@Mike Baird

Discover new music from artists we think you'll like. Refreshed every Friday.

While Matthew Jehu Samuels got his start making tracks for Toronto's favorite son, he's long since emerged from the shadows to prove that this boy is no one-hit 1da. With a sonically diverse palette, the Jamaican-born, Canadian-bred producer has crafted huge, synth-driven beats for Eminem, JAY Z, ScHoolboy Q, and The Game.

Mike Dean has a resume that can compete with hip-hop's elite super producers. Hear how the Houston sound architect inspires the best from southern staples like Scarface, Z-Ro, and Juvenile, along with expansive musical moments from Kanye West and JAY Z.

Detroit rapper Big Sean began writing poetry as a kid and was selling his own CDs by high school. His break came in 2005 when he freestyled for Kanye West in a radio station parking lot—an encounter that led to a deal with West’s GOOD Music label. After a trio of mixtapes, Sean debuted in 2011 with <i>Finally Famous</i>, an album that balanced wit (“My Last”), introspection, and swagger (“Dance [A$$]”). He quickly became one of the most versatile rappers of the 2010s, and has continued to deliver bangers (“Blessings”) and heartbreak ballads (“Beware”) ever since. He’s also the consummate collaborator, not just on his own albums (“Deep Reverence [feat. Nipsey Hussle]” and “Body Language [feat. Ty Dolla $ign and Jhené Aiko]” from the guest-packed <i>Detroit 2</i>) but also on joint full-length projects with Jhené Aiko (2016’s <i>TWENTY88</i>) and Metro Boomin (2017’s <i>Double Or Nothing</i>).

Lil Wayne's career has had a transformative impact on hip-hop, bringing the genre's center of gravity further south toward his native New Orleans, challenging other artists to keep up with his prolific output, and setting trends with his creative punchlines and eccentric vocal style. His influence is deeply felt in younger MCs as wide-ranging as Chance the Rapper, Young Thug, and Kendrick Lamar.

Whether what you hear is one of Beyoncé’s fierce statements of autonomy, an inspiring act of consciousness-raising by Kendrick Lamar, an unstoppable party jam by Cardi B, or an oh-so-emo expression of vulnerability by Drake, the best hip-hop and R&B of the 2010s is marked by a boldness and urgency that help these artists cut through all of our culture’s noise and chatter. In terms of sound and impact, the '10s represented a golden age for individuals out to change the game. Just as remarkable is the eagerness of standard-setters like Kanye West and Rihanna to continually rethink what they do, all while recombining a vast array of musical styles and ideas. From hard-hitting trap beats and dancehall rhythms to synth-heavy soundscapes and throwbacks to old-school glories, it all makes for music that keeps pace with fast and unpredictable times.

The decade when hip-hop could claim its first billionaires was marked by Kanye West’s ambitious productions, Drake’s game-changing swirls of melody, and Future’s bummed-out Auto-Tune croon. Thanks to producers like Mike Will Made-It and Metro Boomin, Atlanta became hip-hop’s home of musical research and development, musicians across genres embracing trap music’s skittering hi-hats, cavernous boom, and lyrical curlicues. Rappers started singing more and more, but the technical prowess of artists like Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, J. Cole, and Run the Jewels kept traditional bars alive in distinct ways. Toward the end of the decade, charts started reflecting streaming plays more than physical album sales, meaning home-brewed, home-recorded sensations like Lil Pump could compete with the majors. And a new, democratized world of social media and streaming meant artists like Chance the Rapper and Cardi B could pave untraditional paths to stardom.