15 Hip-Hop, Caribbean and R&B Artists to Watch in 2026

U.K. internet bedroom rap feels like it’s on the verge of an overseas takeover, and Fakemink is at the forefront, steering the ship across the Atlantic. With co-signs from Drake, Playboi Carti, A$AP Rocky and even Timothée Chalamet, hype for the Essex native is already scraping The Shard. It’s for good reason, too: The underground buzz became palpable with the blaring “LV Sandals” alongside fellow U.K. rappers EsDeeKid and Rico Ace last year. Fakemink’s catchy hooks, extraterrestrial melodies and distorted electronic production push the envelope on hip-hop’s traditionalist values, but artists who delve into unchartered creative waters are the ones who make rap interesting. We’ll see if Mink can cash in his chips with his anticipated Terrified LP later in ‘26. — MICHAEL SAPONARA

Discovering new music is rare these days, so you gotta truly appreciate something when it grabs you. That’s what happened to me when SALIMATA’s video for her song “Moonlight” floated down my X timeline late last year. I then went to look for more of her music and was impressed by not only the songwriting but her versatility, even more so once she dropped her latest project The Happening, which puts that aforementioned versatility on full display. Sali has style, substance and bars. Pay attention. — ANGEL DIAZ 

This rising newcomer rocketed into 2026 with “Lullaby” featuring Paradise — his first top 10 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. Currently nestled at No. 9 on that tally, the soulful track opens JayDon’s 2025 EP Me My Songs & I, executive produced by the singer-songwriter’s Mega label chiefs Usher and L.A. Reid. Between his strong, emotive vocals, deft blending of modern and ‘90s/early 2000’s R&B, plus mesmerizing footwork, 18-year-old JayDon has drawn comparisons to Michael Jackson, Chris Brown and mentor Usher. But don’t get it twisted: Billboard’s June 2025 R&B Rookie of the Month, whose headlining Flamed Up Tour launches in April, is forging his own legacy. — GAIL MITCHELL

Babyfxce E is the crown jewel of the next draft class of rappers coming out of Flint. His punchy bars range from sharp to witty and menacing, while Babyfxce boasts an ear for trunk-rattling production to tie everything together, which has given him a leg up on the competition. The Michigan rapper has been steady in building a buzz around the region while narrating his vivid street tales, but his polished Da Realest album stamps E’s rise to the next level. It’s only a matter of time before the world catches on, but remember It’s Wit a X. — M.S.

Girlfriend is carving out her own lane, with a sound that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly unbound. Shaped by R&B, reggae and the soul records spinning from her father’s vinyl collection, she grew up studying feeling, and now she turns those lessons into songs that read like journal entries set to melody. Her genre-blending approach allows her to drift seamlessly between softness and edge, whether she’s unpacking heartbreak or holding onto hope.

Last year’s debut EP, It’s Complicated, introduced listeners to that duality — a coming-of-age soundtrack rooted in honesty and self-reflection. Since then, she’s continued to expand her palette, teaming up with Tierra Whack in a meeting of imaginative minds and linking with Bay Swag on “Tell Me Again,” a collaboration that underscores her versatility while celebrating the fluid intersection of R&B and rap. — CHRIS CLAXTON

If you’re looking for raw vocal power, Alicia Creti clears the bar. After her explosive 2024 release “Bleeding Me Dry,” Creti’s sumptuous tone and brutal candor have snapped skeptics from a deep slumber, as they await her forthcoming EP, Mindfields. Creti’s vocal prowess has shades of Jazmine Sullivan — not in just her vocal aerobatics with ease, but in the emotional weight she carries through every note. With R&B in resurgence mode, Creti enters the conversation as a truth-teller with pipes to match, as proven in her latest single, “No One’s Business.” — CARL LAMARRE

Arguably hip-hop’s hottest phantom since Yeat, the U.K.’s EsDeeKid has rap in a vice grip. The masked phenom already cashed in on his first Hot 100 heater with the menacing “4 RAWS.” Courtesy of his 20-minute EP, Rebel, EsDeeKid’s double-or-nothing mentality has him moving like rap’s most elusive rookie. His dark, rage-coded raps has Gen-Z knighting him as their new mosh-pit prince. Add “LV Sandals,” “Phantom,” and a scene-stealing verse from Timothée Chalamet on “4 RAWS,” EsDeeKid is on the brink of stardom. — C.L.

There’s something in the water in the U.K. right now. As Olivia Dean served as 2025’s breakout star, Natanya could be next in line. Straddling the line of R&B and alt-pop with traces of dance-pop and neo-soul, the North Londoner appears to be the complete package. The 23-year-old singer-producer showcased hitmaking potential and a versatile repertoire with Feline’s Return, and the Act II follow-up EP in October. Natanya boasts the sassiness of early 2000s pop hits while also entangling herself in the web of intoxicating romance, but her vision remains clear throughout. — M.S.

