Here’s a quick rundown of the first five:
9. Nino Bless
8. GemStones (A.K.A. Gemini)
7. Charles Hamilton
6. Corey Gunz
5. Nina B
#4 Mickey Factz
Coming in at number four, we have another Bronx native by the name of Mickey Factz. You may ask yourself why Factz is so high up on the list--and the answer is simple. His style is unique, far beyond that of any of the aforementioned rappers.
As he explains it, his style--”uber music,” is a mixture of genres combined with clever lyrics and wordplay.
“The music my generation and younger are listening to has expanded beyond funk and soul, we're listening to rock, electronic, house and so forth. I'm always going to be clever with the wordplay and lyrics, but very few rappers can do that on a Royskopp record. That's the lane I ride in. I'm going to do me, and trust, you'll love me for it" says Mickey.
Rumor has it Mickey is currently in talks with a few major labels including Duck Down Records.
#3 Wale
In the third slot is Washington DC’s Wale. The Interscope records is sure to make noise in 09’ as he preps his first major album.
He’s currently hitting the airwaves appearing on Solange’s “Fuck The Industry,” and can be accredited with being one of the few rappers to successfully tackle Lil Wayne’s “Mr. Carter.”
He has appeared on tracks with The Roots, Chrisette Michelle, and Rhymefest.
#2 Asher Roth
If you ask a Hip Hop fan what is something the music is currently lacking at the moment, you’ll probably get a bevy of answer ranging from “Lyricism” to “getting rid of t-pain and that god damn auto-tune.” I say, Hip Hop is in dire need of a clown--and that clown is Asher Roth.
With his skillful wordplay and playful lyrics, Roth has definitely grabbed the attention of many and reminded us of the early days of a certain rapper on many of our Top 5 Dead Or Alive Lists.
What’s so refreshing about Roth? Well for one, he’s not trying to be much outside of what he knows and is still managing to show off major skills ---even when speaking about how much he loves college.
Look out for Roth in 09 as he is sure to burst onto the mainstream scene in a major way.
#1 Wiz Khalifa
Finally at number one we have an up and comer who burst out onto the scene with one of the summers biggest hits, “Say Yeah.”
Khalifa has shared the stage with artists such as Ghostface Killah, Styles P, Lupe Fiasco, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Cham, Little Brother, Clipse, Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, Lil Scrappy, Mario, T.I., Nas, and Rich Boy.
He is currently working on his Warner Bros’ debut album First Flight.
Honorable mentions go to the following:
Kidz In The Hall
Drake
Kid Cudi
Lady Luck
Some of you wondered why artists such as Joell Ortiz, Saigon, and Crooked I didn’t make the list--and the answer is because they bursted onto the scene in late 06, early 2007. Hell, most of them were featured on XXL’s Leaders Of The New School article LAST year.
As far why I put Nina B ahead of rappers such as Charles Hamilton. I think the Hip Hop industry is in more need of a talented female rapper than a Kanye West clone.
Oh yeah, follow me on twitter bitches! Get some live blogging going in your life: @defsounds
And I'm thinking of doing my next blog in Auto-Tune...thoughts?
COMMENTS
Hey Guerilla, you gay.....
And drizzy (drake for stupid asses) got more buzz in the streets than almost all of these cats....
THANK YOU for putting asher roth up there... hes got some skills and he is more real than half the rappers out there.... he's a white kid who loves to get fucked up and thats what he raps about... hes not tryin to be someone hes not which is a trend more people need to follow... and plus some of his shits hilarious
"And drizzy (drake for stupid asses) got more buzz in the streets than almost all of these cats...."
J.G. i don't know what kind of streets you be on... drake's not street.
drizzy? j.g. c'mon now lol
WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH THESE MAURY PROMOS? GOD DAMN!
I agree with Loc G.. Wiz Khalifa? Never heard of this kid.
One of the summer's biggest hits? WHERE?
