They say that rap is a young man’s game, and the talent showcased in this article proves it. This list will introduce you to thirty young rappers under the age of 30 who are having an impact in hip-hop today.
This list focuses on famous young rappers, with the majority of them under the age of 25. We’ve covered both US and UK rappers in the list, featuring artists from trap, drill, and general hip-hop scenes.
Here are the young rappers making an impact right now.
1. Lil Nas X
Born: April 9, 1999
Age: 23
Lil Nas X burst onto the scene in 2019 with his smash hit ‘Old Town Road.’ The record breaking track has seen the artist become a cultural icon, and one of the most famous young rappers on the scene today.
2. Roddy Ricch
Born: October 22, 1998
Age: 24
Roddy Ricch is a big name in rap today. His track ‘The Box’ spent eleven weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, with his debut album Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial (2019) topping the Billboard 200 album chart. A young rapper to keep your eye on.
3. Polo G
Born: January 6, 1999
Age: 24
Polo G is a young rapper who is going from strength to strength with his 2021 album Hall of Fame topping the Billboard 200 album chart. His biggest hit is ‘Rapstar,’ from that same album, which went five times Platinum.
4. NLE Choppa
Born: November 1, 2002
Age: 20
One of the very youngest rappers on this list, NLE Choppa is already making waves. His first big hit was his single ‘Shotta Flow’ (2019), which went three times Platinum.
5. YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Born: October 20, 1999
Age: 23
As his name suggests, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, aka NBA YoungBoy, is a young rapper, although his name and his financial status are liable to eventually become outdated. That said, so far his career is going from strength to strength, with two Billboard 200 topping albums to his name – Top (2020) and Sincerely, Kentrell (2021).
6. Juice WRLD
Born: December 2, 1998
Age: 21 (at death)
The promising emo rapper Juice WRLD may not be with us any longer, but his legacy remains. Before his untimely death on December 8, 2019, the young rapper had already made a massive impact. His biggest hits include ‘Lucid Dreams’ and ‘Robbery.’
7. Lil Tecca
Born: August 26, 2002
Age: 20
The fresh-faced Lil Tecca is one of the youngest rappers on this list, and has already enjoyed significant success. He first rose to fame with his 2019 hit single ‘Ransom,’ which reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100. His 2020 debut album Virgo World reached number ten on the Billboard 200 album chart.
8. Lil Skies
Born: August 4, 1998
Age: 24
Despite his youth, Lil Skies – the son of rapper Dark Skies – has already dwarfed the career of his father. Lil Skies burst onto the scene in 2019 with singles ‘i,’ ‘Nowadays,’ and ‘Red Roses’ from his 2019 album Shelby. All three singles charted in the Billboard Hot 100, with the album also just making it onto the Billboard 200 album chart.
9. Lil Tjay
Born: April 30, 2001
Age: 22
The youthful Lil Tjay has seen his career skyrocket in the last couple of years, despite being one of the youngest rappers on the scene today. Already signed to Columbia Records, his 2019 debut album True 2 Myself debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 album chart. His biggest hit so far is ‘Calling My Phone’ with 6lack, which reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
10. Lil Keed
Born: March 16, 1998
Age: 24 (at death)
Lil Keed is a young rapper who died before his time. The promising artist collaborated with the likes of trap heavyweights Lil Uzi Vert and 21 Savage before he died on May 13, 2022 from eosinophilia. His biggest his was his 2018 single ‘Nameless.’ He was the older brother of Lil Gotit.
11. Lil Mosey
Born: January 25, 1998
Age: 25
After early success on Soundcloud, Lil Mosey first rose to fame with his 2017 single ‘Pull Up.’ He went on to release successful singles including ‘Noticed,’ ‘Blueberry Faygo,’ and ‘Stuck in a Dream.’ His 2019 album Certified Hitmaker reached number twelve on the Billboard 200 album chart.
12. Lil Gotit
Born: August 6, 1999
Age: 23
The younger brother of Lil Keed, Lil Gotit’s rap career has taken off under the mentorship of Young Thug. He has appeared with Lil Keed on the Lil Uzi Vert song ‘Heavy Metal’ and with Lil Uzi Vert on ‘Hercules.’ He also collaborated with Gunna on ‘Superstar.’ His biggest hit as a solo artist is ‘Da Real HoodBabies’ featuring Lil Baby.
13. Lil Loaded
Born: December 3, 1998
Age: 20 (at death)
Lil Loaded’s story is sadly short-lived. The young rapper went viral with his hit song ‘6locc 6a6y’ in 2019, aged just 19, with the help of YouTuber Tommy Craze. He went on to release a second successful single ‘Gang Unit.’ In 2020, he released his debut album A Demon in 6lue. He died on May 31, 2021, in a suspected suicide, apparently by a gunshot wound to the head.
14. Lil West
Born: May 12, 1998
Age: 25
Hailing from Delaware, underground rapper Lil West is not as well known as many on this list, but he has steadily been garnering respect for his innovative music, incorporating elements of minimal trap, emo rap, and pop. His biggest hit to date is his single ‘Somedays.’
15. Lil Gnar
Born: February 24, 1996
Age: 26
Lil Gnar is the alias of Atlanta rapper Caleb Samuel Shepard. His self-released 2022 debut album Die Bout It is star-studded with features from trap royalty including the likes of Lil Uzi Vert, Ski Mask the Slump God, and fellow young rappers Lil Skies and the late Lil Keed. His most famous song is ‘Death Note.’
16. Lil Tracy
Born: October 3, 1995
Age: 28
Lil Tracy – former known as Yung Bruh – is an innovative young rapper who has dabbled with a range of rap sub-genres. A prominent Soundcloud rapper, he is a member of the collective GothBoiClique. His biggest tracks include his hit song ‘Awful Things’ with the late Lil Peep, and his country rap track ‘Like a Farmer’ with Lil Uzi Vert – a great example of his pioneering style.
