YARA SHAHIDI

Yara Shahidi is only 18 and is destined for greatness. Shahidi's career began when she was only 6 years old in
TV and print ads for various companies, but most people know her for her hilarious role on ABC's "Black-
ish." Her relatable presence and perfect comedic timing led to her own spin-off, "Grown-ish," with her
character heading off to college for her own collegiate adventures.

On top of her budding career, the teen is an activist. Her powerful words on representation and
race resonate with other teens who don't see themselves represented in the media landscape. She also
had her own mentoring group in high school and announced that she would be attending Harvard
University. But first, she's taking a gap year. Can't wait to see what Shahidi does in her life and career. She is
destined for great things.

ERIS BAKER

Eris Baker at the 2018 Heart Radio Music Awards.

Eris Baker shines on "This Is Us" at the age of 12

Playing the oldest daughter of Beth and Randall on NBC's hit drama is natural for Baker, who is the oldest of
four sisters. The young actress's first role was a Target commercial, but she has since expanded her resume
to include some episodes on Disney Channel's "KC Undercover" and Comedy Central's "Drunk History."

The pre-teen may still be in school, but she is establishing herself as an actor to watch.
 GIGI HADID

Gigi Hadid at Glamour's 2017 Women of the Year Awards.

Gigi Hadid, 22, has a combined total of over 45 million followers on Instagram and Twitter, as well as a makeup
collection and clothing line.
Gigi Hadid is undoubtedly one of the most popular models in the world. Aside from walking runways, she
also released her own makeup collection with Maybelline and a clothing line with Tommy Hilfiger.
In addition to being a trendsetter, Hadid uses her platform to positively impact others. In 2016 and 2017,
she collaborated with Pencils of Promise and Stuart Weitzman to design exclusive shoes, whose proceeds
helped to fund the development of schools around the world.

CARA DELEVINGNE

She is a woman of many talents.

Model and actress Cara Delevingne, 25, is branching out into various careers.
Delevingne has been modeling since she was 10 years old and was named "model of the year" at the British
Fashion Awards by 20. She started her acting career that same year with her first role in "Anna Karenina."
Since then, she has been in bigger movies, like DC's (panned) "Suicide Squad" and "Valerian and the City of
a Thousand Planets."
In between her acting, she sings and has released a couple of songs, has designed her own fashion and
accessories with name brand designers, and released her own novel in 2017 titled "Mirror, Mirror." Though
not all of her projects have been critical hits, Delevingne shows how hard work pays off.
 FINN WOLFHARD
Finn Wolfhard, 15, is a breakout star of "Stranger Things" and has become popular in his own right.

Finn Wolfhard at the "Stranger Things 2" premiere in Los Angeles.

Wolfhard is most recognized from his role as Mike Wheeler on Netflix's "Stranger Things," but he also
starred in one of the biggest movies of 2017 — "It." At the 2017 SAG Awards, Wolfhard and his "Stranger
Things" co-stars took home the award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series,
proving that the show is indeed a success.
Aside from acting, he is also a guitarist in a band named Calpurnia, with a debut EP currently in production.

. JAHI DI'ALLO WINSTON

Jahi Di'Allo Winston, 14, launched from starring on Broadway to a new Netflix series.

Jahi Di'Allo Winston is a triple threat.

After debuting on Broadway as the young Simba in "The Lion King," Winston pivoted to major movies and
TV. He co-starred alongside Taraji P. Henson in 2018's "Proud Mary," and now you can watch him as the
bright lead in Netflix's "Everything Sucks!"

The '90s teen dramedy highlights Winston's range of talent that's impressive to see in 14-year-old actor. For
more on "Everything Sucks!,"
 CAMERON MONAGHAN
Cameron Monaghan, 24, has been in show business since he was a toddler.

Cameron Monaghan at the 2017 GQ Men of the Year party.

Monaghan started as a child model, landing his first catalogue cover when he was only five. He gained
attention for his role in the TV movie "The Music Man" when he was nine and continued to build his
resume with supporting roles on "Malcolm in the Middle" and Adam Sandler's "Click." But it was being cast
as a gay, bipolar son on "Shameless" that propelled Monaghan even further.
He now plays the terrifying Jerome on "Gotham" and was in "Amityville: The Awakening." His wide range of
abilities promises a long Hollywood career.

