Keep On Eye On These Artists In 2025
In an era where hundreds of thousands of songs are added to streaming services each day, it is harder than ever to find artists who separate themselves with a unique sound and perspective. At Audible Treats, we specialize in cutting through the noise, bringing artists with singular voices to a broader audience and digging deeper into their stories. We provide a steady hand for these artists, helping them navigate an evolving media environment and secure the perfect opportunities for them to show off their authentic selves.
Over the years, we have helped break some of the rap game’s biggest stars. Just this year, we’ve helped push artists like Sexyy Red, That Mexican OT and Lay Bankz to new career heights, adding to our laundry list of icons in whose rise we played a major role: Ice Spice, Rod Wave, Latto, Key Glock, Victoria Monet, Maxo Kream, $NOT, and many more.
Our current client roster boasts plenty of prospects talented enough to follow in those illustrious footsteps. Some have already seen success in their young careers, but have merely scratched the surface of their potential. Others are not yet as well known, but are relishing their time under the radar, as they hone their skills and await their moments to shine. We predict that you will hear all of their names a lot in the coming year.
Below, find a list of Audible Treats clients we believe are most likely to blow up next year. Find out why we think they that will help define the industry in 2025 and beyond. Listen with an open mind, and you might just find your new favorite.
Before moving onto 2025, take a look at how some artists we highlighted in last year’s AT Who’s Next elevated their games in 2024:
THAT MEXICAN OT:
- The Bay City, TX star reached a new level with his acclaimed album Texas Technician, which peaked at #64 on the Billboard 200, and was named one of the Best Albums of 2024 (So Far) by Stereogum
- The 25-year-old artist’s single “02.02.99” became his second Hot 100 hit, peaking at #74 on the chart and earning a GOLD certification from the RIAA
- Performed several sold out concerts and showed out at festivals like Austin City Limits, Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash, and Rolling Loud California
- Earned a spot in the 2024 XXL Freshman Class
- Hosted a Complex GOAT Talk with Paul Wall
- Participated in his first interview with Nardwuar
- Garnered his first magazine cover when he graced PREME Magazine
- Earned a co-sign from Beyoncé (“he’s hard!”) in her interview with GQ Magazine
LAY BANKZ:
- Scored one of the year’s biggest viral hits with “Tell Ur Girlfriend,” peaking at 58 on the Billboard Hot 100, and reaching #33 and #15 on the Canada and UK charts, respectively, and placed on charts in 15 additional countries around the world
- “Tell Ur Girlfriend” was one of the biggest hits of the year on TikTok, coming in at #3 on the platform’s Top U.S. Songs of 2024 chart
- Performed during the MTV VMA pre-show, making her cable television debut when her performance was featured on the telecast
- Featured on MTV PUSH, performing her song “Graveyard” and sitting for an interview
- The 19-year-old Philly native shared After 7, her debut project, earning over 200 million streams
- Named a 2024 XXL Freshman
- In the first half of the year, she was named Spotify’s Most Necessary Artists To Watch for 2024, placed on Complex‘s list of Rappers To Watch in 2024, REVOLT’s 13 Female Rappers to Watch in 2024 and YouTube’s Fifty Deep Music Class of 2024
- Named Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month for May 2024
- Featured in PEOPLE Magazine
BKTHERULA:
- Released the critically acclaimed LVL5 P2 album, featuring appearances from J.I.D., Cash Cobain, and more
- Earned coverage in NYLON, Alternative Press, The FADER, HYPEBEAST, and many other publications
- Named to Forbes’ 30 for 30 in 2024
- Toured with PinkPantheress on her “Capable of Love” Tour (and appeared in a viral photo with PinkPantheress, Ice Spice, and Tyla), and headlined her own “I Just Wanna Be Me Tour” later in the year
And now, some of our clients who could reach a new level in 2025…
JORDAN ADETUNJI
When sexy drill emerged in New York City in the summer of 2022, few knew how far the nascent genre would travel. Hailing from the unlikely location of Belfast, Northern Ireland, young singer Jordan Adetunji has played a major role in transforming the sub-genre from a local concern to a worldwide phenomenon. The honey-voiced tenor put his own stamp on the style with his song, “Kehlani,” a feverish ode to a woman whose beauty rivals the namesake singer. “Kehlani” quickly earned notoriety, going viral on TikTok and reaching the Billboard Hot 100 before earning the notice of Kehlani herself, who hopped on the song’s official remix, and welcomed Jordan as a special guest on her national tour. Powered in part by that remix, “Kehlani” became one of the year’s biggest hits, peaking at #25 on the Hot 100, racking up over 330 million streams on Spotify alone, and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Melodic Rap performance.
