Music
The 25 best rappers under 25
From A.Girl to Zpluto, these are the best young Australian rappers in the game.
Every week, the internet tells us about at least three young, new rappers we need to pay attention to. The buzz never stops, so it's difficult to push pause and take an assessment of what's what. With this list of the 25 best rappers under 25, we have tried to do that.
Some of the rappers here have released chart-topping albums on major labels, some have self-released one mixtape. Some have headlined big tours and are making headlines, some are still building names for themselves on their local scenes and preparing to break out. Some aren't even rappers but R&B vocalists, and we are fully aware that this means we have cheated.
Whether risen or rising, these rappers deserve your attention. It is the right combination of skill, originality and personality that separates these rappers from the rest and makes them Australia’s 25 best rappers under 25 -- presented here in no particular order.
01
The Kid Laroi
Hometown: Sydney
He was 14 when he started putting out music, 16 when he first cracked the US charts and is now still only all of 19-years-old. Even putting his age aside, there’s no Australian hip-hop phenomenon right now quite like Kid Laroi, who has collaborated with Justin Bieber, hit #1 around the world with his debut mixtape and has performed better on the US Billboard charts than any other Australian hip-hop artist in history. But the fact that he’s done it all before even hitting 20 makes his success all the more mind-blowing.
What to watch: Love Again, his new one.
02
Kahukx
Hometown: Sydney
Nine million streams – that’s what Kahukx has clocked up on his 2022 smash single Due Time. The Sydney-based rapper is keeping the drill dream alive with his wildly popular releases, which he only began putting out last year. And he’s no one hit wonder – Kahukx followed up his breakthrough moment with another banger in Bonnie N Clyde, as well as appearing on Day1's big single MBappe. The best bit? He’s only 18-years-old, so this is just Kahukx on the warm-up.
What to watch: Due Time, if you haven’t already.
03
A.Girl
Hometown: Sydney
A.Girl began her career as a vocalist but over the past few years, the Sydney talent has proven she might be even better as a rapper.
2021 saw A.Girl – AKA Hinenui-Terangi Tairua, or just Angel – drop two fiery rap tracks, each with a big message. First came Vision, her track for Red Bull 64 Bars, which saw A.Girl call for unity in the Western Sydney hip-hop scene. Next she came back with We Them Boyz, a drill track that challenged the idea of what it means to be “one of the boys”.
Since then she’s kept the hits coming with an appearance on Sydney Yungins track Ride or Die, an incredible triple j Like A Version and her smooth 2023 single Do It Again. Team A.Girl forever.
What to watch: Her unforgettable Red Bull 64 Bars.
4 min
A.Girl Red Bull 64 Bars
In her 64 Bars track 'Vision', Sydney rapper and singer A.Girl calls for unity in the Australian hip-hop scene.
04
Babyface Mal
Hometown: Melbourne
Babyface Mal began turning heads in 2021 when he signed with 66 Records, the Melbourne-based, African-owned label also home to acts like ECO$YSTEM. The 23-year-old came out firing with five singles in as many months, then followed that up with an even bigger 2022 that included the huge hit Ya Rab, which paired his trademark effortlessly cool, half-slurred delivery with propulsive Arabic drums.
Mal – who, a few years into things, is looking a little less baby-faced than when he began – has capitalised on that momentum by starting 2023 with a re-imagining of Ya Rab steered by Melbourne producer Willaris K as well as sharing the new single Bubblin Up. We can’t wait to see where he takes things in the rest of this year.
What to watch: Ya Rab, to see what all the fuss is about.
05
Forest Claudette
Hometown: Melbourne
Few had a breakout 2022 like Forest Claudette. In one short year, the 23-year-old has risen to become one of Australia’s guaranteed next-big-things. It all began with the impossibly smooth debut single Creaming Soda, an incredible success that’s clocked over a million streams between Spotify and YouTube. Proving they’ve got plenty more in the tank, Forest Claudette (real name Kobe Hamilton-Reeves) quickly followed that up by traversing R&B, hip-hop, soul and pop with tracks like Hologram, Goodbye and Gone Without A Trace – all of which you’ve likely heard by now. Can’t wait to see what they do next.
What to watch: Creaming Soda, to see where it all began.
