10 Under-the-Radar Artists Hip Hop Stars Love

Almost-famous performers your favorite rappers admire.

10 Under-the-Radar Artists Hip Hop Stars Love - Jay-Z's anomalous Twitter Q&A session yesterday (Jul. 8) had the eyes of hip hop listeners around the world, and being the humble genius that he is (#mylaugh, #factsonly), he, of course, expanded all of our vocabulary with a couple of alternative artist name drops (James Blake, Gonjasufi). No need to crinkle your new Tom Ford trying to Google them, though, we've got the inside on who they are along with other need-to-know artists some of your other favorite rappers like to shout out. Click on.(Photos: WENN; Courtesy of BWR-LA; Artium Records)

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10 Under-the-Radar Artists Hip Hop Stars Love - Jay-Z's anomalous Twitter Q&A session yesterday (Jul. 8) had the eyes of hip hop listeners around the world, and being the humble genius that he is (#mylaugh, #factsonly), he, of course, expanded all of our vocabulary with a couple of alternative artist name drops (James Blake, Gonjasufi). No need to crinkle your new Tom Ford trying to Google them, though, we've got the inside on who they are along with other need-to-know artists some of your other favorite rappers like to shout out. Click on.(Photos: WENN; Courtesy of BWR-LA; Artium Records)

James Blake - The UK crooner has put hip hop superstars like Drake and Jay-Z in a trance with his hypnotic electronic music vibe. Drizzy has touted Blake's music, like the spellbinding single "Retrograde," in radio interviews, while Hov recently told his Twitter followers that Blake was one of his favorite artists of the moment. (Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images)

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James Blake - The UK crooner has put hip hop superstars like Drake and Jay-Z in a trance with his hypnotic electronic music vibe. Drizzy has touted Blake's music, like the spellbinding single "Retrograde," in radio interviews, while Hov recently told his Twitter followers that Blake was one of his favorite artists of the moment. (Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images)

James Fauntleroy - For a half a decade, James Fauntleroy has been building a noteworthy career as a background vocalist and songwriter. And, now he's finally a music heavyweight himself. This young hitmaker has crafted tunes for artists including Justin Timberlake, Chris Bown and Frank Ocean. The in-demand singer/songwriter will  take the stage at the Soul Train Awards. Here's a look at his journey.  (Photo: RocNation)

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James Fauntleroy - You listen to JF and, yeah, you ain't e'en know it. He's the voice at the beginning of G.O.O.D. Music's "Clique;" the pen behind, for example, Jay and Bey's "Part II," Jordin and Chris' "No Air" and Justin Timberlake's entire The 20/20 Experience; and for those really in the know, the crooner in the Cocaine 80s trio formed with Common and producer No I.D. Ironically, his "official" introduction to the public didn't come until he sang, "Say my name, say my name" on Drake's "Girls Love Beyoncé."(Photo: Courtesy of Roc Nation)

Gonjasufi - Hov may not be able to spell "Gonjasufi," but he sure does listen. He picked up the DJ/yoga teacher/expermiental musician's "Nikles and Dimes" for "Nickles and Dimes" and named him as one of his favorite non-rappers during his #MCHG Twitter interview session.(Photo: Courtesy of Warp Records)

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Gonjasufi - Hov may not be able to spell "Gonjasufi," but he sure does listen. He picked up the DJ/yoga teacher/expermiental musician's "Nikles and Dimes" for "Nickles and Dimes" and named him as one of his favorite non-rappers during his #MCHG Twitter interview session.(Photo: Courtesy of Warp Records)

Nylo - Nas gave Nylo that good Twitter shout out in 2012 with a media link to her "Someone Like You" and the official love stamp: "Everyone follow my new favorite artist @HateNylo." According to her bio, the electro-R&B singer from Chicago simply "make[s] music that sounds like snow" [Young Jeezy are you up on this?].(Photo: Courtesy of Emagen Entertainment)

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Nylo - Nas gave Nylo that good Twitter shout out in 2012 with a media link to her "Someone Like You" and the official love stamp: "Everyone follow my new favorite artist @HateNylo." According to her bio, the electro-R&B singer from Chicago simply "make[s] music that sounds like snow" [Young Jeezy are you up on this?].(Photo: Courtesy of Emagen Entertainment)

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Chance the Rapper - Also hailing from Chicago, 16-year-old Chance the Rapper got a big up from someone he looks up to, J. Cole. "I respect that kid," Cole said on MTV's RapFix Live, where the two met in-person for the first time. He first heard Chance on a track he has with Ab-Soul off his second mixtape, Acid Rap (which also features Twista) and Cole likened the experience to the feeling that he got when he first heard Kendrick Lamar. "Acid Rap is that special," he said.(Photo: Courtesy of BWR-LA)

