Vevo has officially rolled out its latest round of live performances for the long running DSCVR Artists to Watch series, and one of the clear standout selections for the 2026 class is Queens rapper Bay Swag. The New York talent stopped by Vevo to record original live sessions for his tracks Matte Black and Skirt, giving fans a polished look at his sound, presence, confidence, and momentum as he continues a major breakout stretch in his career.

The DSCVR Artists to Watch platform is one of the most respected programs for rising musicians across the globe. Vevo only spotlights a small group of artists each year, naming them as the ones who have the best chance to cross into the mainstream and build long lasting careers.

With Bay Swag, earning that placement represents a major moment of validation for everything he has built from the ground up.

Bay Swag spoke about the honor in a way that reflects both pride and hunger. He explained that being named one of Vevo’s Artists to Watch means everything to him because it shows that the long nights, the sacrifices, the late studio sessions, the personal setbacks, and the years of refining his craft are paying off.

For him, the recognition is not only a reward but also a reason to push harder. His message was simple and direct. He refuses to take this moment for granted, and it only motivates him to keep proving why he deserves the spotlight.

Vevo Expands Its Influential DSCVR Program Into Another Year of Global Discovery

The 2026 class arrives during the twelfth year of the DSCVR Artists to Watch initiative. Since its inception, the program has evolved into an international tastemaking platform built around identifying the next wave of artists before they break into mainstream visibility. Every year, Vevo releases an entirely new class of performers, each with two exclusive live session recordings created specifically for the campaign.

This year, Boost Mobile signed on as a sponsor as part of a larger partnership with Vevo. Select performances include integrated Boost Mobile branding, creating a cohesive visual identity that connects the live videos with Vevo’s broader promotional network.

Beginning Wednesday, November twelfth, Vevo is rolling out new performances from each artist in the 2026 lineup, giving every member of the class the chance to present their voice, style, and presence on a global platform.

Mika Sunga, Director of Programming at Vevo, shared high praise for Bay Swag while announcing his involvement in the series. Sunga pointed out that Bay Swag represents an important part of the current New York landscape, specifically within the evolving space of Sexy Drill.

The sound merges the sharp edges and high energy of drill production with the melodic and soulful textures of R and B. In Sunga’s view, Bay Swag’s debut album stands out because of its honesty, vulnerability, and raw quality. It offers a real window into his world and solidifies him as an artist with both star power and ambition.

DSCVR Artists to Watch Remains One of the Industry’s Most Competitive Launchpads

The DSCVR Artists to Watch list has become one of the most anticipated announcements in the emerging artist space. The program grew out of Vevo’s original DSCVR series, which focused heavily on early career artists who showed signs of reaching new heights. Over the years, the Artists to Watch list transformed into a curated lineup backed by Vevo’s editorial team, programming experts, global data, and carefully selected partnerships.

Artists who make the list receive major support through Vevo’s international network of content partners. They also gain placement in playlists, promotional features, and exclusive live sessions that reach millions of viewers. For many of the alumni, the added exposure became a key step in accelerating their rise.

JP Evangelista, Vevo’s Senior Vice President of Content, Programming, and Marketing, emphasized the significance of the program for both the company and the artists involved. Evangelista described the DSCVR initiative as a critical part of Vevo’s long term commitment to supporting future icons across genres. He explained that the platform gives emerging artists the ability to build, promote, and monetize their visual catalog at the earliest stage possible. He also highlighted the diversity of the 2026 class, noting that the artists represent a wide range of cultures, regions, and creative backgrounds.

Evangelista credited a blend of intuition, data, and industry experience for helping Vevo identify artists with genuine breakout potential. His message was clear. The company stands behind the 2026 class with confidence and enthusiasm.

