THE PIT LONDON'S ONES TO WATCH 2023
At The Pit London, our gaze is firmly fixed on discovery and finding the best new talent for our readers to enjoy. After another brilliant year for UK and Irish alternative music in 2022, we have curated a list of 15 of the hottest upcoming talents, all with fewer than 100k monthly listeners on Spotify, who we predict will have a huge 2023 incoming!
Current Monthly Listeners: 32,046
Key 2022 Track: ‘Tweakin’
Sound in a Nutshell: Braggadocio and brains combine to effortless effect.
Why they are 1 2 Watch: There’s an underdog allure to Antslive. In reality he’s not at all, he’s actually one of the most technically gifted and sonically striking rappers in the country. Ants is at a tipping point in his rise; following the statement recent drop ‘Don Corleone’, it feels like with the right single, the right project, he could soar to unfounded heights. Lucky for him, and for us, there’s an EP bubbling on the horizon, and we’ve got the feeling that it’s going to live up to the hype.
Current Monthly Listeners: 44,842
Key 2022 Track: ‘2 G’s’
Sound in a Nutshell: Afro-influenced, hard hitting rap that is clever and thoughtful in its lyricism.
Why they are 1 2 Watch: A rapper who enjoyed a breakthrough year in ’22, BZ has bolstered support from both the industry and the streets, with his monstrous cut ‘2 G’s’ appearing in the fourth series of the much loved show Top Boy. A nuanced writer and vital performer, BZ is young and hungry, ready to push generic boundaries and enhance his individualistic sound into the upper echelons of UK rap.
Current Monthly Listeners: 27,028
Key 2022 Track: ‘Thug Affection’
Sound in a Nutshell: Savvy lyrical prowess in a sound that can stand up against both new and old school UK rap.
Why they are 1 2 Watch: September’s seamlessly silky EP SIMMA DOWN is a stunning showcase of ShaSimone’s talent, highlighting her lyrical nuance, eclectic influnces and also her impressive reach, recruiting UK rap legend Avelino and future superstar Boj as the features for the tape. There’s not too many rappers in the genre with better flows and bars than Sha, and we’re hoping 2023 is the year that she starts getting the plaudits she deserves.
Current Monthly Listeners: 43,189
Key 2022 Track: ‘Purple Rain’
Sound in a Nutshell: Avant-garde concoction of otherworldly production and startling performances.
Why they are 1 2 Watch: No one sounds like this genre-bending trio. Breaking onto the scene back in 2019 with their now UK underground classic ‘Nokia Law’, the group have never truly had the consistency to move beyond their respected spot in the scene. ’22’s Gnarly EP, though, felt like a statement of intent, with their revolutionary style evolving into a sound that has the potential to make a significant impact on the alternative space.
Current Monthly Listeners: 31,638
Key 2022 Track: ‘Come With Me’
Sound in a Nutshell: Sexy, sultry soul for the late night feels
Why they are 1 2 Watch: ’22 was the most fruitful year yet in the emergence of the alternative R&B/soul scene in the UK. Scores of fabulous singers and musicians announced themselves are potential key players in its continued rise - few more so than Chloe Bodur. Like much of the scene, Chloe takes influence from a range of styles, flirting with jazz, Bossa and hip hop amongst others to engulf listeners in a sound that is personal and vibrant. Her gorgeous October EP Rüya feels like just the beginning for this immersive and empowering artist.
Current Monthly Listeners: 29,045
Key 2022 Track: ‘Namaste’
Sound in a Nutshell: Playful merger of new age sample drill and cheek-laden underground rap.
Why they are 1 2 Watch: 2022 was a massive year for Zino Vinci. A finessed technician and savvy marketer, the rapper has been impossible to avoid on the internet, with several of this year’s anthemic singles achieving TikTok virality. With a fanatic fan base forming and a proven winning musical formula, we expect Zino to continue his public rise and music refinement in the new year.
Current Monthly Listeners: 97,299
Key 2022 Track: ‘Smile’
Sound in a Nutshell: Breathtaking vocality and potent songwriting atop rich, genre-bending palettes.
Why they are 1 2 Watch: Anyone who is a regularly reader of The Pit knows how highly we rate B-ahwe. Once recognised for her collaborations with Lausse The Cat and Nix Northwest, B-ahwe is now very much an artist in her own right. Following two disparate and devastating EP’s , ’22 was a consolidating year for the singer, unveiling a diverse display of singular sonic efforts, each sublime for different reasons. Now, with a swiftly rising fan base and increased industry support, B-ahwe is primed for her biggest year to date.
Current Monthly Listeners: 60,445
Key 2022 Track: ‘Playlist’
Sound in a Nutshell: Boundless innovation wrapped up in commercially friendly anthems.
