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With OnesToWatch turning 11, we recently took a look back at 101 artists that shaped us. While many of those artists have skyrocketed far beyond the horizons of their humble origin stories, we cannot help but remember the voices, sounds, and artistic ambitions that signaled many of these artists' early promise. So, for each month, for the rest of the year, we'll be highlighting OnesToWatch alumni, starting with a few of the excellent Black voices that shaped OnesToWatch. 

Baby Keem

Even with a dollop of nepotism, Baby Keem has earned his rightful space in the industry. With a vibrant spirit and joyful reverie, the Grammy-winning rapper lets his youth be his compass. It’s what’s made him such a welcomed newcomer in an evolving hip-hop landscape, going viral with 2019’s “Orange Soda,” and earning slots on tracks with artists like Schoolboy Q and Beyoncé, all before the age of 25.

PinkPantheress

For the lucky few who happened upon PinkPantheress while she was still an anonymous online siren, the stardom awaiting could have never been foreseen. Her talent was always evident, yet the magnitude of her reign has surprised even her. By maintaining complete allegiance to a nostalgic yet futuristic sound uniquely hers, she’s paved a lane in the industry only the Princess of Y2K Pop herself can walk. PinkPantheress is beloved by all and only getting better with every hit single, bringing UK camp to the world.

Victoria Monét

Victoria Monét is an artist in every sense of the word, mastering the art of performance by delivering pristine vocals and high-caliber choreography seemingly effortlessly. Though her start began as a songwriter for other well-known artists, to deny the explosion within her it’s rightful centerstage would have been the industry’s greatest fumble. Monét’s hunger for her destined success has earned her a Grammy, chart-topping singles, and admiration from peers, making her one of the most enduring names of R&B’s new generation.

Janelle Monáe

What Janelle Monáe has done for every artist too otherworldly to squeeze themselves into the confines of the industry’s comfort zone is monumental. A complete and audacious expression of utter color and noise, Janelle Monáe is an artist who only happens once every lifetime. From fashion to acting to an eclectic catalog that journeys through soul, pop, and R&B, her inner child is alive in all that she does. As a queer Black woman who has no interest in diluting her bite, retro-futurism is in safe hands so long as Monáe continues to be a vessel and inspire the world to wake up a little louder.

Little Simz

No one has quite the command over their own pen the way that Little Simz does. Whether it’s about African identity, street survival, or deciding who you are while navigating a harsh and unforgiving world, everything Little Simz spits is raw and unpolished. With her first three albums released independently, she was lifted up by the community who found her ability to be critical. Little Simz is one of the most skilled rappers to emerge from the underground UK scene, sitting comfortably as your favorite artists’ favorite artist.

Jorja Smith

It’s hard to understand how Jorja Smith doesn’t already have multiple Grammy awards under her belt. Actively performing since age 11, the voice that moves through her feels almost ancestral, moving you through her harrowing as she folds into the depths of herself. The English songstress isn’t afraid to sing about pain and love lost, though that doesn’t mean she hasn’t penned a few upbeat smashes all the same. The through line is just how mesmerizing her honey-like voice melts over the track, making her one of R&B’s most intriguing young artists.

RAYE

RAYE’s recent success with “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” certainly doesn’t come as a surprise to the fans who have long witnessed her ongoing alchemy. With remnants of Amy Winehouse and a young Brandy coursing through her catalog, RAYE is bringing music back home to itself. Her sound is timeless, cross-generational, and expansive, making a fan out of any ear she happens to land upon. With a childlike buoyancy in all that she does, her allegiance to music is a familial honor she carries.

SZA

As Kendrick Lamar’s proudest prodigy, SZA has somehow been able to stay as normal a girl as possible while accumulating massive success and global fame. Everything she touches turns to gold, from her features to her own projects, yet she remains a humble young woman on a lifelong quest to get comfortable with her own company. Much of her neo-soul and R&B journeys through love and yearning, telling every millennial’s story, navigating the trenches of modern dating. Yet, her music always comes back to the wisdom of liking who you are first and foremost, and making the home a safe one for yourself.

Summer Walker

Any time a purist attempts to complain that R&B has strayed from its glory days, it’s imperative to remind them of the work that artists like Summer Walker are doing in bringing it back home. Reminiscent of its '90s and 2000s reign, her sound is stripped bare to the bone, telling stories of wanting to be loved while struggling to find one's own self lovable. Walker is unafraid to get sentimental and bleed in front of the world, a lover girl in the purest sense of being willing to be completely seen in exchange for being chosen. She carries a torch artists like Jhene Aiko and Kehlani lit for her, and it’s why so many are rooting for her success, and most importantly, her peace.

Doja Cat

Doja Cat’s transformation from internet sensation to international pop sensation is the epitome of evolution. With multi-platinum records such as Hot Pink and Planet Her, she has already proven that she can conquer the music industry, combining elements of rap, R&B, and pop in her music with an audacity that is inspiring to see. A Grammy Award winner with streaming records that break, Doja Cat continues to experiment with her music, taking it to new heights while setting the tone for the visual aesthetic of pop music today, never following trends but creating them.

Doechii

Doechii has rapidly transitioned from someone who breaks the internet to a legitimate rap star. Her 2024 release Alligator Bites Never Heal won her the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards, making her the third woman to ever win the award and one of the most exciting fresh voices in rap music today. With hits such as “Denial Is a River” and a slew of high-profile shows and releases, she is a genre-bending artist to watch.

Cat Burns

Cat Burns’ big break came with the viral sensation “Go,” which shot to the top of the UK charts and turned heads around the globe. Since then, she’s been nominated for several BRIT Awards and has established herself as a singer-songwriter known for her heartfelt songwriting. Burns' music is the soundtrack to late nights and deep talks, effortlessly walking the line between vulnerability and pop sensibilities, seeping with genuine talent, making her own way in the world.

Jordan Ward

Jordan Ward has quietly established himself as one of the most exciting voices in modern R&B. His funk and soul-infused debut project, Forward, features smooth melodies and a sound that is both intimate and timeless. With an NAACP Image Award nomination to his name and an increasingly busy touring schedule, he’s quickly becoming one of the most talked-about up-and-coming artists in the genre. Ward’s music pays homage to the past while forging its own path.

Duckwrth

Duckwrth’s sound is kaleidoscopic—funk, hip-hop, punk-infused soul, and all his own. Over the years, he’s developed a devoted fan base with albums like SuperGood and a live show that is as much a statement as it is a performance. His genre-bending style has also earned him Grammy nominations, including a recent nod for Best Immersive Audio Album, proving he’s just as interesting in headphones as he is live. He’s the voice of an artist unencumbered by expectation.

Arlo Parks

Arlo Parks’ Collapsed in Sunbeams introduced her, but it also cemented her as one of the most important voices of her generation, earning her the 2021 Mercury Prize and widespread acclaim. Her lyrical, intimate songwriting and indie-soul sound are like listening to conversations with old friends, and her continued output is a further extension of that emotional connection. Parks’ quiet, potent presence has made her a defining voice in modern music.

Olivia Dean

Olivia Dean’s debut album Messy marked her arrival as a significant new talent in the UK soul and pop scene, with Brit Award nominations and widespread acclaim for the album’s authentic songwriting and Dean’s radiant vocals. Her talent for marrying introspection with radiant hooks has made believers out of fans and critics in equal measure, and her development as a live performer has only served to further fuel the fire. Dean’s music is at once rooted in tradition and utterly new, and this is something that OTW has always supported.