At The Pit London, our passion is discovery. This ethos runs through everything we do. There are countless exciting, compelling and challenging new acts that we feel like aren’t getting the plaudits that they deserve. Below is the second part of a shortlist of artists, each with under 100k monthly listeners on Spotify, that we believe are the sound of 2022. By the end of the year, we expect these artists to take over. This is your opportunity to catch on early. 

KAM-BU

Current Monthly Listeners: 42,465

Key 2021 Track: Black on Black

Sound in a Nutshell: Avant-garde amalgamation of razor-sharp flows, thought-provoking lyricism and all-consuming instrumentation

Why they are 1 2 Watch: Having demanded the attention of the alternative scene in 2020 with brilliant collaborations with Louis Culture - Burst - and Lord Apex - Different, 2021 was the year that KAM-BU fully announced himself as a key figure in UK left-field rap. His debut EP Black on Black is a topically astute, powerful and eclectic project, with features from heavy hitters Rachel Chinouriri and Knucks illustrating Kam’s pulling power, and also his ability to go toe-to-toe with the best in the game. No one sounds like KAM-BU, which might have hindered him to an extent in 2021; perhaps falling between the cracks of the drill/road rap fans and the NME readers. Once KAM-BU fully finds his audience, he will be unstoppable.  

Check out their music here

DeBe

Current Monthly Listeners: 5,866

Key 2021 Track: NICE GUY

Sound in a Nutshell: Unfiltered and brazen grime-infused rap with narratives that teem with pain, authenticity and introspection 

Why they are 1 2 Watch: DeBe is one of the most underrated players in the UK rap game. The Northampton general delivered two brilliant projects in 2021; his vicious yet reflective debut album The Last Breath and recently the excellent follow up tape D2DA, which saw the rapper flaunt his creativity and versatility through a concoction of grimy hard hitters and softer, inward-facing rap cuts. An adept producer and spitter whose craft is constantly evolving and improving, DB isn’t concerned with sonic or viral trends; he creates to express himself, and with each new offering we get to know the compelling figure a little better. I cannot wait to become further acquainted in 2022.

Check out their music here

Just Banco 

Current Monthly Listeners: 57,283

Key 2021 Track: Hayfever Freestyle 

Sound in a Nutshell: Silky combination of trap, drill and R&B 

Why they are 1 2 Watch: Manchester’s road troubadour Just Banco is the self-appointed pioneer of the sub-genre Trapenese, which combines a drill lyrical approach with melodic trap wave flows and R&B-infused instrumentals. Banco’s thick Manny accent oozes charisma, as he depicts dark, unfiltered tales in a lighthearted, cheeky manner; playing out like some sort of satirical sonic juxtaposition. A key player in the heavily evolving wave style, Banco has the potential to redefine the generic boundaries between various upcoming sub-sounds.

Check out their music here

Nino SLG

Current Monthly Listeners: 67,876

Key 2021 Track: Prison Walls

Sound in a Nutshell: Deep and melodic road rap that defies the commercialism of new-wave drill 

Why they are 1 2 Watch: Ugh…drill. What was once an authentic haven for fresh, exciting sounds and hard-hitting narratives has become, largely, an over-produced swirling pool of repetitive ad libs, toxic masculinity and straight up glorification of tyranny (see Evil Intentions & TikTok). If you look past the dross surface though, you’ll find that UK rap is superseding drill in every aspect. Leading the real rap renaissance in the younger generation is Nino SLG, whose State Of Mind EP stands out for its lyrical and musical maturity. The beats are diverse and sonically expressive, Nino’s flow is impeccable, and the narratives are full of meaning and vitality. A compelling character, Nino SLG looks set to champion the road rap sound in its bid to knock drill down a peg or two. 

Check out their music here

KAVO

Current Monthly Listeners: 17,054

Key 2021 Track: Billy x Pain Freestyle 

Sound in a Nutshell: Youthful vibrance and cheeky charisma meets ripening intelligence and astute retrospection

Why they are 1 2 Watch: Another fresh face fella who looks set to challenge the dull musical conformity of drill, Kavo’s Mixtape Madness debut release Billy x Pain Freestyle went viral with listeners applauding the youngster’s beat selection, and pendant for emotional, introspective lyricism and impressive flow and diction. Technically, the Birmingham rapper is incredibly adept for his age, and has already shown his ability to switch up the mood with more spritely tracks like Lean and Fuck GCSE’s, as well as stopping off at Mixtape for an impressive Next Up?. If Kavo can resist the temptation to bow down to the one-dimensional God’s of drill, he could be a significant figure in the UK rap hemisphere by years end.

Check out their music here