We've been breaking artists since '05, and are always looking for the best up-and-coming MCs to showcase at A3C Festival & Conference. We listen to hundreds of hip-hop artists each week looking for talented indie artists from around the world.
Every Monday we select 6 of our favorite MCs and ask the hip-hop community to vote for their favorite. The top 2 vote-getting artists are invited to perform at 2018 A3C Festival & Conference.
Voting starts today and ends on Friday at 11pm EST. You can vote once a day.
If you are an artist and would like an opportunity to perform at the 2019 A3C Festival & Conference, you can submit today. Over 5,000 artists have performed on our stages including: A$AP Rocky, Action Bronson, J.I.D, Lil Pump, Danny Brown, G-Eazy, J.Cole, Lil Uzi Vert, Schoolboy Q, Ty Dolla $ign, Dave East, Vince Staples, 21 Savage, Rich The Kid, Wiz Khalifa, Rapsody, Young Thug and thousands more.
We review hundreds of artists each week (submission info) and pick 6 of our favorite artists... but we want the final decision to up to the fans. Come back each Monday and discover 6 dope underground hip-hop artists from across the world.
You can vote for your favorite artist every day. The two artists with the most votes will be invited to perform at #A3C19 in Atlanta! Voting ends on Friday at 11pm EST.
Get to know this week’s 6 New artists and vote for your favorite:
- BrassiousMonk - Raleigh, NC
- Colorado Skies - Wichita,TX
- Gold Lemonade - Las Vegas,NV
- It's Really Kev - Brooklyn, NY
- Kusdem - Atlanta,GA
- Lou Charle$ - Fort Worth,TX
BrassiousMonk - (@brassiousmonk)
Hailing from Raleigh, NC; BrassiousMonk, the self-proclaimed, “Keepah of the Flame”, is a skilled producer, rapper, and songwriter. Monk’s family originated on both coasts; his mother from Brooklyn, NY, and father from LA. Before the age of 6 he’d already lived in both California, New York, Spain, and finally settling in North Carolina. Due to this fortunate culture-shock, his music and style influences were broadened at a young age. Mama was on Anita Baker, Sade, and Shirley Caesar; big sweaters and nikes. While Papa was Pac, stand up comedy tapes, and Funkadelic; leather and chucks. All that makes for quite the gumbo pot. The blend of musical/artistic tastes only became more evident as time passed; easily going from reciting Mos Def verses to blasting No Doubt; throwing up the Wu, to bumping Kirk Franklin. All these influences, while also growing up in and through the early 00s to the changing of the guard that is the late 00s, mixed wonderfully together to form the “monk with more funk for ya trunk” himself. One thing that is/was present in all of his influences/influencers even today are: originality, spirit, and an introspective wittiness; things he now holds himself to provide through eachextensionof his art. Think if Pharrell, Mos Def, and Flying Lotus had a kid, then let Dave Chappelle raise him. you’d get Brass.
Click HERE to vote!
Colorado Skies - (@coloradoskies)
Alan wolf and OG ice come together as Colorado Skies; two 20 year-old brothers coming out of North Texas with a new, unique sound.
Though they are capable of achieving the nostalgic hip-hop feel, their fresh sound modernizes the way that the genre is perceived. While their delivery compliments one another's, it is their cadence that makes each track more memorable than the last.
With multiple projects out, new content every few weeks, as well as an upcoming project before the ed of 2019Colorado Skies should be on your radar for the hottest upcoming artists of the year. Find them on all streaming Platforms
Click HERE to vote!
Gold Lemonade- (@goldlemonade)
Gold Lemonade is an innovative blend of hip hop and electro dubstep spearheaded by male/female duo DJ/producer Lya Lewis and lyrical genius Jvgg Sparrow.
DJ/producer Lya Lewis throws down some serious EDM heat – her hands skimming across her digital turntable, twisting knobs, downshifting faders, and layering tracks with some Gallic flair. [Huffington Post]
Hailing from the West of France, and inheriting a passion for music which was sparked by her influential DJ father at a very young age, Lya has traveled the world showcasing her spinning mastery and uniquely-redefined dubstep/EDM genre flavor.
Artist Jvgg Spvrrow (pronounced ‘Jag Sparrow’) is the Carib-style vocals, and lyrical whiz kid behind the hip hop/EDM concept duo, “Gold Lemonade”.
Growing up in the French Caribbean, Jvgg discovered his passion for hip hop early on as he spent much of his time in St. Martin and the West Indies. These endeavors eventually took him to multi-platinum partnerships and shows in France, upon where he met DJ Lya, marking the induction of their creative collaboration.
The winning combination has propelled Gold Lemonade into creating single hits, and quick success. The duo, along with Jackie Jackson and Critically Amused, are ecstatically working on the project around the clock. Gold Lemonade is currently hard at work curating new sounds and laying down tracks for new releases, along with filming new music videos and the planning of an upcoming tour.
Click HERE to vote!
