16 December 26, 2024-January 1, 2025 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Top 30 DFW Rappers Right Now, Ranked Where do BigXThaPlug, Dorrough and Zillionaire Doe stand at the moment? Here are the 30 biggest stars of North Texas hip-hop in 2024. BY BRYSON “BOOM” PAUL T here are hundreds of active hip-hop recording artists in Dallas who probably consider, believe or designate themselves as the hottest — or even best — rappers in the city. That coveted regional title is a subject of constant debate, hinging on ever-changing criteria. Many different variables determine the answer, with the deciding factors boiling down to exceptional lyricism, delivery, performance and overall image. There are also more easily quantifiable metrics to assess an artist’s success: social media engagement, streaming numbers, record sales, impressive collaborations and touring power. In DFW hip-hop, 2024 was a year of surprises. Emerging artists dominated with their new music while established acts returned, eager to reclaim their stature. All the while, BigXThaPlug blew up nationally to be unanimously recognized as the biggest artist in DFW hip-hop. With X on the throne, a ranking of the other 29 artists in the DFW has been compiled. Right now, BigXThaPlug is the number-one rapper in North Texas, but there are 29 other artists trailing right behind him. For those who didn’t make the list … there is always next year, right? Andrew Sherman ▼ Music 30. J$ph The Arlington rap star caught ample atten- tion in 2024 with his relationship-counsel- ing track “Imperfect Luv” and capitalized on the momentum performing at TwoGeth- erLand. The artist elevated his profile by collaborating with respected rap stars Big K.R.I.T. and Dave East. J$ph’s honesty on “Richest Man In Babylon” further intrigued fans. 29. Cuban Doll Social media maintained Cuban’s popularity even when her music was put on pause. This year she returned to music with three new songs: “The Realest,” “Standing on Busi- ness” and “Buban Doll.” According to the numbers on streaming platforms and social media, her appeal continues to grow. 28. Gunna Meize Gunna Meize is known for his unique tone and street-influenced storytelling. He se- cured a collaboration with Jim Jones and a distribution deal with Empire. The con- stant comparisons to Mo3 have always been the rapper’s Achilles heel, but he manages to remaine a genuine, resilient and consistently high-performing artist. 27. Headhancho Amir Headhancho Amir emerged unexpect- edly in 2024, making a significant impact with January’s release Mr 2700. By the time he re- leased his follow-up, October’s Ain Nun Big- ger, Amir had impressed fans with his hustle, larger-than-life image and slick lyricism for months. He got with a tight team in LowDiz- zle, Yella Beezy’s manager, and went all out. 26. Yung Hood One-third of the BigXThaPlug’s 6ixers, Yung Hood’s affiliation with the group al- lowed him to surprise hip-hop fans with an undeniably excellent track in “Dirty Dawg.” Listeners will be further impressed with the dastardly rhymes abounding in his catalog, including highlights “3 for 10” and “Ape Shit.” Before he hit the road with X this fall, the artist introduced himself to a nation- wide audience with a surprising perfor- mance on the Meet The 6ixers album released in May. 25. Rakim Al-Jabbaar Rakim Al-Jabbaar is one of the most lyri- cally gifted artists DFW has ever pro- duced. In 2024, he applied that talent with consistency. His conscious-meets-hustle style garnered respect from a cult-like fan- base and earned him a distribution deal. Think of Common, Atmosphere, Ab-Soul: finding success as a conscious rapper has always been difficult, but once it arrives, it’s eternal. 24. S3nsi Molly By reputation alone, S3nsi Molly is one of the most popular artists in North Texas. Fans are addicted to her free spirit and char- ismatic rhyming style. Molly has a distinc- tive style similar to Chief Keef, Rico Nasty and Sexyy Red. In 2024, she released her fourth album, The Last Laugh. Fans love her vocals, as they often express across social media. 23. Dorrough Music Combining his previous success with new music, Dorrough remains an attraction. The city’s major sports teams partner with him for their anthems, and he’s never altered his music to satisfy the preferences of new fans. With a career that spans 15 years, he contin- ues to draw attention with over 938,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Dorrough re- leased five new songs in 2024 that acknowl- edged his longevity. 22. Tye Harris Indisputably one of the most talented North Texas rappers, Harris contributed to Mo3’s posthumous album, Legendz, reigniting his popularity in 2024. From Snoop Dogg to Kaash Paige, he has been described as a one- of-a-kind artist. His live performances are exhilarating and he’s a standout on any song through his charisma and energy. 21. Roadrun CMoe Roadrun CMoe had a productive 2024 when he toured with BashForTheWorld and re- leased multiple albums, including Sorry I Was Roadrunnin’ and Texas Roadrunnin’ Massacre. Meanwhile, his clothing brand, RRW, almost outshined the music. With big- ger features, CMoe’s impressive, braggado- cious raps would catapult him even higher. We won’t be surprised to see him headlining a nationwide tour sometime soon. 20. SouthDallas Keke SouthDallas Keke experienced a moment in 2024 thanks to her freestyles and hit single “You Ain’t Like That.” She also received Mo3 comparisons, which generated much atten- tion for the artist, who solidified herself in the hip-hop scene with provocative >> p18 BigXThaPlug