17. J.I. the Prince of N.Y
Born: September 23, 2001
Age: 22
J.I. the Prince of N.Y, also known simply as J.I., is a young Puerto Rican singer and rapper. He appeared in the TV series The Rap Game in 2016, but he is best-known for his 2019 single ‘Need Me.’ His 2020 EP Hood Life Krisis, Vol. 3 made it onto the Billboard 200 album charts. He has collaborated artists including Lil Tjay, A Boogie with da Hoodie, and Puerto Rican rapper Myke Towers.
18. Blueface
Born: January 20, 1997
Age: 26
Blueface first rose to fame with his single ‘Respect My Cryppin’ which went viral in 2018. He went onto greater levels of success with the remix of his 2019 track ‘Thotiana’ featuring Cardi B and YG. His debut album Find the Beat (2020) reached number sixty four on the Billboard 200 album chart.
19. Calboy
Born: April 3, 1999
Age: 23
Hailing from Chicago, Calboy is the alias of young rapper Calvin Lashon Woods. He initially rose to fame with his singles ‘Anxiety’ and ‘Calboy the Wild Boy.’ However, it was his viral hit ‘Envy Me’ that saw him break the scene. His 2019 debut EP Wildboy peaked at number thirty on the Billboard 200 album chart.
20. Jack Harlow
Born: March 13, 1998
Age: 25
Jack Harlow rose to rapid success thanks to his 2020 track ‘Whats Poppin’ which went viral on TikTok. The track was remixed with DaBaby, Tory Lanez, and Lil Wayne, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. His 2021 hit ‘Industry Baby’ with Lil Nas X topped the chart. With both of his albums reaching the top five on the Billboard 200, Jack Harlow is one of the most successful young rappers on the scene today.
21. Cordae
Born: August 26, 1997
Age: 25
Cordae, formerly known as YBN Cordae, first rose to fame with his remix of Eminem’s song ‘My Name Is.’ His 2019 debut album The Lost Boy was critically-acclaimed, receiving the nomination for Best Rap Album at the Grammys, and the single ‘Bad Idea’ was nominated for Best Rap Song. He left the YBN collective in 2020, dropping the YBN from his name.
22. YBN Nahmir
Born: December 18, 1999
Age: 23
The fresh-faced YBN Nahmir is a young rapper who is the founder of the YBN collective. He has already had several big hits including ‘Rubbin Off the Paint,’ ‘Bounce Out with That,’ and ‘Opp Stoppa,’ all of which charted on the Billboard Hot 100. He is signed to Def Jam and Atlantic, with a promising career ahead of him.
23. Toosii
Born: January 9, 2000
Age: 23
Toosii is a promising young rapper who has already enjoyed significant success. His debut studio album Poetic Pain peaked at number seventeen on the Billboard 200 album chart. To date, his biggest hits include ‘Love Cycle’ (2020) and ‘Love Is…’ (2022).
24. Aitch
Born: December 9, 1999
Age: 23
Aitch is one of the fastest up-and-coming young rappers in the UK. Hailing from Manchester, he has risen to success in the UK and Ireland, although he is yet to make a major impact in the US. His biggest hits so far include his songs ‘Taste (Make It Shake)’ (2019), ‘Rain’ (2020), and ‘Baby’ (2022).
25. Dave
Born: June 5, 1998
Age: 24
British rapper Dave, also known as Santan Dave, is one of the biggest names in UK rap today. The artist is increasingly known as a conscious rapper, thanks to songs such as ‘Black’ and ‘Question Time.’ His biggest hit is ‘Starlight,’ which became his first UK number one single in 2022.
26. Young T & Bugsey
Born: May 9, 1997 and March 7, 1997
Age: 25 and 25
British rap duo Young T & Bugsey began their career in their early teens, and have gathered momentum in recent years. Their biggest hits include ‘Ay Caramba’ (2018) and ‘Don’t Rush’ featuring DaBaby (2019) which reached number nineteen in the UK charts and fifty six on the Billboard Hot 100.
27. Digga D
Born: June 29, 2000
Age: 22
Digga D is a young rapper who has made a name for himself on the UK drill scene. His 2022 mixtape Noughty by Nature topped the UK album chart. His biggest hits include ‘Bringing It Back’ featuring AJ Tracey (2021), and ‘Pump 101’ with Still Brickin’ (2022).
28. Trippie Redd
Born: June 18, 1999
Age: 23
Trap sensation Trippie Redd is amongst the most successful young rappers on this list. He has released five studio albums since 2018, which each of them reaching the top ten on the Billboard 200 album chart. Hit biggest hits include ‘Taking a Walk’ (2018) and ‘Miss the Rage’ (2021) with Playboi Carti.
29. Baby Keem
Born: October 22, 2000
Age: 22
The cousin of Kendrick Lamar, Baby Keem is a young rapper who has found phenomenal success despite his age. He first rose to fame with his 2019 single ‘Orange Soda,’ before appearing on ‘Praise God’ with Kanye in 2021, which really ignited his recognition. His 2021 single ‘Family Ties’ with Kendrick Lamar reached number eighteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for the Grammy award for Best Rap Performance.
30. The Kid LAROI
Born: August 17, 2003
Age: 19
The youngest rapper on this list, as his name suggests, The Kid LAROI is pretty much just a kid. That has not stopped the Australian from reaching significant success. An associate of the iconic Juice WRLD, The Kid has had several Billboard Hot 100 hits including ‘Without You’ (2020), and his mega hit ‘Stay’ with Justin Bieber, which spent over seven weeks at the top of the Hot 100 chart.
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