Jay-Z once famously rapped, “30 is the new 20.” On the Dr. Dre-produced “30 Something,” the line was partly Jay grappling with aging in a young man’s game and partly a rationale for being 36 and still rapping. (Your mileage on Kingdom Come may vary.) Even if the song and album have largely been dismissed, the idea has proven somewhat predictive. Hip-hop is still mostly associated with youth—and the data backs this—but its stars are getting older. In hip-hop’s early years, rappers tended to peak commercially in their early to mid-20s. Now, with 50-plus years locked in, the timeline has shifted: Many break out in their early 20s, gain structural support in their mid-20s, and, if lucky, reach superstardom just before turning 30.
That makes putting together a list where we rank the best rappers currently in their 20s a tricky task. These aren’t the Drakes, Kendricks, Futures, or Tylers of hip-hop—the rappers here are a step below that level of status. Several huge names who appeared on 2024's best rappers in their 20s list—like Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion, and Lil Uzi—have aged out. Even as new names appear—almost half weren’t on last year’s list—only three of 20 are under 25.
So, what do we mean when we say “best”? We define “best” by a combination of factors. Music-making ability and technical skill matter, but so do catalog (how well they turn ideas into projects), impact, and anticipation from fans. Historical achievements count, but we focus on their impact on the zeitgeist right now: This is a snapshot, so what they’ve done in the past year and what they’re poised to do in the near future is what we care about. That means rappers we love but who’ve been unusually quiet—looking at you, Baby Keem—aren’t eligible.
The 20 best rappers in their 20s right now: the 2025 rankings.
20.Nino Paid
Age: 24
Last year’s rank: N/A
Why they’re on this list: One of the most lyrically gifted and emotive young rappers
A newer face on this list, Nino Paid has already carved a distinct lane as one of the DMV’s most vulnerable voices, rapping about family, therapy, love, and loss with a rawness that cuts deeper than most. This is best exemplified on his most well-known song to date, “Joey Story,” a gutting storytelling track which grapples with suicide.
His 2024 debut, Can't Go Bacc, introduced Nino as a Soprano-esque rap mafioso unafraid to confront his darkest memories, yet he shouldn’t be boxed into just “pain music.” There are more layers. He’s quirky, and brimming with personality—his interviews alone show off a contagious sense of humor. That side shines on his 2025 album Love Me as I Am, where the stakes feel higher and the writing more urgent. As he matures lyrically and personally, he’s quietly becoming the emotional compass of a scene better known for variety than vulnerability. —Jon Barlas
19.2hollis
Age: 21
Last year’s rank: N/A
Why they’re on the list: An intense, highly engaged fanbase, who show out for him at live shows
2hollis has played around with the idea of what he should be labeled as—at one point trollishly tweeting “I’m not a rapper” before walking it back. His production often leans toward EDM and hyperpop. Still, hip-hop sits at the core of what he’s doing. His 2025 major label debut, star, casts him as a mad scientist, mixing test tubes of genres while producing most of his own beats. The rapping isn’t the main draw, but it’s often good—like when he reflects on the pressures of fame on “tell me” or taps into hip-hop’s braggadocio on “gold.” And it’s early, but he’s clearly onto something: Last year, he went viral opening for Ken Carson, and this year he played Coachella—so well, in fact, that the festival upgraded him to a night slot for week two. —Antonio Johri
18.Cash Cobain
Age: 27
Last year’s rank: 20
Why they’re on this list: The sound he pioneered still echoes throughout rap
Cash Cobain has spread his Slizzy gospel far beyond New York since his white-hot summer last year. His Sexy Drill sound continues to be embraced by a wide range of rappers who've co-opted the formula—from Jordan Adetunji to Jim Jones to, most recently, Xanman. That hasn’t stopped Cash from evolving. His latest singles, “Trippin on a Yacht” and “Feeeeeeeeel,” weave global influences into the Slizzy sound, while his collaboration with Justin Bieber, on the title track of Swag, show him stepping comfortably into the pop world. To be Slizzy no longer just means rapping about sex in a hundred different ways—it now signals an effortless cool that Cash embodies completely. —Jordan Rose
17.Lucki
Age: 29
Last year’s rank: N/A
Why they’re on the list: A veteran with over 10 years in the game and a major influence on the up-and-coming underground rap scene
Lucki can be an acquired taste. For those who aren’t fans, his lean gut flows and atmospheric beat palette can feel like a slog. But with his forthcoming album, DRUGS R BAD, he seems to be pushing his sound forward. Casual listeners will be pleasantly surprised by “Free Mr. Banks” and “Diamond Stitching,” where he raps with a more frantic cadence that’s hard not to nod along to. It’s a promising shift that raises hope he can sustain that energy across a full project.
