In lieu of a mid-year best of 2026 list, I’ll be discussing a fresh scene that would have dominated it and all of my scrobbles anyway: New Chicago.
Though historically late bloomers in hip-hop (relatively, with only a handful of big names in the 90s), Chicago has always had multiple hot scenes at any given time since the late aughts; partly thanks to Kanye and GOOD putting on for the city, early Lupe and label-hostage sellout Lupe, all leading into a dominant run in the 2010’s. The best sign of a healthy hip-hop scene for any region is a balance of popular styles – there should be room for both the lyrical, conscious stars, and the hit makers or street scenes alike. Chicago exemplified this for years between drill, Pivot Gang / Savemoney and other Chance-adjacent artists, and plenty of other unique solo acts like Lucki.
While things have cooled off in more recent years for the city, there has been a grassroots effort to push the so-called New Chicago scene – an entire web of rappers, producers, fashion designers, videographers, journalists, and more who grew up in the exact right nostalgia range to bring back that early 10’s ethos of swag. You’ll find snapbacks, studs, black skinnys, constant homages to the blog era, Tumblr, early Soundcloud, and an electric energy conducive to rap anthems. I almost expect Lyrical Lemonade to host a segway flash mob for someone’s next video while still managing to make it look harder than a fleet of SRTs.
Only a few of these artists have much national attention and are criminally undercovered by other music outlets (let alone to have more than a few thousand listeners). New Chicago sticks together as close collaborators who are pushing the city hard. It’s only a matter of time before someone’s charisma boils over the city limits, and there is absolutely space in hip-hop for more of this look and sound. The production: larger than life, Finally Rich, and begging for the listener to participate. The personalities: lighthearted and imitable.
It’s all just so much fun: focusing on partying, fashion, and bagging models rather than the ultraviolence or preachiness of the city’s more recent past. In fact, one of the biggest inspirations to New Chicago is actually Toronto and early OVO. You’ll find cover art recreating Thank Me Later and So Far Gone, IG pics at the real House of Balloons, shared modern producers, and an overall lineage of that dark, melodic cloud sound. This scene wears its influences on its sleeve, but they’re damn good influences that are ripe for a refresh in 2026.
Here, we’ll take a look at some of the biggest artists of New Chicago and those with the most potential to blow up big:
Thirteendegrees °
Likely the biggest and most influential name in a small scene, Thirteendegrees set a wave with just how hard he reps Chicago and his Ghetto Hipster aesthetic. You can track the evolution of his short career closely – from relatively straightforward modern trap / rage, (granted, with a uniquely satisfying croon) to effective nostalgia bait anthems on the breakthrough Clique City series, and now to an A$AP influenced sound that has me thinking his next album will be a milestone in cloud rap – full of absolutely heavenly vocal samples courtesy of mainstay producers like Gyant, Jthasensei, and Gusty. Thirteendegrees’ makes the kind of music that has me feeling like a teenager again, watching videos all night and thinking damn I wish I was that cool.
Kels!
On the other hand, many New Chicago artists take direct influence from a slightly later 2010’s scene. Kels! is one of its most popular, and is clearly a Soundcloud baby; his music unapologetically youthful, fun loving, and catchy, but in an entirely different, more tightly wound way than the cloud-side of Chicago. His melodies always ready to explode into a legit chopper flow. His 2025 debut Renaissance (perhaps a manifestation for the city) has so many tracks with hit potential that you can imagine at any house party, but he’s equally capable of a more mellow cut. As special as someone like Thirteendegrees’ artistic vision is, Kels! has a much more accessible modern rockstar personality.
Lil2posh
Lil2posh is another name who is deeply invested in the swag and look of the scene – rocking boots and furs, repping the city through his covers and remixes. He’s admittedly an acquired taste, with heavily pitched autotune and a flow that you may have to suspend your old-head disbelief for. Posh is a very down to Earth person though, his music endearing and often personal, talking about juggling music with school and everything that comes with it. He also wears his influences on his sleeves – like Nine Vicious or Hus Kingpin, paying tribute to old favorites with every project. A gimmick that rarely tires for me, but Posh’s style seems like it would be best balanced next on a collab project with some other New Chicago artists.
Kioracks
One of the most locally hyped artists, Kioracks is yet to even drop a project besides a short Soundcloud EP. Leaning towards the Soundcloud sound again and working with Kels!, Kio is so directly influenced by Lil Uzi Vert. He’s been known to interpolate and name drop him with a very similar flow, energy, and anime covers, but Kio is also capable of vocals that range even more easygoing and lowkey to deep, fleeting growls. He’s catchy, recognizable, and seemingly beloved by peers. If he’s going to drop a tape this year, it’s certainly among my most anticipated and could be a break through in popularity.
CultExavier
CultExavier got started with his fashion brand Cult, giving him the opportunity at relationships with so many of the aforementioned artists. He takes the platform and those friendships very seriously, being the one to put me on to so many of them through interviews and shoutouts. With literally only two songs of his own so far, his music is exemplary of the dark, coke party sound, but you can tell from that flow that he’s not a rapper by trade. There’s an infectious quality to it reminiscent of Nav though. If curated properly, which seems to be his strength, his first project should be a good listen and a love letter to New Chicago.
If you want to continue following the New Chicago scene, follow the Clique City page, CultExavier, George Pareti, and his For the Youth news outlet. They all rep for each other and there are so many well polished artists relative to how new and underground they are. I’m sure I’ve missed many worthy names here, so here is a quick rundown on some more New Chicago artists to keep an eye out for:
Mysp8c
Exemplary of the swag I’ve been describing, with a satisfying autotuned flow over surprisingly glitchy club beats. Just look at those glasses mane.
Da Villain
A strong hook game reminiscent of 2013 era Chicago, and appropriately watered down cloud production that parlays well to drill and a mainstream appeal.
Zootzie
Former Novagang member now much more entrenched in his hometown of Chicago, sporting a zombified-techno quality to his melodies.
Strxtch
An affiliate of Kels! who might still be finding his sound and could work on his repetitiveness, but his style is totally likely to go viral in clip form.
Fuego Baine
One of the most respected and frequently cosigned in the city, again connected to Kels! and Strxtch, with two solid albums under his belt already.
Snipy
Similar to Zootzie for his goth aesthetic and droning sound over especially trippy electronic production. Personally, I haven’t been super into his singles, but he gets a lot of attention from other artists so the jury is still out.
yobryy
Yobryy has a naturally satisfying flow that could be suited to better production. Some of these beats seriously hurt my ears, and not in an interesting, experimental way. But he has a promising amount of hungry, kinetic energy that stands well enough on its own.
Your Stepdad
Somewhat dusty compared to the other artists we’ve discussed, but in a jerky, sample chopped, FearDorian way, Your Stepdad mostly fits into New Chicago aesthetically. His music is a bit more thoughtful and constructive thematically, but he is very much a part of that same youth movement.