8 Global Artists And Groups You Should Check Out Right Now
As the world becomes more globalized, very much with social media’s help, music fans are getting a more diverse dose of tunes than they ever have before.
With the emergence of Afrobeats, K-Pop, European drill and so many more genres creeping into the American musical lexicon, it can be a bit difficult to know where to start when it comes to discovering new artists.
Perhaps you want to inject something new into your summer cookout playlist. Or maybe you need some new tracks for the DJ to play at your wedding. You could even just be sick of the genres the U.S. produces year in and year out. Regardless, below BET has listed eight artists from across the globe you should lend your ears to. You won’t be disappointed.
Simi
Country: Nigeria
Simi’s voice is instantly recognizable and incredibly sultry. Hailing from Lagos, the singer-songwriter, producer and sound engineer has exploded onto the afropop scene over the past few years, including with her 2020 smash hit “Duduke.” In all of her music, she relays her Nigerian spirit and puts on for her hometown every chance she’s gets. Her recently released song and visual for “Stranger” is actually a great starting place in navigating her music.
Heavy Baile
Country: Brazil
Comprised of Leo Justi, MC Tchelinho, DJ Thai and dancers Sabrina Ginga and Ronald Sheick e Neguebites, the Brazilian funk carioca group often uses their infectious music to advocate for causes like female sexual empowerment, weed legalization and more. They have also been involved in hosting monthly parties in order to spread their music around Brazil and the rest of South America.
Headie One
Country: United Kingdom
As one of the permanent and most recognizable members of the UK drill scene, Headie One is known for his vivid storytelling and distinct flow. The Tottenham, North London native signed to Relentless Records in 2018 and has since released numerous projects showcasing his limitless ability. If you’re into drill, Headie is a must listen.
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Tainy
Country: Puerto Rico
When it comes to providing the Reggaeton sound for much of Latin America, look no further than Tainy. The Puerto Rican 6x Latin Grammy Award-winning producer has spent the past decade producing for some of the biggest artists in his genre — including Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, Wisin Y Yandel and J Balvin, just to name a few. He also just came off of a two-year hiatus to drop his June-released LP DATA.
Ayra Starr
Country: Nigeria
AfroFusion artist Ayra Starr is undoubtedly one of the youngest and biggest names in the international music scene. The 20-year-old Lagos native has already racked up over 820 million streams worldwide, many of which came from her September 2022 hit single “Rush” that went viral on TikTok and ranked in YouTube’s Top 30 Music Videos for three consecutive months. Releasing her debut full-length mixtape 19 & Dangerous in 2021, Starr is ready to continue her ascension this year, making her an Afrobeats force to watch.
BLACKSWAN
Country: South Korea
Featuring Fatou Samba, K-Pop’s first African star, BLACKSWAN is one of the most unique and diverse groups in the genre. It’s also the only one without a member who is South Korean, showing that the global possibilities for K-Pop are endless. Their latest single “Karma” is one that will help get you acclimated to the quartet and heavily stands out among typical K-Pop selections.
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Central Cee
Country: United Kingdom
Central Cee is one of the most versatile rappers out of the U.K. at the moment. The 25-year-old Ladbroke Grove native is able to move between styles of trap, drill and more traditional British hip-hop. His 2020 singles “Day in the Life” and “Loading” helped Cee rise to prominence and he’s only escalated his fame since.
Rita L’Oujdia
Country: Morocco
Moroccan native Rita L’Oujdia made a major splash last year with the release of the single “Dkhol So9 Rassek.” But her song “Ke Paso” cleverly incorporates a mix of genres and cultural influences that anyone new to Arabic music can grasp and groove to.