Certainly not the radio, certainly not BET or MTV
Biggest in his town maybe
Matter of fact, he only charted on the "Rhythmic contemporary" charts, 25 out of the top 40.
Trash me if you want to, but wtf am I wrong about?
Wale certainly gets that #1 spot in my book.
I've actually seen Wale in regular magazines and media like The Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, and Rolling Stone
Not just XXL and The Source
at least give Dubb from south central an honorable mention! that guy has flow and lyrics
This is more of a newcomer list, rather than an actual "9 To Watch In '09". I think Joell Ortiz is someone who is definately gonna be a mover & shaker in '09. You don't put him on the list because he has already been around for a while, which is why I say this is a newcomer to the game list. Doesn't make much sense though to put Lady Luck as an honorable mention, on this newcomer list when she came out as part of "Def Jam 2000". PEACE Come check out The Livin' Large Morning Show Hip-Hop/N.F.L. Special w/ Bobby Livin', and Tony Large Sundays 11am-1pm EST at www.clubmegamix.com. You'll like it.
u forgot the Cool Kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and Guerilla is a fag, seriously
Furhtermore, Wiz might have SHARED the stage with those artists, but how many has he actually done songs with? How many have shouted him out?
Wale got shouted out by Grafh.
Wale has done songs with people from The Roots to Lil' Wayne to Travis Barker.
Further argument for Wale taking that #1 spot.
I'd watch Wale, not Wiz.
Wale has more buzz, great potential, already put in plenty of work.
na wiz is tha shit but wale shoulda been 1 wiz 2 and asher 3. Dont sleep on khalifa tho he may have some club hits but they actually have lyrics. but wale is a fuckin beast and he shoulda been 1
IMO Cory Gunz is the hottest on the list to me
asher roth is a good artist, ill give him that, but hes gonna have to step aside once em drops again
i fuck wit wale too
yo about underground rappers-what happened to st laz? u guys used to post his shit, what happened? his shits hot too, go fuck wit that new 'hero' mixtape-real shit
and u already know the beats are fire
Thats whats up with Wiz Khalifa didnt think yall listen to him like that. here in az we been bumpin his shit for a minute and Asher Roth do got some dumb ass songs (but i mean that in a good way). Thats a pretty good line up. Wale is hot in the game now too.
i like the top 2 but i think asher roth should be #1, if he goes a lil crazy lol we gotta another em and thats def not a bad thing ooo and kidz in the hall is someone everyone should check out
fuck all you haters. wiz khalifa is a perfect candidate for the number one spot and you can all suck a dick if your saying otherwise. go ahead trash me. but this kid is better than your favorite dick suckin rapper. ive been listening to his shit for a while and hes just as good as wale. i'm not saying which one is better. i would be fine with either one of them at #1. you guys just need to stop hating
Asher Roth is gonna make it big. same thing for Wiz Khalifa.
i had to listen to that Milli freestyle again...he did 1000 times better than Weezy.
anyway...anyone ready for that new 50 album "Before I Self Destruct??" i know i am
Ggggg-Unit!!
Mickey is a Loaded Lux clone, that nigga jacked Loaded Lux style heavy on that track...........not impressed, Lux should burn that nigga.
EZ
Wiz Khalifa is my boy! hes gunna be big Say Yeah is fire!
damn yo asher roth is pretty ill. come on put our race on the map homie! haha jk man hes pretty sick tho i like his style n i think he might like weed as much as me. he has a huge vocab its nice to hear someone rap about politics n other random shit i got enough drug kingpin/ gangbang shoot ur gramma already kna mean. dis kid is for real ima find some more of his shit.
i like/know a couple other dudes on the list but hes the one that suprised me the most so anyway i hope these guys do drop somethin in 09
Wale is the best outta the top 4 to me
I DONT GET HOW YALL DONT KNOW WIZ WEN UNNO U HEARD DAT SONG FOR LIKE ONE WEEK BUT THEN THEY STOPPED PLAYIN IT
I believe Wale is too. But Wiz and Asher both SUCK!!! No talent what so ever!!! That Wiz video is sooooooo garbage, it makes me sick to my stomach on how hip-hop music is going down the drain, talent wise.
