Music

The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked 

Coley Reed
Updated June 28, 2020 11.3k votes 1.9k voters 21.9k views 67 items

List Rules Vote up the artists you think deserved more recognition in 2019.

While some artists quickly shoot to the top of the charts after one release, others remain under the radar for far too long. The top underrated artists today include charismatic rappers, soulful songwriters, and everyone in between. Some of the most underrated musical artists of 2019 are poised for a break-out year by heading out on buzz-worthy tours and releasing new albums.

Some of the 2019 underrated artists who've had a big year include Lizzo, Tierra Whack, and Betty Who. On the heels of a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, Jorja Smith has the momentum to go from underrated to superstar.

Chicago is brimming with a variety of good underrated artists, such as Saba and CupcakKe.

Which underrated acts do you think deserve more attention? Vote for the hottest underrated artists right now and please add any underrated gems we may have missed.

list ordered by
1
Alec Benjamin is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
Alec Benjamin (born May 28, 1994) is an American singer-songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona. He is known for his songs "Paper Crown", "I Built A Friend", "End of the ...more
2
Ruel is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
Genre: R&B, pop & soul; Nationality: English
Ruel van Dijk (born October 29, 2002), known professionally as Ruel, is an Australian singer from Sydney and born in London, best known for his singles "Don't Tell Me" and ...more
3
Troye Sivan is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
MIKEBTM added Genre: Dream pop and Electropop; Nationality: Australia

Albums: We're My Otp, The Fault in Our Stars, Dare to Dream, Happy Little Pill, TRXYE

Troye Sivan Mellet (born 5 June 1995) is a South African-born Australian singer, songwriter, actor, and YouTuber. After gaining popularity as a singer on YouTube and in Australian talent ...more
4
Alessia Cara is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
Mohamed Farid added Alessia Cara
Alessia Caracciolo (born July 11, 1996), known professionally as Alessia Cara, is a Canadian singer and songwriter. After producing acoustic covers she signed with Def Jam Recordings and ...more
5
Feloni is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
DGoldsteinShine added Genre: Hip hop music, Rap music & Alternative rock; Nationality: United States of America

Albums: A Woman's Revenge

Trish Best, known by her stage name Feloni, is an African-American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. Her coming out as lesbian was featured on MTV's LOGO documentary show Coming Out Stories.
6
Kehlani is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
Kehlani Ashley Parrish (born April 24, 1995) is an American singer, songwriter and dancer, signed to Atlantic Records. Kehlani is originally from Oakland, California, where she achieved initial ...more
7
King Princess is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
Genre: Pop; Nationality: American
Mikaela Straus (born December 19, 1998), known by her stage name King Princess, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer from Brooklyn, New York. She is signed to ...more
8
Normani is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
Genre: R&B and Pop; Nationality: United States of America
Normani Kordei Hamilton (born May 31, 1996), recording mononymously as Normani, is an American singer, songwriter and dancer. She is a former member of the girl group Fifth Harmony. In 2017, she ...more
9
Brockhampton is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
Brockhampton is a California-based American hip-hop collective, self-described as a "boy band", formed in San Marcos, Texas in 2015. Brockhampton was partially founded on Internet ...more
10
Jorja Smith is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
Jorja Smith (born June 11, 1997) is an English singer from Walsall, West Midlands. She has independently released numerous singles and one extended play, Project 11 (2016), and is known for her ...more
11
Rex Orange County is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
fennemaas added Genre: Indie pop, Jazz pop & Alternative hip hop; Nationality: UK
Alexander O'Connor, better known by his stage name Rex Orange County, is an English recording artist. He grew up in the village of Grayshott near Haslemere, Surrey. O'Connor has released three ...more
12
FINNEAS is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
Genre: Pop and Indie-pop; Nationality: USA
Finneas Baird O'Connell, also known as FINNEAS, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, musician, and actor. He has released several singles and has written music for other artists, ...more
13
Lizzo is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
Melissa Jefferson (born April 27, 1988), better known by her stage name Lizzo, is an American alternative hip hop artist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is a founding member of indie hip ...more
14
Saba is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
Tahj Malik Chandler (born July 17, 1994), better known by his stage name Saba (stylized as SABA), is an American rapper and record producer. He grew up in the Austin neighborhood of the West ...more
15
AURORA is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
stefanland11 added AURORA

Albums: All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend, Infections Of A Different Kind, A Different Type Of Human, Reverse 2019, Camou, + more
16
Dermot Kennedy is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
davidt21111 added
Dermot Joseph Kennedy (born 13 December 1991) is an Irish singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known for his 2019 single "Outnumbered". He is signed to Interscope Records, and ...more
17
YBN Cordae is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
Elijah Reed added
Cordae Amari Dunston (born August 26, 1997), known professionally as YBN Cordae, is an American rapper, singer raised in Suitland, Maryland, Dunston began rapping at a young age under the stage ...more
18
Summer Walker is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked

Albums: Last Day of Summer, CLEAR

Summer Walker (born April 11, 1996) is an American singer, songwriter from Atlanta, Georgia. She is signed to LoveRenaissance and Interscope Records. Her debut studio album Last Day of Summer ...more
19
Lauren Daigle is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
Lauren Ashley Daigle (born September 9, 1991) is an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter. After being signed to the label Centricity Music, she released her debut album, ...more
20
Maggie Rogers is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked

Albums: Heard It in a Past Life

Margaret Debay Rogers is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and producer from Easton, Maryland. She rose to fame after her song "Alaska" was played to Pharrell Williams during a ...more
21
Celeste is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
stefanland11 added Celeste

Albums: Compilation 1.1, Meringue, Both Sides of the Moon, Celeste
22
Melanie Martinez is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
candileahee added

Albums: Too Close (The Voice Performance), Seven Nation Army (The Voice Performance), Crazy

Melanie Adele Martinez (born April 28, 1995) is an American singer-songwriter, actress and director. Born in Astoria, Queens, and raised in Baldwin, New York, she subsequently rose to prominence ...more
23
Charlie Puth is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
Anish Chhetry added
Charles Otto Puth Jr. (born December 2, 1991) is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Puth's initial exposure came through the viral success of his song videos uploaded to ...more
24
Ruelle is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
geminitaurus added Ruelle
25
Grandson is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Most Underrated Artists Of 2019, Ranked
Jordan Edward Benjamin, known professionally as grandson, is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and musician currently signed to Fueled by Ramen. He released his major label debut EP, A ...more