LETITIA WRIGHT
Letitia Wright, 24, stole the show in "Black Panther."

Letitia Wright attends the Calvin Klein Collection during New York Fashion Week in 2018.
Wright's portrayal of Shuri, T'Challa's younger sister in "Black Panther," was endearing and funny and
relatable. Wright stood her own in the Marvel movie and broke out as an actor to watch.
She first started acting back in 2011 and was on British shows including "Top Boy" and "Chasing Shadows,"
but she stepped away from acting while battling depression.
"It was like this repetitive cycle that you can’t break out of," she told Teen Vogue. "I did personally deal with
it, and I just had to surrender to God, and I found that it really worked for me."
She was recently on an episode of "Black Mirror" and will be reprising her role of Shuri for " Avengers:
Infinity War." She will also star in the upcoming movie "Ready Player One." We are ready to watch Wright
shine.
 DAFNE KEEN
Dafne Keen was only 11 years old when she filmed her powerful performance in the X-Men film "Logan."

The preteen played mutant Laura Kinney/X-23 with an incredible fierceness that left viewers speechless and
then made them forget she was only a preteen. She held her own alongside Hugh Jackman's
iconic Wolverine. And most impressively, the bilingual actress portrayed her power by staying silent for
much of the film. When she did finally speak, her banter with Wolverine was top-notch.

Whatever Keen does next, she's sure to be a standout star.

HARRY STYLES
Harry Styles, 24, made stepping out of a boy band spotlight look easy.

The British musician first got his start as a member of One Direction, which formed on "The X-Factor" and
became one of the biggest boy bands in recent memory. The group released five albums, went on four
tours, and were teen heartthrobs. But Styles didn't end his music career when the group went on a hiatus
in 2016. After a brief time away, Styles returned in 2017 with a critically praised self-titled debut solo album
that showed off his incredible musicality. He is a modern pop and rock star.

Styles also made his film debut in Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk," earning rave reviews for his portrayal of a
soldier. The singer also showcased his humorous side on "Saturday Night Live."

To top it all off, he focuses much of his energy on spreading love and kindness to people everywhere, is
a vocal supporter of LGBTQ rights, and donates his time and money to numerous causes. Keep it up, Styles.
 ELIZABETH OLSEN
Elizabeth Olsen, 29, went from indie darling to a female lead in Marvel movies.

Elizabeth Olsen at the Stella McCartney Autumn 2016 Presentation in January 2016.
The younger Olsen turned heads for her role in 2011's "Martha Marcy May Marlene" before landing a lead
role in 2014's "Godzilla" reboot opposite Bryan Cranston.
That same year she joined Marvel's Cinematic Universe as the Scarlet Witch and has appeared in
"Avengers: Age of Ultron" and "Captain America: Civil War." She'll star in the upcoming movie "Avengers:
Infinity War," too.

ZOË KRAVITZ
Zoë Kravitz, 29, has come out of her father's shadow to show she's both a talented singer and actress.

Zoë Kravitz at the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards September 17, 2017. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
If you didn't notice Kravitz in 2011's "X-Men: First Class" or the "Divergent" movie series, you definitely
know her as one of the strong-headed wives in "Mad Max: Fury Road." The movie was nominated for a
best picture Oscar.
Kravitz starred in one of 2017's most-talked about shows, HBO miniseries "Big Little Lies," which
was recently confirmed for a second season.
We'll see her in the next "Fantastic Beasts" movie, as well, while she balances her time in her band
Lolawolf.
 IAIN ARMITAGE
Iain Armitage, 9, went from having a theater critic blog to starring on one of the biggest TV shows of the year.

Iain Armitage at the HBO post-Emmys party in 2017.

This young artiste started out with a theater review blog on YouTube and is now brushing shoulders with
Hollywood elite as he begins an acting career of his own.
Armitage starred in HBO's critically acclaimed series "Big Little Lies" and the divisive "Big Bang Theory" spin-
off, "Young Sheldon." He also appeared in the film adaptation of Jeanette Wells' biography "Glass Castle."

CALEB LANDRY JONES

Caleb Landry Jones, 28, is suddenly in every major movie you can think of.

Caleb Landry Jones at the 2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards, where he appeared in multiple nominated movies.

