Across the most celebrated categories at the 2025 edition of the Grammy Awards — Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist — breakthrough artists are handsomely represented. Women are leading the charge, as dance provocateur Charli XCX, pop princess Sabrina Carpenter and free spirit Chappell Roan dominate across “The Big Four.” Their respective hits (“360,” “Espresso,” “Good Luck, Babe!”) and albums (‘BRAT,’ ‘Short n’ Sweet,’ ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess’) are all nominated.
In the Best New Artist category, a broad spectrum of genres are being celebrated, too. Florida rapper Doechii, British vocalist RAYE, SoundCloud Ascending alumni Shaboozey, soul crooner Teddy Swims, pop-rocker Benson Boone and funk fusion trio Khruangbin are nominated, among others. Shaboozey in particular has had a standout year, with his smash hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” becoming a new American anthem for the growing audience of country, pop and rap crossover styles. He’s up for five Grammys, including the coveted Song of the Year.
When it comes to rap and R&B, there’s plenty of up-and-coming talent to get into. Stateside, Doechii is hitting all the right notes (and bars), nominated for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Album. Across the pond, Northern Ireland’s Jordan Adetunji thrust onto the scene with “KEHLANI” which went from a SoundCloud favorite to a global hit, leading him to be featured in 2024’s SoundCloud Ascending series and garner a nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance. Additionally, in R&B, Jhené Aiko and Muni Long are nominated for their soulful work, with Aiko’s track “guidance” and Muni Long’s “Make Me Forget” are both up for awards in their genre’s various Performance categories.
Moving into the Latin market, the biggest breakthroughs have been for Mexicana artist Carín León and Colombia’s own Feid, both of whom have been nominated for their respective albums, ‘Colmillo de Leche’ and ‘FERXXOCALIPSIS.’ On the edgier side of things, British punks IDLES and Irish renegades Fontaines D.C. go head-to-head in the Best Alternative Music Performance and Best Rock Album categories, and Sierra Ferrell and Waxahatchee compete for Best American Album. A final one to watch will be Clairo, whose 2024 album ‘Charm’ is nominated for Best Alternative Music Album
Take a step back and it’s clear to see: the contemporary popular music scene, across genres, is looking excitingly diverse and experimental, and that’s a great sign for the future of music. So ahead of music’s biggest night, listen to some of the best breakthrough hits of the last year, right here on SoundCloud.
LISTEN TO THE AWARDS SEASON BREAKOUTS PLAYLIST ON SOUNDCLOUD NOW
Jordan Adetunji, “Kehlani”
“Everything is timing” for the Northern Irish singer and rapper, whose melodic ode to R&B vocalist Kehlani saw his SoundCloud following explode the track globally. The impact was immediate: Kehlani herself jumped on the official remix a few months later, and the original is in the potential winners circle in 2025.
Doechii, “NISSAN ALTIMA”
The “Swamp Princess” from Florida, vocalist and songwriter Doechii is charming the rap world with her supersonic bars and playful aesthetic. Her cocky breakout track, “NISSAN ALTIMA,” led up to her 2024 debut album, ‘Alligator Bites Never Heal.’
RAYE, “Oscar Winning Tears”
After years in record label purgatory while writing hits for artists like Beyoncé and Charli XCX, RAYE truly arrived as a solo artist with her debut album, ‘My 21st Century Blues,’ a searing collection of R&B and jazz that showcases her seasoned vocal range. On “Oscar Winning Tears,” she rolls her eyes at yet another no-good guy, and with a powerful orchestral arrangement.
Charli XCX, “360”
The summer of 2024 was neon green thanks to Charli XCX. The British singer and songwriter burst out of clubland with her sixth studio album, ‘BRAT,’ led by the cheeky earworm “360,” proving that overnight success is built brick by brick. Up for music’s highest honor in 2025, this dance-pop it-girl might need to clear some space on her shelves.
Chappell Roan, “Good Luck, Babe!”
There was only one artist walking the red carpet last year dressed head-to-toe as a knight, with chainmail and sword. The twisted joy of Chappell Roan and her 2023 debut album, ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,’ have been a breath of fresh air for pop music, and her ’80s synth-tinged megahit “Good Luck, Babe!” proves it.
