Hot For 2018

Fredo

Fredo burst onto the scene in 2016 with his anthem They Ain’t 100, before joining JME, Yxng Bane and Frisco on their huge remix of Kojo Funds’ Dun Talkin.

The Rapper from West London released his debut mixtape Get Rich or Get Recalledearlier this year, which was nominated for Best Mixtape at the GRM Rated Awards.

Fredo’s latest single Change has been played on both Radio 1 and 1Xtra, and led to him being championed by Drake's co-producers Oliver and “40”, and appearing on Charlie Sloth’s Fire in the Booth.

More from Fredo

• BBC Music page
• Instagram (instagram.com)
• Twitter (twitter.com)

Hardy Caprio

The latest to fly the flag for Croydon, Hardy Caprio has made a name for himself releasing Grime and Garage mash-ups and refixes.

Hardy Caprio is Hot For 2018

Get to know Hardy Caprio, the South Londoner who is Hot For 2018.

The 21 year old Londoner is known for his vocal samples, witty lyrics and uncensored skits.

Hardy Caprio - Unsigned (feat. One Acen)

Official music video for Unsigned by Hardy Caprio

His breakthrough came in the Summer of 2017 after the release of Unsigned, a track that was all over 1Xtra and even reached the Radio 1 playlist.

More from Hardy Caprio

• BBC Music page
• Instagram (www.instagram.com)
• YouTube (www.youtube.com)
• Twitter (www.twitter.com)

IAMDDB

"In a dark place after college", IAMDDB headed home to her father’s native Angola and started playing music; eventually performing for the President’s daughter.

IAMDDB is Hot For 2018

Get to know IAMDDB, the Mancunian singer-songwriter who is Hot For 2018.

Returning to the UK (Manchester) with a new perception of life, she enrolled in university. However, IAMDDB only lasted an hour before dropping out and beginning work on her own sound.

IAMDDB - Shade

Official music video for Shade by IAMDDB.

Since then she’s released three EPs, gained a huge fan in Wiley and drawn comparisons to the likes of Rihanna and Abra.

More from IAMDDB

• BBC Music page
• Instagram (www.instagram.com)
• YouTube (www.youtube.com)
• Twitter (www.twitter.com)

Kojo Funds

Born to a Dominiquais father and Ghanaian mother in East London, Kojo Fundsgrew up listening to Giggs and Lethal Bizzle.

Kojo Funds is Hot For 2018

Get to know Kojo Funds, the East Londoner who is Hot For 2018.

Kojo Funds isn’t an afrobeat artist. "My music’s got that African element, but it swings like dancehall, reggae, R&B… I call it afro-swing."

Kojo Funds - Dun Talkin (feat. Abra Cadabra)

Official music video for Dun Talkin by Kojo Funds

He didn’t try his hand at songwriting until 2014. Since then his first three tracks Fine Wine, My 9ine and Dun Talkin have rucked up more than 30 million YouTube views and gained Kojo a huge fan in Kehlani.

More from Kojo Funds

• BBC Music page
• Instagram (www.instagram.com)
• Twitter (www.twitter.com)

Lotto Boyzz

Two friends who met at a youth club in Birmingham, at the age of 15. Ash and Lucas were so impressed with each others’ bars that they started writing together in the club’s studio and formed Lotto Boyzz.

Lotto Boyzz are Hot For 2018

Get to know Lotto Boyzz, the Birmingham based act that is Hot For 2018.

Originally taking notes from Preditah (who is Ash’s cousin) and DJ Mustard, the pair settled on a mix of afrobeats, rap and bashment; a sound they call Afrobbean.

Lotto Boyzz - FaceTime Me

Official music video for FaceTime Me by Lotto Boyzz.

Their name standing for "Last of the true ones", the pair are known for their earworm vocal hooks and energy, summed up in a trio of singles: FaceTime Me, Bad Gyal and No Don.

