The pedigree of music DNA in the Pacific Northwest is undeniable and its thanks to artists such a Sir Mix-a-Lot, Macklemore, Shabazz Palaces, Sol and so many other major artists. We’re talking about a region whose greatness propelled the genre of rock music for generations through the exemplary contributions of legends, such as Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain Pearl Jam, and the list goes on.
But the aforementioned list of artists of yesteryear are not the only calling cards defining the region’s excellence— and in fact it’s the new generation’s hit makers that are keeping the illustrious music tradition of the Pacific Northwest alive and well.
And so whether it be the Internet crooner-turned-major-label rising star Oranj Goodman, or scorching hot Oregon lyricist Wynne, we’ve attempted to reach to each corner of of the promised land to deliver a list of the next nine artists you need to know to be sure you can keep up with history rather than watching it pass you by.
The Pacific Northwest Has Incredible Artists in 2026
Oranj Goodman
It’s almost fab to think that just “$106” was enough to book Seattle native Oranj Goodman his ticket to California, where he not inked his deal with Atlantic Records, but also caught the eye of West Coast veteran Ty Dolla $ign— ultimately landing himself on stage at weekend one of Coachella 2026.
But it’s the truth, and actually makes perfect sense when considering the fact that one of his earliest music memories was playing the ukulele at the notorious Pike’s Place Market in the city he hails from with his uncle, where he earned his first $40 off of his craft at just the age of eight-years-old.
And while all ears are currently fixated on his 2025 major labeled debut project, entitled Medicine, Oranj Goodman’s discography is far more deeply entrenched in freethinking and fluid songwriting techniques that put him on a pedestal to be elevated to becoming one of the decades most decorated up-and-coming artists. Don’t believe me? Do you research and go listen in a project such as JUICE (Deluxe) or 13th & Paradise and thank RMR later!
Wynne
Oh Wynne, where do we begin? For most who likely stumbled upon the Portland MC in 2023, it would probably be her viral, and vulgar “Jaw Morant” single. However, if you were there since the beginning in 2019, when it all started with her claimed, if I may project, then you know it wasn’t just a shock value bar when she rapped, “He call me Morant/No one’s f*cking with my jaw,” because sis can really rap! And she’s proving it time and time again over the years and even alongside her peers on records such as “Ego Check” featuring Dreamville platinum tongue JID, or on her own vengeful, anti f*ck boy anthem “Dog In Me.”
Regardless of how you found her the likelihood that she’ll continue to evolve exponentially before your eyes is almost as certain as the anxious sense of anticipation her core fans feel awaiting her next project. However, with the release of her latest single “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” with Milc & spinitch, it appears as though the Wynne show is just about to get good again in a major way.
Yonny
Even before his musical genius was on display in somewhat of a vivid technic color, synesthesia-inducing manner with his 2025 epic Everywhere, But Always (Deluxe) project following his deal with Warner Records, Yonny had proven that he was far more than just the latest conscious rapper to be scooped up by a major label. And evidence of such lies in his 2022 micro project ghetto sunset.
It’s on such as “Paid,” and “Who Dey?” Where his appeal glimmered brighter than the curvaceous peaks of the led-lit Columbia Center in his native Seattle. In essence, I shouldn’t have to tell you to listen to songs such as “Hood Spirituals” because it sounds like the intersection of a Miles Davis and Kendrick Lamar song.
Or that he’s the second coming of the type of Jazz-infused improvisation that powered the golden era of Hip-Hop. You should just already be inclined to invest early into what we guarantee will be one of the greatest artists to permeate from The Emerald City in recent memory.
Gifted Gab
The one and only Gifted Gab hasn’t been around for over a decade-plus simply by chance. Not only does Gab’s flow feel like lyrical bridge between the The Blog Era and Hip-Hop’s glorious boom-bap beginnings. And it goes without saying that her inherent affinity for being a collaborative Swiss army knife has afforded her a unique indispensability.
Of course many of us know Gab as half of the duo B.A.G. with Blimes—but you also know her solo sh*t too. Gab really wasn’t bluffing in 2019 when she rapped that these folks got her out here looking like “Mozart” because of how effortlessly she meanders between delivering cuts with both key figures and newcomers, such Frak via their 2025 single “Smash Mouth” and holding it down for Seattle with hits of her own.
Maika Million
If you’re looking for the type of music that will both have dreaming of running a money counter nonstop while walking down your opps for fun, Maika Million has an extremely fast growing discography that’s just for you.
Yet another Seattle representer, the rising rapper has a real exceptional talent at mixing the sound of the West Coast with the swag of the Pacific Northwest. As a result, his recent IM BETTER Pt. 2 album slaps like it came from The Bay while unapologetically representing Seattle in a fresh and undeniable way. And with over nine projects and an insane amount of singles release in the past years alone, its obvious Maika Milion is paving his path to an all-out industry takeover sooner rather than later.
OsosukaK
With browsing through an artist like Ososuck’s discography, its almost like taking a Tesla for a drive on autopilot. Because in a sense, he’s taking you for a ride through different subgenres and even introducing you to new one’s all at once. Between his Juice album and joint-effort release Player’s Paradise with Flashy B—both of which were released this year alone—there’s 30-plus musical destinations to arrive at and each of them is just as swagged-out as the one before it. Even though he’s still wet behind the ears, its safe to say OsosuckaK is moving like he’s got longevity on his mind by the way he’s putting numbers on the board so early on.
Oblé Reed
When it comes to young cats like Oblé Reed, its hard not to get excited about the future of Seattle. Since his breakout 2023 project LINDENAVE! the young lyricist hasn’t taken his foot off the gas and its paying off big time as he’s gaining a colossal audience right before our eyes. With innovative, in-pocket jams, such as “HOMETOWNHERO” amassing millions of views and an ever-growing audience of over 300K monthly listener’s on Spotify, Oblé Reed feels like a superstar in the making.
And with the anticipation growing to a fever pitch amongst his core fans awaiting the follow-up to his 2024 RETROVISION project, while his new fans stumble upon him via strong offerings such as his “TEARS” single—it’s almost as if Oblé Reed has the world eating out of the palm of his hand.
Lazā
There’s something truly indescribable about about Lazā’s music, simply because it’s a hodgepodge of so many different things all at once. Take for instance her recent singe “DDG,” which feels mysterious and enigmatic but also infectiously ear worming and alluring, it’s hard to tell if this is rap or an R&B record.
Nevertheless, rap-sung, crooned or barred up like a true MC, Lazā shines in every aspect of what she does. And that’s part of the reason we’re not going to rush her full-length debut project because we know its coming and arriving with some heat intact as well once it does finally drop!
2000BABY
We love it when an artist doesn’t have to tell you who they are, they can just drop an adlib or spam an alias like “2Thouwow,” and you immediately know it’s none other than 2000BABY. With a distinct, gritty sound and an unmistakable aura, 2000BABY is like a can of soda that was left on a stove burner on full blast—meaning he’s bound to blow before we all know it.
And as they say, there’s no time like the present, as is the case for those interested in 2000BABY’s music because his new 15-song project Friday The 13th is a testament to his budding star power and rightful place within the ranks of the top artists within the city of Seattle.
Stay tuned for more regional artist break downs including next week’s where RMR heads to Southern California to highlight nine L.A. artists you should tap into.
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Are you an artist looking to be covered, send us your music! Gather a few images, a bio, some information about the project you want covered, and send everything over to [email protected].
We’ll respond if interested in covering and set something up.
We have more of these lists featuring artists from the Pacific Northwest coming every month.
