Every year there is a flood of new hip-hop talent ready to take on the game, and every year, MTV Jams celebrates rap’s new crop with the Fab Five — a class of five rookies with the brightest futures. This year is no exception with a class that includes August Alsina, Chance the Rapper, Gunplay, Schoolboy Q and Travi$ Scott.
Over the course of the next five weeks, each artist will receive a weeklong spotlight on MTV Jams that will include their music videos, live performances and interviews. It’s an honor that rap stars like Drake, Young Jeezy, Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky and Big Sean once shared in their own rookie seasons.
“It’s awesome to be a part of MTV Jams’ Fab Five. Just to be featured on MTV and to be considered as one of the five artists to look out for means so much,” Chance the Rapper said in a press release issued to MTV News on Wednesday (July 24). “I’m a big fan of MTV Jams because it plays music all day and exposes music that no one would otherwise know about.”
Schoolboy Q, who is set to release his major-label debut album Oxymoron later this year is excited for the opportunity. “Thank you MTV Jams for having me, I swear on my life being on MTV was something I never thought would happen,” he said in a statement. “So thanks again, for helping me with my goals.”
For August Alsina, whose melodic single “I Luv This Sh–” has been in rotation on Jams, being the Fab Five’s only singer this year puts him in prime position. “It’s a blessing to be selected as one of MTV Jams’ Fab 5, and to be the only singer means a lot. It shows that what me and my team are doing isn’t being boxed in. We’re reaching people in an authentic way,” he said. “I grew up on Jams. It’s where I was introduced to new videos and new artists. They always represented artists on the rise like myself. You never forget who supported you first.”
As for Travis Scott, the Fab Five is another important notch in the belt of his young career. He has already signed to both T.I. and Kanye West, but with Fab Five the spotlight is solely on him. “I think it’s super cool to be chosen as a one of the Fab Five members,” he said. “My music is art and an experience, get ready cause there’s so much more to come.”
For more on MTV Jams’ and the Fab Five artists check out MTV Jams daily and”RapFix Live” every Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.
No Comments