Caleb Landry Jones had been toiling in Hollywood for years with background parts in great movies like "The
Social Network" and "No Country for Old Men." Critics really started paying attention with 2014’s "Heaven
Knows What" where he plays a passionate but dangerous drug addict in love with a suicidal woman.

By 2017, Landry Jones seems to had been cast in everything. He’s the creepy brother in "Get Out," the
independent son in "The Florida Project," and the billboards owner in "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing,
Missouri." The guy knows how to pick great movies.
 AULI'I CRAVALHO
Auli'i Cravalho, 17, is best known for her starring role in Disney's "Moana."

Cravalho wore three different gowns at the 2017 Oscars.

Auli'i Cravalho became a breakout after her starring role in "Moana," and the film was praised for creating a
strong, independent lead with agency.
"Everyone needs to take that time to figure out who they are," Cravalho said about her character. "The fact
that there's no love interests in 'Moana' — it's all about her — is very relatable. You don't need another
person to help you find yourself."
The Hawaii native also showed off her impressive vocals when she performed "How Far I'll Go" with Lin-
Manuel Miranda at the 2017 Oscars.
Cravalho currently stars as Lilette Suarez on the new NBC drama "Rise," which centers on a group of
students who join their high school's theater department.

JESSICA WILLIAMS
Jessica Williams, 28, is a comedian/writer/actor extraordinaire whose already-incredible career is just getting
starting.

Jessica Williams at a Planned Parenthood event in January 2018.

After her breakout stint on "The Daily Show" as a correspondent, Williams went on to star in a Netflix
movie called "The Incredible Jessica James."

Now she's co-host of the beloved "2 Dope Queens" podcast, which recently aired three specials on HBO.
Williams — a lifelong "Harry Potter" superfan — also landed a role in the coming "Fantastic Beasts" movie
sequel.
 ALEX LAWTHER
Alex Lawther, 22, has an impressive record of critically acclaimed projects and a bright future ahead.

Keep your eyes this young British actor's career. because he's about to take off.

Lawther's first major role came when he played a younger version of Benedict Cumberbatch's character,
Alan Turing, in the 2014 award-winning biopic "The Imitation Game." He has since appeared on an episode
of Netflix's "Black Mirror" and in the movie "Goodbye Christopher Robin."

Now you can watch Lawther shine in 2018's breakout Netflix hit "End of the F**king World," where he
portrays a sociopathic teenager in the perfectly dark comedy series.

MILEY CYRUS

Miley Cyrus, grew up in the public eye. And at 25, the singer and actress has found her groove.

Cyrus became an instant teen icon with her starring role on Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana." Her
acting career took off with her own movie and then the lead role in "The Last Song," where she met
her now-fiancé Liam Hemsworth. So did her singing career, but the sudden and quick rise to stardom did
lead to a drastic image change that landed her in the centre of some controversies and criticisms.

But she found her footing once again and has made a stable career. She sometimes serves as a coach on
"The Voice" and released her latest album "Younger Now" in 2017. She also started the Happy Hippie
Foundation, a non-profit that focuses on youth homelessness (particularly among the LGBTQ community)
and other vulnerable groups, and is a staunch advocate for feminism and equality.
 TAYLOR SWIFT

Taylor Swift, 28, is one of the most powerful people in music.

At 28, Taylor Swift has released six bestselling albums and inspired reams of think pieces. Her musical
output may be uneven, but she's nearly unmatched in her ability to build hype when launching new music
and keeping her fans happy.

Taylor Swift is already everywhere and she isn't going anywhere.

TOM HOLLAND

Tom Holland, 21, is the latest actor to play Spider-Man in the film's franchise, and the box office numbers
confirm that this reboot is a hit.

Marvel fans were first introduced to Holland in 2016, when he made his debut as Spider-Man in "Captain
America: Civil War." In his first standalone Spidey film, "Spider-Man: Homecoming," the 21-year-old
impressed fans and critics with his quirky and youthful performance as Peter Parker. The movie was a box
office hit and racked up the second-largest opening for the Spider-Man franchise. Holland will once again
share the screen with his fellow Avengers (plus a brand new Spidey suit) in the highly anticipated
"Avengers: Infinity War."

Holland also has a background in theatre and played Billy Elliot in the London production of "Billy Elliot the
Musical." With his talent, it wouldn't be a surprise if Holland eventually returned to theatre at some point
in his career.
 TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET

Timothée Chalamet, 22, is quickly making his mark on Hollywood.

