Hip Hop Awards 2022: 5 of the Biggest Artists to Come Out of Atlanta
The BET Hip Hop Awards is making its way back to Atlanta, GA, for this year’s biggest night in hip hop music on Friday, September 30, with the broadcast premiere airing Tuesday, October 4, at 9 PM ET/PT on BET. The annual celebration will bring together the hottest names in hip hop to pay homage to the best in hip hop culture. Ahead of the year’s show, get familiar with some of the most prominent artists and groups from the hottest city representing hip hop music. Check out the list below.
Gucci Mane
East Atlanta native Gucci Mane garnered a cult following in the early 2000s and 2010s thanks to his efforts in pioneering the rap subgenre trap music alongside fellow Atlanta-based emcee T.I. and Jeezy. The rapper made his formal debut in 2005 with the release of his debut studio album Trap House.
Following a string of successful albums and mixtapes, and an influence that can be seen in artists, including
Lil Baby, Fetty Wap, Young Thug, and more, Gucci Mane has rightfully earned himself the title of influencer.
Latto
Latto’s journey dates back to her appearance on the 2016 rap reality competition show The Rap Game from legendary Atlanta producer Jermaine Dupri. She ultimately became the series’s first winner but eventually turned down the deal.
However, that wouldn’t be the last viewers saw of the “Muwop” emcee. Latto honed her skills and found success three years later with her first single under RCA Records, “B—ch from da Souf.” Breakthrough success came with the release of “Big Energy,” the lead single from her sophomore album 777. The track features song samples from Tom Tom Club's 1981 song "Genius of Love.” Riding on the single’s profit wave, Latto later returned with a remix featuring r&b icon Mariah Carey and DJ Khaled. The song uses an interpolation of the Grammy Award-winner singer’s “Fantasy,” which samples “Genius of Love.”
Her efforts earned her a nomination for “Best New Hip Hop Artist” at the 2020 BET Hip Hop Awards.
Migos
While the future of Atlanta trio Migos—Offset, Quavo, and Takeoff—is still unclear, there’s no doubt it’s been a fantastic ride filled with smash records and plenty of memorable cultural moments. The group garnered fans’ attention in 2013 with hit songs like “Hannah Montana“ and Versace, the latter of which catapulted even further thanks to a Drake-assisted remix.
Their signature triplet flow caused a ripple effect in the industry. They earned several recognitions, including top of Billboard Hot 100 with the release of their smash 2016 single “Bad and Boujee,” featuring Lil Uzi Vert.
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Future
Future is one of many Atlanta artists whose style could be credited to Gucci Mane in how the veteran emcee has maintained a steady release of projects, putting out 12 studio albums and over 70 mixtapes throughout his career. The emcee released five studio albums in three years, including the 2017 acclaimed project, Hndrxx.
The rapper saw commercial success with his third studio album, DS2, which featured standout tracks such as “F—k Up Some Commas” and “Where Ya At.” He has also been credited with ushering in modern-day melodic trap rap.
Lil Baby
Quality Control’s Lil Baby is having one heck of a year. The Atlanta emcee rose to fame in 2017 following the release of his mixtapePerfect Timing—and that it was. A year later, he released his platinum debut studio album Harder Than Ever, which included the popular hit “Yes Indeed.”
The emcee has since racked up many accolades, including a Grammy win early this year for “Best Melodic Rap Performance” for his track “Hurricane,” featuring Kanye West and The Weeknd. He received another nomination in that same category for “Pride Is The Devil” with J. Cole.
During the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards, the “Drip too Hard” rapper earned six nominations, taking home the win for “Best Duo or Group” alongside Chicago native Lil Durk.
Watch the Hip Hop Awards on Tuesday, October 4, at 9 PM ET/PT on BET
