Nowhere is rap more popular than on the East Coast of the United States. Specifically, the upper East Coast in areas like the South Bronx in New York is where modern Rap music took root and began to spread from an underground art form to something mainstream and commercial. And while New York City and the surrounding areas are still known to have countless highly talented, yet not widely known rap artists, the ultimate goal for most (if not all) of these musicians is to rise to prominence.

There is something unique about talented rappers who are only known on a small scale. Locals feel like these kinds of musicians are hometown heroes. But, usually, if they are good enough rappers, as with all artists, breaking from the boundaries of their hometowns is a ride to mainstream commercial success. This is exactly what the following list of artists are beginning to do. Here are some of the best up and coming hip hop artists from the east coast.

22Gz

According to RapTV, New York rapper 22Gz has a lot to offer. This youngster has several songs with millions of views on YouTube, including his hit “Suburban,” which is a great place to start for anyone interested in getting a taste for modern New-York-Style rap or hip hop.

Chip Skylark

Chip Skylark has not only one of the best names in hip hop, but he also has a futuristic vibe and feels that many are loving in both New York and beyond. Chip Skylark has yet to have a huge mainstream hit. But, if he keeps grinding, and putting out the quality of music he has been, that next step in his career is sure to come sooner rather than later. Keep an ear out for Chip Skylark coming up next on your radio. 

Kyah Baby

Kyah Baby is the epitome of cool. This girl has been turning out mixtapes in Jamaica Queens and the surrounding area for years, honing her skills and garnering something of an underground following. Recently, however, she had the opportunity to go on a radio show with OG hip hop artist Funkmaster Flex. When given the opportunity to jump on a freestyle Kyah absolutely nailed it with some of the smoothest best freestyles you can imagine forming a young rapper. This put her on the scene beyond just New York and Kyah is becoming something of a hot commodity. She certainly has the talent, now she just needs to keep turning out music and come up with a song that can become a hit outside of the concrete jungle. Being successful in New York is tough, and it’s a good sign that you can handle just about anything. But being successful nationally or internationally? That’s a different ball game. Can Kyah Baby do the latter? We think so. But only time will tell.  

There you have it, some of the best up and coming rappers from the East Coast. This list leaves many talented new artists out. Especially those living on the East Coast who are not in New York. Those rappers outside of New York must live in the shadow of the great city. And, in some ways, they may be better off embracing their proximity to New York and simply migrating from wherever they are to a more vibrant hip hop scene. On the other hand, there is also something to be said for staying true to one’s own experience. And, for some, that may mean staying in and creating music about their own individual hometown. Who is to say the next Jay Z can’t come from Maine or Vermont? It’s possible. Stranger things have happened. But, until it does, most of the rap world will be keeping its eyes on New York, is they want to hear something new.