Tyler, The Creator’s festival highlights emerging artists as well as fan favorites; here are 12 underrated artists featured on this year’s lineup that deserve a listen.
The Camp Flog Gnaw festival held in Los Angeles has grown each year after its 2012 conception as the “OFWGTKA Carnival,” featuring Tyler, The Creator’s former group Odd Future. In 2024, CFG celebrated its 10th year and saw over 50,000 attendees, a significant growth from 2012’s attendance of around 2,000.
Tyler, The Creator is known for curating the festival around his wide range of taste, featuring artists that span over multiple genres. He seems to have an eye for talent, booking rising artists on the cusp of an industry breakthrough.
In 2016, SZA performed at the festival a year before the release of her breakthrough debut album Ctrl. She returned to the festival in 2018 and again in 2023 as the closing headliner.
An alternative R&B band, The Internet, had been consistently playing CFG since 2013 before the now popular Steve Lacy joined as the guitarist in 2015. Lacy came back to perform as a solo artist in 2017, the same year as the release of his popular debut EP, “Steve Lacy’s Demo.”
The list of stars from previous lineups goes on. The question now is, who from this year’s lineup should you check out?
AG Club
Hip hop group AG Club, short for Avant Garde Club, showed up to 2023’s CFG with undeniable energy. Their infectious stage presence had the crowd jumping with mosh pits opening up left and right. AG Club is most known for their 2020 breakout hit “Memphis,” which was remixed a year later as “Memphis, Pt.2,” featuring A$AP Ferg and NLE Choppa.
AG Club shows off their versatility in tracks like “Hngover” and “NBA Youngboy.” These tracks slow down and tap into emotions with their storytelling lyrics. This experimental and ambitious group is sure to bring the vibes to round two at CFG.
Alemeda
Alemeda is an Ethiopian and Sudanese whose songs have a unique mix of indie rock and alt pop. Her taste in pop punk was shaped by Disney hits like Camp Rock and Hannah Montana, after her mom tried to shelter her from the pop music genre. Now, her lyrics are bold, unfiltered, and often take digs at toxic exes.
Her latest single, “1-800-F**K-YOU,” features a laid-back singing style that contrasts with her spitfire lyrics. Standouts from previous projects include “I already dug your grave,” “Not Asking For Much” and “Chameleon” with Rachel Chinouriri. Her most listened to track is “Gonna Bleach My Eyebrows,” which was her try at a PinkPantheress-inspired UKG sound, different from her usual style.
Deb Never
Deb Never creates an interesting blend of alt indie/pop and grunge. Her typically melancholic lyrics are balanced with interesting beat changes and 808 usage. She’s constantly trying out new sounds and has a diverse discography.
Her three-song single release in the spring, “KNOW ME BETTER,” is definitely one to check out. Each track has its own sound and is a signal of her new era. Other tracks to note are “Momentary Sweetheart,” “Someone Else” and “Coca Cola.”
Kilo Kish
Kilo Kish is back for her third year at CFG, having performed early set times at both the 2016 and 2018 festivals. She’s been releasing music since 2012 and has collaborated with other artists familiar to CFG, such as Earl Sweatshirt, The Internet, Vince Staples, and Childish Gambino.
While starting within the alt-R&B realm, her newer sound explores the electronic synthpop world. Her newest EP, “Negotiations,” contains moody lo-fi and is aimed at exploring the modern complexities of life. Older standouts of hers include “NICE OUT,” “Navy,” and “Taking Responsibility.”
La Reezy
La Reezy is an ambitious young rapper from New Orleans. Though only 21 years old, his music has a nostalgic and soulful feel. His lyrics can often delve into deeper themes like generational cycles and mental health.
His 2024 album, We All Need Help, produced two fan favorites, “Ya Feel Me” and “Metamorphosis.” La Reezy’s collaboration with PJ Morton, “Pardon Me, I’m Different,” has more jazz influence and includes standout tracks like “BABY” and “Pardon Me.”