Why they are 1 2 Watch: Despite only emerging in 2022, there is little doubt in our minds that Chanel Loren will be huge. Following in the footsteps of breakout stars like Nia Archives, Chanel’s sonic manifesto is rooted in merging sounds and styles. From her Arz featuring poignant pop banger ‘Some Other Time’ to the dance infused ‘Playlist’, every track that Chanel unveiled throughout the year was a resounding success and showcased a different side of her artistry. With the scene at the feet, surely a body of work is the next step on Loren’s staircase to stardom?
Current Monthly Listeners: 205
Key 2022 Track: ‘Beautiful’
Sound in a Nutshell: Buttery jazz-leaning hip hop from Dublin’s next breakout star.
Why they are 1 2 Watch: Having initially made waves a few years back with earlier releases like ‘Moonboy’, Archy Moor took an hiatus to augment his artistry. Always more difficult to make a splash second time round, his current statistics certainly do not reflect his innovation and craft. Working with esteemed producer Earl Saga (Loyle Carner, Jgrrey), it feels like a matter of time until the UK catches wind of Moor’s breezy talent, following in the footsteps of Irish counterparts like Rejjie Snow and Kojaque.
Current Monthly Listeners: 73,429
Key 2022 Track: ‘Emergency’
Sound in a Nutshell: Reincarnation of old school drill sensibilities with a modern twist.
Why they are 1 2 Watch: UK drill is dangling on the edge. Commercialism has taken hold, and many of the scene’s brightest sparks refuse to be tied down to a sinking ship. One name who has emerged to aid in anchoring the genre is Huddersfield’s Booter Bee. As is often the case with drill rappers, his emergence has been swift and decisive; a relative unknown at the start of ’22, Booter has now worked with one of drill’s biggest talents Kwengface and submitted his entry into Kenny Allstar’s Mad About Bars. If he stays consistent, Booter Bee may well continue to rise through drill’s ranks as a shining light amongst a dimming atmosphere.
Current Monthly Listeners: 42,444
Key 2022 Track: ‘LONG TERM PARKING’
Sound in a Nutshell: Melodic alternative rap with an emphasis on emotion and evolution.
Why they are 1 2 Watch: Flying the flag for the often forgotten Welsh valleys, the rise of Luke RV has been a joy to watch. If you meander back at the rapper’s discography, you can see how hard he has worked to get to the position he has now made it to. You can also see the immense artistic improvement, epitomised by his truly excellent recent EP WHAT’S THAT, over there. Now in a position to be taken seriously, we’re betting on Luke to continue to ameliorate his sound and position within the scene.
Current Monthly Listeners: 38,039
Key 2022 Track: ‘Rubberbands!’
Sound in a Nutshell: Blasé genius that refuses to answer to sonic convention.
Why they are 1 2 Watch: No one epitomises the UK underground better than Kish!. Unique in his approach and unwavering in his experimentation, the 237 Mob member refuses to conform to the pressures of the modern industry. His raw talent and driving creativity have gained him a place at the scene’s table - maybe 2023 is the year that Kish! starts eating.
Current Monthly Listeners: 48,912
Key 2022 Track: ‘Moody’
Sound in a Nutshell: Raw and eclectic sensibilities with an industry and underground appeal.
Why they are 1 2 Watch: The latest in a long line of exciting rappers emerging in the alternative rap space, Reek0 upholds many of the attributes needed to break out of a burgeoning but cluttered scene. This year’s tape Reek0 by Reek0 was a solid effort with some notable feature choices, leaving the rapper poised to have a profound impact on the wider scene in the new year.
Current Monthly Listeners: 74,975
Key 2022 Track: ‘See You Soon’
Sound in a Nutshell: Luxury alternative R&B that teems with colour and emotional resonance.
Why they are 1 2 Watch: Mancunian Akemi Fox is another key component in the new wave of R&B that is spreading its wings across the UK industry.You’re My Favourite Day, her sublime five-pronged EP flaunted her effortless elegance and impressive reach, collaborating with industry favourites July 7 and Swindle. An artist just at the beginning of her musical journey, Akemi has endless room for growth and success.
Current Monthly Listeners: 31,342
Key 2022 Track: ‘ESTATES’
Sound in a Nutshell: Grit-laden, street-friendly UK rap meets lyrical introspection and deft technical ability.
Why they are 1 2 Watch: This guy is serious. Raw, poetic and insightful, Cheekz is the best rapper that you haven’t heard of yet. 2022 is the year that saw Elt leave the blistering shadow of his cousin, the equally jaw dropping Jordy, with his first solo release ‘ESTATES’. This was followed by IF I COULDN’T RAP, I WOULDN’T RAP, a joint tape from the pair, that stylistically branched across several sub-sounds, and lyrically was shocking and sophisticated. With the scent of a solo tape lingering, 2023 could be the year that Cheekz takes over.