Hip Hop Music Streaming Trends for 2023

Hip Hop Blends that Push the Boundaries Today

Genre Blending Becomes Mainstream

R&B is a genre that is constantly blending with other genres, such as pop and hip hop. This trend will continue to rise in the next 5 years and in 2023, R&B will become the largest rising Genre in terms of Global Awareness and Most Streamed.

The genre is also changing, becoming more diverse and inclusive. The next 5 years will see the rise of many new artists who are pushing the boundaries of R&B by creating music that isn’t just for a specific audience. This will lead to more people being exposed to this genre and thus making it more popular.

The music industry is a great example of how consumers, and their tastes are changing. The way people listen to music, the type of artists who are making it and even what kind of instruments are being used to produce the songs we love so much all have an impact on each other.

When you look at how genres like EDM and hip-hop have risen in popularity over the past few years, it becomes clear that there’s no better time than now to get ahead of the curve on what will be hot in 2023. So today, let’s take a look at the trends that I think will shape music streaming in 2023.

Listen to what’s hot in this genre on the Groundbreaking Hip Hop Playlist:

R&B is rising once again

You may be wondering why R&B is on the rise. The answer is simple: the genre is growing rapidly across the world fuelled by top artists who clearly have the following to influence the industry. The most popular artists in the world right now are all R&B singers and rappers. Kendrick Lamar, Drake, The Weeknd, Post Malone and anything produced by Metro Boom and are some of the most influential artists around.

Quick risers to keep your eyes on are SZA, DVSN, and 6LACK. Each one of these artists have been releasing music for a while, but they’re finally making some major moves that are bringing them into the spotlight. If you haven’t heard any of their work yet, you need to check it out right away! (Listen below)

Hip Hop Pushes forward with R&B, Latin and Afrobeats

Hip hop is one of the most popular genres in the world and has been for years. It’s also a genre that has seen a lot of innovation over the years, with new artists coming up with new ways to produce music. But what will be hot in 2023? Hip hop will become even more experimental in 2023 as artists try to stand out from the crowd adapting Afrobeat, R&B and even Latin Trends.

We’ve already seen some examples of this happening, like Future’s double albums and Kendrick Lamar’s use of jazz elements in his music. But this trend will only continue as more artists try to push the boundaries of hip hop in new directions.

In fact, if we look at growth from 2017 to 2018 alone, R&B was a clear winner in terms of percentage growth compared to other music genres. With regard to global popularity as measured by Spotify’s top-streamed songs and albums lists (which include Latin music), R&B has also seen some significant gains over those same two years.

Fast forward to the Top Global Releases and you’ll see artists with a firm hold on the charts.

SZA

SZA has set herself apart with a contemporary style incorporating HipHop’s poetic elements with a emotional yet subtle R&B vocal. Her strength in songwriting makes the music even more impactful establishing herself with deep roots among fans.

Metro Boom

As a music producer, Metro Boom amassed over a dozen Top 20 R&B/Hiphop hits after his first release along side Future in 2013 on “Karate Chop” and “Honest.”. Since his early half-decade roll of success working with the likes of Future, iLoveMakonnen, Drake, Migos, and Post Malone — with “Honest,” “Tuesday,” “Jumpman,” “Bad and Boujee,” and “Congratulations” among the biggest hits

Now with a smashing new album HEROES & VILLAINS including hits like Creepin’ with The Weeknd & 21 Savage he’s a force in pushing the R&B trend forward.

DVSN

Toronto duo dvsn, consisting of producer Nineteen85 and vocalist Daniel Daley, are best known for their narcotic slow-jams that R&B lovers live for. Their music balances the right combination of falsetto deliveries and contemporary production. Their sound continues to grow as they blur the lines between new & nostalgic.

