Clipping.

Calls home: Los Angeles, CA

Latest release: MidCity

Clipping. started out as a remix project for producers William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes, but it rapidly grew into something bigger when they recruited frontman Daveed Diggs. Armed with a versatile, straight-spittin’ flow, Diggs found a way to serve as a complement to the harsh, noisy soundscapes created by his multi-instrumentalist counterparts. And their debut project, this past February’s MidCity, could not have arrived at a better time.

Brash hip-hop has been around for years in different forms, though it’s most recently found its own sub-genres on the backs of acts like B L A C K I E, Shabazz Palaces, and Death Grips. The timing could not be more perfect for Clipping. to burst onto the scene and create a fanbase all their own. I get the feeling that their widespread acclaim is only inevitable, especially after it was recently announced that they signed with Sub Pop Records, which is also home to Shabazz Palaces and THEESatisfaction. If MidCity was their raw online-only debut, I can’t wait to hear what they cook up for their proper label debut.—Andrew Martin