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Rap essentials: ft. Ice Spice, Cardi B, Gunna, Drake, AJ Tracey, Shallipopi, Skepta and more

Lil Baby, Central Cee, Ice Spice, Dave and more. The biggest rap, drill and grime artists right now — handpicked and fully certified by 1Xtra.

1Xtra’s Rap List is your go-to for the biggest and boldest names in rap, drill, grime and hip-hop. No filler, just straight fire.

This week, the lineup is stacked with heavy hitters, rising stars and certified legends. Lil Baby and G Herbo come out swinging with raw US energy, while JID joins forces with Clipse and Pusha T for one of the coldest link-ups in the game. Over in the UK, Wretch 32 and Avelino prove once again why they’re elite on the mic, while PS Hitsquad, Skengdo and AM bring pure drill energy.

The UK scene is shining bright. Central Cee’s on smoke, Dave’s in his feelings and JayaHadADream continues to level up. Legends like Mobb Deep and Nas connect with Jorja Smith for that timeless East Coast-to-UK blend, and there’s heat from every angle with Ice Spice, Cardi B, Gunna, Drake, AJ Tracey, Shallipopi, Skepta, Clavish, Headie One and more all delivering.

Every artist on this list has been handpicked by the 1Xtra team because they’re making serious waves. From viral new names to culture-defining icons, this is where the best of rap, drill and hip-hop lives.

Don’t get caught behind. Lock in, turn it up and stay ahead with the Rap List. Fully certified by BBC Radio 1Xtra.

Produced by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 1Xtra.

23 days left to listen

2 hours

On radio

Fri 6 Feb 202601:00
BBC Radio 1Xtra

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Rap essentials: tracks from Lancey Foux, Drake, Ice Spice, Wretch 32 and Avelino

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The 2025 essentials: ft. Dave, Doechii, Central Cee, Skepta, Sexyy Red and more

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Music Played

  • Lil Baby & G Herbo

    All On Me

    • Quality Control Music.

  • JID, Clipse, Pusha T & MALICE

    Community

    • God Does Like Ugly (Preluxe Edition).
    • Dreamville/Interscope Records.

  • Offset

    Different Species (feat. Gunna)

    • Motown Records.

  • Sarz

    Getting Paid (feat. Wizkid, Asake & Skillibeng)

    • 1789.

  • Blxst

    Aye Girl

    • Blxst LLC / Empire.

  • 21Savage

    DOG (feat. GloRilla)

    • WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STREETS?.
    • Slaughter Gang, LLC/Epic Records.

  • Mobb Deep

    Down For You (feat. Jorja Smith & Nas)

    • Infinite.
    • Mass Appeal.
    • 6.

  • Knucks

    Cut Knuckles

    • Copyright Control.

  • Tyler, The Creator

    Mother

    • Columbia Records.

  • Lady Ice

    Brazy (Ya Na)

    • Lady Ice.

  • Cardi B

    Imaginary Playerz

    • Atlantic Records.

  • Lancey Foux

    Daytona

    • Human Re Sources.

  • Drake

    NOKIA

    • OVO Sound/Santa Anna Label Group/Republic Records/UMG Recordings.

  • Avelino

    Fire In The Booth

  • Wretch 32

    Fire In The Booth

  • Wretch 32 & Avelino

    More Fire More Flamez

    • Wretch 32 Limited.

  • Pozer & Kasst 8

    What's Good

    • Pozer.

  • Skepta

    Sirens (From Ireland) (feat. Finessekid)

    • Epic Records UK.

  • JayaHadADream

    The Bank

    • JayaHadADream.

  • Fred again.., Skepta & PlaqueBoyMax

    Victory Lap

    • Atlantic.

  • Tsb, DC & Cristale

    Paper Planes

  • Mimi Mxnroe, Toddla T & Steeze Factory

    Parking Sensors

  • Ice Spice

    Baddie Baddie

    • 10K Projects/Capitol Records.

  • Headie One

    Bellingham

    • Bellingham.
    • One Records.

  • Clavish & Chy Cartier

    CC Walk

    • Yesterday Was Once Tomorrow.
    • Clavish.

  • Griminal & Alesha Dixon

    THE BADDEST

    • Dynasty Worldwide.

  • Wale

    City On Fire (feat. Odeal)

  • JT

    Girls Gone Wild

    • Copyright Control.

  • PS Hitsquad, Skengdo & AM

    123

    • House Anxiety.

  • Cardi B

    Safe (feat. Kehlani)

    • AM I THE DRAMA?.
    • Atlantic.
    • 8.

  • Pozzy

    Gotta Go

    • It's all up in the air.
    • Pozzy.

  • Dave

    Raindance (feat. Tems)

    • Neighbourhood Recordings.

  • Ty Dolla $ign, Young Thug & Lil Baby

    TYCOON$

    • TYCOON.
    • Atlantic.
    • 6.

  • D‐Block Europe

    PRIVATE FLIGHTS (feat. Nemzzz)

  • JayaHadADream

    Hideout (feat. Frisco)

  • Latto

    Gyatt (feat. Ice Spice)

    • StrameCut / RCA.

  • Shenseea

    Boss Up

  • Central Cee

    Booga

    • Columbia.

  • Ms Banks

    4C

  • Scorcher

    No More Parties (feat. Jme)

    • Lizzy Records.

Broadcasts

  • Mon 22 Dec 202501:00
    BBC Radio 1Xtra
  • Last Monday01:00
    BBC Radio 1Xtra
  • Fri 6 Feb 202601:00
    BBC Radio 1Xtra