18 December 26, 2024-January 1, 2025 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents but fun-filled lyrics. Even ChatGPT identifies her as one of the hottest artists in DFW when you ask it. Seriously. 19. Kaash Paige The past year was a transitional period for Kaash: She released Catch Me While I Care, her fourth album, which reminded fans of her greatness with tracks such as “Superstar” and “Waterfalls.” Her lack of promotion and other issues affected her return to the top. The mu- sic remains fresh, however. Her successful hits have solidified her as a sought-after talent at festivals, and in February she will perform at the Souled Out Festival in Australia. 18. xBValentine XBValentine has an exceptional manager in Lorenzo “SmoothVega” Zenteno, who pairs her impressive rhymes with big brand oppor- tunities, earning the artist widespread expo- sure. In 2024, she showcased her versatility across various genres and continued to dem- onstrate immense talent through her subject matter, experimentation with new sounds and artistic vulnerability. The rapper’s soft appeal is balanced by hard-hitting punchlines. She has been championed by her fans throughout her journey. With SmoothVega by her side, the next album is expected to be the explosive re- lease they have been eagerly anticipating. 17. MurdaGang PB This artist is arguably the best rap star Fort Worth has ever produced. His transition from the streets to music hasn’t been easy, especially with a fanbase that craves original hardcore street music that can only be matched with street activities. Murdagang PB has experi- mented with new concepts and subjects in 2024, with sprinkles of his familiar raps. PB toured with BigXThaPlug at the end of the year, providing an opportunity to introduce his music to potential fans outside the region. 16. Asian Doll Asian Doll’s attention-grabbing moments, such as feuds with other female rappers and aggressive insults, have kept her in the head- lines instead of her music. However, the at- tention from her social media activity makes her an anomaly. Her latest album, Da Hardest Doll, was released on Dec. 4 and couldn’t gar- ner the same attention as the gossip that sur- rounds her, although it was her best music yet. When the demand for her music matches her popularity again, she’ll no doubt return to the top 10. 15. Go Yayo To be incarcerated for years and maintain popularity as one of the hottest in Fort Worth, exactly like Go Yayo did, speaks vol- umes about his catalog. Arguably the biggest Fort Worth artist ever based on his classics, he returned to music in 2024. But his popu- larity would be affected by his focus on things outside of music. His social media presence outshined the music this year, but Go Yayo balanced the two while touring with Soulja Boy over the summer. 14. Grind2Hard He doen’t get the attention he deserves, but Grind2Hard is a buzz-worthy act with a prominent fanbase. The rapper released the featureless album Method 2 Da Madness in March. The witty “Nowhere 2 Run” is the budding star’s defining hit, though other highlights from the new album are the hard- hitting singles “Blaze of Glory,” “Ain’t My Fault” and “Not Immortal.” Through his word-of-mouth campaigns on YouTube and Spotify, he has over 300,000 subscribers and over 100,000 monthly listeners. 13. Ro$ama If BigXThaPlug is Luka, then Ro$ama is Ky- rie. If BigXThaPlug is Dak Prescott, Ro$ama is CeeDee Lamb. He doesn’t possess the same star power as the Plug, but exhibits the potential to become equal or even bigger thanks to his irresistible wordplay. On Meet The 6ixers, Ro created a lyrical highlight reel on “Hell Ya,” “Baccstreet” and “The Finals” that he capitalized on with his new solo track “Keep It 600.” With X passing him op- portunities such as movie soundtracks, his music continues to be exposed to the nation via touring. With a support system like X re- ceives from UnitedMaster, Ro$ama could be the hottest DFW artist in 2025. 12. Trapboy Freddy Trap is — and forever will be — one of the definitive faces of Dallas hip-hop, but serv- ing time on multiple occasions would road- block his momentum for the majority of 2024. In November 2023, the rapper was sentenced to 16 months for gun trafficking charges. Freddy’s cemented classics and previously released albums All Odds Against Me and Detained kept him proactive, but lacked his signature energy. Upon his return in September, his new music quickly re- turned him to big stages while garnering re- spect in a new era of DFW hip-hop. Expect him to make a massive return in 2025, hope- fully with his troubles behind him. 11. Steppa Steppa raised hell in 2024 with his latest hits: “Glassman,” “Josh Giddey” and “Jalen Brunson.” He released the album Not Ya Regular Rapper in July to rave reviews on social media. Major record labels are salivat- ing to grab the rebellious cash cow for their roster. His forthcoming album, currently untitled, is just as highly anticipated by fans. 10. Lil 2z Lil 2z is the most talked-about Dallas rapper on social media. He released his biggest song yet in “Wishin On A 2,” which has accumu- lated over 6,000,000 views on YouTube alone. The mystique surrounding the artist is an added attraction to his image. Fans praise his hitmaking abilities and defend him from all online hate. The rapper put out two albums in 2024 with the latest, Father 2, released in De- cember. Averaging over 800,000 monthly lis- teners on Spotify, he is clearly on the verge of becoming DFW’s next big rap star. 9. Erica Banks Banks is known as a rhymeslayer, but her music was overshadowed by some backlash in 2024 over her comments that she brings only hot friends to the club. Her new album, Cocky on Purpose 2, returned her to the “Buss It” days. Supported by a tour, the new album was the unapologetic reset she needed. Through the twists and turns of her journey, Banks has evolved into a sound that promises to thrill in 2025. 