Young Chalamet seemed to come out of nowhere this year. He had a small role in Christopher Nolan's
"Interstellar" in 2014. And in 2017, he jumped a few steps higher in fame thanks to his starring role in "Call
Me by Your Name" across from Armie Hammer, which has been nominated for multiple awards.

He also has a small but breathtakingly funny role in "Lady Bird," as well as spots in "Hot Summer Nights"
and "Hostiles." It's a big year for him.

All that, and his amazing hair, makes Chalamet one to watch.

JENNIFER LAWRENCE

At just 27, Jennifer Lawrence's credits rival those of actresses twice her age.
Jennifer Lawrence was the highest paid actress in 2016, with her films grossing more than $5.5 billion
worldwide.

Jennifer Lawrence had critics won over with her performance in 2010's "Winter Bone." But then everyone
else caught the Jenni-fever after she broke through with "X-Men: First Class" and, of course, "The Hunger
Games" movie franchise. Since then, she has dazzled everyone by toggling between box office smashes and
award-garnering turns in films like "American Hustle" and "Joy."

Though she recently said that she's taking a break from acting, she still has three films slated for 2018. We
figure she'll rest up and come back with more fire for the future.
 LORDE

New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde, 21, released her second album to critical acclaim in June 2017.

If fans had any worries Lorde might fade into the backdrop after her 2013 hit album "Pure Heroine," all
doubts were banished with the debut of "Melodrama" over the summer. Lorde is redefining pop music and
we're certain she'll be dropping hit singles for years to come.

MARGOT ROBBIE

Margot Robbie, 27, became one of the most recognizable faces when she brought a female villain to life on the
big screen.
The Australian actress has been acting for the last decade in the soap opera "Neighbours." It wasn't until
she moved to Hollywood and appeared alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in 2013's "The Wolf of Wall Street"
that she really started making waves.
She has appeared in several movies with big stars since including "Focus," "Z for Zachariah," and "The
Legend of Tarzan," but it was Warner Bros.' villain movie "Suicide Squad" that helped make her a
worldwide phenomenon.
Robbie's understanding of the lovesick psychiatrist-turned-villain Harley Quinn quickly became a popular
adaptation of the character among fans and has been the most popular Halloween costume for two years
running. Robbie is set to reprise her role as Quinn in several spin-off movies, including a "Suicide Squad"
sequel.
She's not riding the Harley Quinn train, though. She landed a Golden Globe nod for best actress in a
comedy or musical for "I, Tonya."
 ZENDAYA

Zendaya has gone from Disney Channel to blockbuster star all by the age of 21.

Zendaya Coleman, known professionally by just her first name, made her acting debut on Disney Channel's
"Shake It Up" when she was only 14. Since then, the actress has established herself as a strong presence in
Hollywood. She made her big-screen debut by joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in "Spider-Man:
Homecoming." She also starred in the musical movie "The Greatest Showman."

A triple threat, Zendaya can also sing and signed with Hollywood Records before she was 16. She's also
written a book and designed her own clothing line. On top of all of that, she is an activist and feminist,
fighting for equality and diversity. Zendaya is making her mark and we're excited to watch.

MILLIE BOBBY BROWN

Millie Bobby Brown, 14, became a well-known young actress through the popularity of "Stranger Things."
Ever since Millie Bobby Brown landed a role as Eleven on Netflix's "Stranger Things" and the show became
a hit, her career has skyrocketed. The 14-year-old has over 10 million followers on Instagram and was one
of Google's top-trending actors of 2017.
From rapping on talk shows to sitting front row at fashion shows, there's no facet of the industry that she
can't conquer.
‘’
 SAOIRSE RONAN

At 23, Saoirse Ronan has the career any actor would envy.

Saoirse Ronan has been around for so long that her youth is shocking.

Her breakthrough role was a decade ago in "Atonement." Since then, she's picked up some of the most
interesting roles in Hollywood — a teenage assassin in "Hanna," a lovesick chef in "The Grand Budapest

"Game of Thrones" actress Sophie Turner, 22, has crossed over into new franchises and is ready to dominate.