06
Siala
Hometown: Northern NSW
For her debut single Blackout, Siala tackled a topic Australia needs to speak about more, proving she’s not afraid to get candid in her music. It was a powerful introduction to the rapper and vocalist, made all the more impactful by production from Brisbane polymath Nerve. 2022 also saw Siala share the single Black Coffee, which put her strong flow front-and-centre. With a start this strong, you can bet 2023 will be a big one.
What to watch: Blackout, for an unforgettable introduction to Siala.
07
Sahxl
Hometown: Sydney
Sahxl started turning heads when he was just 18 and began putting out impressively polished singles like My Mind – as well popping up on unreleased Kid Laroi tracks (in a big endorsement, that globe-conquering rap star also described Sahxl's music as “dope”). But his path into music began even earlier, with Sahxl recording demos in his bedroom from age 12 and getting the attention of hit producer Khaled Rohaim at 13-years-old, who then began working with him on his sound.
Now only just out of his teens, it feels like the Western Sydney-bred talent is on the verge of breaking the big time. Last year he snagged a guest verse on Open Till 8’s Come Over Capsule EP and he has already kicked off 2023 with the new single Closure. Watch this space.
What to watch: The slick breakthrough hit My Mind.
08
VV Pete
Hometown: Sydney
“Them girls is frauds / Copies of VV Pete of course,” Mount Druitt’s newest rap sensation spits on her breakthrough track. It’s a line that will stick in your heads for days, from a song that makes a big first impression. Every element of Frauds is excellent, from the slick video to VV’s effortlessly cool delivery and the beats she spits over – an icy, minimalist production from Cassius Select and Utility.
Incredibly, Frauds is only VV Pete’s second track, released during the debut year of her music career. But it hasn’t taken long for VV – real name Veronica Peter – to start running things. Already, she’s picked up the FBi Radio SMAC Award for Next Big Thing and scored a sync on Netflix’s Heartbreak High with her first track, Bussit. We’ve zero doubt that VV Pete’s 2023 will be huge.
What to watch: Frauds, of course.
09
Lisi
Hometown: Goodna
Lately, Lisi has kept us listening with a string of big local collaborations – he teamed up with The 046 on Leave It Alone, HP Boyz on Roll Like That and Nokz on Like This. Joining forces with Australia’s best and brightest is what Lisi is all about – in fact, a couple years back, the Goodna-bred emcee launched Castille Records, a label he wants to use to uplift his local area.
“We started this label to help build up what is not yet common in Ipswich and Brisbane,” Lisi says. “We have opened a door for all the hidden talent within the streets of our city to reach for an opportunity that can change their lives and better their communities. Castille Records is here to not just help ourselves, but to help our people as well.”
The launch of Castille Records followed a string of releases that marked Lisi as one of Australian hip-hop’s best new names – and a grounded, inspiring figure to boot. From Say Less, the 2019 track that started it all, through to his Red Bull 64 Bars and the 2020 EP Average Man, Lisi has proven that in a scene dominated by bravado and chest-puffery, talent trumps all else.
What to watch: Lisi’s internet-breaking Red Bull 64 Bars.
10
Day1
Hometown: Brisbane
In 2021, Brisbane’s Day1 dropped the release that made Australia sit up and pay attention. His debut EP, Day Uno, is an eight-track collection that spans both smooth R&B and harder-edged rap. One of the biggest tracks from the EP is also something of a mission statement: on King Of My City, the 23-year-old makes his intent to run the Queensland capital clear.
Day1 has plenty of cause to brag. Since he dropped his breakout, now-platinum selling single BOSS, he’s had a huge single with Kahukx in Mbappe, as well as a pair of strong solo efforts. The crown might just be his.
What to watch: The huge hit that is Mbappe.
11
Creed Tha Kid
Hometown: Brisbane
Creed Tha Kid has a whole lot under his belt for someone who’s barely 20. The fast-riser broke through a few years back with his feature verse on an official remix of Mood Swings alongside fellow fast-risers Youngn Lipz and Day1. In 2022, Creed dropped his 6-track Mixed Emotions EP and followed that up with his Khi’leb collab Cheques, proving both his talent and work ethic. Can’t wait to see where he takes things in 2023.
What to watch: Luv Galore, the big single from his Mixed Emotions EP.
