While popstars like Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes gets discovered via YouTube, rappers also make their way to stardom from humble beginnings on SoundCloud. Here are some of the best rappers who were discovered on SoundCloud:
Lil Pump
Gazzy Garcia started uploading some of his material on SoundCloud back in 2016. The tracks he posted on the music sharing website were "Drum$tick," "Elementary," "Gang Shit," and "Ignorant." All these tracks earned a combined number of over several million streams. Because of this achievement, Lil Pump was considered as an up-and-coming rapper. Perhaps the most outstanding track that he produced was "Gucci Gang" as it went up to the third spot of the Billboard Hot 100.
21 Savage
Sheeya Bin Abraham-Joseph was first known because of his mixtape The Slaughter Tape released in 2015 and EP Savage Mode. But these were just appetizers for more things to come. 21 Savage released his first studio album Issa Album in 2017, and it went straight to the second spot of the Billboard Hot 200.
Chance the Rapper
Born Chancelor Jonathan Bennet, the Illinois based rapper rose to prominence because of his song "Windows." The track was listed from his 2011 mixtape 10 Day, inspired by the 10-day suspension. He was brought into one of Childish Gambino's tours and opened for the comedian-rapper. Thanks to the exposure, Chance the Rapper got his first break after releasing his second mixtape Acid Rap in 2013.
XXXTentacion
Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy, aka XXXTentacion, started uploading music he created on SoundCloud back in 2013. Not long after, his song "Look At Me" was discovered, and he gained a huge following. His first studio album, 17 was launched in 2017, and it peaked at the second spot on the Billboard 200. XXXTentacion's luck was not stopping there as his second studio album ? reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
Migos
This hip-hop trio is composed of rappers Kirshnik Khari Ball, Kiari Kendrell Cephus, and Quavious Keyate Marshall. They go by the rapper names Takeoff, Offset, and Quavo, respectively. The three rappers hit gold when Drake promoted their 2013 single "Versace" on Twitter. In 2015, they got another break when their song "Bad and Boujee" debuted straight to number one on the Billboard 200.
Lil Dicky
The real name of this Philadelphia-based rapper is David Andrew Burd. While working on his day job, he was writing comedic raps until he created a mixtape in 2011. He went viral when he released the hilarious music video for his song "Ex-Boyfriend," receiving over a million views in just 24 hours.
Post Malone
Besides LiL Dicky, Austin Richard Post is another Caucasian rapper who started on SoundCloud. He hit gold with his single "White Iverson," and got him a music deal with Republic Records. Most of the songs from Post Malone have been going up the music charts ever since. His album broke records with Beerbongs and Bentleys earning world record streaming count and 2016 album Stoney staying on the Billboard charts for 77 consecutive weeks.
