http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&category=genre&genreId=38&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rssTop Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody OnlineIndie Rap/Hip-Hopen720Tue, 8 Dec 2009 14:49:14 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&category=genre&genreId=38&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.28463069&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hitmakers Sun, 6 Dec 2009 09:55:34 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.28463069 art.28463069 Drake art.28463069 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.28463069&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.28463069&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Degrassi: The Next Generation, the rapper born Aubrey Drake Graham is an unlikely candidate to serve as hip-hop's latest great hope. But that's what he's been shaking out as, ever since his self-released 2007 mix tape, Comeback Season, brought him to the attention of Lil Wayne, the first of several superstars he has managed to collaborate with before even releasing a debut album. The list now includes Kanye West, Mary J. Blige and others, and it shows no signs of letting up, especially given Drake's starring role in two of 2009's more inescapable summer hip-hop singles: his own "Best I Ever Had" and Young Money Entertainment's "Every Girl." As with the early Kanye, Drake's persona bridges the gap between street smarts and backpacker emo; it's clear, too, that he can sing as nimbly as he raps. Talk about a future multithreat; he doesn't even need to cross over to acting, because he's already been there. All this from a guy whose debut album, Thank Me Later, isn't due until late 2009. - Chuck Eddy]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.24605966&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Alt Dance Tue, 8 Dec 2009 09:16:43 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.24605966 art.24605966 LMFAO art.24605966 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.24605966&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.24605966&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Party Rock. - Philip Sherburne]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.40812&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Experimental Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 8 Dec 2009 09:16:45 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.40812 art.40812 Gorillaz art.40812 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.40812&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.40812&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Demon Days. As the title suggests, the Gorillaz's sophomore effort casts a darker shadow; however, this is tempered by slick-sounding beats and a variety of happy-go-lucky blips and bleeps. The group scored a radio hit this second time around with the single "Feel Good, Inc." - Linda Ryan]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10115285&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The Midwestern Basement Fri, 4 Dec 2009 13:19:45 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.10115285 art.10115285 Lupe Fiasco art.10115285 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10115285&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10115285&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.39850&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Midwestern Lyricists Thu, 3 Dec 2009 22:53:17 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.39850 art.39850 Atmosphere art.39850 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.39850&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.39850&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Overcast!, Lucy Ford, God Loves Ugly and Sevens Travels. In 2004, they hit radio and MTV2 paydirt with the single "Trying to Find a Balance." - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10192676&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Experimental Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 6 Oct 2009 09:54:16 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.10192676 art.10192676 Gnarls Barkley art.10192676 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10192676&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10192676&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss
While it's a clear enough story, the music that Gnarls Barkley makes is more prickly and diverges from anything that Cee-Lo or Danger Mouse have created in their previous endeavors. And though it references nearly everything, it has no real precedent. Is it amoral gospel music, cinematic soul steeped in idiosyncratic underground hip-hop or left-field indie rock with a drum machine and a basketball fixation? Their debut, 2006's St. Elsewhere , is goofy and slippery, falling in the conceptual lineage of other imaginary hip-hop groups such as the aforementioned Gorillaz or Dr. Octagon. It's smooth and soulful, mimicking some the stylistic expeditions taken by Outkast on The Love Below . And finally, it's a mess: disorganized and brilliant; ambitious and nostalgic. Enjoy the music and the mystery. - Sam Chennault]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.542&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss East Coast Underground Sun, 6 Dec 2009 09:55:35 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.542 art.542 A Tribe Called Quest art.542 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.542&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.542&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The Low End Theory, an album many consider to be one of hip-hop's finest as well as the group's masterwork. 1998 saw the release of their final LP The Love Movement, a triple-vinyl concept album that included the single "Find a Way" as well as older remixes and B-sides. Although they've since disbanded, Tribe's musical impact and influence on hip-hop will be heard indefinitely. