Charlotte, North Carolina is not exactly the center of the hip-hop world. It is, however, one of the biggest cities on the east coast and one of the fastest-growing cities in America. And just as the city is growing rapidly, so is its rap scene. They may not be household names at the moment, but there are plenty of rappers in the Queen City who are looking to put Charlotte on the map. Being situated both on the East Coast and in the Southern United States, Charlotte rappers are creating their own unique sound through a fusion of these two styles.

The first name you can expect to hear more of in the coming years is Rashaun Hampton. Hampton layers vocals and melodies to a point at which he has created a completely different song than he originally recorded. Most of his songs are self-produced, and his beats, while occasionally noisy and distracting, do a good job of creating a certain mood. Jesus Piece, a track he released just over a year ago, has a very unique trap beat with strong lyrics from Hampton. The Travis Scott and Future influences shine through in this track, but Rashaun makes it clear that he has a unique style, and he is here to stay. Another standout track from Hampton is The City, produced by Bijan Amir. The lyricism in this song is focused on the struggle of growing up in the inner city of Charlotte. Hampton’s boastful verses make it clear that his hard work has paid off, and that he is going nowhere but up. Be on the lookout for some new work from Rashaun Hampton in 2017.

Another big artist, and possibly the biggest rapper to come out of Charlotte in the 21st century is Deniro Farrar. Farrar has been releasing music since 2010, and he has since signed to Warner Bros. Records, making him the most commercially successful artist in this article. The self-proclaimed leader of “Cult Rap,” this Charlotte native has made a name for himself through his music. Farrar’s voice is very unique, with a slight rasp adding some grit to his lyrics. His latest project, Red Book, Vol. 1, was released just over a month ago in early December, and it contains some of his strongest tracks to date. Songs such as Mankind and Gentrification feature hard-hitting trap beats, complex lyricism, and powerful messages. Volume 2 should see the light of day in early 2017, in which Farrar plans to “outline a blueprint for revolution.” Many of you may have already heard Deniro Farrar’s music, but if you haven’t, check him out immediately – you won’t regret it.

The next big name coming up out of Charlotte is Jalen Santoy. Santoy exploded into the rap scene with his 2015 single Foreplay, which currently has over 10 million streams on Spotify. The jazzy instrumentals alone put this track in a class of its own. He recently dropped his debut album, Charlie Eastern, through Ventwood Entertainment. The seven-track project includes excellent tracks such as the aforementioned “Foreplay” and No Peace. Santoy has a great ear for beats, and his intricate flow weaves through the instrumentals, creating a smooth, melodic sound. Each song Santoy releases has great production value; there are no throwaway tracks on his project. Charlie Eastern is a stellar project – Santoy has all the right ingredients to become a huge name in music in the next few years.

Those searching for mellow stoner music should look no further than Charlotte’s hottest rap duo, Hootie Hoo. Consisting of Andy Stowne and Gram Master Mario, this duo has been repping the CLT for a few years now. They may be a bit more underground than a few of the other artists I have mentioned, but these men are hoping to change that. Tracks such as Mystery Machine Music and 2Nite stand out from their 2015 release, “Good Weed, Better Raps.” While the weed references may be a little tiresome, these two MCs definitely have talent in both their lyricism and their production. Whether you’re a Charlottean or not, this duo is definitely worth a listen.

Last, but certainly not least in the Charlotte rap game, is Well$. A second-generation Congolese immigrant, Well$ has plenty to talk about in his latest project, “The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous,” released through the Immaculate Taste record label. Apart from a Metro Boomin production credit on “Heaven’s Door,” every artist and producer on this project is either from Immaculate Taste or based in North Carolina. Well$ represents the CLT in his music more than any other artist. Standout songs from “The Way I’m Living” include “XXX,” “130,” and the remix to “’98 Juvie,” featuring the aforementioned Deniro Farrar. With unique, hard-hitting beats and focused lyrics, Well$ has made a name for himself with his latest project as a talented artist hailing from the Queen City.

Charlotte may not be an Atlanta or a New York of the nationwide rap scene, but these rappers are doing everything they can to change that. And, from the looks of it, they’re beginning to succeed.

Agree? Disagree? Any other Charlotte emcees readers should know about? Let me know in the comments below, or give me a shout on Twitter @thealbumanalyst.