Hip hop hasn’t produced a new star in 5 years

[O.Red]

Yep, they got bigger in death so it’s easy to rewrite their trajectory musically. I used to hear one XXX song on the radio out here but know he was always in some shyt on social media/in his personal life, so his popularity wasn’t necessarily musically driven

X was the most streamed artist in SoundCloud history and one of the most streamed on Spotify before he died

 

[Jasonmask]

We’ve had some you probably just don’t like their music. You got Ken Carson (idk someone fact check he has a platinum album) yeat (not as popular but he blew up in the 2020s) lot of woman rappers. Current underground is too stubborn to crossover and they just aren’t as talented or entertaining as even the first SoundCloud wave. Hip hop is kinda in the same position it was before the SC era where it wasn’t that many new stars or they were struggling to crossover like Travis Scott and young thug when the older artists were still dominant

 

[3rdWorld]

Hiphop has gone stale and run its course. anyone still getting excited over new hiphop is odd.

 

[GunRanger]

Every few months nikkas bellow “Hip Hop Is Dead because of such and such” but its still the most influential genre by FAR worldwide.

Right now the elder statesmen are proving they’re metal, Kendrick is at the forefront of the highest grossing co-headlining tour in HISTORY. Cardi B just dropped a number 1 album that by streaming voodoo was certified platinum the week of release.

The genre ain’t going NOWHERE. New stars will emerge when they emerge, but Hip Hop has already proven it doesn’t need an influx of youth to remain relevant. Doechii, Baby Keem, JID, and a few others are making enough noise to show there’s a generation after Kendrick & Cole who can carry the torch.

It was certified platinum because she put WAP (5 year old song) on it to game the system.

 

[28 Gramz]

X was the most streamed artist in SoundCloud history and one of the most streamed on Spotify before he died

He was a niche artist. Only a "certain" demographic fukked with him so he was never gonna be a superstar. Pop Smoke is a different story.

 

[King Poetic]

These new dudes only have one lane and that’s drill shyt with no diversity in their music

Where’s the political, social aspects in her music to go with the party and bullshyt

And even more importantly these nikkas have no vocabulary outside of hood throughts

 

[DonRe]

Ya really care about mainstream hip-hop music huh?

Not music that somehow becomes mainstream. But to actually care of the well-being of mainstream hiphop, is odd to me.

I need to know why this shyt is important.

 

[Black Magisterialness]

Rap isn't going anywhere. It's Pop music now.

Also, Doechii is massive and a new star. But beyond that the paradigm for the 90's 2000's style crossover mega-star is over. All of pop culture is too bifurcated now to have that sort of ubiquitous appeal

 

[L&HH]

I don’t know songs by any of those pop chicks. And that speaks to how there is fragmentation. Unless you’re their demo, 10-30 year old (white) women/girls, it’s super easy to not know them outside of maybe hearing them in a workout class or some shyt. Back when we all were watching TLR or VH1’s weekend countdown or if you ever switched to a top 40 radio station, you’re going to get pop, rap, alternative, r&b all in the same hour.

That said, to the thread, even tho she was grinding in the 10’s, Doja really became a star in 20’s

Here was a notable storyline from a month ago. On the global Spotify charts there was only 4 rap songs and none that were released in 2025.

Hiphop/Rap has definitely took a sharp decline and I don’t see anything on the horizon to correct it.

Female rappers have definitely been holding it down and giving it some life but how long until that wears out.

https://x.com/HipHopAllDayy/status/1967628884230176771