Now entering his 30s, Lucki holds an important place in hip-hop. His influence is already evident in the new wave of Chicago rappers, most notably Chuckyy, whose delivery echoes his own. And yet, the subtle shift in his new music signals he wants more. He wears the crown of “King of the Underground,” but LUCKI has admitted he wants to shed that label. DRUGS R BAD feels like his first real step toward that goal. —Antonio Johri
16.G Herbo
Age: 29
Last year’s rank: N/A
Why they’re on this list: Released one of the year’s most successful rap songs and remains, as a pure lyricist, one of the best rappers working today
At 29, G Herbo, a rap prodigy from the East Side of Chicago, already hit most of the career milestones a rapper would want: a classic album (Welcome to Fazoland), genre-defining verses (“Kill Shit”), viral moments (the “Who Run It” freestyle), and the respect of peers ranging from legends like Jadakiss to contemporary stars like Rob49. What he never had, though, was a hit record. That changed this year with “Went Legit,” arguably the biggest street song of the year. The best part is that it’s pure G Herbo: a soul-infused beat, no hook, and his signature blend of braggadocio, reflection, and intensity. It’s the first single from his upcoming album, which is aiming to be the biggest of his career. A reminder that doing things your way can still pay off … even if it takes 12 years. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
15.Lil Yachty
Age: 27
Last year’s rank: 8
Why they’re on the list: A constant stream of high-quality singles that find him trying out different vocal registers over great beats
It’s wild to think Lil Yachty—the original “king of teens”—is now an OG. He’s earned respect mostly by embracing a “throw spaghetti and catfish at the wall” approach to rap. This year, instead of dropping full projects, he’s focused on singles and features, and he’s been releasing them nonstop.
“Fasho Dat,” which also features Concrete Boys’ newest signee Honest, is insane, with an aggressive, bass-boosted beat beneath Yachty’s quasi-zany, unhinged delivery. “i need meds” is one of his best solo tracks in the past five years, with Yachty abandoning his usual slushy, nasally voice to try his own take on Playboi Carti’s deep delivery. And “CAN’T BE CRETE BOY” finds him and Veeze attempting to update the classic Cam’ron and Juelz Santana formula.
There are flaws to this scattershot approach: It’s been tough for Yachty to get his Concrete Boys crew off the ground, with his falling out with Karrahbooo becoming a storyline that followed him all year. So, the question now is: Is this all leading somewhere? The singles are solid, but is there an album at the end of the tunnel of all these one-offs? —Antonio Johri
14.Rod Wave
Age: 26
Last year’s rank: N/A
Why they’re on this list: One of the most popular, consistent, and prolific rappers working today
One of the more controversial moves we made for our 2024 list was leaving off rap superstar Rod Wave, who straddles the line between blues and hip-hop. That was a mistake. Yes, he often sings, but the protein of a Rod Wave meal is still rapping. His latest album, Last Lap, was a major success in a very Rod Wave way: It debuted at No. 2 without any single track fully hitting the zeitgeist, and he still sold out arenas across the country on its strength. Meme slingers mock the sappy sad shit. But fans aren’t coming for songs about the high life. Rod has become the voice of the young male loneliness epidemic, exploring the dangerous cocktail of a rough childhood and life-changing fame.