Last year, Ayetian took the Jamaican dancehall scene by storm with a trio of hits: “Tip,” “Truth & Balance” and “Wah Yo Deh Pan.” That kind of momentum practically guarantees an even bigger 2026 for the 21-year-old phenom. Born Malik Legend Tercien in Montego Bay, Ayetian’s earliest hits (2022’s “Easy” and 2023’s “Lawge”) arrived while he was finishing high school. After graduating, he kicked his musical career into high gear, bridging his slick wordplay with riddims from leading new-gen producers like DJ Mac and Nvtzz. Injecting his Haitian heritage into Jamaican dancehall melodies with each song, Ayetian is one of the most promising names across Caribbean music in 2026. — K.D.

There aren’t too many artists that who their own sound at such an early stage of their careers; however, Lelo has been able to provide a unique spin on an already-solidified Detroit rap scene. His 2025 project, New Detroit, was one of the more surprising offerings of the year, and the young Motor City rapper isn’t taking his foot off the gas — as he recently dropped a single in “Dice Roll,” which picks up where he left off last year. Lelo has an effortless style and an ear for distinctive production that’s helped him stand out amongst his peers. — A.D. 

Hailing from South Carolina, Trim — whose delivery is characterized by her animated intonation and irresistible Gullah Geechee accent — has quickly taken over TikTok FYPs with viral tracks like “Boat” and “Floor.” While the former was a raucous twerk anthem that garnered a remix from 2025 breakouts YKNiece and BunnaB, the latter found the rising star getting a bit more introspective and confrontational. With her trademark “emotes,” ear for infectious beats and a flow that’s sometimes reminiscent of early 2010s Nicki Minaj, expect to hear a lot more from Trim as the year unfolds. — KYLE DENIS

Who said Gen Z doesn’t have soul? 24-year-old, Memphis-bred singer EJ Jones boasts a rich, robust voice that should belong to a crooner more than twice his age, and he smartly juxtaposes that against his youthful swagger and bright timbre on songs like his breakthrough hit “Gas Station Love.”

Signed to Quality Control and already snagging collaborations with MCs like BigXthaPlug, Jones’ hip-hop bonafides add further dimension to his sonic profile, perfectly priming him for a career that can swerve between genres as his star continues to rise. — K.D.

Remember that video of Justin Bieber singing “Baby” in the bowling alley where he filmed the iconic music video? That was Gabriel Jacoby beatboxing in the background. Born in rural South Carolina and raised in Tampa, Fla., Jacoby fuses the disparate locales of his upbringing into gritty, funk-driven Southern soul and R&B after the late D’Angelo’s own heart. With an opening stint for Khamari’s headlining tour already under his belt, as well as a swanky debut project titled Gutta Child, Jacoby is more than ready to take 2026 by storm. — K.D.

At just 25, Houston native Jastin Martin is stepping into her moment as one of R&B’s most compelling new voices. The Def Jam signee, equal parts sultry vocalist and hands-on producer, has already earned placements on Billboard’s R&B Airplay Chart, proof that her emotionally rich records are traveling far beyond late-night headphone sessions. Grounded in longing, vulnerability and the kind of all-consuming attachment that defines young love, Martin’s sound pairs featherlight melodies with unfiltered lyricism, delivering songs that proudly lean into the “B” in R&B.

Throughout 2025, she’s kept her momentum steady with releases like “28 Degrees in Houston” and “Clear Skies,” sharpening her ability to turn universal experiences, first sparks, faded romances and complicated goodbyes, into intimate, diary-level confessions. Now aligned with legendary producer Timbaland, Martin seems poised for a wider spotlight. More than just building a catalog, she’s cultivating a sanctuary for listeners navigating the emotional turbulence of modern relationships — and this next chapter feels like the beginning of something bigger. — C.C.

After picking up a string of hits last year from “Toxic” to “Currency,” Skippa is already the primary vocalist on the hottest dancehall riddim of 2026: DJ Mac and CrashDummy’s “WYFL.” Armed with a natural knack for melodic earworms and the playbook of the dancehall greats before him, Skippa is one of the genre’s brightest ascendant stars. He effortlessly bridges the chant-forward vocal approach of ‘90s dancehall with sleek trap-inflected riddims, which allows him to access a radio-ready rap-sung cadence. Already boasting a co-sign from dancehall icon Bounty Killer, Skippa is all but destined to help lead the genre’s rising generation. — K.D.