Monday 5th January 2015 by Alexandra Pollard

George The Poet placed No.5 on BBC's Sound of 2015

The spoken word artist kicks off the final countdown

Years & Years: Embracing a love of 90's dance but taking things in an equally modern direction, Years & Years feel familiar but fresh, and already have an barrage of anthems under their belts. Fresh after storming every festival this summer, the trio have recently landed themselves a nomination for the Brits Critics Choice award, and are no doubt one of the favourites for this poll. Key tracks: 'Real', 'Desire'

Wolf Alice: Despite their addition to this list seeming long overdue, 2015 will no doubt see Wolf Alice finally explode. Combining borderline garage rock instrumentation with huge melodies and gargantuan choruses, this quartet have perfectly crafted a definitive sound over the last couple of years, and the release of their debut album in 2015 will hopefully see them finally get the fame their sound deserves. Key tracks: 'Moaning Lisa Smile' 'Blush'

Sunset Sons: A pop sensation in waiting, Sunset Sons are one of those bands who have instant hits, and you just know they're going to be receiving a ridiculous amount of radio play anytime soon. Embracing a decidedly surfy sound that thankfully transcends the seasons, it's very easy to see these boys becoming massive next year. Key tracks: 'Come Easy' 'Remember'

Stormzy: Building up buzz through youtube with his inventive fresstyles, Stormzy has fast become a UK rap sensation, releasing his debut project The Dreamers Disease and claiming the top spot on the iTunes hip hop chart instantly. Not bad huh? Key tracks: 'Not That Deep' 'Gold Thoughts'

Soak: Endorsed by CHVRCHES and set to take the folk world by storm, Soak has a beautiful simplicity to her sound that's perhaps been lost in more recent years. Built around her delicate vocals and minimalistic instrumentation, there is a certain depth that resonates differently with each of her tracks to date, as we get the feeling her sound is developing into something truly special. Key tracks: 'Blud' 'B A Nobody'

Slaves: No doubt the turning point for Slaves was their visceral performance on Jools Holland last month, bringing the raw, unforgiving energy that has astounded the festivals all summer and putting it in front of a still audience and Bono. Then again, Slaves aren't your regular two piece, they push the boundaries both live and on record whilst maintaining a unique creative vision. Key tracks: 'Where's Your Car Debbie?' 'Hey'

Shura: Taking pop into sultry new territories, Shura no doubt draws influence from the 80's but everything she puts out still manages to sound remarkably fresh due to the luxurious production and her meandering vocal delivery. Key tracks: 'Indecision' 'Touch'

Shamir: Bringing together a wealth of genres, from folk to house via old school hip hop, Shamir manages to cultivate a sound that sounds anything but contrived. He no doubt won't be to everyone's tastes, but it's hard to deny his inventive talent, and what he makes seems genuinely exciting. Key tracks: 'On The Regular' 'I Know It's A Good Time'

Raury: The changing face of hip hop, Raury is an artist who has been cultivating his sound and image for years, but only decided to unleash it into the world in the last few months. This sense of development made him instantly impactful in the hip hop world, and has earned him fans including Andre 3000, Kanye West, Killer Mike and a wealth of others, his Indigo Child Mixtape sitting as one of the year's most inventive hip hop releases. Key Tracks: 'God's Whisper' 'Chariots of Fire'

Rae Morris: Developing from an unassuming folk--prodigy into an actual pop star, Rae Morris' rise to fame has been wonderful to watch, with the Blackpool songstress biding her time perfectly with a string of acclaimed EPs building up to the long awaited debut album she'll be putting out early next year. Key tracks: 'Cold' 'Closer'

Novelist: Just 16 years old and seemingly taking the Grime world by storm, South London's Novelist has been amassing buzz for some time now, cited as 'the new face of grime' and winner of Best Grime Act the 2014 MOBO Awards. Needless to say, the hype is justified. Key Tracks: 'Sniper' 'Beef'

Lapsley: A future pop icon, Lapsley has seemingly come out of nowhere to change what we should expect from modern pop music. Recently signed to XL Recordings and crafting crisp, electronically influenced hits given depth from stunning delicate vocals, it's perhaps unsurprising that hype around the 18 year old is building fast as anticipation rises for the release of her debut EP in January.

Kwabs: Without doubt one of the finest vocals to surface this year, Kwabs' voice is so passionately fuelled against the sparse instrumentation it's hard not to just stop in your tracks and indulge in every meticulously crafted element. Needless to say, his potential is endless. Key Tracks: 'Walk', 'Last Stand'.

James Bay: Building upon ground laid by the likes of Hozier and Ben Howard, James Bay is no doubt an imminent sensation, crafting emotionally founded folk pop that oozes charm. Built around sharp intricate elements, Bay's voice is effortlessly swoon-worthy, culminating in a sound that is approachable without being bland, just completely blissful. Key tracks: 'Let It Go', 'Hold Back The River'.

George The Poet: Fusing his relatable, politically charged ideologies with forward thinking production, George The Poet is radically changing the world of hip hop from the ground up. Talking about what he knows, his modern brand of spoken word atop energetic beats is instantly resonant, a refreshing, genuine change up for the genre. Key tracks: '1,2,1,2' ,'My City'

George The Poet has been placed fifth in the BBC's Sound Of 2015 list.

The spoken word artist, who blends political and social commentary with modern rap, graduated from Cambridge with a degree in Politics. In 'The Blame Game', for example, he tackles the issue of racism, the police and gang culture.

Listen to 'The Blame Game' ft. Emmanuel Stanleys below

The BBC Sound of 2015 list is aggregated by 139 DJs, with a longlist of 15 acts whittled down to a top 5 this week - culminating in the winner being announced on Friday (9 December).

Other artists featured in the shortlist include James Bay, Rae Morris, Raury, Wolf Alice and Years & Years.