The 2025 San Diego Music Awards are set to recognize the city’s most influential and hard-working hip hop artists, showcasing the underground scene’s undeniable talent. This year’s nominees for Best Hip Hop/Rap Song and Best Hip Hop/Rap Artist reflect the diversity, creativity, and raw energy that make San Diego’s hip hop culture thrive. Best Hip Hop/Rap Song Nominees are 🔥 Cane Dubb – “When Times Get Rough” A deeply personal and gritty track, Cane Dubb delivers storytelling at its finest, painting vivid pictures of struggle and survival. 🔥 Cory Blaze – “For the City” An SD anthem in every sense, Cory Blaze’s high-energy flow and city-pride lyricism make this a certified banger. 🔥 DJ Who & Mantis – “Outsider” Experimental and raw, this duo brings an alternative hip hop edge with deep lyricism and atmospheric production. 🔥 Ej Hustla – “God Said” Heavy bars, spiritual reflections, and street wisdom—Ej Hustla delivers an inspiring and powerful performance. 🔥 Mitchy Slick – “Keep Up The Name” A San Diego legend doing what he does best—repping the city and keeping it 100 with hard-hitting, street-certified storytelling. 🔥 Sham Blak – “Fade to Blak” Gritty, introspective, and packed with lyricism, Sham Blak’s offering is a masterclass in underground hip hop. 🔥 The Gravities – “Find a Lil’ Time” A jazzy, soulful take on hip hop, The Gravities bring smooth instrumentation and conscious rhymes to the mix. Best Hip Hop/Rap Artist Nominees are 💥 Brothers Burns – Consistently delivering raw and authentic hip hop, Brothers Burns have been SD staples in the underground scene. 💥 Crhymes – A sharp lyricist with a relentless flow, Crhymes continues to push boundaries with his wordplay and storytelling. 💥 Kahlee – A true hip hop activist, Kahlee blends West Coast vibes with socially conscious bars that resonate far beyond SD. 💥 Dezzy Hollow – A rising force in West Coast hip hop, Dezzy’s smooth yet hard-hitting style has gained him a loyal following. 💥 Riston Diggs – The reigning champ and previous SDMA winner, Riston Diggs continues to elevate with his versatile style and deep lyricism. 💥 RM the Poet – A spoken-word-inspired emcee, RM the Poet brings a unique energy to SD hip hop with thought-provoking lyricism. 💥 The Neighborhood Kids – This collective keeps hip hop alive with their fresh energy, dynamic flows, and undeniable chemistry. With such a strong lineup of nominees, this year’s San Diego Music Awards is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet. Who will take home the awards? The fans have a say—make sure to vote and support your favorite artists! 🎤 Vote Now: SanDiegoMusicAwards.com
Best Hip Hop/Rap Song
Best Hip Hop/Rap Artist