BBC Radio 1 Xtra announce their hot for 2022 artists list, each year the station announces 10 artists who they predict to do big things and have big years in the following years.
The station list for 2021 included artists such as Central Cee, Pa Salieu, Berwyn and Ivorian Doll, artists who all took their next step to stardom in 2021 with the central cee arguably having the biggest year taking home 2 GRM rated awards, a Mobo award and two songs in the top 10.
This years list has some big names and has artists from all over the country including one international act from Nigeria.
The 10 name list starts off with RnB singer Amaria, Amaria has gone from strength to strength every year since her arrival into the music scene around 2 years ago, she has grown immensely in 2021 collaborating on tracks alongside Jamaican dancehall artists Skillibeng, releasing her stand out track “Slow Motion” which currently sits on 1.5 million views 6 months after the songs release and selling out her first headline show without having even released a body of work.
The list moves on with Enny, whose break out year came with the success of her track “Peng Black girls” which became a viral hit after Jorja Smith jumped on the remix and introduced Enny to a much wider audience. This year also saw the release of her debut project titled Under Twenty Five as well as a standout performance at this year’s Mobo Awards.
Gabzy is next on the list and is an artist who takes a modern approach to RnB mixing it with genres such as funk and dancehall.
Croydons Jords is next and after a year that saw him start his own free school uniform initiative as well as hosting the turning on of the Christmas lights in his hometown croydon, the singer/ rapper looks as though he is destined to continuing growing.
Knucks is next and is an artist who has been rapping for just over 5 years, his style differs from the norm of most UK rappers but in the last year, his audience and appreciation has increased with his standout track “Home” currently sitting on 9.1 million views on his own youtube channel after being out for just over a year.
The next artists for 2022 all come from up north, Birmingham’s female rapper miss la Familia has had a year that has seen her become one of the leading voices for women in the UK rap game, manchester Pip Millet is a singer that has released tracks alongside MOBOs male artist of the year Ghetts as well as releasing her EP Motion Sick a 5 track project that currently sits on over 5 million Spotify streams. Manchester Meeks is the last artist from up north, Meekz has been one of the biggest artists in the UK scene who consistently gains over 5 million views on his videos that are uploaded on his own channel. The rapper has been quiet this year only dropping two tracks “Respect the come up” which he dropped 6 months ago and currently sits on 7.7 million views and “More money” which he released 3 weeks ago and has already amassed 1.3 million views.
East London Rapper Rimzee is next on the list and after being released from jail in 2019 he hasn’t taken his foot off the gas and is one of the leading rappers behind the resurgence of what fans call “Real rap”.
The last artist is the only international act, 26-year-old songstress Tems is a Nigerian artist who in the last year has worked alongside Wizkid, Drake and Brent Faiyaz showing the world her effortlessly outstanding vocals and songwriting.
For more information on the artists on the Hot for 2022 list by BBC radio 1xtra can be found here.