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Chance the Rapper - Also hailing from Chicago, 16-year-old Chance the Rapper got a big up from someone he looks up to, J. Cole. "I respect that kid," Cole said on MTV's RapFix Live, where the two met in-person for the first time. He first heard Chance on a track he has with Ab-Soul off his second mixtape, Acid Rap (which also features Twista) and Cole likened the experience to the feeling that he got when he first heard Kendrick Lamar. "Acid Rap is that special," he said.(Photo: Courtesy of BWR-LA)

Jhené Aiko - Jhené took her first industry meeting at the sweet age of 5; got her first studio album feature on B2K's Pandemonium! at age 14; and now, still just 25, the Def Jam signee's got songs with Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Wale and Big Sean (who added Lil Wayne to it for good measure) and she is featured on one of the biggest albums of the summer, Born Sinner, holding down the final track with J. Cole. (Photo: Courtesy of Artium Records)

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Jhené Aiko - Jhené took her first industry meeting at the sweet age of 5; got her first studio album feature on B2K's Pandemonium! at age 14; and now, still just 25, the Def Jam signee's got songs with Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Wale and Big Sean (who added Lil Wayne to it for good measure) and she is featured on one of the biggest albums of the summer, Born Sinner, holding down the final track with J. Cole. (Photo: Courtesy of Artium Records)

Skylar Grey - Singer/songwriter Skylar Grey started out as a child folk artist in a group with her mother. She eventually branched out on her own and recorded under her name, Holly Brook, before taking on the stage name that's now credited with the simultaneously haunting and soothing vocals that have gotten several collabs with Eminem (including a Grammy nod for his and Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie," features on his and Dre's "I Need a Doctor" and his and Slaughterhouse's "Our House;" and her own "C'mon Let Me Ride"). She's also guested on tracks with Diddy ("Coming Home") and Lupe Fiasco ("Words I Never Said") and has writing credit on Cee-Lo Green's "Only You."(Photo: Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images)

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Skylar Grey - Singer/songwriter Skylar Grey started out as a child folk artist in a group with her mother. She eventually branched out on her own and recorded under her name, Holly Brook, before taking on the stage name that's now credited with the simultaneously haunting and soothing vocals that have gotten several collabs with Eminem (including a Grammy nod for his and Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie," features on his and Dre's "I Need a Doctor" and his and Slaughterhouse's "Our House;" and her own "C'mon Let Me Ride"). She's also guested on tracks with Diddy ("Coming Home") and Lupe Fiasco ("Words I Never Said") and has writing credit on Cee-Lo Green's "Only You."(Photo: Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images)

All White Everythang - Def Jam rookie sensation Elijah Blake shows off his skills as the crowd storms the stage to check out this buzzed-about up and coming talent.(Photo: James W. Lemke/Getty Images for BET)

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Elijah Blake - Elijah Blake's got songwriting credits with Usher and Rihanna, but it was his guest appearances on Rick Ross' "Presidential" cut off God Forgives I Don't and G.O.O.D. Music's Cruel Summer album that made rap fans take notice. Now he's got a Roc Nation management deal and label deal with hip hop's most revered home, Def Jam.  (Photo: James W. Lemke/Getty Images for BET)

Photo By Photo: James W. Lemke/Getty Images for BET

The Bullitts - The Bullitts (one guy) already has Hollywood and hip hop clout with Lucy Liu and Jay Electronica featured on his debut single "Close Your Eyes." Jay has continued to collaborate with him and so has Hollywood (like Idris Elba and Rosario Dawson), because The Bullitts is not only a singer/songwriter/producer, but he's also a supercool filmmaker.(Photo: WENN)

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The Bullitts - The Bullitts (one guy) already has Hollywood and hip hop clout with Lucy Liu and Jay Electronica featured on his debut single "Close Your Eyes." Jay has continued to collaborate with him and so has Hollywood (like Idris Elba and Rosario Dawson), because The Bullitts is not only a singer/songwriter/producer, but he's also a supercool filmmaker.(Photo: WENN)

Amber Coffman - J. Cole picked up another credit for his A&R talents with Amber Coffman, a rocker chick who's been a part of a California-based band, Sleeping People, and a Brooklyn-based band, Dirty Projectors. Cole featured her on his "She Knows" off Born Sinner.(Photo: Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)

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Amber Coffman - J. Cole picked up another credit for his A&R talents with Amber Coffman, a rocker chick who's been a part of a California-based band, Sleeping People, and a Brooklyn-based band, Dirty Projectors. Cole featured her on his "She Knows" off Born Sinner.(Photo: Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)