Clairo, “Juna”
Her music registers barely above a whisper in volume, but Clairo’s sound is having a powerful effect on her ever-growing audience. The lounge-pop vocalist and songwriter grew up on the internet, transforming her online persona into a fully fleshed out artistic vision; it all came together on her 2024 album, ‘Charm,’ which features the sparkling, ’70s-indebted “Juna.”
Carín León, “Despídase bien”
The Mexican singer-songwriter and guitarist is one of many Spanish-language artists who have broken through in recent years. Collaboration with country, reggaeton and pop artists has amplified León’s sound, most recently on his 2023 album ‘Colmillo de Leche.’ With “Despídase bien,” León folds R&B into his yearning rock balladry.
Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Dive bars and sports arenas alike have Shaboozey’s crossover hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” on rotation. Tapping into 2000s party rap through his crooning country style, the Nigerian-American became a breakout artist with the karaoke-ready track and gained the ultimate stamp of approval: working with Beyoncé, on her 2024 album ‘Cowboy Carter.’
Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso”
With her coy lyrics, cotton candy sweetness and girls-girl persona, Sabrina Carpenter is being dubbed pop’s new princess. There was no denying the power of “Espresso,” her breakout global hit; a witty take on disco that took her to the top of the charts — and close to the winner’s spot on music’s biggest night.
Teddy Swims, “Bad Dreams”
After starting out posting cover songs on SoundCloud — working his magic on hits by Frank Ocean, Chris Stapleton and others — Teddy Swims grew into writing his own material. On the 2024 single “Bad Dreams,” his Southern drawl and blend of country, pop, R&B and gospel soar.
Jhené Aiko, “guidance”
An old soul, Jhené Aiko has been working hard in the R&B scene for years, and the 2024 single “guidance” captures her well-honed sound. Piano keys riff gently behind her lilting harmonies, which tell tales of heartache, longing and self discovery.
Khruangbin, “May Ninth”
This three-piece crafts their mellow, psychedelic sound in a rural Texas barn, and it shows: the rock-funk fusion, inspired by their Thai heritage, has ample space to stretch out. On their 2024 album ‘A LA SALA,’ which features “May Ninth,” they’re oh-so-gently in sync.
Fontaines D.C., “Starburster”
“Starburster,” from Irish band Fontaines D.C.’s fourth studio album ‘Romance,’ showcases their swaggering grooves. The five-piece feel at home with XL Recordings, whose punk-ish rave roots come through in the band’s raucous sound.
IDLES, “Gift Horse”
These punks know how to turn heads. During their performance at Glastonbury Festival 2024, British street artist Banksy let an inflatable, life-sized model of an occupied boat loose above the crowd to highlight the global refugee crisis. It tapped into the Bristol band’s politically charged music. On the galloping “Gift Horse,” from their 2024 album ‘Tangk,’ frontman Joe Talbot spits with venom.
Muni Long, “Make Me Forget”
Putting a new spin on classic R&B, the American vocalist went from posting her demos online to writing for global talent — Rihanna, Ariana Grande, Mariah Carey — and has evolved into a bonafide solo artist. On “Make Me Forget,” from her 2024 album ‘Revenge’, she longs for a sweet release.
Benson Boone, “Beautiful Things”
American singer-songwriter Benson Boone got the seal of approval from none other than Taylor Swift, and it’s deserved: crooning with a soulfulness that belies his young age, his knack for soaring harmonies mark him out as one to watch in 2025.
Sierra Ferrell, “Dollar Bill Bar”
Sprinkling some fairy magic and pop sensibilities into her folksy roots sound, the West Virginian singer-songwriter released her fourth album, ‘Trail Of Flowers,’ in 2024.
Feid, ATL Jacob, “LUNA”
This killer link up between Feid, a Colombian singer and rapper, and ATL Jacob, a rap producer known for his work with Future, shows how smoothly the Southern US and Latin America can sound together.
Waxahatchee, MJ Lenderman, “Right Back To It”
Country-infused alternative rock has blossomed this past year, and this yearning collaborative track between Alabama’s Waxahatchee and North Carolina’s MJ Lenderman, featured on the latter’s 2024 album ‘Tiger’s Blood,’ is standing out as one of the crossover style’s recent best.
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