Patchwerk Recording Studios

Hip-Hop needs new leaders. Historically, a new group of rising stars has established itself as hip-hop’s pacesetters every five to ten years. By 2016, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and others had cemented themselves as leaders of the 2010s. A decade later, several talented artists have shown promise of becoming rap’s next big thing, but they’ve yet to follow in our Mount Rushmore’s footsteps. New superstars are essential to the health of the genre, so new leaders must rise alongside today’s icons to push hip-hop forward. Who’s gonna lead hip-hop’s next generation? A few contenders have emerged—but who will take the next step?