Luh Tyler
Nineteen-year-old Luh Tyler from Florida is making waves in the rap world. Since going viral in 2022, Luh Tyler has collaborated with many big-name rappers, including Lil Uzi Vert, Kodak Black, and Latto. In 2023, Pitchfork called him “the coolest 16-year-old rapper in America.” Though young, he clearly doesn’t lack confidence; his smooth flow delivers his witty lyrics easily.
Luh Tyler received internet attention for songs like “Law & Order pt. 2” and “2 Slippery (feat. BossMan Dlow).” He’s continuing to make waves with newer releases like singles “BP” and “Florida Boy.”
MIKE
This New York City-based rapper, MIKE, is an old soul whose style is reminiscent of old school rap and often features samples. His deep voice and often monotone delivery leave room to emphasize his introspective lyrics. MIKE is a frequent collaborator with producer The Alchemist, as well as Earl Sweatshirt.
“man in the mirror” is a fan favorite from his 2025 album Showbiz!, which samples Shakatak’s “Fly the Wind.” Additional songs to check out are “nuthin i can do is wrng,” “Hunger,” and “Underground Kingz.”
Paris Texas
Paris Texas, an alternative hip hop duo from Los Angeles, is returning for their second year at CFG. Formed in 2018, this duo brings alt-rock and grunge into the hip-hop world. Their tracks are often electric guitar-heavy and can blend singing with rap.
Their debut album BOY ANONYMOUS is a great introduction to their unique sound and produced fan favorite tracks “HEAVY METAL” and “FORCE OF HABIT.” The duo has continued to experiment with genre-bending in songs like “girls like drugs” and “Stripper Song.”
PARTYOF2
Formerly a group of four known as “grouptherapy”, PARTYOF2 is now a duo featuring SWIM and Jadagrace. The breakdown of the group is detailed in the track “all 4 the best.” This hip-hop duo likes to experiment with elements of electronic dance pop. They typically take turns trading off verses and often play off each other’s lines; this dynamic is emphasized in “FRIENDLY FIRE.”
“JUST DANCE 2” and “mad love” are two songs that feature more dance-pop elements. “POSER” has a clear marching band influence filled with horns and a chanting-style chorus.
Samara Cyn
Rising star Samara Cyn describes her sound as “alternative hip-hop with a neo-soul foundation.” She’s recently been making waves in the industry, being named on the XXL Freshman Class list and appearing on “The Daily Show” shortly after.
Her more rap-heavy songs include “Sinner,” “MFTB,” and “Moving Day.” She also takes the time to slow down and show off her singing skills and emotional side. This is seen in tracks like “summer’s turning” and “bad brain.”
Zach Fox
While commonly known for his internet presence and role on “Abbot Elementary,’ Zach Fox also dabbles in rap. His style varies, but his lyrics are often punchline-heavy and comedically raunchy.
Fox made a very unserious stab at rap with the song “Jesus Is The One (I Got Depression)” with Kenny Beats that went viral online. Though later tracks he released showcased that he actually did have a talent for music. Some songs to check out are “sipping my tea,” “only thing on my mind,” and “fafo.”
ZelooperZ
Zelooperz has been at CFG before, but as a guest for Earl Sweatshirt. This year will be his first time listed on the lineup. Making rap/hip-hop since 2012, Zelooperz has released many projects to explore. One of his most popular is his 2019 album Dyn-O-Mite, which includes favorites like “Easter Sunday” and “JayJay-Z.”
His newest project is a joint album with Real Bad Man titled Dear Psilocybin. The album is meant to describe his experience with drug psychosis shortly before getting sober. Matching thematically, the synth used gives the tracks a hazy feel. A standout from the project is “Sweet Celine.”
A lineup of potential
This year’s Camp Flog Gnaw lineup boasts many fan favorites, including A$AP Rocky, Don Toliver, Childish Gambino, 2 Chainz, and Clairo, to name a few. Featuring such big names, fans are buzzing for this year’s sold-out festival in November.
With Tyler, The Creator’s taste for talent, the lineup can also be used for finding underrated artists who have big potential. These unique musicians create great music that should definitely find its way onto your playlist.
