Stanley C’s 2023 Music Recap: Rookies Of The Year
A List of My Top Three Favorite Rookies In 2023
3) Sexyy Red
Sexyy Red catapulted into the top circles of mainstream rap music at the beginning of the year with her smash hit "Pound Town" featuring Tay Kieth. This defiant sex-centric jam represented some of the sexual escapades the St. Louis native was interested in and within a matter of weeks was a cultural flashpoint for millions of listeners around the world. Sexyy Red’s brand is brash and in your face, never apologizing for how she feels, but rather sorry for not saying it sooner. Connected with Larry Jackson’s media company Gamma, Red found high-profile collaborations all within the first 12 months of her breakthrough single. From the remix of “Pound Town” with Nick Minaj to a career-defining feature on Drake’s “Rich Babby Daddy” Red delivered when necessary.
Sexy Redd’s music wasn’t the only thing that kept her on people’s minds all throughout the year. She’s been great at maintaining attention through funny interviews, circumstances she finds herself in, and unforgettable quotes. In the middle of all of this fame, she also experienced pregnancy and never missed a beat in the process. To keep the fans ridiculously happy during the year, Red also dropped Hood Hottest Princess at the top of the summer. The project took the hip-hop community by storm and spilled over into the NFL, playing at different teams' practices to the player's delight. Red also appears to be a female rapper with a considerable male fanbase. This cross-gender appeal, mixed with her relatability and memorable bars, helped Red become a young staple in the music industry.
Perhaps since Tech N9ne, but probably more appropriately since Chingy, have we seen a rap star pop up this big from St. Lous. Red proudly supports her city and does her best to give back to the community that made her (even if, at times, there’s disagreement on how that is implemented). No one knows exactly where Red will take her career next. Her clear sense of self and infectious style will hopefully continue to gain status and attention. With a debut album on the near horizon, her music can help usher in a new renaissance for mid-west rap and solidify Red as a consequential figure in that transition.
2) Ashley Cooke
Ashley Cooke is destined for greatness in the ever-growing and massively popular country music genre. Her breakthrough year came in tandem with her brave and soothing debut album, Shot In The Dark. There were many shots in the dark for Cooke growing up, including a game changing live performance showcase that made her a name in Nashville and forever cool amongst her friends. Since that shot in the dark moment, Cooke has performed and collaborated with the best of them in Music City. 2023 was her year to show off her ear for thoughtful, conscious country music rooted in clever songwriting and clear intentions.
Shot in the Dark is a magnificent debut album that has only improved with time. Partially because of its length (at 24 songs, the album is the longest debut album by a female country singer) and partially because of the layered meaning behind many of the songs, Shot In The Dark will happily live with you for months without sounding dated or tired. Cooke’s romantic honesty is also refreshing on the album, where she doesn’t take her partners for granted and spares them when the toxicity gets too much. Cooke doesn’t have a run-of-the-mill or album filler tune anywhere throughout this project, and I think the attention to detail on this incredible debut will bear fruit in what should be a delightfully successful country music career.
Although Cooke stumbled into this career seemingly by accident, she has maintained a poise and maturity in her interviews and music videos that far exceed her years. Growing up in 18 homes has undoubtedly given her a strong and tested sense of self. At this point in her career, she is set to rise in the wickedly competitive country music field that is only getting more populated by the day. With a business communications degree to her name and millions of TikTok followers supporting her, Cooke is well poised to enter 2024 with enough momentum and fanfare to keep the high going.
1) PinkPantheress
PinkPantheress started as a fan of My Chemical Romance tunes and perused music forums like the rest of her generation. Therefore, how did she go from indie blog spots to the center of bubblegum pops revival? The answer lies in her sharp EDM ear, top production skill set, and ability to collaborate successfully. She’s a child of the TikTok era who transcended the medium to become a multi-platform global pop culture figure. In 2023, she dropped her highly anticipated debut album, Heaven Knows, and went on a successful media press run, establishing her brand and name in the mainstream music scene.
Pink's legitimacy came further in the various award shows she was nominated in. From the MTV Music Europe awards to the Mono and Soultrain Awards, Pink entered the conscioucness of millions of new fans and gained the respect of serious figures in the music industry. Although she didn’t win any awards at the ceremonies in 2023, her being nominated alone signified a major transition in how she was perceived. From an internet darling to a mainstream figure in the music industry, Pink was now a bonafide star.
Pink’s public persona is still growing, and her music is evolving. She is still timid and takes a while to open up in interviews. Still, her descriptions of her music and the purpose for it became increasingly more clear as the months went on. She wants to be a major artist whose music is accepted by a huge audience despite the diffculties that are inherent in that kind of growth. In 2023 she proved that she is ready for this challenge and, with one studio album to her name, showed us the sound she can usher in for a generation.
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