12
Mason Dane
Hometown: Newcastle
Mason Dane had a huge breakthrough hit in 2021 with Dash, a tune so undeniable it even caught the ear of T-Pain. That high-profile nod helped Dane rack up a million streams on the track between YouTube and Spotify and reel in a stack of new listeners. He’s used the momentum to get big on TikTok, where he finds funny ways to promote catchy, emotional rap tracks like 2022’s Pretty Pearl. With the talent and the internet savvy, we think he might just have the makings of Australia’s next big thing.
What to watch: Dash, which was reimagined with a verse from T-Pain himself.
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13
Isaac Puerile
Hometown: Sydney
Blacktown looms large in ‘2012’, the breakthrough release from rising rapper Isaac Puerile. Littered with adlay wordplay and references to the train lines of Western Sydney, the song is an ode to the teenage years he spent running amok and raising hell. Since he captured attention with that track, Puerile has come back with the EP I Hate You Too as well as the single Soda and 2023 two-track release of Outside and Paranoid. Loving it all.
What to watch: The flashback fever dream that is ‘2012’.
14
Mali Jose
Hometown: Perth
After warming up with a few years of steady releases, Mali Jose unlocked a new level in 2022 with the big success of his Sunseeker EP, which gave us the tracks Interventions and Clouds. The Fremantle-based talent also spent the year kicking some live show goals, supporting Baker Boy on tour and taking the stage at Listen Out. Now after starting 2023 strong with the Kobie Dee collaboration NEVA THAT – and with a new EP arriving soon – we think Mali is poised to break all the way through this year.
What to watch: Interventions, the track that clocked up a quarter of a million Spotify streams.
15
Srirachi
Hometown: Melbourne
Srirachi isn't just wildly talented, she also knows how to entertain. In her bars, the Melbourne rapper drops tongue-in-cheek rhymes about hook-ups and feeling herself. In her videos, she gets cinematic. And on TikTok – where she has over 300,000 followers – she posts very funny videos taking the piss out of herself.
After sharing a pair on-point singles in 2022 and gettin tapped for triple j’s Bars of Steel, Srirachi has kicked off 2023 with the banging new track El Nido. We're obsessed with everything she does, so pray she drops the music video soon.
What to watch: The tour-de-force that is U Want More Sir?.
16
Unamii
Hometown: Brisbane
Australia first met Unamii in 2020 as part of Brisbane-based collective Swish Music. In a crew of 12 rappers, hailing variously from the likes of South Sudan, Zimbabwe and Uganda, Unamii was the sole female member. But that wasn’t what really made her stand out -- on the track Showtime she stole the show with her sharp and witty lyrics, immediately marking herself as one to watch.
Since then, Unamii has returned to knock a Red Bull 64 Bars out of the park, as well as collaborating with new R&B star Pania on LETHIM4ALL and appearing on the Swish Music single Everyday. We can’t wait to see how she levels things up in 2023.
What to watch: Unamii’s powerful Red Bull 64 Bars.
3 min
Unamii Red Bull 64 Bars
The Swish Music member has stepped up to deliver a powerful Red Bull 64 Bars.
17
Zion Garcia
Hometown: Sydney
You may have heard Zion Garcia on Solly’s 2022 single Apply the Pressure, where he went hard over a propulsive beat. But we like the Western Sydney-bred talent even better when he’s taking things slow – weaving introspective bars over smooth, jazzy production on tracks like Overthinking.
Garcia’s a producer, filmmaker and writer as well as a rapper, so there’s no shortage of talent here. Couple that with his status as a tapped-in name in the Western Sydney cultural scene and we think he’s poised to make an impact this year.
What to watch: Prim Proper Freestyle, which puts Garcia's lyrical prowess and incredible flow front and centre.
18
Baby Prince
Hometown: Brisbane via Zimbabwe
From Lisi to Nerve, there’s a lot of good stuff coming out of Brisbane right now. Another name for the Sunshine State to feel proud of is Baby Prince. The Harare-born, River City-based rapper has been quietly grinding away for a few years now, uploading his prolific output to SoundCloud.
Baby Prince had a big 2022, collaborating with Mason Dane on Pretty Pearl and clocking up a cool 300,000 streams on his single Zimbabwe. He’s starting 2023 strong with his Purple Rag Prince EP coming out through Warner Music. Based on the strength of his recent singles, we think Baby Prince is set for his biggest year yet.
What to watch: The three minute flex that is Zimbabwe.
