10 Hip-Hop Acts to Watch at SXSW 2014

Over 2,000 regional, national and international artists will perform at the 28th edition of the SXSW Music Festival taking place Tuesday, March 11 – Sunday, March 16, 2014. In order to help break down the massive list of bands coming to SXSW 2014, we will be sharing a bunch of recommended bands for you to check out.

To kick things off, here are a list of 10 Hip-Hop Acts to Watch at SXSW. The list includes Trae tha Truth, Young Fathers, Deniro Farrar, Denzel Curry, Action Bronson, Bishop Nehru, Zeale and more. You can easily follow all of these bands here, and be sure check Do512 for more SXSW coverage.

Bronson is the first of many VICE artists that will be highlighted at SXSW this year. The guy has done tracks with nearly every rapper out there currently, and he has an insatiable hunger for success. He probably doesn’t miss his days as a chef in NYC. Be on the lookout for a new untitled album to be released later this year.

This dude is a real prospect; he is only 16. The young rapper, whose name is a mix of Tupac’s character from Juice and a friend of Ghandi’s, has many similarities to Joey Bada$$ stylistically, but their deliveries set them apart. He is on the verge of releasing new music with the legendary MF Doom in 2014, and did we mention he shoots and directs his own videos?

The self-proclaimed leader of “cult rap”, which “has social commentary, touches on the struggle…on politics.” Dark is a good word to describe his music, but that hasn’t stopped the likes of Flosstradamus and Ryan Hemsworth from getting in on the act. And like most, expect a new EP out on VICE and Warner Bros. Records sometime this year.

Formerly of Raider Klan, Denzel Curry is now flying solo, and it’s paying dividends. He has been touring off the success of his first solo album Nostalgic 64, which dropped in September. He most recently featured on a track with Deniro Farrar, so a surprise set could be in order this March.

Hopsin is a very interesting character. He might hate to hear it, but he is in the same mold as Eminem. Incredibly witty and obscene at the same time. He also isn’t afraid of calling anyone out; Drake, Lil Wayne, Tyler the Creator, Soulja Boy and the list goes on. And those eyes man, those eyes.

Danny Brown has called him the new Biggie Smalls. That’s pressure right there. But Mr. MFN eXquire isn’t shy when it comes to his flows. He truly has no set style and seems willing to tackle any beat he hears. With his last mixtape dropping in June of 2013, expect to see some new tunes this year. Oh and check out the video filmed from the back of a pedicab last SXSW.

Trae tha Truth is one of the true OG’s on the SXSW hip-hop lineup this year. The Houston rapper is part of Screwed Up Click and has been around since the late 90′s. He got his start with legendary Houston rapper Z-Ro and they later formed A.B.N. He boasts one of the most distinct voices in hip-hop and his shows will definitely be packed, so get there early. Also, this video dropped 2 days ago.

This is one group we are stoked to see, though they were an official act last year. Hailing from Scotland, by way of Nigera and Liberia, it is heavy on synth and tribal percussion. Not only can the 3 of them flow wonderfully, but they all sing as well. The video is a new track off their upcoming album, “Dead” which will be out onAnticon February 4.

The young Dallas duo is comprised of B. Reed and Faime. While the rhymes aren’t the greatest, it is hard to argue that the group are popping off. It probably helped teaming up with Dorrough, the man behind “Ice Cream Paint Job.” Above all, the dudes are having a lot of fun and seeing them live will most likely prove entertaining.

The epitome of cool, Austin’s own Zeale will be a sight to behold in March. He is definitely an innovative voice in the rap community describing his sound as, “three parts hip hop, two parts indie.” He has found recent success on tours with AWOLNATION and Imagine Dragons, but we believe his best is yet to come.

Some other notable hip-hop acts to catch at SXSW are League of Extraordinary Gz,Ty Dolla $ign, Sage Francis, Yo Gotti, Ratking, SubKulture Patriots, and Magna Carda.