20 Artists Under 20 You Should Know
As the internet continues to reinvent the music industry, new artists seem to break at an increasingly young age. Going viral has always been a specialty of the youth, but from Matt Ox to Bhad Bhabie, they're starting to sign deals and take over music IRL, too.
This list isn't about them. While everyone on this list is finding success one way or another, they're doing it with their voices and songwriting abilities—no gimmicks required. From Steve Lacy's iPhone plug-ins to Clairo's bedroom production, these teenagers are pushing music forward on their own terms and reshaping the industry in the process. These are 20 artists under 20 you should know.
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Rex Orange CountyLocation: Haslemere, England
Age: 19Alex O' Connor, better known as Rex Orange County, is already on his way to becoming a global star of sorts. His summery, distinct compositions and charming vocal delivery have already caught the attention of Tyler, The Creator. Appearing extensively on Flower Boy, Rex was given the opportunity to introduce even more listeners to his music.
With new eyes on him, Rex Orange County has kept his momentum high with singles "Edition" and "Loving Is Easy," plus a performance with Skepta at the Mercury Awards. The more people aware of this talented young artist, and his fantastic 2017 album Apricot Princess, the better.
Steve LacyLocation: Compton, CA
Age: 19When Steve Lacy officially joined The Internet in 2015, his impact was apparent. The band's third album Ego Death strayed in a slightly different direction than their previous albums and resulted in a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album. Lacy was still only in high school at that point, but both Syd and Matt Martians have emphasized multiple times how his younger perspective and innovative approach to creating—like recording the majority of his music directly on his cell phone—brought a new energy to The Internet that helped many new listeners take notice.
Earlier this year, Steve Lacy released his first solo project Steve Lacy's Demo that showcased the amount of talent this teenager already contains. Just six tracks were enough to prove just how much Lacy still has hidden up his sleeves. His collaborations with Tyler, The Creator, Kali Uchis, and more have allowed more fans to see the potential in this budding talent, and it's been fun to watch his rise.
Billie EilishLocation: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 15One of the most talented artists on this list is also one of the youngest—California's Billie Eilish released her dont smile at me EP in August, and it is staggeringly good. Her brother Finneas co-wrote and produced the release, and together the siblings have created a unique brand of leery, insidious pop. From lead single "COPYCAT" to the pillowy textures of "ocean eyes," Eilish is demonstrating a gift for phrasing and dynamics that seems to come naturally.
Jaden SmithLocation: Malibu, CA
Age: 19Based off his popularity from such a young age, Jaden Smith had a head start compared to the rest of the artists on this list, but that hasn't made him any less interesting as an artist. Instead of watering down his music or trying to follow a reliable formula, Jaden has been gradually improving, progressing, and taking risks. Unlike so many other young artists who challenge the norms and lean toward experimental and challenging sounds, Jaden has also proven himself with undeniable technical skills—just check out "Beast Mode" for proof. There's no predicting exactly what he'll do next, and that's the most exciting part about following him.
Jaden Smith performs on the Pigeons & Planes stage at ComplexCon, which goes down November 4 and 5 in Long Beach, CA. More info and tickets here.
Jelani AryehLocation: San Diego, CA
Age: 17"My name is Jelani Aryeh. I’m 17. I’m African-American, Filipino, and Chinese. I grew up in the suburbs and that plays a big part in my music."
He may be young and still figuring things out, but Jelani Aryeh is already making impressive music, mixing pop, R&B, and rap on his debut EP Suburban Destinesia. Influenced by artists like Frank Ocean and Kevin Abstract, Jelani jumps between genres with ease, and he maintains an outlook that is relatable to so many young creative people feeling trapped by their surroundings.
"Where We Go" is a highlight, but listen to Jelani Aryeh's entire EP and read more about him here.
Trippie ReddLocation: Canton, Ohio
Age: 18We've said it before, and we'll say it again: Trippie Redd is on track to become rap's next rock star. His ascent has been remarkably rapid—especially considering that he only has two mixtapes to his name so far—and Trippie has a larger-than-life personality and magnetic charisma comes across in every song he records. He's able to craft a booming rap cut, a melodic love song, or some mutant combination of genres that sounds entirely new. Counting Lil Wayne, MF DOOM, and Marilyn Manson as influences, Trippie's wide-ranging abilities reflect his eclectic taste, making him the perfect new star for 2017 and beyond, as genres blend together more than ever.
See footage from our time in Miami with Trippie Redd here, and watch the uncut interview for more insight into this young and rising star.
