Music
10 Sydney rappers who'll rule 2023
From newcomer VV Pete to drill sensation Kahukx, say hello to the hip-hop, rap and R&B stars ruling Sydney's thriving music scene right now.
For a look at names setting the hip-hop agenda this year, Red Bull rounded up 20 of the Australian rappers ruling 2023. Today, we’re zooming in even further and focussing on the Sydney artists doing big things.
In previous years, we've shouted out the likes of One Four, The Kid Laroi, Barkaa, Huskii, A.Girl and Triple One as the names running the Harbour City. But with so much bubbling up around the country, today we’re turning our attention to the fast-risers who’ve just broken through -- or are about to take their career to the next level.
Some of them are a few years into the game, others just dropped their first single. They're all exceptionally talented and destined for greatness, so read on to meet the Sydney rappers doing our city proud.
VV Pete
Why they matter: “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.
Kahukx
Why they matter: 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 – Kauhx 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 Kauhx on the warm-up.
What to watch: Due Time, if you haven’t already.
Jamaica Moana
Why they matter: If you’ve watched Netflix’s Heartbreak High, you’ll already be acquainted with Jamaica Moana. The rapper, songwriter, creative director and ballroom scene stalwart had a cameo in the unforgettable Mardi Gras episode of that smash TV show. But it’s not just on screen that Jamaica Moana is killing it – 2022 also saw the multi-talent drop the fierce single CYA and follow that up with a pair of hot collaborations, including the Stereogamous and Temgazi team-up Hermione. We’re feeling it.
What to watch: CYA, a bona fide banger.
The 046
Why they matter: We first heard from The 046 in 2019, when they dropped the hit track Run Run and quickly clocked up a cool three million views on YouTube. Then the group from South-West Sydney went on hiatus for a spell – but now they're back and better than ever.
The 046 – made up of two brothers, their cousin and their best mate – have been busy pioneering a funk-infused style of Australian hip-hop. After having big success in years past with tracks like Runnin Game and the Lisi collab Leave Me Alone, they’ve started 2023 strong with the single Keep It Different, which has already nabbed airplay on triple j. Now with a debut album on the way, the sky’s the limit.
What to watch: Keep it Different, to see how The 046 are doing it in 2023.
DSP
Why they matter: Nigerian-born, Campbelltown-raised rapper DSP has been making serious noise over the past year with tracks like NJ and Fall Back, which showcase his whip-fast flow and natural charisma. He’s the sort of rapper you can’t help but stop and pay attention to, so it’s no surprise he’s been getting a lot of love from Spotify and Apple Music. He even tapped Brisbane’s Day1 for a single and we’ve no doubt there’s more big collaborations in DSP’s very near future.
What to watch: Fall Back, which you’ll have on repeat in no time.
Zion Garcia
Why they matter: 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.
BVT
Why they matter: Beatboxer, producer, actor, voice over artist and rapper BVT certainly has no shortage of talent. In song, the Sydney based artist – real name Bernie Van Tiel – creates music that speaks to the experience of living as a queer person of colour. Their whip-fast rhymes have earned them performance slots at Sissy Ball and WorldPride, as well as a spot touring with Haiku Hands. 2022 saw BVT drop their debut mixtape Lalaki, an urgent and stirring release. You might have also spotted Van Tiel in the new Amazon Prime series Class of 07, where they acted alongside the likes of Caitlin Stasey and Emily Browning. Talk about a quintuple threat.
What to watch: Lalaki, a song about finding strength in queer identity and reclaiming space.
Sahxl
Why they matter: 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.
1300
Why they matter: For proof of how diverse Australia’s rap scene is in 2023, see 1300. The Korean-Australian crew from Sydney’s West rap mostly in Korean, with a few bars in English sprinkled here and there. Sonically, they combine the swagger of Soundcloud rap with the high-gloss sheen of Korean hip-hop.
Even the group’s composition feels unique – 1300 is made up of rappers rako, goyo and DALI HART, producer-singer Nerdie, and producer pokari.sweat, who combine their various talents to create music that’s truly in a lane of its own. They’re unlike anything else out there right now and just so damn good.
What to watch: The big budget video for their new single Oldboy, which tips its hat to the classic Korean horror flick of the same name.
Gold Fang
Why they matter: We first met Gold Fang when he collaborated with Big Skeez on Where Yuh From, a track that delivered an instant dopamine hit. It was the perfect introduction to the charisma and Caribbean lilt of the now-Sydney based artist, who moved here from Trinidad as a teenager. The NLV Records-signee delivered tracks like Big Natty Rasta and Wet last year, as well as charisma-dipped Red Bull 64 Bars. He’s come through with a pair of vibey new singles and a debut mixtape already in 2023, proving once again there’s no else making reggae this fun right now.
What to watch: Gold Fang’s Red Bull 64 Bars – the charm just radiates.
3 min
Gold Fang
Trinidad-born, Sydney-based Gold Fang lays down 64 bars, rhyming on a fresh track produced by Korky Buchek.