Get to know the emerging artists you should be keeping an eye on in 2023 .
2022 produced many memorable music moments - check out our projects of the year list if you don't believe us - and with a wealth of talent rising through the ranks, 2023 vows to be another promising year. As always, we've kept our ears to the underground and compiled 20 artists across UK rap and club music who've left a lasting impression on us. Dive in below!
Jim Legxacy
Genre nonconformity doesn’t come easy for many artists, but Jim Legxacy has it in abundance. Fusing genres as disparate as midwest emo and Jersey club, he's quickly building a cultish following through channels like TikTok and Instagram. Taking to Twitter and updating fans on its progress, Jim teased a new project at the back end of 2022. With such a mixed bag to choose from, it’ll be exciting to see where he takes listeners next.
Reek0
Releasing his second EP just last year, Reek0 is an emcee shutting down raves and locking off people’s headphones with equal measure. Switching flows like a boxer switches stance, the wordsmith proves his worth over grime, garage and any other genre birthed from Britain’s underground.
Fiyahdred
South-London producer Fiyahdred is known for their buoyant DJ sets and flamboyant productions. The self-professed UK funky fanatic released the ‘Anyway EP’ on legendary record label Hyperdub in 2021, turning out to be one of the imprint's best projects that year. A slew of singles have come since and we can only hope for more material to come in 2023.
Bluetoof
Bluetoof has been turning heads with a stream of buzzing sets, mixes and releases since 2020. Traditionally bouncing between the holy trinity of UKG, breaks and electro, 2022's Alakazam EP hinted at a new influence. He broke out hypnotic chants and more acoustic drums – nods to his north African heritage - and has since masterfully pushed this sound with double-sided single Jinx. Catch one of Bluetoof’s weekly Wednesday shows on Rinse FM, and do yourself a favour by watching his HÖR set.
Len
“I ain’t lucky, I’m chosen” reads Len’s Spotify bio. It’s a statement that looks more justified by the day, as his deadly combination of consistency and prolificness propels him further into stardom. Quite simply, no one sounds like the idiosyncratic wordsmith and we feel that he still has so much more to give.
Archy Moor
With a new EP due for February, Archy Moor is back on the scene and in a big way. Raised in Dublin, a city known for its euphonious music scene, the rapper is conveying his innermost thoughts from a place of deep honesty. Collaborating with Earl Saga on his forthcoming project, Archy and his music is to be kept a firm eye on in 2023.
muva of Earth
muva of Earth and her afrofuturistic productions have a hallucinogenic quality that Greentea Peng would be proud of. The south-London native sees music as a healing power and her music, with its soulful jazz qualities, is medicinal in and of itself. With a voice that skims off beats like a bird skims the surface of water, we’re eager to see where muva of Earth goes sonically this year.
1-800 GIRLS
Producer and DJ 1-800 GIRLS has been making music since 2017 and yet he’s largely flown under the radar of the UK’s electronic scene. He made a strong start to 2023 with the release of his single "90%", a track that captures his authentic sound: energy, nostalgia, and a long-time affinity for feminine vocals. 1-800 GIRLS has started the year as he means to go on.
LUXE
With airtime across the BBC’s airwaves and multiple mixes of her own productions, LUXE is placing her stake in London’s burgeoning DJ-sphere. “Falcon’s Rise”, which came out via Bannofee Pies in 2020, flits between spellbinding ambiance and frantic breakbeats. A new, collaborative EP with Tom Place is on the way via DansuDiscs, marking a promising start to 2023.
Renzniro
In May last year, Renzniro released the extensive, 13-track mixtape ‘See Me, See Trouble’, announcing himself to the world truly as an artist. Described as the ‘coming of age story to end them all’, the project chronicles the Manchester-based artist’s three-year come-up and the highs and lows of the journey.
Ploy
Ploy’s polyrhythmic productions have found themselves on the USB of every major DJ coming out of England. The Bristol native, since 2016, has released on Hessle Audio and Time Dance, and with a taste for experimental techno, it’ll be interesting to see what direction he goes in next. “Stinky”, off of the recent EP ‘Unit 18’, was all over the festival and clubbing circuit in the summer, its stomping drum patterns and basslines too palpable to be ignored.
es.cher
Marrying the wonky techno flavours of Two Shell with a hyper pop balladry, es.cher’s metamorphic approach to electronic music is much to be admired. The artist radiates an enigmatic presence on tracks, leaving the listener yearning for more but feeling satisfied by the layers of striking sounds.
Kitsta
Kitsta is the Yorkshire-born, London-based DJ hitting her stride. Radio bookings have been coming thick and fast, including a monthly Balamii residency since the start of last year. She draws selections from right across the spectrum, but has a soft spot for all things trancey - check out her debut Balamii ‘Trance Special’ show for a good dose. Her routine now involves playing up and down the country, so there's no excuse not to catch her live.
Nukuluk
Communalism runs through the identity of south London collective Nukuluk, who combine their myriad of influences to devise a beautifully chaotic sound. Drawing on experimental hip-hop and post-punk inspirations, their back-catalogue is filled with anarchy. Their debut EP, ‘DISASTER POP’, came out in 2021, but after a quiet year, we're hoping 2023 provides a follow-up.
Albertina
Artist, singer, producer and DJ Albertina has many strings to her bow. 2022 saw a bunch of slick singles hit our streaming services, covering genres as disparate as bailie funk and garage. With dulcet tones to accommodate various club sonics, Albertina is hitting her stride without being confined to a box. You can also catch her DJ sets under the moniker ‘DJ Jewli’.
Miso Extra
Switching between Japanese and English over a plethora of otherworldly beats, Miso Extra released her debut EP ‘Great Taste’ last year to much acclaim. Standout track “1013” utilises an accordion-lead instrumental, following in vain of the late, great MF DOOM, and NAYANAIZ offers up a verse on “Great Taste”, proving how well-regarded Miso is in the alternative rap space.
dochi
A member of the clout-laden Brighter Days family, dochi's metrical delivery finds itself a unique spot among London's contemporary voices. Blessing the productions of everyone from Izco to Osquello, he released the mixtape 'aMen' last year and is showing no signs of slowing down, with various singles coming out since. We're hoping for another prolific year from the multifaceted singer-rapper-songwriter.
Cameo Blush
Cameo Blush’s recent releases are nothing short of stunning. His Silkworm EP is a sophisticated contribution to the rich lineage of dizzy, euphoric club music in the UK - essential listening for fans of Two Shell or Overmono. The Silkworm EP received a lot of love from people who matter, particularly Mary Anne Hobbs on BBC Radio 6, but is still criminally underrated. We expect all that to change when festival season hits and Cameo Blush’s tunes soundtrack sun-drenched fields across the globe. Or so we hope.
Tay Jordan
Bringing a distinctive road rap flavor to the table, Tay Jordan's sharp wordplay and divisive delivery separate him from many UK artists influenced by America's West Coast. "Still Runnin'", his most recent single, is made with hazy evenings and Cadillac rides in mind, as its g-funk beat suspends beneath Tay's cut-throat lyricism.
Jules
West London rapper Jules looks to genres like Jersey club and trap to broaden his own repertoire of sounds. In an exciting period of experimentation, no two of his singles are the same; they all possess unique qualities that there's much to love about. 'motions', his most solid body of work to date, came out at the tail end of 2022, boding well for a prosperous 2023.