These Are the Best Hip-Hop Artists in Denver

Although Denver is not widely known as a hip-hop destination (yet), iconic artists from Missy Elliott to Tyler, the Creator to Wiz Khalifa stop by the city on tour, and there is always an audience ready to hear intricate rhymes and go hard for their favorite rapper.

There is no question that Denver is known as a home for adrenaline junkies of many forms, and the intensity behind hip-hop is not lost on these locals. Hip-hop is more than a musical genre — it is a culture itself. And in the Mile High City, the underground hip-hop scene has been growing since before the '90s.

Organized alphabetically, here are fifteen local artists that all hip-hop fans should keep an eye on in 2025:
Ason Yugen
Lyrical lovers of nostalgic boom bap likely know local rhyme master Ason Yugen (born Victor George). Skating over textural beats and finely chopped samples, Ason Yugen received a Best of Denver for best hip-hop album in 2024 for The Wolf & the Social Club. He provides an established and comfortable energy on each track and has begun to showcase his complex storytelling with visual components. One project to look forward to is a short-film adaptation of The Wolf & The Social Club, filmed in the vein of Afro-surrealism.
Binta Zang
Binta Zang is without a doubt an artist to watch. While she is still in the early stages of her career, Zang is undoubtedly making waves in the Denver underground. "In 2025, I’m excited to shift my focus back to my home base of Denver, Colorado. I’ll be collaborating with local artists, performing at community shows, and volunteering my time to mentor and inspire youth. I’m passionate about educating young people on the power of music and creativity as tools for building the life they envision," says Zang.

Zang's spoken-word flows recall such artists as Noname while cathartic and moshpit-worthy verses reflect the tense energy of Rico Nasty or Baby Keem. This impressive range and endless stream of bars make up two full albums to date, with 2023's Rockstar Princess as her most recent release. There is nothing quite like unabashed female rage, especially when it's layered over heavy trap. Stay on the lookout for Zang's third album in 2026.
Chris Cart3r
Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Chris Cart3r moved to Denver specifically to enter the up-and-coming hip-hop scene. Now after a few years of establishing himself, distinctly modern R&B melodies and frequent collaborations with other local artists have solidified Cart3r as a pillar in the hip-hop scene. Vocal flair and effects reminiscent of Travis Scott and intense lyrical topics make most of Cart3r's music a hefty, but always entertaining, listen. Detailed visuals and music videos are the cherry on top of Cart3r's unique aesthetic and multi-media persona. Honing his craft every year, Cart3r earned his spot on our list of Colorado rappers to watch in 2023 and has since released two EPs and two singles.
DNA Picasso
Deeply rooted in the local scene, DNA Picasso, or Devin Arnold, is a must-know name in hip-hop who brings intensity and truth to each track he embellishes. With city imagery incorporated into the cover art of many EPs and singles, Arnold's discography is made to put the Mile High City's scene on the map. He also created the nonprofit Colorado Music Industry Alliance last year to create a one-stop resource and networking outfit for local musicians, producers, bookers, agents and more.