DaveLocation: Streatham, England
Age: 19Dave has the tools and the ambition to become a true international star, and one of England's biggest artists. He's a thoughtful lyricist, a talented rapper who can turn his words to vivid storytelling ("Picture Me," "Tequila") or pack his verses with punchlines and references to pop culture, football players, or video games ("Revenge," his verse on Giggs' "Peligro").
He can rap over heavy grime beats, hip-hop production, or more experimental music as on his most recent release, the seven-minute-long political outburst "Question Time." But as impressive is his ear for melody, which had Drake jumping on "Wanna Know" and is evident on the excellent "Samantha" with J Hus.
Dave's new EP Game Over is out November 3.
Lil PumpLocation: Miami, FL
Age: 17Exploding from the South Florida SoundCloud rap scene with two-minute songs driven by overblown bass and repeated catchphrases, Lil Pump is certainly a divisive figure. What is certain, however, is that his music does crazy numbers and makes kids lose their minds. His self-titled official debut project came out in October and, despite features from Chief Keef, Rick Ross, Lil Yachty, 2 Chainz, and Gucci Mane, it doesn't deviate much from the formula that made him successful in the first place. It's still to be seen if Lil Pump can evolve and remain relevant, but as of right now he's on fire.
Kodie ShaneLocation: Atlanta, GA
Age: 18As part of Lil Yachty's Sailing Team crew, Kodie Shane has done a lot to make herself stand out. Appealing to fans of Yachty and those still skeptical, her melodic approach to rap is current and fresh, without sounding generic. Few rappers out now nail the singalongs as well as Kodie does, and she's shown her emotional depth on songs like "Sad." The work rate is also impressive with a mixtape and an album released this year, as well as multiple singles. The initial hype has died down a little, but Kodie Shane is doing everything right and in a good place going in to 2018.
Yellow DaysLocation: Haslemere, England
Age: 18Yellow Days is an 18-year-old singer/songwriter/producer with a classic sound and a one-of-a-kind voice. To have such a commanding voice and captivating lyrics at such a young age is rare, but Yellow Days makes it sound effortless. His debut EP Harmless Melodies fully caught our attention when it dropped last year, and we've been impressed by every new release since.
Yellow Days told us he takes inspiration from Ray Charles, Howlin' Wolf, jazz guitarists, and Mac Demarco, and that is a pretty apt representation of his sound, with a dash of youthful energy running throughout. His debut full-length album is yet to come, but if it's anywhere near as good as what we've heard from him so far, it should be special.
Is Everything OK In Your World? is set for release via Good Years at the end of October.
Ravyn LenaeLocation: Chicago, IL
Age: 18We're very ready for new Ravyn Lenae. After killing it at January's No Ceilings showcase, her Midnight Moonlight EP became one of 2017's freshest, most vibrant releases. It caught the right ears, too: Lenae was tapped to open for SZA's Ctrl tour, signed to Atlantic, and continued to churn out incredible collaborations with longtime partners in crime Smino and Monte Booker (see: "Glass Flows").
In short: nobody sounds like Ravyn Lenae. And don't be fooled by her breathy, sky-high delivery—this is an artist with incredible technical chops and an unparalleled ear for melody, an integral member of Zero Fatigue with a future that gets brighter with each passing release.
6 DogsLocation: Atlanta, GA
Age: 18There's nothing flashy about 6 Dogs' music, and that's what makes it so appealing. "Faygo Dreams" is perhaps the best indication of his sound, with a minimal beat accompanied by a simple and hypnotizing hook. His music is simple, but it's also weird in the best way, and while so many young artists are caught up with trying to make music that fits the current trends, 6 Dogs is determined to be nothing but himself.
"It sounds corny, but everyone doesn’t have to be like me," 6 Dogs explained to us during an interview earlier this year. "Everyone doesn’t have to think about the deepest thing ever with a blank look on their face. If I inspire them to understand themselves, that’s cool, because for me, I’ve just been talking about how I feel."
KhalidLocation: El Paso, TX
Age: 19If you were surprised to hear that Khalid put together his debut album American Teen at the age of 18, you're not alone. His incredible vocals are the forefront of his music, and thankfully he backs it up with some impressive songwriting that many on the verge of adulthood will relate to. He's already got one bona fide hit on his hands with platinum single "Location," his album hit No. 4 on the Billboard chart, and he's got a handful of songs with hundreds of millions of streams each.
Since the album came out, Khalid has appeared on Calvin Harris's album, was featured on a remix of Lorde's "Homemade Dynamite" with Post Malone and SZA, and has been performing in front of massive audiences across the country. He has been propelled into stardom faster than most can capitalize off a little buzz, and he's handled it all with grace and humility. We've seen a lot of young artists get too big too fast, but it seems like Khalid was ready for this all along.