It's Really Kev- (@itsreallykev)
To most he’s known as Kev, but as a recording artist, listeners are getting acquainted to him as it’s Really Kev. Born and raised in Flatbush,Brooklyn, it’s Really Kev is a new artist who creates vibes and vision through his unique sound of hip-hop music. While in college, figuring out what he would pursue in life Kev begun to write music but never released any until 2018 with his first single and video “Go Youngn”.
The unique sound that trends from the Brooklyn artist stems from his life experiences during a teen and early adulthood while living in Brooklyn, NY and Decatur, GA. His intent to connect to audiences are evident as his lyrics paint a picture on many topics throughout songs. Putting words together that describe where he’s from and the road he’s traveled. With his new project, “Signed, it’s Really Kev” those pictures are painted as he introduces his vibe and art to the world.
Click HERE to vote!
Kusdem - ()
Encompassing a style & personality only fitting of his name; Kusdem is remarkably one of the next hip hop sensations on the rise. Possessing the power to captivate large crowds, and a lyrical flow just as infectious as his presence; Kusdem is sure to create a musical haven that will demand your full attention. Hailing from the Eastside of Atlanta, Kusdem emerges with a refreshing sound influenced by such greats as Outkast, Jay Z, Kanye West and many more. With his infectious tunes and high energy performances, Kusdem is sure to leave spectators begging for an encore. Witty word-play sprinkled with current but edgy political undertones that tend to challenge the status quo; Kusdem embodies the characteristics of someone with great potential to leave an indelible mark in the music world..
Click HERE to vote!
Lou Charle$ (@loucharles)
After spending much of his formative years living abroad (Trinidad & Tobago and Cario, Egypt), Lou CharLe$ finds himself on a different journey. The Texas native, CharLe$ has made a name for himself with captivating live shows share the stage with likes of G-Eazy, Joyner Lucas, A-Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, and Cam’Ron. Great music that stands the test of time is always derived from real life and that’s exactly what Lou Charle$ sets out to do -- tell his truth.
In November of 2015 Lou Charle$ stormed on the scene with the release of “In Transit,” a six-song project fully produced by Billboard and Stellar Award winning producer J.Rhodes. Showcasing himself as an artist and a free-thinker with strong yet candid lyricism, “In Transit” carries intensity throughout it’s entirety with varying tones, from darker more ambient sounds to more sonically inviting cuts. The project received praise from several major entertainment publications including, The Smoking Section, Mechanical Dummy, and Hip Hop Weekly. All Hip Hop named Lou Charle$ a Top 25 2015 Underground Hip Hop Artist.
Lou CharLe$ kept the momentum going in 2016, touring regionally with Joe Budden & Jarren Benton as he also returned back to the lab with J.Rhodes to release their follow-up project “In Transit 2” which was once again met with high praise being nominated as “Album of the Year” by the Fort Worth Weekly. He was again recognized by AllHipHop.Com as a Top Underground Artist for 2016 as well as highlighted by the Dallas Observer as one of the Top Rappers To Look Out for in 2017.
As Lou CharLe$’ artistry continues to grow, he has seen his music reach new heights and broader audiences, which culminated in one of his songs receiving a placement in an episode of Season 12 of CBS’ Criminal Minds. The release of his 2018 singles “Run It Back” and “Love On Drugs” racked up 250,000+ plays on Spotify which translated into his first heading show in Dallas, TX (Ruins) selling out.
Active in his local community, Lou had the distinct honor of introducing, Betsy Price, the Mayor of Fort Worth at her 2019 Annual Meeting. He was recognized in the Month of February as Visit Fort Worth’s Musician of the Month and was also given the opportunity by the City of Fort Worth to curate his own SXSW event where he showcased the best indie artists in the upcoming Fort Worth Hip-Hop Scene. Lou CharLe$ also partnered with Kia Motors to promote the 2019 Stinger with a commercial spot. All of this momentum snowballed into Lou selling out his annual show “Louapalooza 3” at Main At Southside in Fort Worth, TX.
The story is still being written for Lou CharLe$, but it is obvious that his electric shows, positive message, and charismatic candor is resonating with a diverse audience causing more and more to ask “Who is Lou?”
Lou continues to work in the studio on his upcoming release and perform frequently in the Dallas/Fort Worth market as well as other regional cities.
Click HERE to vote!
A3C is a music, tech & culture festival and conference with over 30,000 attendees. Founded in 2005, A3C has grown from a local hip-hop showcase to become one of the most important events of the year. We connect, educate and inspire the artists, entrepreneurs and creatives that shape culture.
The A3C Festival (Oct 8-13) is a series of unforgettable concerts and experiences celebrating hip-hop's past, present and future at premier venues across Atlanta. The events highlight different elements of hip-hop culture and feature hundreds of artists, producers, DJs and creatives from around the world. Venues and schedule of events to be announced.
The A3C Conference (Oct 10-12) includes keynotes, panels, workshops, mixers and sessions featuring hundreds of innovators and thought-leaders.
Conference Tracks: Music, Tech, Social Justice, Film/TV, Marketing, Branding, Podcast, Content Creators, Style, Gaming and more.
