The Future 50: Predicting R&B/Hip-Hop’s Next Legends 

If there’s one constant in the music industry, it’s this question: Who’s got next? As hip-hop’s 50th anniversary celebration continues, its various GOAT lists, special compilations and other reflections on the past have also elicited conversations about which younger artists now would warrant a similar spotlight in the future. After the respect and props being accorded to hip-hop’s fearless pioneers this year, who will be the next trustees ensuring hip-hop’s future?

With that in mind, Billboard continues its yearlong celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary with the rollout of its second Future 50 list. Instead of focusing solely on rap artists, Future 50 represents all of the players most likely to change the game in the years to come, including R&B artists as well as songwriters, producers and executives working in the realms of hip-hop and R&B. Introduced on National Hip-Hop Day (Aug. 11), Billboard’s Future 50 is being revealed monthly, 10 names at a time alphabetically, with the entire list posting in December.

In determining those selected, we considered the impact each candidate has achieved to date, but focused even more on the potential each has for sustaining and building on that momentum in the coming years. Weighing into that assessment were factors such as chart achievements, industry accolades, cultural influence and skill set. As a result, some of those chosen are already household names, some are getting there and some you may not be familiar with just yet. The executives we picked — who hail from record labels, publishing companies, management and other industry sectors — show outsized promise based on their acquisitions, signings, partnership ventures and what they’ve helped their clients achieve.

Read on and see who’s got next in our second Future 50 installment.