Hmmm i strongly agree with the list. Dont really know of Wiz Khalifa but I feel Ash shouldve taken the top spot. But the list is pretty accurate. Charles Hamilton damn sure is a Kanye clone.
heard Wiz and he is aight..I think he has potential..the beat and production of his tracks are inventive
all pretty dope, not sure asher roth will take off. he seems like more of a gimmick. i think pokerface should of had a mention
Asher Roth..
lol that nigga ripped it
"My advanced lasted about a week, after taxes, my bills and a big sack of weed"
probably the realist shit I've heard all year
check out the green house effect mix tape
lol I youtubed Asher Roth and dude is funny as fuck...He used the DJ Drama Cannon beat and said
"You know the world's gone mad, when blacks wear plaid and Mariah married Nick Cannon(cannon)"
lol don't know whether to be offended or laugh...
nice list.. wiz, wale, kid cudi n drake go hard for '09..
dey gotta had willie the kid n bishop lamont on tha list too..
holla baq..
yea i thought willie was gon make tha list fa sho...
what about eli porter!!!!! he had the hottest verse i heard all year, i deeed it maaang! lol
Kid Cudi shud be on that list instead of sum of the dudes in the lower positions....Wale's album is looking good....and Drake, well I think he might end up like a hearthrob rapper like Wayne or Yung Berg....lets hope im wrong......
PS: Why da fuck is DS collaborating with Maury lmao
some ppl on ds got problems
lol JG gettin hos pregnate and shit
lmao thats funny...jg like halfway there...40yro virgin
wiz>
"some ppl on ds got problems"
True say! I got trashed just for asking a question, some sad times yo.
so where is ya boy?and mickey is nice Asher Roth is cool too just a litle too eminem for me not that's a bad thing just mor of the same. But it's cool someone actually raps about college. Somewhere alot of ppl need to go. Ya boy is alot nicer than ppl on this list. Same with gemstones
cory gunz
Yea, he's pretty sick! He could rap on for days!!!
Drake should be on this...he got the style of kanye and lupe merged together and his bars are hot.
why aint cory gunz #1 on this list. you slippin jokesta
Jokesta's an asshole he never be replyin to nobody's comments
Are you fucking serious? LMAO
Skyzoo, Ya Boy, Torae, all deserved a look. Torae at least a honorable mention, Skyzoo deserved to be in top 4, Ya Boy should be over Wiz Khalifa and Nina B. Asher Roth doesn't deserve to be on this list he is horrible, Charles Hamilton is horrible as well. Wale deserved his spot, Cory and Nino should have been higher. Drake should have made the list without a doubt along with Red Cafe and if your going to mention a female Nicki Minaj is doing way more than Nina B. This whole list is 1 mans opinion though can't hate
Oh yea, I forgot about Torae, I heard him on a couple of songs on "Corner Store Classic" that dude can spit!!!
in my opinion nicki minaj is ass. i haven't heard one hot verse from her yet. she hasn't shown me any reason to put her up on this list. she's not even close to jean grae or any of the good female rappers of late. fuck it even lil mama sounds hotter than her when she raps.