A Look at Vevo’s 2026 DSCVR Artists to Watch

The new class includes artists from across the United States, Europe, Latin America, and beyond. The final list represents a range of genres, scenes, and inspirations:

Aaron Rowe
aron
Alessi Rose
Audrey Hobert
Bay Swag
kwn
LaBlackie
LeoStayTrill
Luz Gaggi
RnBoi
ROA
Royel Otis
SAILORR
Sayf
Sekou
Sienna Spiro
Ty Myers
Waylon Wyatt
Zeddy Will

Each artist recorded two live performances to showcase their direction, sound, and potential. These videos are produced with the same level of detail and attention that Vevo applies to its premium content. For an emerging artist, inclusion in the program often becomes one of their first high quality live video moments that can be shared with new listeners across the world.

Vevo’s Reputation for Elevating Rising Artists

The history of Vevo’s Artists to Watch program speaks for itself. Many of the musicians who appeared on early lists went on to become influential names in global pop, rap, R and B, and alternative music. Alumni include Sam Smith, James Bay, Billie Eilish, Lewis Capaldi, Remi Wolf, Ice Spice, and Chappell Roan, among others. For many of them, DSCVR content served as one of their earliest major visual platforms.

This track record is one of the reasons the program carries such weight. When Vevo highlights an artist, it signals to the industry and to audiences that the artist has the potential to break through. Bay Swag joins a long lineage of artists who received major exposure early in their careers and later grew into fully established global acts.

Bay Swag: A Closer Look at His Rise and Influence

Bay Swag represents the energy, determination, and evolving sound of modern New York rap. Raised in Queens, he grew up surrounded by a culture known for resilience, ambition, and creativity. His music reflects the tension between struggle and success, blending sharp edged delivery with melodic undertones that illustrate his range as a songwriter.

Bay Swag built a strong early catalog, powered by tracks that revealed both hunger and vulnerability. His early songs Rumors and Saucin carried emotional weight and introduced listeners to the pain and pressure he experienced growing up without the guidance of his father. Instead of letting those circumstances consume him, he turned the emotion into a source of momentum.

His breakthrough moment arrived with Fisherrr, a gold certified single that captured massive attention. The song began as a party record with fellow New York figure Cash Cobain, whose production and artistic presence helped shape the foundation of Sexy Drill. Fisherrr soon became a viral hit, dominating social media feeds and building heavy traction through TikTok. The record reached even greater heights when Ice Spice joined the official remix, pushing the track into national conversation and giving Bay Swag new exposure across the Billboard charts.

From there, Bay Swag continued expanding his reach. He earned co signs from major artists, including Justin Bieber, Young Thug, Lil Baby, Meek Mill, and others. These endorsements came naturally, driven by the authenticity in his music and his willingness to improve with every release.

Bay Swag’s momentum led him to major stages. He performed at Hot 97 Summer Jam and appeared inside legendary venues like Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center. He also opened for A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie during select dates on the Better Off Alone tour alongside NLE Choppa, Luh Tyler, and Byron Messia. His catalog continued growing through collaborations with Lil Durk, Rob49, NTG, and 42 Dugg. His latest album Swiggity arrives during the strongest phase of his rise so far.

The performances for Matte Black and Skirt arrive at the perfect moment in Bay Swag’s career. His sound is evolving. His vision is sharpening. His performances are gaining precision. A Vevo live session allows him to deliver his music on a clean, elevated stage where production quality enhances the performance rather than overshadowing it.

DSCVR live sessions are filmed with attention to color, lighting, atmosphere, and vocal clarity. They capture artists in a way that highlights their personality while preserving the energy of their original sound. For Bay Swag, this is an opportunity to solidify his place in a broader global market. It is also a chance for new listeners to discover him through Vevo’s wide distribution ecosystem.

Performances like these become long term assets. They remain live online, circulate through Vevo playlists, and continue attracting new audiences over time.

The 2026 class stands as one of the most varied and globally distributed groups Vevo has assembled. It includes drill artists, pop vocalists, genre blending songwriters, cultural innovators, and experimental voices.

Bay Swag’s presence inside this list speaks to the versatility and reach of modern New York scenes and showcases how drill continues to evolve through new substyles, including the Sexy Drill wave.

Vevo’s selection process combines analytics, editorial instincts, worldwide viewership data, and industry expertise. When artists reach this stage, it signals that their work already resonates and that their future opportunities are expanding.