His most recent album, the highly anticipated LAWLESS: A Love Story, dropped this past October. The R&B-inflected piece is a collaboration with his partner, the acclaimed poet Dominique Christina, and serves as a dive into the many layers of Arnold's love life mixed with Christina's alternate perspective. 
Lolita
Walking confidently on the line between hip-hop and pop, Lolita Castañeda shares her Mexican-American experiences and contagious energy through her music, mixing elements of reggaeton and trap music to make enticing rhythms under her hyper-feminine aesthetic. Recognized by NPR's Alt-Latino playlist, Castañeda's sound is both ear-catching and empowering. With genre-shifting abilities and a distinct voice, this Denver diva is telling the stories of her community one single at a time.
Malcolm Whyz3
With bars about the Broncos and recent features on DNA Picasso tracks, Malcom Whyz3 (born Malcolm Whye) is making an impact and spreading his hip-hop sound across the country on tour. Whye uses rap to express the many different layers of his life, from his unapologetic single "APPLE DISS TRACK" to his 2021 album, BEFORE THE STREETLIGHTS COME ON. Reminiscent of J. Cole, with soft instrumentals layered into beats, Whye is a prominent storyteller who keeps all his fellow Denver artists by his side.
Monica The Great
Monica the Great shines in the sea of contemporary hip-hop and pop artists with glamorous energy akin to Ariana Grande. The artist showcases her Mexican heritage and experiences through reggaeton beats and heated verses, particularly on singles such as "Mala Vida" and "Champagne." After a rollercoaster year in 2024, the future is looking bright for this Denver musician. "This is going to be so much fun! I’m speaking life unto myself and everyone I encounter," she says. "Mental UP, spiritual UP, health UP, wealth UP, love UP! BLESSINGS UP! EVERYTHING UP ALL 2025!"
Nelo
A jack of all trades with a passion for singing, rapping and songwriting, Nelo, or Chinelo Cary Tyler, is an artist who highlights his Denver experience through art. Taking home a 2023 Best of Denver for best hip-hop artist, Nelo may drop familiar names and places such as Colfax or illustrate serious issues that plague the city in dense lyrics over soulful or jazzy instrumentals. In October 2024, Nelo dropped his third album, Born Yesterday, which includes themes on mental health, international issues and features from other talented local acts such as Rebecca Hart. Co-released with local producer and rapper Saih Rain'n, this project compiles many important voices of Denver with unique soundscapes.
Nipplife
Known as Colorado's hip-hop historian, Nipplife, or Joe Nipper, saw the rise of hip-hop while growing up in New York in the '70s and '80s. By age thirteen, he was an MC, and at fifteen he was freestyling for Kool Herc. By the late '80s, he moved to Colorado, where he's made a home for himself in Aurora and beyond while watching the hip-hop scene develop. He's still releasing music, including two albums last year: Music Inspired from the They Call Me Lou Documentary and Splendid Life of Words. Catch him freestyling at Beats Bodega or other open mics around the city.
ReSrface
ReSrface, or Jesse Santana, is a Denver rapper who has battled leukemia, which has influenced his music and storytelling as much as his love of Tupac, J.Cole and Logic. He's collaborated with rappers across the city, showcasing his malleable and poetic flows and impressive tone shifts. With a clear love for spoken word and impressive freestyle abilities, Santana has continued to make a name for himself since 2018, and a deep dive into his discography will reveal an impressive evolution of sound and voice.
RO$$A¥
RO$$A¥ (born Josh Ross) is a self-described "conscious hip-hop" artist who found his musical calling at a young age and polished his natural talent at poetry slams or pageants while still in school. Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, Ross made his way to Denver in 2021 and immersed himself in the local scene that he is now essential to.

"For 2025, I’ve made a pledge to release new music every single month this year. This will come in the form of singles, collaborations and self-released EPs throughout the year. This campaign is a personal goal of mine and I can’t wait to share this journey with all of my supporters," he says. In addition to this monthly agenda, Ross is putting more energy into working with his live band and preparing a Tiny Desk audition tape.cNow with six albums and many singles released for streaming, Ross's recognizable sound combines the warmth of his optimistic soul ties, instrumentals and sharp lyrical journeys.
She Who Won't Be Named
Named a person to watch in the Denver music scene this year, She Who Won't Be Named (born Imani Allen) is the MC of the hip-hop showcases Beats Bodega and Inner Circle at River Bar. Allen raps with a personal flair and intense rhythm that pulls any listener into her complex lyrics. "I’ve been working on my weekly event Inner Circle With DJ NY and collaborating around the city, trying to help bring more unity within the Denver Music Community. I’m excited about everything coming musically and my goal is to continue creating safe and inclusive events for not only artists but music lovers all around Colorado," says Allen.

Filled with intensity and attitude, there is no mistaking Allen's sound. Hopping between sweet shoutouts to her family and friends to the harsh realities of life in this country, all topics are under her jurisdiction.
Telly
Showcasing her passion for Latin music and the LGBT+ community, Telly is a unique and colorful presence in the Denver scene. Taking pieces of reggaeton, modern trap and her own pop flair, Telly moves quickly through each narrative with effortless switches between English and Spanish. This bilingual artistic expression highlights a large community in this country that uses both languages in daily life. High-energy performances and a tight fan base keep Telly's sound alive and well here in the Mile High City.
Wes B
With a rhythm that you can't help but tap along to, Wes B brings it all to the table, from Afro beats and catchy hip-hop to R&B vocals and trap music. Taking any opportunity to show off his dance moves, each Wes B tune is an invitation to get up and dance. With an impressive backlog of music videos available on YouTube, the Wes B experience is a step into contemporary club culture with hip-hop and Latin elements that take each track to the next level.

Is there another artist you think deserves to make this Westword list? Email us to get them on our radar.