19
YoungNLipz
Hometown: Sydney
Drill isn’t the only thing coming out of Sydney’s Western Suburbs. With the mammoth success of his debut track ‘Misunderstood’, Cabramatta son Youngn Lipz proved there’s a big appetite for smooth, heartfelt R&B in the ‘burbs.
Since ‘Misunderstood’ introduced him to the world in 2019, YL has been busy proving both his talent and work ethic. In 2022 the 24-year-old came through with the huge debut album Area Baby, which gave us new singles like Broken Home, and has already scored one big hit this year in Amazing. The star just continues to rise.
What to watch: Amazing, his latest.
20
Rins4
Hometown: Melbourne
Nigerian-born, Melbourne-based rapper and songwriter Rins4 has been freestyling since he was in high school, and his commitment to the craft shows. After releasing his first official singles just last year – Done With You and Soul Cry – the 23-year-old has started 2023 strong with Aim For The Stars, which has already won coveted airplay on triple j. There’s a natural honesty to his songs, which are written from the heart. We see big things coming.
What to watch: Aim For The Stars, his latest.
21
ZPluto
Hometown: Sydney
In just a few short years, ZPluto has already established himself as one of the country’s most exciting new rappers. He proved his work ethic with a string of singles and debut EP in 2020, followed that up with a nonstop 2021 that included the single Impatient and then came through with his biggest hit yet in 2023: Bonnie & Clyde. There’s echoes of The Kid Laroi, Post Malone and Juice WRLD to New Zealand-born, Sydney-based talent, but there’s also something about his songs that feels uniquely ZPluto.
What to watch: Bezerk, his other big 2022 single.
22
Silas Gaye
Hometown: Melbourne
It’s early days yet for 21-year-old Silas Gaye, but we love what we hear. The Liberian-born vocalist and rapper pours the echoes of his tough upbringing into song, crafting tracks like Myself / 5 Years that get candid about his demons and his hopes. Affecting, real and raw.
What to watch: Can’t Go, his 2022 team-up with NastroKid.
23
Chanel Loren
Hometown: Sydney
Sure, she’s a vocalist rather than a rapper, but we’re willing to bend the rules for Chanel Loren. The South East London born and raised artist – “currently stranded in Sydney”, as she puts it – has been likened to artists like Jorja Smith and SZA, and it’s not hard to hear why. Loren has only been releasing songs since 2022 but has already clocked up millions of streams and scored radio play around the world, turning heads with her smooth R&B-flavoured hits. The six tracks she’s shared so far (as well as the guest spot on a track from Keli Holiday of Peking Duk) fame have all been home runs. A true talent guaranteed to conquer the globe.
What to watch: The oh-so-cool F4U, her latest.
24
Shadow
Hometown: Perth
Shadow is one of Australia's best new rap talents. But don’t take our word for it -- he’ll tell you himself.
“I see myself on top in two years,” the Durban-born, Perth-based talent told us in no uncertain terms when he stepped up for Red Bull 64 Bars in 2021. “I’m going to keep grinding until it happens. I’m not gonna stop ... I was meant for this. I was built for it.”
Shadow has no shortage of bravado but it’s all part of his charm. Since signing with Golden Era Records, the label started by local hip-hop titans Hilltop Hoods, the 24-year-old has proven how hard he goes in the booth on singles like Russell Coight and Relocate. He featured on Huskii’s big debut album Antihero and released his own 7-track EP in 2022, coming back with a trio of big singles to kickstart 2023. Looks like he’s poised to reach "the top" right on schedule.
What to watch: Shadow’s Red Bull 64 Bars, to see his flow in action.
3 min
Shadow Red Bull 64 Bars
South African-born talent Shadow says he was "built" for rap. Watch him in the booth for Red Bull's 64 Bars.
25
Yibby
Hometown: Sydney
To fall in love with Yibby, you’ve just got to listen to his 2022 track Syd City. That impossibly smooth love letter to his adopted hometown of Sydney is an immediate winner, one that endears, chills you out and demands repeat listens. It’s one of seven tracks on The Ethiopian-born rapper’s The Chubby Tape mixtape, a collaboration with producer Chub.E that draws on soul music, old school boom bap and contemporary acts like Joey Bada$$ and Earl Sweatshirt. It’s not his first release – you might also have dug 2021’s Tangent EP – but we think it signals big things ahead for the young talent.
What to watch: Late Nights, another cut from The Chubby Tape mixtape.