Emerging stars of pop and hip hop creating all the buzz
The rise of the pop queen continues unabated in 2020. Here’s some of the new – and refreshed – songs and female artists who have pricked ears and flooded playlists over the past few months.
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The rise of the pop queen continues unabated in 2020, with Dua Lipa, Halsey, Billie Eilish and Lady Gaga among the artists dominating the playlists and charts worldwide.
And fresh tunes from the emerging stars of pop and hip hop are getting a big crossover kick from TikTok challenges.
Here’s some of the new – and refreshed – songs and pop women who have pricked ears and flooded playlists over the past few months.
MEGAN THEE STALLION
The hottest female artist in hip hop already owned the pop airwaves with her smash Savage.
But fans had their collective minds blown when another Houston native, Beyonce, offered extra attitude with her verses on a remix which dropped in late April. The fact Megan is managed by Roc Nation, owned by Jay-Z, may have had something to do with the “surprise” collab.
A succession of mix tapes and EPs over the past two years got the buzz going on this confident rap spitfire whose rapid rise landed her on the cover of Rolling Stone in March alongside fellow buzzworthy artists Normani and SZA, headlined The Takeover.
DOJA CAT
There’s no point saying out loud you’ve never heard of Doja Cat because you have definitely tapped your feet and bopped your head to her summer vibes smash Say So.
The single just got more chart oxygen courtesy of a Nicki Minaj rap assist and topped the Music Network’s Hot 100 Australian airplay chart this week.
With her collective repertoire amassing more than one billion streams, Doja Cat has already cemented her status as one of the biggest artists of 2020.
BENEE
The New Zealand singer and songwriter has been a staple on the Triple J airwaves for the past couple of years, kicking off with the cruisy indie R & B track Soaked and then last year’s upbeat groove tune Glitter.
Her big breakthrough came just a couple of months ago with the single Supalonely featuring Gus Dapperton, written about a failed relationship but adapted as a pandemic anthem for all of the lonely hearted.
NATALIE TAYLOR
The American singer songwriter released Surrender back in 2015 but thanks to the dual forces of TikTok and the pandemic, the ethereal folk ballad has exploded on the Spotify Global charts.
MIA RODRIGUEZ
We just love a pop song called Psycho. The third track of featuring the slang sledge to rock the airwaves in the past two years introduces Australian teen pop sensation Mia Rodriguez. Psycho’s TikTok virality is quickly migrating to the more conventional radio airwaves and streaming platforms.