It’s admirable that Wave has stayed committed to delivering substance to his fanbase, even as his success has grown. Tracks like the eerie “Federal Nightmares” demonstrate his lineage in classic Louisiana hip-hop, and “Lost in Love” ranks among the most emotionally affecting verses you’ll hear from any rapper on this list. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
13.Sexyy Red
Age: 27
Last year’s rank: 15
Why they’re on this list: Still one of the most notable and entertaining contemporary rappers working today
At the top of January, Sexyy Red and Bruno Mars dropped the explicit, damn-near-pornographic track “Fat, Juicy & Wet.” The lead-up carried an aura of bigness—Sexyy, on the brink of superstardom, seemed poised to be propelled across the finish line by one of the most dominant chart figures in recent memory. The song, however, petered out quickly, peaking at No. 17—her highest chart position, but clearly not the result that was expected. In many ways, this moment reflects the period Sexyy is in: She may be hitting a wall. Still, as one of the most successful street rappers, she’s finding more success in bursts. She’s quietly competing with GloRilla as the features queen: She was the standout out on Tyler, the Creator’s posse cut “Sticky,” showed real chemistry with Glo on “Whatchu Kno About Me,” gave a boost of life to Justin Bieber’s latest album Swag, and brought her “this is how you do it” energy to PLUTO and YKNIECE’s “WHIM WHAMIEE” remix. But we’re still waiting for another solo single from Sexyy to surpass the heights of “SkeeYee” and “Pound Town” before she can continue climbing on this list. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
12.SahBabii
Age: 28
Last year’s rank: N/A
Why they’re on this list: Heated up again after dropping one of the strongest albums of last year
Sahbabii’s latest album, Saheem, wasn’t just another rap drop—it was an explosion of squid ink. This feels like a comeback year for Sahbabii, who used the success of Saheem—and, more specifically, the energetic track “Viking”—to reignite his spark. It’s not the only standout: “Anaconda Livin,” with its completely tripped-out 808s, hits hard, showcasing his talent for warping tradition. He sounds effortless sampling Clairo vocals on “Show Off,” and on “Workin,” he shows versatility, swapping his trademark horny one-liners for bars about struggle and the will to provide. Don’t worry, though, if sex bars are what you want, there’s plenty here. Lines like “Balls between her legs, behind her back, bitch, I’m the NBA” on “Waikiki” could only come from King Squid. —Dori Walker
11.Doja Cat
Age: 29
Last year’s rank: 2
Why they’re on this list: When active, one of the most dominant figures in pop music
Doja Cat hasn’t dropped in more than a year—503 days and counting, but who’s counting—and yet her name is still in your mouth. After another year of being inescapably chalant on X, Doja has finally announced the release of her fifth studio album, Vie, which is scheduled to drop … a month after this story goes live.
Even with a largely low-profile year, your favorite trolling rap star has kept her kitten heel firmly on the culture’s neck, mostly by riding the high of Scarlet and outshining some of your faves on their own tracks. She was the indisputable highlight (and maybe even the saving grace?) of Jack Harlow’s middling single “Just Us,” delivering what honestly felt like lightwork.
On K-pop star Lisa’s disco-infused pop triumph “Born Again,” Doja flexed a songwriting credit along with a sweet, punchy feature. She’s also the only person on this list to perform a classic film ballad at this year’s Oscars, grace the stage at the FIFA Club World Cup final halftime show, and headline an hour-long solo set at Outside Lands—all while on a two-year project hiatus. Our glimpses of Doja this year have been sparing, but clearly, that’s by design. As she leaves her 20s and this list behind, Doja continues to assert that she is an undeniable force—and, most importantly, that she’s the one in control. —Dori Walker
10.Lil Tecca
Age: 22
Last year’s rank: N/A
Why they’re on this list: A commercial mainstay with five albums in five years, and the creator of one of the best songs of 2025
Lil Tecca’s musical output over the years has been a reliable litmus for what’s ahead of the curve, and he’s grown adept at taking genre risks while making his music more accessible to casual listeners. DOPAMINE, his fifth album in five years, served as a much-needed light for early June, when few songs were in the running for song of the summer. Tracks like the nostalgic “Dark Thoughts” and the playful “OWA OWA” offered hope to those craving warm, good-hearted bops. The album proved to be the perfect soundtrack for any setting—perfect for blasting during early morning skate-park hangs, sun-soaked beach days, or long nights out on the town. —Allison Battinelli
9.Latto
Age: 26
Last year’s rank: 6
Why they’re on this list: A rap stalwart who consistently releases songs and goes viral
“It feels like a true crossroads year for Latto … The question is whether she can reach another level or if she is in the midst of a solid, yet not necessarily all-time great, rap career,” is what we wrote about the Atlanta rapper last year, when she came in at No. 6. A year later, she lands three spots lower.. She didn’t release an album but stayed busy. For a brief moment, she had a song-of-the-summer contender with “Somebody,” a delightfully bubbly track she’d been teasing for a while, though it ultimately didn’t dominate the airwaves. She sounded inspired on harder-edged collaborations with Nemzzz (“Art”) and Playboi Carti (“Blick Sum”), while “PROCEDURE,” with Glorilla, shows she can out-rap most while effortlessly navigating any musical sandbox. Still, in many ways, we end up in a similar place in 2025 as we were in 2024. The question now is whether this is the real crossroads year—or if she’s already made the turn. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
8.Ken Carson
Age: 25
Last year’s rank: 12
Why they’re on this list: Had the first No. 1 album of his career, becoming one of the few underground-adjacent rappers to break out commercially
In April, Ken Carson earned his first No. 1 album, adding another notch to his diamond-encrusted belt buckle. The irony is that More Chaos features some of the darkest—and at times goriest—music and aesthetics of his career, including a dead body in a truck in the “Lord of Chaos” video.
