I think we can all agree that 2017 was a stellar year for music championed by this forum! Many of the years big hits, both culturally and commercially, were urban and artists such as Cardi B, J Hus, Post Malone and Stormzy became household names. There's every indication that urban music can continue to be a dominant presence on Spotify and in the charts.

 

The question is, what are your predictions for 2018? Which artists will break through? Which songs already premiered will blow up? Any dominant urban genres that will see the most success or any artist's return that people are looking forward to? Mine are:

• 'Barking' will be a top 5 chart hit.
• The afro-influenced UK Rap sound will become oversaturated by mid-Summer and songs will start to underperform.
• Yxng Bane will have a big chart hit in the Spring.
• Chance The Rapper will return and have his most successful era yet.
• Swae Lee's solo material will be more succesful than Quavo.
• One hyped urban female (Cardi B, Mabel, Stefflon Don) will become known as a one hit wonder.
• Jorja Smith won't have a chart hit, but a critically acclaimed album.

Chance The Rapper is a good shout, I could see him doing a Drake/Post Malone easily.

 

I hope production gets more interesting and less minimal in 2018 in urban.

I think Cardi B will be a big name this year, maybe on a similar scale to how Nicki was with her first era.

 

Stefflon I predict will be the one hit wonder, and Mabel could do okay, I'm not too sure with her though.

I think Cardi B will be a big name this year, maybe on a similar scale to how Nicki was with her first era.

 

Stefflon I predict will be the one hit wonder, and Mabel could do okay, I'm not too sure with her though.

 

Cardi B seems to be popping up on every other song at the moment, I think she has momentum. Just needs that second hit to cement herself, or to show some diversity in her music. Stefflon Don has the million pound record deal, so I expect she'll get the biggest push. Needs to recover from 'Ding-A-Ling' though, that was a huge mis-step commercially.

 

Mabel has just been placed on the R1 'Brit List' which guarentees three straight playlist places and one record guaranteed R1 A-List. She's got a good niche with mainstream British R&B, so I'm expecting big things from her.

Cardi B will be the biggest.

 

Mabel and Stefflon Don will be big.

Anyone else seeing “No Limit” smashing in the next month or so?

Tinashe will release her new single which will underperform and then she will finally put out Joyride and leave her label becoming independent again.

Tinashe will release her new single which will underperform and then she will finally put out Joyride and leave her label becoming independent again.

 

I'd almost forgotten about Tinashe tbh.

 

Anyone else seeing “No Limit” smashing in the next month or so?

 

I've heard the remix a lot recently so I think it could certainly have a second wind! That or 'Plain Jane' by ASAP Ferg/Nicki Minaj - both equally catchy.

I think Him & I is more likely to be a hit in the UK in the new year tbh.

I think Him & I is more likely to be a hit in the UK in the new year tbh.

 

I can see it becoming a Me, Myself & I sized hit, peaking around #13 or maybe higher due to ACR. Halsey needs a hit :wub:

 

I think Khalid will easily get a Top 5 hit later on in the year. He's built up a huge fanbase over the course of 2017 and between Young, Dumb, & Broke / Silence / 1-800-273-8255 his name is only getting bigger.

 

Stefflon Don will probably be a one-hit wonder, counting Hurtin' Me as her one hit. She's featured on Instruction which did well, but no one really acknowledges her input there. I reckon Sean Paul will have her on his album, maybe as a single later in the year which will peak at #39 or something and be her biggest hit of 2018.

 

Mabel will become one of those artists who gets tonnes & tonnes of BBC support yet fails to do barely anything in the chart. Much like how Blossoms were repeatedly A-listed yet their highest charting single was Charlemagne at #98. Top 5, possibly Top 3 album depending on who else is releasing at the time later on in the year

 

Post Malone will release his album and will have 3 singles in the Top 10.

 

NF will become a definitive 2018 one-hit wonder as Let You Down goes Top 5 then he disappears from the chart forever.

 

 

Oh yeah Khalid will be huge. Even 'Location' is quite well-known considering it did nothing in the UK. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a #1 hit actually.

 

 

Oh yeah Khalid will be huge. Even 'Location' is quite well-known considering it did nothing in the UK. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a #1 hit actually.

Not yet but “Silence” was the closest, peaking at #3 or so (?)

 

“Him & I” is also a nice shout for the next couple months. I think I’d also throw in Machine Gun Kelly’s “Home” for a possible minor hit.

Jorja Smith won't have a chart hit, but a critically acclaimed album

 

Jorja Smith still could have a hit single I think, considering her jazzy style I think would appeal both to the Radio 1 and Radio 2 listeners.

I wish this would blow up in early 2018...

 

A studio album from Kojey Radical.

 

I can see Jorja doing better on albums than singles. On My Mind really should've been a hit as it was her most commercial sounding yet but sadly never went top 40. I think mlhammer is probably right that she will have a critically acclaimed album but struggle to get a chart hit.

 

Khalid will probably become huge as will Cardi. I can see RAYE finally taking off but not in a huge way. Just middling hits.

I would be happy for RAYE to have more hits and keep bringing back the lively early 00s R&B style sound to the charts.

Edited January 2, 20187 yr by The Diplomat