2008 was a good year for Hip-Hop, 2009 will be even better. The big hitters are dropping albums next year, Jay-z, Kanye West, 50 Cent, Dizzee Rascal, Eminem, and the greatest of all time; Dr Dre. These guys are hot, and there is no doubt that they will all dominate the airwaves, but it’s the new artists that are going to define 2009. They’re hungry, they’ve been patiently waiting, and they are even more determined to kick down the door.

I no particular order, these are some of the artists that I’ll be supporting throughout the year. They will be killing your Ipod, eating up your hard drive, and draining the power from your batteries in 09’.

Straight out of ATL, Georgia. I’m not going to lie, I nearly dismissed this guy because of his name lol.

I interviewed B.o.B. backstage at ‘Rock The Bells’ in Boston last summer, and it was blatantly obvious that this guy is in his own lane, seriously he’s in his own universe. He has a totally different outlook on life, but his rhyming style is Stanktastic. If you miss Outkast, you need B.o.B. in your life, he features on recent albums by Ti and Ludacris, and his set invade your local airwaves in 09′.

Busta Rhymes is saying that he single handily brought back New York, and ?uestlove said that he’s going top new artist of 09’.

Ron browz made an impact in 08’ with ‘Pop Champagne’ and ‘Arab Money’ and right now Browz is one of the most sought after Producers in the U.S. His debut album drops in March, and whether you like it or not, I guarantee that you will not be able to escape his sound this year.

I haven’t included him on this list on the merit of his music, it’s on the merit of what he does as an artist. His reality show ‘Being Charlie Sloth’ is the epitome of what an artist should be doing in this day and age, versatility is the key to survival in this game. His reality show is hilarious, but at the same time an incredible vehicle to build the Sloth brand. He is promoting his music, creating characters, scripts, etc. The scene in episode 10 where he plays the role of 5 characters trying to get into the studio is genius.

This show should be on BBC 3 or Channel 4. With further development ‘Being Charlie Sloth’ could easily sit next to ‘Skins’ or ‘Shameless’. Ricky Gervais, and Sacha Baron Cohen all started out doing similar stuff to what Charlie is doing now.

White dude, a beast on the mic, sounds like Eminem, revered by every credible MC in the game, from Andre 3000 to Jay-z. Signed by Steve Rifkind who launched the careers of Mobb Deep, Wu-Tang, Akon, do I need to say anything else?

ASHER ROTH – THE LOUNGE
[audio:http://idisk.mac.com/djsemtex/Public/AUDIO/LOUNGE.mp3]

Although Asher Roth’s stars are well and truly aligned, people are wondering if he needs to hold back on his project until Eminem put’s his album out. No doubt the media will go into over drive on the topic of Eminem vs. Asher, but this can only help Asher. As long as he makes a hot album, he is straight.

He is the anti-thesis of major label rap, even though he’s signed to a major label.

Although Hamilton is endorsed by every major credible blog, big hitters like 50 Cent, Kanye west, Pharrell, and the world’s most credible DJ’s, it actually boils down one thing……he’s making very good quality Hip-Hop.

CHARLES HAMILTON – BROOKLYN GIRL

Shifty is making major moves this year with his team ‘Mayhem’ (which consists of Shifty, Slayer, and Remdog).

Shifty is easily one of the best MC’s to come out of Manchester in years. He has the streets, the students, the schools, and HMV on lock.

His mix CD’s are permanently flying of the shelves, I hooked with him just after Xmas, and he told me about some of the power moves that he has in store for 09’[which I can't disclose at this stage] , he’s about take his sound to a next level.

Straight out of Toronto, Canada. He is a rapper/actor, before you start to frown and start thinking that he’s on some Will Smith ish, don’t even go there. Drake is one of the nicest MC’s in the game right now, and he is coming through in a major way. Check out his freestyle over Kanye’s ‘Say You Will’.

DRAKE – SAY YOU WILL [FREESTYLE]
[audio:http://idisk.mac.com/djsemtex/Public/AUDIO/say.mp3]

I’m not even going to mention what he is doing in Hollywood, all I’m saying is that he is one of the hottest MC’s on the come up. He’s affiliated with Young Money, and Co-signed by Lil Wayne in a major way. Weezy has been bringing Drake on stage, talking him up in interviews, and they have recorded a lot of collabos together.

The artist formally known as Ghetto. He isn’t new, but he’s hot, so he’s in it anyway.
Do I really need to say anything about Gettz?

I was blazing his current smash ‘Day n Nite’ back in Febuary 08′, and people were laughing at me for playing it, which is pretty crazy considering the same single is a current club smash and is about to smack up the UK charts in a major way.

Cudi is one of the most exciting, versatile artists to emerge within the Hip-Hop scene since Kanye West. He is one of the few MC’s that can create records for different scenes without being accused of jumping on a band wagon. He is hipster approved, he will have joints that will be sound of the summer in Ibiza, Aiga Napa, etc, but he will also create some of the hottest introspective Hip-Hop that will appeal to the street, the indie kids, and middle England.

KID CUDI – LONDON GIRLS
[audio:http://idisk.mac.com/djsemtex/Public/AUDIO/LONDONGIRLS.mp3]

Regardless of the fact that he’s all over ’808s & Heartbreak’, and Jay-z’s epic Kanye produced ‘Blueprint 3′. Kid Cudi is the most exciting new artist for 2009.

No doubt, there are a few more MC’s that could have made the list. No doubt Wale could have been in the list, but it was him or Gettz, technically both of them aren’t new.

2009 is definitely going to be the year of lyricism.

Related posts:

1. BEING CHARLIE SLOTH – EPISODE 9
2. KID CUDI INCLUDED IN THE BBC SOUNDS OF 2009 LIST
3. THE GREAT WHITE HYPE: EMINEM VS. ASHER ROTH
4. THE EXCLUSIVE KANYE WEST INTERVIEW [DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST NOW]
5. T.I. (JAY-Z, LIL WAYNE, AND KANYE WEST) – SWAGGER LIKE US

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