Interestingly, while Ken is ascending commercially (he'll be performing at ComplexCon) he’s also diving deeper artistically. More Chaos may not be as strong as A Great Chaos, but Opium fans finally got the Ken, Carti, and Destroy Lonely link-up on “Off the Meter.” As the underground scene continues to thrive—creating sounds and waves without necessarily producing stars—Ken has managed to transcend it, building something more sustainable in the process. —Allison Battinelli
7.YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Age: 25
Last year’s rank: 16
Why they’re on this list: Home from prison and already putting out music at a furious pace
In a genre often driven by fleeting viral moments,YoungBoy Never Broke Again has built a legacy on sheer volume and intensity. A turbulent couple of years—marked by legal troubles and nearly a year in prison—slowed him down but never knocked him out. YoungBoy has already delivered two full-length projects in 2025, both in March: MASA (Make America Slime Again) and DESHAWN with DJ Khaled. MASA is the one to check for: Part provocation, part personal statement, it marked a true return to form. Like Playboi Carti’s MUSIC, it’s an ambitious 30-track sprawl that showcases every side of YoungBoy—from the melodic (“Morrco”) to the aggressive (“Games of War”) to the unexpectedly introspective (“Fuck the Drugs”) to the oddball (“XXX”). —Jon Barlas
6.Central Cee
Age: 27
Last year’s rank: 3
Why they’re on the list: The most popular rapper from the UK right now
Central Cee has been grinding for nearly a decade. But it wasn’t until this year that he released his debut album, Can't Rush Greatness, which showed he could balance introspection with flexing. Positive opinions aren't unanimous, though. The album is good and was solidly received, but drew criticism from some fans and critics, who argued that Cench recycles lyrics and themes and leans too heavily on staccato drill flows.
He’s guilty of some of this—shout out Generational Wealth!—but some criticism feels overblown. He’s also shown unexpected versatility. On PlaqueboyMax’s stream, for example, he experimented with a Brazilian funk beat before settling on the more conventional drill track “24hrs.” He added intensity to Nemzzz’s standout track “Dilemma,” where eerie strings perfectly complemented his cadence. And on his biggest feature of the year, “Which One,” he flat-out outshined Drake, dropping his drill tendencies and dominating a dancehall-inspired beat with an off-kilter flow. —Antonio Johri
5.BigXThaPlug
Age: 27
Last year’s rank: N/A
Why they’re on this list: A consistent hitmaker who is now exploring a new country-leaning sound
Last year, TMZ caught up with BigXthaPlug about being snubbed from our 2024 list of rappers in their 20s. BigX shrugged it off, saying he didn’t care—he already had more money than anyone else on the list. The line could have been typical rapper bullshit. But it could also have been foreshadowing the lucrative pivot coming next: a country album.
As of publication date, he’s gearing up to release I Hope You’re Happy in a few days, and it’s on track to be one of the most successful rap releases of the year. Its first single, “All the Way,” with Bailey Zimmerman, has cracked the top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also includes collaborations with some of the biggest stars in country not named Taylor Swift or Morgan Wallen—notably Ella Langley, Shaboozey, and Jelly Roll.
BigX has said he’s not sure how long he’ll stick with country, but his vivid storytelling and husky, emotive voice perfectly complement the acoustic production. And besides, after depending so much on soul samples for his breakout, Take Care, this pivot can be a helpful development in the story of BigX. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
4.GloRilla
Age: 26
Last year’s rank: 7
Why they’re on this list: Finally released a debut album, featuring another breakout hit and showcasing her potential
GloRilla’s rise wasn’t quiet—it was explosive. Within months of her debut, she’d racked up platinum plaques and a Grammy nomination, a meteoric ascent that made her a household name by the time her major label debut, GLORIOUS, dropped last fall. The album juxtaposed her unapologetically crunk, self-assured style with unexpected collaborations alongside Kirk Franklin, Muni Long, and T-Pain.