Turner began her career with a role on TV's biggest series of all time, and she could have easily wound up
trapped as Sansa Stark for eternity. But Turner has not only grown impressively within her "Game of
Thrones" character, but is now starring as Jean Grey in the latest "X-Men" movies.

With dual franchises under her belt and more projects on the way, we think Turner is just getting started.

12. "Game of Thrones" star Maisie Williams, 20, is an actor, activist, and even started a production company.
Maisie Williams photographed at the 65th Berlinale International Film Festival. Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty
Images

Best known for her work as everyone's favorite badass Arya Stark on "Game of Thrones," Williams is also
set to appear in an upcoming "X-Men" spinoff.

She also spends time campaigning for both human and animal rights, and started a short film production
company focused on developing young storytellers. We can't wait to see what she does next.

11. Ariana Grande, 24, has the vocal range to be the next Mariah Carey.

Ariana Grande in New York City. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Grande has come a long way since her Nickelodeon days on "Victorious."

At 24, the "Into You" singer has four Grammy nominations and three American Music Awards. Her vocal
range has been compared to that of Mariah Carey. Those are some big shoes to fill, but Grande is already
on her way.

10. One of the big movie studios put Ezra Miller, 25, in its biggest projects.
Ezra Miller dressed up for the Hollywood premiere of "Justice League" in November. Neilson Barnard/Getty
Images

Ezra Miller isn’t yet a household name, but he’s already starred in movies you’ve heard of.

After a harrowing, terrifying performance as a young school shooter in Lynne Ramsay’s "We Need to Talk
About Kevin" and showing his more sensitive side in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," Warner Bros.
plopped him into its two biggest franchises.

In "Justice League," he plays The Flash, bringing much-needed comic relief to the gloomy DC Comics
adaptation.

And in the "Fantastic Beasts" series, he plays Credence Barebone, who J.K. Rowling tasks with the tricky
role of executing one of her newer magical innovations. Miller pulls it off.

9. Daniel Kaluuya, 29, got an Oscar nomination for starring in the instant classic "Get Out."
Daniel Kaluuya at the 2018 Oscars. Christopher Polk/Getty Images

The British actor made his name on television in "Skins" and then began to get serious critical attention
with "Black Mirror." He starred in "Fifteen Million Merits," the second episode of the show’s first season,
which takes place in a dystopian society where everyone rides bikes to power the world and live under
omniscient television screens.

Then, for 2017’s "Get Out," he received an Oscar nomination for best actor. He drew raves for playing Chris
Washington, a young black man spending the weekend at his white girlfriend’s family home only to learn
that they’re involved in a conspiracy to put a white person into his black body. Kaluuya followed up that
success with a supporting role in "Black Panther" and is scheduled to be in a movie directed by "12 Years a
Slave" director Steve McQueen later this year.

8. Brie Larson won a best actress Oscar when she was 25 and is about to be a Marvel superhero.
Brie Larson at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. Sam Santos/Getty Images for Nespresso

Brie Larson, 28, is one of the busiest actresses in Hollywood, hardly going a year without three or four
movies hitting theaters. In 2016, she won a best actress Oscar for her starring role in "Room," beating out
Cate Blanchett and perennial nominee Jennifer Lawrence. And in 2019, she'll join the Avengers as Captain
Marvel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Offscreen, Larson is famous for her trenchant feminism. She set the tone early and publicly for Hollywood's
current backlash towards sexual harassment. After she handed Casey Affleck's best actor award to him at
the 2017 Oscar ceremony, she refused to clap and later said her demeanor "spoke for itself."

7. Rapper Cardi B., 25, has a lot of tricks up her sleeve.

Cardi B. at Power 105.1's Powerhouse 2017. Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Cardi B. blasted through in September 2017 when she dethroned Taylor Swift from the top of the charts
with "Bodak Yellow." But then we came to find that she has a major personality — leaving "Tonight Show"
host Jimmy Fallon speechless in an interview.

She then proved that she is no one-hit-wonder in the first week of 2018 after becoming only the third artist
and first rapper in history to have her first three Billboard 100 singles on the chart’s Top 10 at the same
time — a feat accomplished by just the Beatles and Ashanti previously.

6. Daisy Ridley, 25, shot to stardom after "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
Daisy Ridley at the Jameson Empire Awards in March 2016. Anthony Harvey/Getty Images

Daisy Ridley was relatively unknown in some bit roles before landing the coveted lead role in Disney's new
"Star Wars" trilogy. Her popularity led to the demand of more female "Star Wars" action figures when the
supply of Rey figures didn't meet demand.