ClairoLocation: Boston, MA
Age: 19These days, even bedroom artists who produce and record their own music using nothing but a laptop and a microphone can sound like professionals. It's rare to hear a popular artist with a homemade vibe, but that's part of the charm for 19-year-old Boston artist Clairo. Her music could be described accurately as lo-fi bedroom pop, and even her videos—like the one for "Pretty Girl"—are eye-catchingly simple and unpolished.
Her DIY approach has been working, and the "Pretty Girl" video has over two million views. Her song "Flamin' Hot Cheetos" has hundreds of thousands of plays and is still climbing, and Clairo is building a powerful following of fans. But don't be surprised if Clairo's music evolves. Earlier this year she told us, "I do make [the music] in my room! Right now I'm making it in my dorm at school. It was never my intention to make bedroom pop-sounding music, I just used the resources I had available to me... and they weren't very high quality. I do plan on expanding my sound from lo-fi into something cleaner with better materials."
Clairo has a positive message, a genuine connection with her fans, and it sounds like this is only the beginning. Keep an eye out, and read our interview with the talented young artist here.
TrapoLocation: Madison, WI
Age: 19Since dropping The Black Beverly Hills EP back in 2015, Trapo has been a model of consistency. The full-length She arrived in early 2016, and ended with Trapo's biggest song to date, "Chicago." Shade Trees followed in November of that same year, cementing the Wisconsin rappers place in the upper echelon of rising artists. To top it all off, Trapo's only 19. He's spent his last teenage year dropping a smattering of impressive loosies like "Love Me Anyway" and "Break From Me." The gruff, dynamic delivery has only improved with time, and Trapo is poised to level up again in 2018.
Marco McKinnisLocation: Hampton, VA
Age: 19Virginia native Marco McKinnis is about to take off. The slow-moving, soulful songs on his SoundCloud give a window into this artist's talent—he is still young, but there's a timeless quality and a maturity to the music he makes. Marco has teamed up with forward-thinking electronic producers like whoarei and most recently Medasin on his latest release "How I Feel." Earlier this year he released a song with DJDS too, showing a more pop-friendly side to his sound, and whichever way he goes with more music, he already has our full attention.
Marco McKinnis is currently working on his debut project.
Rich ChiggaLocation: Jakarta, Indonesia
Age: 18Rich Chigga hasn't had a whole lot of time to reflect on his success so far. With millions of views under his belt, the Indonesia rapper and comedian has been thrust into the spotlight. Without an album to his name, he's been releasing single after single showcasing immense promise and personality. With the release of "Glow Like Dat' and "Chaos" he's solidified himself as a unique sensation beyond the viral "Dat $tick."
Smooky MargielaaLocation: Bronx, NY
Age: 1515-year-old New York native Smooky MarGielaa is playing all his cards right. He’s charismatic, can work a catchy melody, and he raps about being 13 like it was a decade ago when in reality it was 2015. He’s all over A$AP Mob’s Cozy Tapes Vol. 2 and is also joining them on tour, so the connections are there and he's learning by doing. Smooky is taking full advantage of the new spotlight, impressing more and more by the day, and it all comes naturally for him. When we asked him what it was that caught A$AP Rocky's attention in the first place, he said matter-of-factly, "I don’t know. The swag, the talent, all that. Everything is that little feeling you got."
Read more about Smooky MarGielaa in our interview here.
Demo TapedLocation: Atlanta, GA
Age: 19Atlanta's Demo Taped has been fairly quiet this year, but thankfully he recently returned with the gorgeous "Insecure," and his early music from a couple of years ago—songs like "Not Enough," "I Luv U," and "Game On"—are still in regular rotation. As a producer as well as a singer, he makes forward-thinking pop songs, and his live show brings out the electronic, danceable side of his music. Demo Taped has us hoping for something more substantial in the near future, but if you're unfamiliar with his work so far, now is the perfect time to dig deeper.
CorbinLocation: Saint Paul, MN
Age: 19It took a while for Corbin to reach this point, artistically. A tongue-in-cheek rap project and a ghostly mixtape went viral thanks to his bizarre "Without U" video in 2014, but this year he returned with a new name and a new outlook. Mourn, his debut album as Corbin, is far removed from the Spooky Black material in many ways, and it exceeds all expectations his early output placed upon him. Groggy and inspired by everything from new wave and post-punk to industrial and Detroit techno, the record is held together by Corbin's vocals, rich and textured, whether he's screaming his lungs out or singing softly about heartbreak.
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