More from Lotto Boyzz

• BBC Music page
• Instagram (www.instagram.com)
• YouTube (www.youtube.com)
• Twitter (www.twitter.com)

Mahalia

Growing up in a very musical Leicester household, Mahalia picked up a guitar and started writing love songs aged just 12.

Mahalia is Hot For 2018

Get to know Mahalia, a singer-songwriter from Leicester who is Hot For 2018.

Signed to a record label a year later, she went on to release two EPs (Head Spaceand Never Change) and a Mixtape (Diary Of Me) while still studying at school.

Mahalia - Sober

Official music video for Sober by Mahalia.

Mahalia also caught the attention of Rudimental who utilised her vocals on their most recent album We The Generation.

More from Mahalia

• BBC Music page
• Instagram (www.instagram.com)
• YouTube (www.youtube.com)
• Twitter (www.twitter.com)

Not3s

Hackney-born and bred artist Not3s burst through with his hit Addison Lee, which was playlisted on Radio 1 & 1Xtra and even drew the attention of Louis Theroux (who tweeted the lyrics).

Not3s is Hot For 2018

Get to know Not3s, the East Londoner who is Hot For 2018.

Not3s grew up writing his own bars and was encouraged to pursue music as a career after his headteacher heard him singing in class.

Not3s - Addison Lee

Official music video for Addison Lee by Not3s.

He released his debut EP at the end of 2017, featuring the likes of Tinie Tempah, Shakka and MoStack.

More from Not3s

• BBC Music page
• Instagram (www.instagram.com)
• YouTube (www.youtube.com)
• Twitter (www.twitter.com)

One Acen

Originally from Hertfordshire, One Acen only released his debut EP Beneath at the beginning of 2016.

One Acen is Hot For 2018

Get to know One Acen, the Hertfordshire artist who is Hot For 2018.

Moving away from his original grime sound to embrace melodic rap, he started working with fellow Hot For artist Hardy Caprio. Together the pair collaborated on Caprio’s Unsigned and on his own track Rolling.

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One Acen is an established writer, having released his own mixtapes and produced for the likes of WSTRN, Tion Wayne and Geko.

More from One Acen

• BBC Music page
• Instagram ( www.instagram.com)
• YouTube (www.youtube.com)
• Twitter (www.twitter.com)

Young T & Bugsey

Growing up on separate sides of Nottingham, Young T and Bugsey met aged 15, having admired each others’ DIY recordings from afar.

Young T & Bugsey are Hot For 2018

Get to know Young T & Bugsey, the Nottingham rappers that are Hot For 2018.

The duo’s sound combines murky, bass-heavy beats with sounds from their childhoods, having grown up listening to their Nigerian and Jamaican parents’ record collections.

Young T & Bugsey - 4X4

Official music video for 4X4 by Young T & Bugsey

Young T & Bugsey have been championed by Stormzy ever since they got the opportunity to rap back to back with him in 2015.

More from Young T & Bugsey

• BBC Music page
• Young T - Instagram (www.instagram.com)
• Bugsey - Instagram (www.instagram.com)
• YouTube (www.youtube.com)
• Twitter (twitter.com)

Yxng Bane

Yxng Bane took his name from Tom Hardy’s character in the Batman film The Dark Knight Rises. He first appeared online when he dropped Lone Wolf on SoundCloud, aged only 19.

Yxng Bane is Hot For 2018

Get to know Yxng Bane, the East London rapper who is Hot For 2018.

The 21 year old East London rapper grew up listening to the Isley Brothers, Boyz II Men and music from his mother’s native Congo. He was forced to learn the piano but instead preferred the local Rap and Grime scenes.

Yxng Bane - Rihanna

Offical music video for Rihanna by Yxng Bane.

Following collaborations with Yungen, Kojo Funds and nominations for this year’s MOBO awards, this summer Bane signed to Tinie Tempah’s Disturbing London label.
 

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