10 alt rap/hip-hop artists you should be listening to by now
The rap and hip-hop industry is a highly competitive one. With constant clashes of ego and fame, it can be hard to distinguish the artistry from the hype. But take a glance outside the mainstream spectrum and you will see a thriving community of independent self-starters, instrumental connisseurs and lyrical vegabonds. Here are 10 shining artists who are making bigger and bigger waves in the alternative branches of the genre.
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1. Flatbush Zombies
No one has served originality to the table the way the Flatbush Zombies have. They are a three-headed independent monster from Brooklyn, New York — with Erick The Architect producing both instumentals and rhymes, and Meechy Darko and Zombie Juice bringing their own bodacious flare that often provides for three very uniqe verses. Erick is precise, Meech is dark and Juice is bright; and this doesn't end with their music, as the trio also create their own videos, artwork and a whole bunch of limited-edition merch that's available on their website. Yet nothing's more impressive than their live performance, which showcases brilliant energy, stage-diving, mosh pits and some crazy visuals. Paying homage to a '90s icon, the Flatbush Zombies even feature “Smells Like Teen Spirit” once per set, making sure the crowd knows that it's time to move around. Remaining a completely unsigned group, the Zombies are one of the most impressive hip-hop artists on the rise in the last five years.
2. The Underachievers
Hailing from the same borough of Flatbush in Brooklyn and childhood friends of the Zombies, the Underachievers deliver tracks ranging from “bangers” to those with a more conscious and spiritual vibe. AK The Savior, who is one half of the duo, orchestrates slick phrasing and quick flows, which pairs his style up nicely with his partner Issa Gold's swagger and punctuality. Both artists are able to blend their lyricism very heartily within the instrumentals, allowing most of their records to resemble a journey across many different types of beats. The Underachievers also know how to rile up a crowd, acting as two balls of fire on stage, while encouraging attendees to hop along in unison. Combining universal principles and their extremely diverse music tastes, this rapping duo have a positive future ahead of them.
3. Danny Brown
Danny Brown is easily one of the most charismatic personalities in all of the industry. Whether it's his quirky smile or unmistakeable voice, the Detroit native brings a unique persona to the stage. Brown has risen from a past filled with adversity, but today, a song of his serves as the theme for ABC's Fresh Off The Boat, and another has appeared on HBO's Silicon Valley soundtrack. The 36-year-old MC also is known for his unconventional and sometimes lavish instrumentals, which also lead to some pretty crafty lyrical progression. Brown has also been featured alongside acts such as Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky as well as performing at numerous large-scale festivals around the world. Although he may be an acquired taste, Danny Brown is offering a novel brand of avant-garde hip-hop that is only extending the genre's boundaries out further.
4. Vince Staples
He's an emerging artist out of Long Beach, California that's been picking up steam for nearly three years now. Vince Staples initially gained recognition appearing alongside the likes of Odd Future and Mac Miller, but since the drop of his debut album Summertime '06 in 2014, he's experimented with everything from spoken word to heavily sampled instrumentals. Jumping around from dance-y club hits to that laid back west coast flow, it's no telling where Staples will take his career over the next decade. He's still blossoming at the young age of 24, and his exposure has already exploded into a brand new spot in a Sprite advertisement, which is a popular sponsor of many prominent hip-hop performers. Regardless if you're aware of his presence yet, it's no surprise that Staples has continued to surge into a variety of fresh listeners' ears thanks to his youthful approach on music.
5. Anderson .Paak
This is the only artist on this list to have been nominated for a Grammy already — and that just came earlier this year! And even though Anderson .Paak didn't take home the hardware for Best Urban Contemporary Album, his latest record Malibu has catapulted him onto the scene with his diverse mix between traditional R&B and modern hip-hop. Earning critical reception, he found himself at the top of many year-end lists and opening for the prolific pop-star Bruno Mars, which came in large part due to his performances. Anderson .Paak and his touring mates, the Free Nationals, bring the full-band experience to the stage; and with full renditions of his songs done using guitars, keys and more, what makes the show even better is when .Paak himself hops on the drum kit and absolutely shreds it. Right now, he may be one of the most musically talented artists making a splash.
