Some of my favourite lesser known artists who deserve some damn credit.

Sonreal

My personal favourite not only for this list but in general. This Vancouver native (BC represent woot woot) takes his rap game to another level and I do not understand why this guy isn't touring the world yet, his songs are amazing and his videos are fucking hilarious as you can tell from the picture! I can't choose just one song of his as my favourite because I actually listen to all of them every day, once again I am sure majority of his youtube views are from my pathetic ass streaming all day. He just released a new album and fuck me I love it.

My currently most listened to song of his is "Soho" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9rMafxR2mM
Probably his best hit from the new album is "Can I Get Witness" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyXhsTTD0Tk
And of course here is the sauce for the picture "Everywhere We Go"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNVtM9P-yLM

Catey Shaw

I have followed Catey for two years now, I can't remember how I originally discovered her but when I did I was all over sharing her videos on Facebook (cause at that time thats what was cool). The 25 year old from Brooklyn smashed onto the scene with her rightly titled single "Brooklyn girls" which is a pretty awesome song.

However for me my favourite of hers would be "Run Run Run" the song is relatively slow, however is a super fun song, especially with her ukulele playing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PcTLUUvXa0

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Nightsweats

Now these guys have an extremely well known song "S.O.B." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iAYhQsQhSY

But dear god listen to some of their other stuff, these guys rock music festivals. Our modern day Soggy Bottom Boys if I were to compare them to anyone, just a fun group of guys who I'm sure have a blast touring around to festivals.

Spirit Animal

Probably the least known group on this list, I can hardly find anything on them and their Facebook page has 8000 likes, so hipster that shit up an love this group. Their one song on their youtube channel is fucking awesome, I listen to it all the time, Im sure at least 100 of the 24,000 views it has are from me.

Seriously listen to this. "Regular World"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7DE58zrQgI

Jon Bellion

This singer/song writer/producer/rapper first hit the scene writing for the likes of artists such as Eminem, Rihanna, and Jason Derulo. Our second New Yorker on the list made it to fifth on the US billboard 200 with his debut album "The Human Condition".

One of my favourite songs to have blasting while I shower is "Woke the Fuck Up"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axKguLdeMEY

Alison Wonderland

Breaking in 2013 Alison is better known for her Disk jockeying, however recently she has released some songs that feature her singing and quite frankly theyre catchy as all hell. This Australian DJ officially began her professional career in 2008 and has since released a couple albums which received praise among the production world.

My fav of hers is her 2015 song "U don't know" obviously because it features Mclovin. Jk its a catchy tune with a pretty wicked music video if I do say so myself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5MMV5qULV0

Sample Answer

This Jaden Smith looking singer was actually born in Dublin Ireland, having only hit the scene professionally within the last year he has already released an album and a half worth of music. 

Currently my favourite of his is actually his debut EP "Good boy"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg57gTDz7w8

Dirty Heads

Seriously take Sublime, and make them 15 years younger, and you have Dirty Heads. This group is perfect for putting on shuffle and listening to all their songs, perfect drinking music, perfect sitting on the beach music, just so much fun to bob your head along to.

So hard to pick a favourite song by these guys, but I guess to be fair to them it has to be the first one I heard by them so here is "My Sweet Summer"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idZVK3a9Hlg

Aesop Rock

I only recently discovered Aesop when a coworker of mine was infatuated with his music, and it grew on me tremendously. Not only does he have amazing talent at writing and performing rap, but he also creates a lot of beats that get widely used by other artists. The man is unique for creating music videos not for one song, but for an entire album, that being said he also creates some pretty mind boggling videos for his songs.

My personal favourite song of his is a collab with Hail Mary Mallon where they openly express how stupid they thinks rappers are for spending their money on retarded things. Here is "Whales".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQrdKtPJxI0

Portugal The Man

When I say the band name you probably think about how you've never heard of them ever. They have an average amount of youtube views and a decent amount of subscribers at 90k. But their claim to fame comes from a redbull video released featuring their song (how I discovered them as well) but from there you can venture into their unique music and get lost.

