It’s hard to think of a young MC with as much high-powered support as Houston’s Travis Scott. The 22-year-old helped produce two songs on Yeezus; he’s signed to Southern-rap veteran T.I.’s Grand Hustle imprint; and he was one of two guest rappers deemed worthy to appear on Drake’s recent surprise release, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late. Scott’s 2014 mixtape, Days Before Rodeo, demonstrated why he’s attracted so much interest from rap’s elite: Tracks like “Drugs You Should Try It” and “Skyfall” ooze both melancholy and menace, showing off Scott’s signature blend of bracing beats, off-kilter melodies and a unique mumble-drawl delivery.
Scott’s current tourmate, the 23-year-old Young Thug, is a well-matched partner: In 2014, the Atlanta native exploded with hits—notably the potent, unhinged “Danny Glover” and the sticky, triumphant “Lifestyle”—that made more seasoned rappers
look old-fashioned. He’s an endlessly inventive MC who never pronounces a syllable the same way twice; listening to Thug is like watching someone invent a new language in real time. You don’t have to take our word for it: Check out YouTube videos of both Drake and Kanye dancing vigorously to “Danny Glover.”—Elias Leight