Louisiana has never taken its foot off hip-hop’s neck. The state that gave the world Lil Wayne, Boosie BadAzz, Kevin Gates, and NBA YoungBoy doesn’t just produce rappers — it breeds icons. Louisiana rappers sound unique with a style that is born from bounce, molded by Trill Entertainment’s street soul, and sharpened through every hurricane, every club, and every corner.
In 2025, a new generation is standing tall on that foundation, artists from Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and small towns across the state who blend trap realism, melodic pain, and cultural pride. Their music reminds the world that Louisiana hip-hop is a movement that never stopped evolving.
From Magnolia to Melrose: Louisiana Rappers Are Great
To understand the new wave of Louisiana rappers, you have to rewind to where it started. Cash Money Records and No Limit Records defined what it meant to turn local grind into global empire.
Master P’s No Limit Soldiers took street hustle and turned it into a multimedia dynasty. Birdman, Juvenile, and Lil Wayne brought the bounce-infused swagger of New Orleans to the charts with 400 Degreez and Tha Carter.
Meanwhile, Baton Rouge carved its own identity. The Trill Entertainment era — led by Boosie and Webbie — fused gospel emotion with raw storytelling. Kevin Gates later refined that sound, introducing vulnerability and spirituality into the streets. Then came NBA YoungBoy, whose digital dominance changed the way Louisiana artists approached independence.
That’s the soil this new crop of rappers is growing from, a blend of bounce, pain, and perseverance.
12 Louisiana Rappers You Should Be Following
1. Rob49 — New Orleans
Every era needs a face, and right now, that face might be Rob49. Coming straight out of the 4th and 9th Wards, Rob embodies the spirit of post-Katrina New Orleans: unbreakable, authentic, and brimming with energy. His track “Vulture Island” became a southern anthem, but it’s the depth of his storytelling that separates him.
Rob’s presence recalls the early days of Lil Wayne, but with modern aggression and polish. His collaborations with Travis Scott and Lil Durk show how far he’s taken the NOLA sound without losing the city’s bounce-rooted soul. Rob49 is New Orleans’ next flagship export, and he knows it.
2. Yelloepzm — Morgan City
Few artists represent Louisiana’s small-town grind like Yelloepzm. Hailing from Morgan City — a place better known for shrimp boats than rap stars, Yelloepzm brings cinematic storytelling to his verses. His tone feels like a cross between Kevin Gates’ introspection and early Webbie’s grit.
Yelloepzm stands out because he’s not chasing clout, he’s crafting legacy. His local performances at small venues like Club 187 and House Party Lounge have become the stuff of legend. When he raps about struggle, it’s not performance — it’s lived experience.
3. Fendi P — New Orleans
Fendi P (formerly Corner Boy P) represents the refined side of Louisiana rappers. As part of Curren$y’s Jet Life collective, he’s one of the architects of New Orleans’ luxury rap aesthetic. Instead of chasing viral moments, Fendi delivers timeless cool, smoke-filled verses, elegant production, and effortless confidence.
His project Carrollton Heights sounds like cruising through Uptown on a warm night, top down, city lights reflecting off the Mississippi. He’s a bridge between the OG era and today’s creative independence, helping younger NOLA artists find direction through collaboration and craft.
4. CeeFineAss — New Orleans
CeeFineAss is proof that New Orleans women are leading the next bounce wave of Louisiana rappers. Her music fuses heavy 808s with unapologetic confidence, fun, fierce, and completely southern. She’s performed at NOLA’s House of Blues, The Howlin’ Wolf, and Jet Lounge, bringing charisma that lights up every room.
CeeFineAss embodies the new feminine power in Louisiana rap beautiful but blunt, vibrant but strategic. She’s not trying to fit in; she’s making her own lane with bounce-driven empowerment anthems.
5. Yung Ro — New Orleans
Yung Ro raps like a man who’s seen everything and still finds purpose. His tracks combine melodic pain with crisp flows, painting NOLA’s daily life through cinematic imagery. Ro’s voice — raspy yet melodic, evokes the emotional vulnerability that defines modern southern rap.
