Two Artists to Watch in 2020

Quando Rondo

Quando Rondo first gained notoriety for his January 2018 single “I Remember”, which featured Lil Baby. The volume and quality of music Quando Rondo has been able to release so early into his career has been impressive to say the least. 

He has released four full length project since then, with each one better than the last. His most recent project his first full debut album: QPac. His style is reminiscent of A Boogie, but he possesses a more smooth delivery which is what separates him as an artist. He is a master of the melody and can make a catchy hook out of anything. 

One of his best tracks is “Scarred from Love,'' off his 2019 mixtape From the Neighborhood to the Stage. While he isn’t exactly a lyrical mastermind, “Scarred from Love” is a heartbreaking track about a man going through heartbreak. He details his entire relationship with an ex, which makes us feel a real connection with him and makes for a very impactful track. 

At only 20, Quando Rondo’s career is still in its infancy, which is very promising for the Savannah, Georgia native. I think he will truly move into the mainstream this year if he continues to produce such fun and melodic tracks. 

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Jay Critch

22-year-old Jay Critch is just waiting for his time in the spotlight. With only one studio album, there isn’t a ton of music that the New York native has released, but he’s off to a good start. 

Despite his small library, it seems like Jay Critch has been around the New York rap scene forever. He signed with Rich the Kid’s Rich Forever Label in 2016, which may be one reason for his muted success. He has been forced a diminished role in all of the Rich Forever mixtapes, which haven’t amounted to anything notable. 

In his debut mixtape Hood Favorite, released in November of 2018, he was able to be his own artist, which is where he found his groove. His sound is distinctively New York, from his references to his accent which is prevalent in every track. 

The only single of the mixtape: “Ego” is a great showcase of what Jay Critch can do. He skates on an eerie instrumental, switching the flow multiple times with ease. His confidence drips off the lyrics he delivers, living up to the title of the track. 

If Jay Critch can start to distance himself from the Rich Forever Label, I think he’ll be able to find more consistent success. His talent speaks for itself and he shouldn’t need to share the spotlight with anyone else.