With a new album on the way and a fresh collab with Lil Baby in the books, Jordan Adetunji’s potential is sky high. Stay tuned for much more from the 25-year-old artist in 2025.
CORTISA STAR
instagram | spotify | youtube | tiktok
Cutting a striking figure with the blown-out sonics to match, 19-year-old transgender rapper Cortisa Star made an immediate impression when she teleported onto timelines in Fall 2024. She earned viral attention for her kinetic performance of her single “FUN” on 4 Shooters Only’s “From The Block“–with her clear-frame glasses, leopard-print coat, and Spider-Man t-shirt, and her sexually frank and unapologetically flex-heavy bars, she charmed and intrigued the online public–including stars like Charli XCX, who follows her on Instagram–by being her raw, authentic self.
Born and raised in Delaware, Cortisa Star has developed her brand of internet-pilled rap music by releasing a series of bite-sized singles in 2023 and 2024. She fires rapidfire blows at all comers, favoring beats with heavily distorted bass and filtering her vocals into a frayed aural attack. Cortisa Star first drew attention with “Get It Down,” a frenetic, hyperpop-adjacent banger that racked up over 1 million streams across platforms. Earlier this year, she made her mark with the triumphant “Cortisa Crump,” and most recently, the stomping “Bad ASF.” Since her fateful From The Block dropped in early December, “FUN” has become a breakout hit, generating over 4 million streams on Spotify alone.
Following her own muse as she shapes rap’s future, Cortisa Star is more than ready to live up to her generation-defining potential. “Everyone asking how im doing and lowke im doing awesome ^_^,” she said, and it will only get better from here.
JAE STEPHENS
Now signed to Raedio, in partnership with Def Jam, and with features in publications like BET and PAPER Magazine, Jae has her sights on R&B domination. Considering how far she has already come, it wouldn’t be wise to bet against her.
WOLFACEJOEYY
A native New Yorker, wolfacejoeyy grew up immersed in the sounds of his city, absorbing influences from the Five Boroughs and its neighboring corridors. In 2023, while still a student at the College of Staten Island, joeyy channeled his influences, which included R&B, rap, Jersey club, and the emerging sexy drill sound, infusing his own romantic lyricism and easy sense of melody and creating a blend of his own. His flirtatious style–which he crafted with the help of producers like PoWr Trav and WhereIs22 (aka the actor Michael Rainey Jr, from STARZ’s Power), the latter of whom helmed his breakthrough 2023 project 22Joeyy– earned the nickname “cutie patootie music” from joeyy’s growing legion of fans.
In 2024, wolfacejoeyy displayed his enormous potential with his album Valentino. The 21-year-old’s latest album is a sparkling soundtrack to NYC nights, flowing easily from track to track and following the rhythm of an evening adventure. joeyy scored a viral hit with album highlight “cake,” earning over 45k video creations on TikTok from fans who responded to his flirtatious lyric: “I told her she sexy, she said, ‘Period, purr’.” Later in the year, joeyy continued his hot streak with his song “finsta (sexy liar),” recently named one of the Best Songs of 2024 by Pitchfork.
Nearly done with college, wolfacejoeyy is ready to start the next chapter of his life as a rising rap star. With his melodic sensibility and knack for quotable lyrics, wolfacejoeyy has no ceiling.
CHASE SHAKUR
The 24-year old artist gave fans a glimpse of his new direction with singles like “LIMERENCE,” a ruminative ballad about the fine line between love and lust, “Passenger Seat Princess,” a club-friendly collaboration with fellow Atlantan Destin Laurel, and most recently, the spritely and seductive “2ofUs” and string-laden “FOCUS ON ME.”
If these singles are an indication, Chase’s upcoming album will be the one to catapult the young artist from cult favorite to major star. Stay tuned.
JAYDON
Having conquered Hollywood already, JayDon turns his sights to the world of music, focusing his considerable talents towards his true passion. In November, JayDon released his debut single, “Ah! Ah!,” a breezy West Coast anthem with a verse from fellow prodigy 310babii. A showcase for his charisma and vocal talent, “Ah! Ah!” is merely the beginning, as JayDon is planning on releasing his debut project next year.