The Redbull video "Kaleidoscope" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UggSw4nGfw0
and of course a song of theirs that I love besides "All Your Light" used above.
Here is "People Say"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGDQOECShw8

Matt and Kim

Probably the weirdest duo, being a couple and all, they openly talk about their sex life on stage and how her asshole is probably super sweaty from performing, my buddy who saw them said it was pretty fucked. That being said they can sure rock out some sick songs for a two person band with only drums and a keyboard. A lot of their songs are fun happy go lucky songs used lots in movies and TV shows. for example "Daylight" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5oW4kC09vk which is literally in every tv show ever.

My favourite of theirs is definitely "Get It" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsMCb20zueY

Lil Dicky

Duh, this guy is awesome. A comedian turned rapper, where can you go wrong? He actually has said in interviews that his rapper name is Lil Dicky because he has a little dick, and he prefers skinny girls to bigger girls due to the fact that he is too small to pleasure a big girl adequately. Plus the guy can rap and make some sick songs. He first hit the scene when he released "White Dude" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rnFlQAvk8U on youtube and became an internet fad.

My favourite sing by him is also his most liked song with 50+ million views so Im sure you have heard it "Save dat Money" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvHYWD29ZNY which is a play off of him being jewish and not wanting to spend money.

Prof

I honestly couldn't tell you how or why I ever stumbled upon this white rapper from Minnesota but damn am I ever happy that I did. He has been listed as one of the best rappers to come from Minnesota, so I don't know if thats an accomplishment or not but Ill accept it. Just like Sonreal listed above, this guy makes some awesome music videos which is what I really like compared to todays mainstream acts having dumb videos.

My favourite Prof song is "Bar breaker" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoMQBeaDNlc and not only because of the bang bros ssh happening at the beginning but the song is super catchy. Also listed above is Aesop Rock writing music, well the beat for this song is from one of his samples. Small world.

Atmosphere

The first non mainstream group I ever discovered like 10 years ago and Im sad that they are still considered less than mainstream because truly these guys have some crazy talent and rap about some real problems in our world for example marital abuse. What I really like is that you can listen to their sings and they'll never have a chorus, its always flowing rap and telling a story. They are also still producing music today and not even a week ago released another album. I get so excited when I hear someone else saying they know Atmosphere!

My all-time favourite song by them is "Freefallin" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE1uAb-OPH8
and of course they also make fun music, such as "She's Enough" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9boD5WIUGTw
And like I said the serious songs "The Last to Say" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uEJi0x-49E

Seafret

I only recently found this guys (my gf actually did, but this is my post not hers ;) ) this band is actually a lot like others that are hitting the scene nowadays, kindve hipster folk music however they make great music videos and like I said thats what gets me hooked. Outside of their videos a lot of their songs are actually written really well, I want to compare them to Ed Sheeran with a twist of Dallas Green (City and Colour) if thats at all possible to do, but fuck it Im gonna do it anyways.

For you GOT fans here is a video you'll enjoy "Oceans" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqsL0QQaSP4

And then why not finish off this post with a video/song that will bring a smile and maybe even a tear to your eye. Here is "Wildfire" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHhkd2B87Q8

FP edit: Im trying to reply to every message I receive in this post but my god there are alot! I love it though so keep em coming. Im also trying to keep up with all the comments but with 800 and growings its getting a bit hard to keep track of them all!

A few things to address multiple comments:
The lack of black rappers is being addressed. and frankly I have many more artists I just didnt want to stretch the post out to the point where people wouldnt read it all, so Ill be sure in the future to make more posts to include some more ethnicalities so that everyone is happy!

Lots of people suggesting bands and groups in the comments, message them to me and then I dont have to keep searching for them! Ill definately check them out!

Rhymesayers is awesome and a lot of you have recognized the pattern in the rappers, Rhymesayers does not get enough credit for the amazing talent they have, I was going to put Grieves on this list as well but figured Id save them, so check them out as well!!

A couple other artists I originally had on the list but later removed as I felt the post was uncomfortably long:
Hopsin
Lukas Graham
City and Colour (has died down in the last 5 years)
I would list twenty one pilots but my god theyve exploded and even wrote a song for the suicide squad soundtrack which is pretty dope https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UprcpdwuwCg
The Strumbellas
Brotha Lynch Hung
Grieves

Check out Part 2 here https://imgur.com/gallery/ijMeN