Performing frequently at venues like Cafe Istanbul and Republic NOLA, he’s part of a grassroots revival of live hip-hop in the city. Yung Ro’s story mirrors the post-Katrina generation: rebuilding, reinventing, and reclaiming.
6. TG Kommas — Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge has a reputation for producing truth-tellers, and TG Kommas fits right in. His wordplay is razor sharp, his energy controlled but deadly. TG grew up studying local legends like Boosie and Gates, but he’s pushing the next evolution, more polished, melodic, and structured without losing the rawness.
His visuals often feature familiar BR backdrops, concrete lots, corner stores, and neighborhood gatherings, connecting his art to the streets that raised him. He represents the new Trill legacy: soulful, relentless, and built for survival.
7. Bway Yungy — Baton Rouge
Bway Yungy came into the game with high expectations, and instead of folding under them, he’s finding his voice. His melodic sound mirrors modern Baton Rouge, pain-driven but highly listenable. He’s learned to channel heartbreak and frustration into structured records, a rare skill for someone so young.
Bway’s influence is spreading organically across platforms like TikTok and YouTube, but it’s the local respect that matters most. In Baton Rouge, street credibility still counts, and Bway has it.
8. OBN Jay — Baton Rouge
OBN Jay is pure charisma. His energy leaps off every track, blending humor with confidence and street insight. Songs like “Big Ole” and “Purge” are Louisiana staples, infectious hooks paired with punchline-heavy verses.
Jay’s evolution is notable: he’s grown from local buzz artist to national prospect. He’s linked with other Baton Rouge up-and-comers, performing regularly at venues like The Varsity Theatre and collaborating with regional producers who shaped the Baton Rouge jig sound in the 2010s.
9. Kayykilo — Baton Rouge
Kayykilo is fearless. Her presence on the mic commands attention, she spits with poise, aggression, and pride. In a scene dominated by men, Kayykilo is carving out a legacy in a highly competitive Louisiana rappers scene through precision and persistence.
Her music speaks to duality, strength and vulnerability. She’s performed alongside fellow southern powerhouses like Erica Banks and KenTheMan, proving Louisiana women belong at the forefront of national rap conversations.
10. Stone Cold Jzzle — New Orleans
Stone Cold Jzzle brings poetry to pain. His tone is somber yet confident, and his music reflects the emotional aftermath of growing up in a city constantly rebuilding. His breakout single “What’s Happening” earned local airplay and solidified him as a lyrical craftsman.
In many ways, Jzzle represents the introspective side of New Orleans and Louisiana rappers, the thinkers, the storytellers, the survivors. He’s performed on bills with Dee-1 and Pell, bridging the underground with more conscious corners of the city’s rap ecosystem.
11. Jameel Na’im X — New Orleans
Jameel Na’im X brings artistry to Louisiana’s rap narrative. Influenced by soul, jazz, and the city’s poetic roots, he uses his platform to discuss social issues and identity. His live shows, often at smaller cultural spaces like The Dragon’s Den, blur the line between spoken word and hip-hop.
Jameel represents the artistic heartbeat of New Orleans and all of the Louisiana rappers. He’s not chasing trends; he’s preserving culture through message and movement.
12. WeedJunky — New Orleans
WeedJunky brings the lifestyle full circle. His hazy production, clever punchlines, and deep local references make his sound feel like the soundtrack to the city’s smoke-filled nights.
Beyond the music, WeedJunky’s brand aligns with Louisiana’s growing cannabis culture, he’s performed at community events and local dispensary pop-ups, merging hip-hop and lifestyle entrepreneurship. His independence mirrors Louisiana’s long-standing DIY ethos.
Louisiana’s Rappers Created An Independent Music Machine
What makes Louisiana special isn’t just talent, it’s infrastructure. The state’s rap scene thrives through local studios like Studio 9 (Baton Rouge), Ace B Productions, and community events like Bayou Classic Weekend and Essence Fest’s local showcases.
From small-town radio to social media virality, Louisiana has built a sustainable music ecosystem that keeps artists active year-round.
Streaming has only amplified what the streets already knew: the South doesn’t wait for co-signs. These 12 artists are not following a formula — they’re expanding it.
Tap in and give each of them a follow or subscribe!