6. Skepta
One of the UK's biggest rising stars is Skepta, who has perfected and popularized the growing sub-genre of grime. Grime is a London-constructed mix of electronic, dancehall and rap music that the British MC has embraced; and his relentless pursuit of creativity has even landed him the coveted Mercury Prize in 2016 for his most recent album Konnichiwa, which is an annual award given to the UK's best album of the year (he beat Radiohead and David Bowie). Apart from breathing fire on the track, Skepta also serves as a producer, songwriter, and music video editor, who also fancies himself as an activist rather than a rapper. His shows are as live as they come, and when you hear the beat drop, you better believe no one in the crowd will be standing still. Cultural artistry is at an optimum for an artist like Skepta, who seems to show no signs of slowing down on his path to worldwide domination.
7. Astroid Boys
Another group worth watching out for here at AP are the Astroid Boys, who incorporate punk and hardcore influences into their very own element of grime. Though they haven't garnered a ton of attention outside of the UK yet, the Cardiff, Wales-based crew have gained a lot of respect from the grime and heavy communities. Many instrumentals used by the band feature live recording of drums and distorted guitar riffs, giving their more trap-style beats a chunkier tone. The group also constitutes a wide range of vocalists, all of whom bring their own styles and arrangements to the party. Don't sleep on their live shows, either, which are clearly not for the faint of heart. Thanks to their bomb-ass production, a hyped-up stage presence gets the crowd involved on nearly every account, further promoting listeners to indulge in the savory technique of these rising rappers.
8. Denzel Curry
One of South Florida's finest products, Denzel Curry has continued to set the pace in artistic vibrance. Bursting onto the spectrum with his debut album Nostalgic 64, Curry immediately showcased his speed, skill and articulation through a variety of rhythms that nearly scorched listeners' ears upon their first listen. In the years since, he's continued to show determination, grit and expansion, as his approach to making music has now branched out into a relationship between modern heavy-hitting beats and unapologetic, confident lyricism. Having just released a new EP titled 13 this month, his evolution continues to be evident as he delivers fresh and ambitious tracks that challenge both his style and expected bars. Denzel Curry is certainly one of the most spirited and dynamic performers out right now, and his live show isn't worth passing up either.
9. Shabazz Palaces
Comprised of Ishmael Butler and Tendai “Baba” Maraire, Shabazz Palaces hail from Seattle, Washington and provide a very abstract take on the traditional hip-hop world. A wide array of percussion elements organized by Maraire are stylistically formatted underneath the vocals of Butler, who formerly served as a member of the jazz-rap group, Digable Planets. Shabazz Palaces are also one of the very first hip-hop groups to sign to the famous Seattle label Sub-Pop, gaining them an exclusive edge in the independent rap community. No matter the expectations of the mainstream, the duo continuously sample musical influences from all sorts of backgrounds, channeling everything from their African roots to modern pop elements. Keep an eye out for their third and fourth studio albums, which will both make their simultaneous release later this year.
10. Action Bronson
One of the most individual personas in all of rap music is Action Bronson, who's a big guy with a big heart and an even larger arsenal of talent. Formerly a reknowned gourmet chef, Bronson has transfigured his career into a successful rapper who takes no days off. Though he throws in his food references throughout his seemingly spontaneous flows, his complex wordplay, metaphors and obscure references are as tasty as they come. Coming from a diverse background as well, Bronson is known to venture into quite a variety of backing beats, ranging from classic New York-influenced hip hop to vibrant full-band tracks. Action Bronson is also a household name on the network television channel Viceland, where he hosts his food traveling show F**k That's Delicious, as well as Traveling the Stars: Action Bronson and Friends Watch ‘Ancient Aliens’. No matter which aspect of Bronson you prefer, he's truly a character to indulge in.
Who should be added to the list? Tell us in the comments!