8. Honie Gold She has gone viral before, but the new season of Rhythm + Flow skyrocketed Honie Gold to the top 10. She was a finalist in the new sea- son, and the world loved her clever approach to showcasing herself and the Dallas commu- nity. By disproving any misconceptions about Texas rappers, Gold empowered others. 7. Lil CJ Kasino They say all publicity is good publicity, and Lil CJ has skillfully balanced both beef and viral moments with undeniably great music. Whether he’s responding to a diss track or addressing an incident, he consistently floods fans with new music. His menacing smile adds a dramatic effect to his impres- sive wordplay. The artist released five new songs in one month, all with visuals, and his persistence is commendable. 6. Montana 700 The year 2023 made him a top prospect among the new artists. In 2024, the self-pro- claimed Last Don shattered all expectations, dropping several massive hit songs with “Pipeline,” “Doin Numbers” and “Back Door.” He collaborated with fellow new art- ist Zillionaire Doe to release a joint album, 70042, which received critical acclaim throughout the South. 700 headlined a con- cert alongside superstars Jeezy and DaBaby and signed a deal with 300 Entertainment in August. Now with a label that turned re- gional acts Young Thug and Migos into su- perstars, 700 looks to have a blindingly bright future. 5. Zillionaire Doe Zillionaire Doe was one of the most sought-af- ter new artists in 2024. Alongside his collabo- ration with Montana 700, he captivated audiences with a compelling street narrative in “Cbfw” and “Trap Motivation,” showcasing his unique talent and storytelling prowess. As one of the most requested rap stars in the South, Zillionaire Doe is undeniably the hot- test new act in Dallas hip-hop, whether you acknowledge it or not. 4. Tay Money From “Trappers Delight” to “Bussin” to “The Assignment” to her latest “H.E.R.,” Tay Money has been an unstoppable force in DFW for years. Collaborating with the biggest names while receiving endorsements by megastars alongside her hive-like fanbase made her an immovable tar- get in the focus of the biggest stars in Dallas hip-hop. She maintained her popularity in 2024 through her consis- tency. After filling out the year with buzzworthy songs “Tequila,” “Donk 2.0” and “WYA,” Tay closed the year with a new EP in Like A Boss, featuring OG Ron C. 3. Yella Beezy Yella Beezy has already established a reputa- tion as one of the greatest DFW rappers with hits “That’s on Me,” “Bacc At It Again” and “Up One.” However, his legacy could be tarnished if his music continues to be overshadowed by chaos. Just this year, he was was sued along with Chris Brown over an alleged assult backstage at the latter’s con- cert at Dickies Arena, and his legal issues have noticeably hindered his return to great- ness. Beezy’s new music delivers his signa- ture sound but hasn’t gotten him to reconnect to the charts — though enlisting Lil Wayne to executive produce his long-awaited album and feature on the lead single, “Hit,” is prom- ising. Everyone else on this list is chasing past success, but only two acts could legitimately move this Bad Azz Yella Boy to third. 2. BashForTheWorld He is one of the two North Texas artists in 2024 to embark on a nationwide tour with his popular album Mundo. Bash dominated the year with his own lingo, swagger and ar- guably the best hip-hop album of the year. It’s impossible to find anyone like him, from his name to his image to his showmanship. Live Nation partnered with the artist on two tours, which he shared with other local art- ists. And he continues doing it all his way. 1. BigXThaPlug The stars have aligned for the hitmaker as his magnetic music took over nationwide in 2024. The rapper received endorsements from big celebrities, including Kevin Hart. BigXThaPlug went country, collaborating with Shaboozey and earning the coveted XXL Freshman Class cover while supplying music on more blockbuster movie soundtracks. He released a top-selling album in Take Care, supported by a nationwide tour, and released a must-hear group album in Meet The 6ixers. By his side, the artist has Steve Stoute, UnitedMaster CEO and brand- ing genius, who has secured brand deals for Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Nas. He landed a big cam- paign in Prize Pick. What more can we say? Rappers from p16 Andrew Sherman Yella Beezy ranks in at No. 3 with hits “That’s on Me,” “Bacc At it Again,” and “Up One.”