If anything, it underscored her star power and relentless evolution. Her best song this year is “Typa,” which flips Keyshia Cole’s R&B classic “Love” into a brash, modern anthem. Meanwhile, “Whatchu Know About Me”—her rowdy collab with Sexyy Red—has been her biggest hit of the yea, proving she’s a four-tool player. —Jon Barlas
3.Yeat
Age: 25
Last year’s rank: 5
Why they’re on this list: Has built a completely rapt fanbase that is fully immersed in the Yeat experience
A year after flooding the internet with music—including two vastly different albums—Yeat slowed his output in 2025. Paradoxically, this only added to his superstar aura. Maybe it’s because his biggest moments this year have been performance-based. He brought “The Bell” to the desert for his first-ever Coachella set and made a viral Summer Smash entrance with Don Toliver. Yeat has consistently found ways to keep himself in the algorithm.
Fans expected DANGEROUS LYFESTYLE to drop soon. Instead, without any rollout or promotion, Yeat released an EP, A DANGEROUS SUMMER, easily one of his strongest projects in years. The project is short, condensing the highs of a major-label album while avoiding the streaming-era glut. Even the rollout had unique touches: Harmony Korine provided creative direction, featuring everything from live alligators to a lavish Cole Bennett–directed Lyrical Lemonade video.
This mix of stunts, performances, and strategic moves—including performing at ComplexCon in October—signals that Yeat, once a cult favorite, is ready for the bigger pop-music stage. Even small gestures—like removing his balaclava to reveal his full face—signal a new level of visibility and confidence. —Allison Battinelli
2.Doechii
Age: 27
Last year’s rank: 13
Why they’re on this list: An elite lyrical rapper who has also shown ambition with her storytelling and visuals
Doechii is on top of the world right now. Since dropping her 2024 mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal, the Florida rapper has gone on a blistering run, outpacing nearly all her peers in a short period. Her dedication to the craft shows in her meteoric rise, and she embodies hip-hop’s core pillars with elite wordplay and meticulous stagecraft. Her success reached a peak when she won the Best Rap Album Grammy—for a mixtape!—at the top of the year.
While fans await a follow-up, she’s been strategic with her appearances, from Tyler, the Creator’s vibrant “Balloon” to Westside Gunn’s gritty “Egypt” remix. She also resurrected “Anxiety,” which was buried on her YouTube, into a top 10 single—which is wild, considering she just had the song lying around.
If Alligator Bites Never Heal showcased her artistic potential, “Anxiety” proves her commercial appeal. This achievement isn’t the product of bots, a major-label push, or Kendrick Lamar’s influence—Doechii is simply that talented. —Jordan Rose
1.Playboi Carti
Age: 28
Last year’s rank: 1
Why they’re No. 1: When you factor in music, influence, and popularity, he’s currently one of the top dogs in rap, leading a new generation of artists; this year, he released the most commercially successful album of his career
Over the past few years, Playboi Carti has been one of the most dominant figures in hip-hop, the best rapper in his age group, while also being the least likely to top a “best verse” list. Even in his late 20s, he still sets the creative north star—shaping youth culture musically and culturally—for Zoomers and Gen Alpha alike. He topped our list last year largely because of the energy and anticipation around his long-delayed album MUSIC. Dropping in March, the album is a deliberately messy, ecstatic ode to the Atlanta rap scene that raised him, foreshadowing trends now emerging across the city’s new crop.
Even when fans got what they wanted, they didn’t always know how to handle it. Like a dog finally catching up to a car, fans got the album—after years of anticipation, memes, TikToks, and complaints—and didn’t know what to do with it. MUSIC kind of came and went, with only “Rather Lie” with The Weeknd charting particularly high (even though “Like Weezy” will be going diamond in the hood). Maybe that’s just how music works nowadays, or maybe the album doesn’t reach the heights of Die Lit or Whole Lotta Red, or maybe it just shows how fickle fans can be. Maybe it’s all three? Who knows. But not long after it dropped, talk of another album—this time called Baby Boi—already started. And since the songs on this album are reportedly just laying around, at least according to Swamp Izzo, we should see the new album soon, right?
In the current rap space, it’s only fitting that Carti is peaking commercially now in his late 20s. The only question now: can he make it three years in a row? —Dimas Sanfiorenzo