Brent Faiyaz
You will be hard-pressed to find an effort as impressive as Sonder Son. Also moving independently, Brent Faiyaz follow-up his hook of the year for Goldlink’s “Crew,” with an effort that showed why he is someone to keep your eye on.

IDK
Dropping the “Jay” from his moniker, IDK took it into his own hands for 2017.  His IWASVERYBAD album received the response hoped for this go round, complete with a partnership with Adult Swim and tracks that let fans, both new and old, into where he is as both an artist and a person setting up a run heading into 2018.