitter Meek Mill did, absolutely wrecking “I’ma Boss,” easily one of the Hip-Hop songs of the summer.

Pill skipped out, and Wale dropped a well received album, but Meek is the MMG artist, besides Rozay, that everyone is checking for. After a short stint on Grand Hustle, Meek locked down his hometown and became the next Philly MC to blow (go back and check his Flamerz mixtapes). Rozay got the word and signed him to MMG quickfast. It was Meek holding it down on joints like “Tupac Back” “I’ma Boss,” both from Self Made Vol. 1, and most recently “House Party,” which was featured on his highly regarded Dreamchasers mixtape.

Listen to Meek’s bars and you can’t help but feel his energy, and rap along–something many MCs just can’t do. That excitement is sure to manifest in his upcoming Dreamchasers 2.0 mixtape and his proper MMG debut album, both due in 2012.