. Pharrell Williams KAP G OG MACO TRINIDAD JAMES raised on Atlanta’s south side. by his mentor, Def Jam in 2012 but is now independent. Def Jam in 2012 but is now independent. the “U Guessed It” rapper, who was born and and the “U Guessed It” rapper, who was born do their thing,” says James, who signed with do their thing,” says James, who signed with to Atlantic, has been dubbed as “the future” to Atlantic, has been dubbed as “the future” “Where you’re from defines who you are,” says says “Where you’re from defines who you are,” “I feel like I opened the door for the kids to “I feel like I opened the door for the kids to The Mexican-American rapper, 20, who’s signed The Mexican-American rapper, 20, who’s signed , Lil Usher . Kevin Liles Liles Kevin Rihanna and Childish Major, Metro Major, Childish Boomin and OG Maco OG and Boomin Digital, Trinidad James, James, Trinidad Digital, (whom he allegedly (whom Rich Homie Quan, Raury, From left: Father, Man Man Savage, Que, Kap G, Sonny Johnny Cinco Johnny , one of music’s biggest , one of music’s Lyor Cohen Lyor Miley Cyrus Miley WorldMags.netWorldMags.net . “This is art,” he says. “It’s not something that “It’s he says. . “This is art,” Mike Will Made It Mike The city’s new scene isn’t all good vibes, however. all good vibes, however. new scene isn’t The city’s Raury new wave. slowed Atlanta’s hasn’t that But Labels are increasingly looking to Atlanta’s young young looking increasingly to Atlanta’s Labels are can be kept in a box.” in a box.” can be kept producers, as well: With their growing catalog of catalog cred- well: With their growing as producers, Boomin, and Sonny Digital Childish Major its, Metro following in the footstepsare of 25-year-old Atlanta native 2013), since has been dating discreetly has 18 already It Will Made Mike and others, Wayne with worked 100 hits, and most recently Hot after two decades of his own Even Me.” on “Believe is hav- hometown his that agrees superstardom, Usher is Thug, Atlanta Young to Future ing a moment: “From he says. been,” now than it has ever relevant more canceled Migos the shoot, that rumors At were there Thug’s because Young they had beef in East Atlanta; safe the location wasn’t that claimed camp similarly without further OG Maco explanation. for the rapper, the during their distance kept meanwhile, and Key, the rift started has said that shoot. after Key Maco (OG passed on appearing “U Guessed in the video for It,” on.) he was originally featured which expanding creative best exemplify the city’s may anthem “God’s youth” ambitions: His “ignorant recently and he than rap, Whisper” folk-rock is more producer electronica British with eclectic collaborated SBTRKT in 2013. The label, which is distributed by Atlantic, has by Atlantic, is distributed in 2013. which The label, Young signing its specialty, avant-garde made Atlanta’s 4 No. his smash “Stoner” after reached Thug in June Rapon Hot Songs; 300 has also partnered with Atlanta home to is already which Music, Quality Control label and to sign Migos OG Maco, Between hitmakers. with fellow industry vets industry vets with fellow I Todd Todd ers from ers

WorldMags.net 0 , including the gure off gure y Atlanta rap rookies: rap y Atlanta Future w it’s a hotbed for w it’s .) ’s “U.O.E.N.O.” featur- “U.O.E.N.O.” ’s and . And beatmaker Sonny. And beatmaker style, ow and hippie street Migos Rocko , whose quirky “Tuesday”quirky 35 is No. , whose Ludacris Ludacris Rick Ross and trio , who co-founded 300 Entertainment min- rmed for the shoot the last but canceled at BILLBOARD | NOVEMBER 8, 2014 “We’re really us,” says I Love Makonnen, 25, of Makonnen, I Love says us,” really “We’re has historically been of one the hottest “Atlanta At 27, James is a veteran (and cautionary tale, of cautionary tale, (and a veteran is James 27, At hard to ignore, is attracting seven-fi attracting is to ignore, hard Thug Young ute, as did two other buzzworthute, the beat the 95 on the hit No. after “U Guessed major labels It” holding he’s 100 (his says Hot management Billboard signee Raury, Columbia New money). out for more his rap-sungknown for fl 18 R&B/ Hot on No. reached which “Honest,” latter’s 23, produced anotherHip-Hop Songs. Childish Major, hit, hometown huge and ing Future rapper-singer 23,Digital, is blowing up with ATL Makonnen Love known for Makonnen, I Love 100. Hot 8 on the Nov. , signed a mannequin head as a prop carrying around Bros. Sound, distributed by Warner OVO with Drake’s in September. Records, people, and real “We’re newcomers. rap Atlanta’s down ‘Those live like, feel guys People relatable. we’re most of his records Makonnen ” (I Love the street.’ in fact, he was as well; The Barrio music and videos at confi cities for hip-hop, and right no says artistsemerging and experimental music,” Moscowitz debuted on the Billboard/Twitter Emerging Artists Emerging on the Billboard/Twitter debuted Whisper” in October. 12 No. chart with “God’s at peaked Everything” Gold sorts) His “All crew: for this Rap 6 on Hot a rumored him Songs and landed No. at in 2012 deal (he$2 million Def Jam has since been on an upcoming working dropped and is currently Boomin, 21, Metro project). has producedself-released stars for Atlanta 28