Marion Write began rapping as a teenager, sneaking into open mics through the back door. Since then he’s opened for Ghostface Killah and Kendrick Lamar. While his local incubation chamber, Flo Deep Music Group, disbanded last year, the soul-influenced MC is still pushing forward, with album Black Gold due in July.

LeRoyCHOPS has been creating a buzz with his minimal beats, chilled-out vibes and slick spit—all present on February EP Ruff Draft of a Shining Donut. His style is less gangster and more stoner, with a nod to the West Coast MCs of the ’90s.

Late for Dinner, aka Jay Dubbler, is a born-and-bred Las Vegan who’s come up through Macro-Fi and the Campfire Crew with an eye toward uniting all corners of the hip-hop scene. He constructs provocative rap narratives laid over heavy, rock-infused beats, and he’s dropped four albums since ’09—with another one underway.