TRE LOADED
Since the release of LOADED, the young rapper has been riding high, earning a notable co-sign from BigXThaPlug, who hopped on the remix to “Another Whip” and brought Tre Loaded on several dates of his “Take Care Tour.” With powerful names in his corner and boundless ambition, Tre Loaded continues to pave his own way through the Southern rap scene, as he aims to become Bluff City’s next big rap star.
1900RUGRAT
19’s visceral freestyles earned him the respect of his fellow rappers in the fertile Florida street rap scene, but in 2024, his viral fame reached a new level with “One Take Freestyle.” Sampling Rocko’s classic “U.O.E.N.O.” for his own purposes, 19 applies his thick drawl between chaotic snares and subsonic bass, firing out-of-pocket flex after out-of-pocket flex, comparing himself to LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Calvin Chambers: “B*tch, I’m white with 23, feelin’ somethin’ like Mike be/Chopper talk that Bow Wow, feelin’ somethin’ like Mike be.” “One Take Freestyle” reached another level when he performed the song on On The Radar, racking up over 500k views and propelling the song to 19 million streams on Spotify and 5 million plays on SoundCloud. Since “One Take,” the rapper has kept up his furious release pace, dropping new freestyles nearly every week and collaborating with peers like BLP Kosher and Skrilla.
Rugrat is looking to make 2025 his year, with his debut full-length project, coming soon via Remain Solid/300 Ent. Don’t sleep on 19.
Currently preparing his stoner classic, an upcoming album called PIFF, due to release early in the year, the young rapper who calls himself the Newport Lord and Rap Jeff Hardy has the skill and motivation to become the next Uptown rap hero. It’s only a matter of time before Lord Sko hits it big.
Effortlessly cool and instinctively playful, rising singer-songwriter N3WYRKLA‘s music has turned some of the biggest names in the music industry into fans. The young artist, born Nyla Nasir, has built steady buzz since releasing her debut EP SELFishly enTITLED in early 2023, attracting the attention of Brent Faiyaz, who appeared on her song “not enough” (over 1 million streams on Spotify alone). The star singer returned the favor later in the year, recruiting Nyla to join him and A$AP Rocky on “Outside All Night,” a highlight from Brent’s Larger Than Life mixtape. “Outside All Night” was one of the mixtape’s most popular songs, reaching the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart and racking up over 80 million streams on Spotify.
N3WYRKLA’s performance impressed Timbaland, who executive produced Larger Than Life, and inspired the legendary producer to take her under his wing. Earlier this year, Timbaland offered N3WYRKLA a showcase on his single “CH3RRY,” as she skated atop Timbo’s signature drums and weaved her playful vocals between sliding guitars. N3WYRKLA and Timbaland connected once again in the fall for the futuristic R&B banger “mind right,” a relationship dialogue with Detroit rapper Skilla Baby.
N3WYRKLA is working hard on her debut project, ready to repay the faith displayed by her mentors who have singled her out as a future star. Look out: 2025 is primed to be a big year for this innovative artist.
instagram | tiktok | youtube | spotify
In Summer 2024, Lil Man J surprised his fans by releasing a country song, “Whiskey For The Wine,” demonstrating the strength of his songwriting and the unique magnetism of his voice. The song immediately gained traction, racking up tens of millions of streams, earning him a legion of new fans (including Jelly Roll, who sang the song while on stream), and placements in key country playlists on Spotify (including Next From Nashville, Fresh Finds Country, All New Country, and more) and Apple Music (including Today’s Country, Today’s Hits, Viral Country, and more). Later in the year, J recruited That Mexican OT to grace the song’s remix.
With “Whiskey For The Wine” and follow-up singles like “Way Out” percolating in the country scene, Lil Man J is committed to bridge musical worlds in 2025 and beyond with his country tunes and everyman sensibilities.
2024 was Trigga’s biggest year yet, starting with “Ain’t Goin,” a collaboration with a fellow Floridian, the red hot BossMan Dlow, which racked up over 2.1 million video views on YouTube. The street hit led to Trigga’s latest album, Forgive Me, I’m Still Trappin’, which connected Trigga with kindred spirit 42 Dugg on “Last Ones Left” and introduced a bit of West Coast funk to his swampy sound. With a new direction and the Florida streets behind him, Trigga500k is looking to level up in 2025, taking steps to become his home state’s next rap standard-bearer.