All That Matters: https://open.spotify.com/track/7s0pdQmbXq6GtMHpkCTLLw?si=c816465329c34407

6LACK

R&B singer 6LACK, born Ricardo Valdez Valentine III, is a rising star in the industry. He’s been nominated for multiple awards including Best New Artist at the 2018 BET Awards and has collaborated with artists like Khalid & Future. His smooth sound makes it easy to get lost in his music and forget about everything else that’s going on. This is only the beginning for 6LACK as he continues to grow and expand his fanbase. 6LACK’s song “Pretty Little Fears” is a great example of his sound. The beat is smooth and steady, with a heavy bass line that helps keep the listener engaged throughout. 6LACK also incorporates some quick lyrics about how he doesn’t want to work on a relationship because it will just end up being another failed attempt at finding someone who understands him. https://open.spotify.com/track/4at3d5QWnlibMVN75ECDrp?si=a5d0acdc27684510

Hip hop/ Latin

Mid-Year in 2022: Hip-Hop was still the top genre but Latin & World Music were making gains. “Encanto,” Bad Bunny and K-Pop fueled surges for different genres as we ended the year and now everyone is talking about Bad Bunny and how he is influencing music culture.

Bad Bunny is a Puerto Rican rapper who first gained popularity through his YouTube videos. Now he has become one of the most influential artists in Latin Music and is also making waves in K-Pop. He is credited with popularizing the subgenre known as Latin Trap, which combines trap music with Latin American sounds like salsa and reggaeton.

Bad Bunny: La Jumpa :

Bad Bunny is a young urban music singer, rapper and producer. This talented artist has demonstrated his already overwhelming power, influence and demand with completely sold-out concerts all over Europe, Latin America and the U.S. Some of his most recognized singles include “Soy Peor,” “Diles,” “Tu No Metes Cabra,” “Chambea” and Mia thats out with Drake. Bad Bunny has had a short but stunning career with colossal amounts of success including 36 millions followers on spotify placing him as the 10th most popular artist in the world. (as of January 14, 2023)

R&B will be the largest rising Genre in terms of Global Awareness and Most Streamed

All things in music come and go only to come back again so a smart musician will remember that timing is everything. R&B’s recovery is a testament this concept and also to the genre’s staying power. Since it first emerged in the 1950s, R&B has been a staple of music culture, influencing every element of popular culture from fashion to dance moves. Over the last few years, there have been a number of shifts that have helped propel this once-forgotten genre back into the spotlight. For example:

• Streaming services are giving artists like H.E.R., Khalid and Ella Mai more opportunities than ever before to share their music with fans worldwide.
• Artists like 6LACK and Jorja Smith are choosing not only to embrace their African American heritage but also express it through their artistry, creating an entirely new lane within hip hop/R&B.
• Social media platforms such as Instagram have provided an outlet for rising stars like Naomi Riley and Noah Cyrus to become household names.

This is a very exciting time to be in music! With so much new talent coming out of the woodwork, we can expect many more trends like these in the future. The world needs more positive vibes and Hip Hop music is ready to serve that up.

I’ve run into some amazing talent this month in Hip Hop music. These artists really impressed me with their hard work and attention to detail.

More exciting Hip Hop to discover:

JoeJas’s Lax is breaking hip hop barriers with honour and perspective

JoeJas’s Lax is breaking hip hop barriers with honour and perspective. The self taught rapper has written and produced a fun video filled with cultural references, catchy hooks and spoken truths.

He has a unique point of view expressed through hooks as he side steps the typical commercial conscious hiphop of today to bring a chill 2000’s Neptunes vibe. <more>

Dax — The Devil’s Calling
Genre: Drill

26 year old music artist who is currently making something out of absolutely nothing. Dax is a force in music with his edgy themes and powerful messages. You will surely see him everywhere.

Dee Black’s ‘I Used To’ Focuses on Inspiring Hip Hop Artists to Change the Narrative

The artist really dug in deep to express some great words of wisdom about his influences over time and how he developed into the artist and human that he is today. I love that he encourages strength and power through self love and focus instead of allowing yourself to get swept away in the negative fantasy of the rap culture. <more>

DD — “Came A Long Way”

“Came A Long Way” symbolizes past reflections of DD’s life and how its shaped his overall reality and belief system bringing him where he is today. When observed at a deeper level, any audience can see themselves in DD as we are living a spiritual experience in a human shell.