SoundCloud was the birthplace of the emo rap genre in the mid-2010s. It combines hip hop, rap, beats, heavy, and hardcore emo music. Several artists led the charge in the origination of emo rap. More and more young rappers are blending heavy rock elements into their music, and today we highlight those who are doing it well. Listed below are our top three up-and-coming emo rappers to watch in 2023.
1. Wicca Phase Springs Eternal
From Scranton, Pennsylvania, Adam McIlwee is a singer-songwriter and producer known as Wicca Phase Springs Eternal. He has been a member of emo rap pioneers GothBoiClique, hip hop collectives Thraxxhouse and Misery Club, and indie rock band Pay for Pain. The music scene has already seen an impressive impact from Wicca Phase, but he’s someone to watch out for next year!
2. ZillaKami
Providing the most fitting counterpart to SosMula’s gritty style as part of trap metal duo City Morgue, ZillaKami’s raging vocals were a perfect fit. ZillaKami raps in a hoarse, ragged growl over detuned metal guitars. In both his solo and City Morgue music, he emphasizes the idea of physical release, going apeshit and dumbing out. As Zilla’s two main lyrical subjects, violence and depression they’re also the two biggest subjects of all the nu-metal he loves.
3. Døves
Last but certainly not least, William Hayward (born February 22nd, 1991), better known by his stage name Døves, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, producer, and visual artist. He is a member of emo-rap collective GOTHBOICLIQUE, and a frequent collaborator of fellow GBC member Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, having made an EP and an album together and co-producing Wicca Phase’s 2019 album, Suffer On.
If you want more, be sure to keep up with these artists and stream their music on Spotify! Discover more emo rappers to watch out for in this article!