{ YOU NEED TO KNOW ARTIST } @queennaija_

Let me start off by saying HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!! I hope you all had a great eve & enjoyed your holiday breaks.

Okay, I'm just going to jump right into this post with the first YOU NEED TO KNOW ARTIST of 2018: the Michigan native, Queen Naija.

Appearing on the eighth season of American Idol, she made it to the Hollywood round but did not make the cut. Nonetheless, she used that platform to catapult her success on social media and now has over a million followers on Instagram, over 930k on YouTube, 8k on Twitter, and 5k likes and 6k followers on Facebook. I have to say she's definitely on the way to making herself a household name and fan favorite. {click the links herein to follow her platforms}

She just dropped her latest single, "Medicine", on YouTube on New Year's Eve & it is definitely one to relate to if you've ever been the one being taken for a fool in a relationship, been cheated on, etc. This is one of those songs.

A lot of her followers know her from her channel with her significant other, Chris Sails, whom she has a son with. Conveniently titled "Chris & Queen", this song was quickly linked to his infidelities, but I will not be speaking on this song in reference to that topic, because in all honesty I don't know. I just know that I like her new track and I wanted to share it with each of YOU!

She also has covers of numerous songs on her YouTube channel where she showcases her love and talent of singing. Songs such as "Selfish" by PnB Rock {video below}, "Rise Up" by Andra Day and more.

She also has videos where she is featured on other YouTuber's covers of songs, such as the Ar'mon & Trey's mashup of some of the hottest R&B songs {video below}. Awesome singers on their own & rising stars in their own right, but she made this mashup better than if she wouldn't have been featured on it; that's just my opinion, however.

In conclusion, Queen Naija is definitely an artist to watch. I cannot wait to see the day when she gets the acknowledgement she deserves. Her voice is so amazing. I can listen to her sing all day.

Unfortunately, her song, "Medicine" is not available for purchase just yet but I will update this post as soon as it is & you can pick it up.

As always, I hope you enjoyed this post. You can follow her channels by clicking on their respective links listed throughout this post. What do you think about her new song? Leave a comment below to let me know what you think & if you agree/disagree/like/don't like/etc...be sure to #Share #Subscribe #Follow #plus1 #PinIt #TweetIt #FacebookIt

Make sure you check out & like & follow #TheUndergroundArtistry on Facebook and #RachelMarieTheWriter on Facebook. Stay tuned to a new You Need To Know Artist by the end of the week and if you have any suggestions, ↓↓↓ drop your comments below!

"Poetically crafted PR + the underground's hottest artists = a blog worth reading" 

Let's converse.

xoxo,
Rachel Marie
The Underground Artistry


*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*

TOP 50 UNDERGROUND ARTISTS & PRODUCERS OF 2017

Out with the old...{still listening to them though!!}...in with the new!!

Before I get into the TOP 50 Underground --and highly underrated-- Artists of 2017...HAPPY NEW YEAR....

I hope all of you had an awesome holiday & your new year is beyond amazing. I hope all your goals are accomplished and your resolutions are achieved. I hope each of you continue to be great throughout all of 2018! Tell me what some of your goals for the new year are in the comments. What resolutions are you setting and hoping to achieve this year? Let me know below.

Alright, let's kick this off!

These are some of the hottest artists that I've come across in 2017. Some you may know, some you may not. This Top 50 is full of exemplary artists that have made their way onto several of my mixes and some have become playlist permanents: those songs that go on EVERY playlist...different genres & different styles, this list should keep you busy for a while.

The first TOP 40 are actual artists...the last 10 are producers...the magicians behind the music...I wanted to give credit where credit is due & producers are artists too! Click their names to be directed to their #Twitter, #YouTube or #SoundCloud accounts so you can follow & listen to more of these awesome artists & producers.

#ThankMeLater

Artists

1. NF
2. Cyhi the Prynce
3. Big Krit
4. Sarai Juelz
5. Burga
6. Christina Grimmie
7. Rhyon Brown
8. Haley Smalls
9. Joyner Lucas
10. 100 Proof
11. Good Girl
12. Attitude
13. Nikki Flores
14. Tori Kelly
15. Joey Bada$$
16. B.J. the Chicago Kid
17. Childish Gambino
18. Hopsin
19. Jasmine V.
20. NSYT
21. Macy Kate
22. Justine Skye
23. Phora
24. Zara Larsson
    
25. Ella Mai
26. H.E.R.
27. Devvon Terrell
28. Futuristic
29. Kiana Lede
30. Eppic
31. Anilyst
32. Ann Marie
33. Katelyn Tarver
34. Lecrae
35. Major
36. B. Cole
37. Vedo
38. William Singe
39. Sydney Renae
40. Bri Heart

Producers

1. Jervy Hou
2. Legion Beats
3. Paul Cabbin
4. The Orchestrators
5. NicG
6. Clark Make Hits
7. Stealth The Producer
8. Kurt Hugo Schneider
9. Ceasar Beats
10. In House Producers

This list is extensive, so I'm not posting videos for all these artists & producers. But here is one of my favorites of the TOP 10 Producers:

And though it is a hard ...VERY HARD... choice, here are 2 of my favorites chosen from the TOP 40 Artists:

These are NOT in any specific order & not all are pictured in the post. However, they are some of the illest and most underrated of the year. I've come across so many this list could easily be longer. However, to bring in the new year, here's the ones I've been rocking to almost all year long. Out with the old...in with the new. 

I'm looking forward to new artists, new interviews and some new doors being opened. What are you looking forward to in the new year? Drop your comments below to let me know. Let's converse. #TheUndergroundArtistry #NewYear #NewMusic #2017to2018 

In addition, I wanted to add...one of the artists I listed is no longer with us ...the lovely Christina Grimmie. A sad moment when she was shot at a benefit concert. I was a fan the day I listened to her cover of Titanium on YouTube. I added her to the list because she was such an amazing artist. And her memory is one to be remembered. #RIP #ChristinaGrimmie #GoneTooSoon

Well....

I hope each of you enjoyed your holidays and this end of 2017 post...and once again, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

xoxo,

Rachel Marie

The Underground Artistry

For more on the blogger, you can visit her Facebook or The Underground Artistry page on facebook. (just click the links herein)

*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*