yea wiz got skillz..i heard the white boy a few times kid can spit..Charles hamilton gets no Love for trying to clown Uncle luke lol
K ill definitly agree that Drake shoulda made the list - but Asher Roth shoulda gotten 1st in my books - real flow and tru talker. Wiz Khalifa already got a live track tho and i dont doubt nica be dropin some ill ones in the futur. Straight up tho - biggg upps to Asher Roth
Asher Roth...... plain and simple
I WAS GONE TALK SHIT ABOUT ASHER ROTH BUT DAAAAAMN THE WHITE BOY IS NICE AND HE SHIT ON EVERY THING I HATE ABOUT THESE FUCKBOYS....MIGHT BE TOO REAL FOR SOME PEOPLE
BUT TRUTHFULLY WIZ KHALFI OR WHATEVER HIS NAME IS, IS GARBAGE. SOMEBODY PUT A END TO THIS EARLY 80'S TECHNO DISCO
FAKE RAP/RNB SHIT
PLEASE
yeah Daaht nigga Drake Go Hard Nigga in hiss mixtape look for a song called "Closer " Diis nigga Said "I Switch Wifey like Urry Season..So Call ME Uncle Phil" (fresh Prince) n Ma Nigga Wiz is a beast ..Nevah listen To Asher Roth But Yea Looks Like i Gots To Noaw lol ..Good ListTho
Jokesta u bugging for not mentioning Joell Ortiz and Termanology. Even the kid Saigon should've been on there, or AC (that kid from Staten). U put Nino Bless and Nina B?! U ever seen Nina B live? She cute but she corny Hedonis should've been on b4 her come on Jokesta get wit' the Under-circuit!
Oh n if u looking for the tru spitters u need 2 pay close atention 2 Sha Stimuli!
ok why da fuck Drake only got honorable mention. Yall be fuckin wildin yo!
Informative. Didn't know about alot of these artists, but some of them have been around for quite awhile.
maan cory gunz needs to be higher...that mickey factz dude aint all that...asher roth is...you said it, a clown. and wiz....cmoonnn that song is wack
Drake shoulda been on the list
I just "datpiffed" Asher Roth...He gotta mixtape DJ Drama & Don Cannon. Imma check it out.
wow..u late as hell
man Ya Boy is better than 95% of niggas out he should have been #1
no meek mill?? thats a little weird...hes fuckin up philly right now
"Its just these stupid mother fuckers never get it, its pathetic yo they get to the pros and dont do shit like they Reddick"
For all my nba fans thats realll talk lmao
Yo thats one of the illesttttt lines btw (Asher Roth)
i dont even fuk with half these katz
and the blog is nine to watch in 09 not 9 new niggas that probably wont make it to 2010
top to watch in 09 is most def..
joe budden,joell ortiz,saigon,Big lou etc.....
not these other cats....theyll be lucky to even catch my attention
This year was supposed to be Saigon & Ortiz's year but they didn't make enough noise.
I'm most anticipating Wale's 1st album. He's as lyrically gifted as Jay-Z, Kanye & Lupe. If you don't believe me look up W.A.L.E. D.A.N.C.E.
DC STAND UP
im still waiting for his 9th Wonder mixtape too...
word up my nig you talkin that real shit.....homie wale is def up there wit lupe i wouldnt say jay just yet....he be comin wit dope ass rhymes
"If i aint strive to be shawn ill end up as ki-jiana"
" the game is a store im the male winona ryder" lmao
"rap stars be faker then most actors, they phony the grammys should be held at the tonys"
"been in more tu-lips yea, then a florist" lol wow...lemme stop das jus 1 song...nigga 2 nice...
"and You're not official like a ref at a scrimmage"
"In behalf of the half witted/ I be half with it/ at times, cuz the whole in me is THAT gifted"
"I been off the wall like vega/ they vaguely/ decipher my language"
yea, son got quotes 4 days....
Dis Wale dude sound sweet. I feel Cory Gunz shuda been higher, but where is my dude Small World of DTP? He's better than any rapper on this list. And he's coming next year, dats a name to keep in mind....Learn it.
ReDef.
wiz khalifas bomb check his mixtapes out bomb....from pittsburgh wut up wiz you smokin good?
My Nigga put Lady Luck up there as an honrable mention...
Isnt she the chick that got Sonned by Remy Ma on Fight Klub?
Man that Wiz shit on the radio was mad goofy to me...niggas could barely catch the beat in the booth, much less shorties dance to it in the club...Wale should be way higher...maybe 1 or 2...my homeboy is a DJ and I got like 3 Wiz mixtapes...nothin too hot...what about B.O.B.?!?!