Rap essentials: J. Cole, Baby Keem & Kendrick Lemar, Ms Banks, EsDeeKid, Lil Simz

Available for 45 days

This is 1Xtra’s Rap List, your essential guide to the week’s biggest rap, drill, grime and hip-hop records. If it’s in the culture, it’s on the list. Only the hottest, heaviest and most talked-about tracks make the cut. From bar-heavy bangers to viral heat, breakout names to legends still shelling it down, this is what’s moving the scene right now. This week’s line up arrives fully charged, showcasing the depth, creativity and raw power running through rap right now. J. Cole steps in with razor‑sharp cuts from his album that remind us why his storytelling sits in a league of its own. Headie One, Central Cee, Clavish, Blanco, Ms Banks, M Huncho, Little Simz, Kasst8, Pozer, EsDeeKid and AJ Tracey keep proving why the UK scene continues to set the global tempo. The range of styles on display is serious. Across the Atlantic Doechii and Don Toliver add everything from club‑ready drill flavours to soul‑tinted trap and modern US swagger. And just when the mix feels complete, Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar jump in with their unmistakable experimental chemistry, pushing boundaries the way only they can. Alt‑rap, grime, trap, conscious hip‑hop, melodic wave, arena‑ready anthems - this playlist moves through styles like it’s second nature, keeping the energy high and the versatility unmatched from start to finish. Handpicked by the team at BBC Radio 1Xtra, the Rap List is where you’ll find the records that matter. The ones your friends are posting, your timeline’s quoting, and your favourite artists are rating. Stay ahead of the game or catch up on what you missed. This is your no-filler, all-fire rundown of what’s making noise. Produced by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 1Xtra.