Ridley went from a galaxy far, far away to a murder mystery in the "Murder on the Orient Express"
adaptation. 2018 will be a big year for the actress as she'll star in two movies — "Ophelia" and "Peter
Rabbit" — and start filming 2019’s "Star Wars: Episode IX."

Ridley's infectious and bubbly attitude on the interview circuit has quickly won over fans around the world
to make her a beloved sweetheart and one to watch.
 EMMA STONE

Emma Stone, 29, has gone from comedies and superhero movies to
Oscar-nominated darling.

After breakout roles in "Zombieland" and "Easy A," Stone starred as

Spider-Man's love interest in two movies.

A role in "The Help" showed that Stone was destined for more than a
sarcastic, pretty face. She earned her first Oscar nomination for 2014's
"Birdman." Though she didn't win that, a lead in the revival of
Broadway's "Cabaret," led to a role in "La La Land," which ultimately
landed Stone her first best actress Oscar.

We're sure this is just the start.

4. John Boyega, 25, became an overnight icon with his role in the new "Star Wars" trilogy.
John Boyega attends the 2017 world premiere of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Boyega's rise in Hollywood began with the 2011 film "Attack the Block," but the young actor exploded into
the mainstream as Finn in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

Now after reprising his role as the heroic Finn in 2017's "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" and appearing in the
Kathryn Bigelow's "Detroit," Boyega has cemented his place in pop culture. Boyega's charm and charisma
will carry him far in the sure-to-be lustrous career ahead.

3. Selena Gomez, 25, has been a household name since starring as Alex Russo on "Wizards of Waverly Place."
Selena Gomez at the 2017 American Music Awards. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Selena Gomez has been a fan-favorite since she starred on Disney Channel's "Wizards of Waverly Place,"
from 2007 to 2012. Since then, her career has evolved and she has become a successful singer, actress, and
producer (she served as the executive producer for Netflix's "13 Reasons Why") — all at the age of 25.

In 2017, Gomez released new tracks "It Ain't Me" with Kygo, "Bad Liar," "Fetish," and "Wolves" with
Marshmello. After undergoing surgery for a kidney transplant, Gomez returned to the spotlight to share her
story and let fans know that new music is coming in 2018.

Gomez remains one of the most-followed people on Instagram, with over 130 million followers and some
of the app's most-liked photos of 2017.

2. Emma Watson, 27, starred in the movie series of a generation — and went beyond that.
Emma Watson at an event for her film "The Circle." Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Of the three main stars of the "Harry Potter" series, Emma Watson has by far been the most successful.

The movies inspired a generation of fans and is famous enough to shape pretty much everyone involved —
we'll always know Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore and Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall.

Daniel Radcliffe continued acting, using his clout to advance fascinating, risky projects like "Swiss Army
Man" and "A Young Doctor's Notebook." Rupert Grint is milling around the British movie industry and
watching "RuPaul's Drag Race."

But Emma Watson has taken a career turn that makes her bigger than just an actor. Yes, she's great in
movies like "The Bling Ring," "This is the End," and "Beauty and the Beast." But she's also a UN Women
Goodwill ambassador for gender equality, a proponent of reading, and a fan of education. That's what
makes her inspiring.

1. At 24 years old, Chance the Rapper has upended the music industry.
Chance the Rapper performing onstage. Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Anheuser-Busch

Chance the Rapper — real name Chancelor Bennett — has had a remarkable rise. The music industry has
seen plenty of wunderkinds who rise to the top of the charts in their late teens or early 20s. What makes
Chance exceptional is that he's done it without the backing of a major record label — or any label at all.

He's launched himself to stratosphere status on the sheer strength of his talent and by taking advantage of
new distribution methods like SoundCloud and Spotify. And though it's unorthodox by industry standards,
the industry has embraced him. He won a 2017 Grammy for best new artist, the first person to do so with a
streaming-only album.

And then there's his music itself. It can be both infectiously happy — check out "Sunday Candy" — and
embraces the current of gospel music running through hip-hop. At the same time, he's capable of mournful
ballads like "Same Drugs." Either way, Chance delivered an energy and emotional heft to hip-hop music
that his generation needed.