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4546&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:38:15 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.4546 art.4546 Mos Def art.4546 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4546&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4546&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Black Star LP, followed by his critically acclaimed solo disc, Black on Both Sides (1999). The most appealing aspect of Mos's lyrics wasn't that they largely focused on issues of class and race disparity, but that they infused an emotional poignancy to these potentially dry and pedantic topics. Fans felt his style a viable alternative to stagnant mainstream hip-hop fare, and his records are regarded as underground classics. And while he was entrusted with the keys to the backpack kingdom, he rejected cult status and instead focused on his budding acting career. His two subsequent albums, 2004's New Danger and 2006's True Magic found the emcee moving further away from typical hip-hop claptrap and toward an experimental template that attempted to fuse numerous strands of black music. Oddly, True Magic was pulled off shelves two weeks after it was initially released in 2006. It was slated to be re-released in 2007. - Sam Chennault]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.38114&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss East Coast Underground Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:13:30 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.38114 art.38114 The Roots art.38114 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.38114&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.38114&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.420&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:28:11 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.420 art.420 Common art.420 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.420&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.420&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss One Day It'll All Make Sense, a record with rich, organic beats that balanced his unorthodox vocal style. Touring with a live band (often the Roots) seasoned him for his next effort, Like Water For Chocolate. Stretching hip-hop's boundaries, Common has drawn on everything from thick, Fela Kuti-inspired afro-beat to jazzy live backing, with tracks produced by DJ Premier and the Soulquarians (including drummer/mastermind ?uestlove and singer/keyboardist D'Angelo). In 2002, his sound grew considerably more experimental, and the Jay Dee-produced Electric Circus somewhat alienated fans of his earlier material. After taking a few years to regroup, Common returned triumphantly with Be, teaming up with fellow Chi-town native Kanye West for an exceptional back-to-basics album that many critics have hailed as a modern classic. - Jessy Terry]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.14862&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Midwestern Lyricists Tue, 1 Dec 2009 09:47:15 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.14862 art.14862 Tech N9ne art.14862 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.14862&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.14862&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Anghellic. Based on the success of advance singles, the album received major label distribution via Interscope Records. Anghellic was predictably dark, opening with the invocation "Welcome to hell" and refusing to relent thereafter. Tracks such as "Psycho Bitch," "Suicide Letters" and "Tormented" were ghoulishly sinister, approaching the tone and themes of fellow Midwesterner Eminem's more extreme tracks. Though the album was lauded in underground circles, it didn't catch on in the mainstream and Tech was dropped from his contract. Undeterred, he quickly re-entered the studio and independently released 2002's Absolute Power. That album opened with the anti-industry screed "The Industry Is Punks." Throughout both of his two proper full-lengths, Tech's vocal cadence displayed an unusual pliability. From the double-time rap of "The Industry Is Punks" to the growl of "Trapped in a Psycho's Body," Tech's flow was unpredictable. The only common denominator among the songs was Tech's ability to project a sense of impending menace. We can only hope that this Midwestern madman will once again be resurrected. - Sam Chennault]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.9598484&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 8 Dec 2009 09:16:46 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.9598484 art.9598484 The Flobots art.9598484 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.9598484&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.9598484&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Flobots Present: Platypus, they began touring all over Colorado. They followed Platypus with another well-received full-length project, Fight with Tools, in 2007. All the attention Flobots were getting eventually led to a major-label offer after they performed at the Gothic Theatre in Englewood, Colo., in 2008. - Toshitaka Kondo]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.9929&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:28:15 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.9929 art.9929 MF DOOM art.9929 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.9929&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.9929&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Black Bastards, was shelved by their record label. Sev Love went into hiding, emerging years later as the masked "super villain" MF DOOM. His first album, 1999's Operation Doomsday, was a lo-fi hip-hop classic, featuring a cadre of reworked quiet-storm beats and oblique word puzzles. As an emcee, his flow is a blunt instrument, rumbling over a track's rhythm, oftentimes oblivious to the beat. He relies on words to draw out rhythm, cramming lines with inner rhymes and alliteration. The album acquired a cult following, and when DOOM returned in 2003, the world was ready. He released classics Madvillainy, Take Me to Your Leader and Vaudeville Villain under different aliases within a 10-month period in 2003 and 2004. His latest is 2009's Born Like This. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.7501243&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:29:19 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.7501243 art.7501243 Gym Class Heroes art.7501243 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.7501243&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.7501243&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The Papercut Chronicles and 2006's As Cruel as School Children -- have been embraced by pop audiences. - Sam Chennault]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.36778&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:52:06 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.36778 art.36778 Madlib art.36778 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.36778&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.36778&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Soundpieces: Da Antidote in 1999. Madlib's rickety lo-fi productions were looser and funkier variations on the jazzy hip-hop pioneered by his NYC producers, but it wasn't until The Unseen dropped in 2000 that Madlib's M.O. became apparent. Released under the Quasimoto moniker, The Unseen was a concept album based on a helium-voiced hedonist who enjoyed "astro traveling." It was equal parts Prince Paul, Sun Ra and Cheech Marin, and remains among the most inventive hip-hop albums ever made. Madlib would continue to follow his weird muse unbridled by either commercial interest or fan expectations. In the past eight years, he recorded numerous jazz albums under different aliases, collaborated with J Dilla on Champion Sound, recorded a broken-beat album under the moniker DJ Rels, reworked both the Blue Note and Trojan catalogs, linked up with MF Doom for Madvillainy and recorded two widely acclaimed instrumental hip-hop albums. Madlib continues to push boundaries. - Sam Chennault]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.19296513&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 8 Dec 2009 09:16:50 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.19296513 art.19296513 Wale art.19296513 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.19296513&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.19296513&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.12248263&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Alt Dance Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:04:56 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.12248263 art.12248263 Mickey Avalon art.12248263 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.12248263&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.12248263&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.3957&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Fri, 4 Dec 2009 13:19:29 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.3957 art.3957 Digital Underground art.3957 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.3957&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.3957&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Sex Packets put them on the map with two major singles, "Doowhutchyalike" and "The Humpty Dance" -- the latter introducing the world to Shock G's eccentric alter-ego Humpty Hump. Armed with charismatic flows and contagious grooves merging samples and live instrumentation, they brought forth fresh new takes on the classic foundations of George Clinton and P-Funk. With playful lyrics and experimental concepts, they crafted a funkdified, party-rocking style never resorting to gangsterisms, though sometimes sounding off on social and political issues. The group's follow-up EP was the first release featuring Tupac, whom they would later produce when he went solo. DU's multitalented lineup, including Shock G, Money B, Chopmaster J, DJ Fuze, Kenny K and others, would periodically change throughout the decade; and while mostly remembered for their early hits, they continue to put out high quality work. DU have released six full albums and continue to bring the funk with their over-the-top recordings and flamboyant live shows. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44065&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Boom Bap/Nineties Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:00:40 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.44065 art.44065 Gang Starr art.44065 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44065&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44065&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Jazzmatazz projects in '93, '95, and 2000, while Premier has produced for heavy hitters like Biggie, Nas, and Rakim. Their 1999 quadruple album Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr contains many classic cuts, including "Mass Appeal," "Ex Girl To The Next Girl," and "DWYCK." For consistently high-quality hip-hop, look no further than Brooklyn's finest. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.592&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss West Coast Indie Thu, 1 Oct 2009 11:36:39 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.592 art.592 Jurassic 5 art.592 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.592&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.592&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Lyricist Lounge Vol.1, World Famous Beat Junkies Vol.2, and Quannum Spectrum, among others. They have also released several singles, toured relentlessly, and dropped their exceptional debut LP Quality Control in early 2000. Their old-school/new-school sound is truly infectious, familiar yet unique, and quite simply: fresh. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.385&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Street Hop Fri, 4 Dec 2009 13:19:31 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.385 art.385 Mobb Deep art.385 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.385&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.385&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Juvenile Hell, released when they were still teenagers, to their recent Murda Muzik, Prodigy and Havoc have refined the genre of East Coast "reality rap" with four albums telling of casual violence on the shady streets around the notorious Queensbridge housing projects. Just as evolutionary are their production techniques, (primarily Havoc's) that incorporate dusty records, paranoid piano loops, booming bass, and super-tight beats. Their tracks are designed to manipulate emotions, bringing fear to the listener, whether hard-rock thugs or sheltered suburbanites. If you dig straight street lyrics and sophisticated instrumentals on a higher plane, this is for you. Arguably one of the most influential groups in hip-hop today, the Mobb has many imitators, but no equal. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.68642&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Latin Rock Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:44:29 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.68642 art.68642 Ozomatli art.68642 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.68642&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.68642&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.38008&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss East Coast Underground Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:25:06 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.38008 art.38008 Aesop Rock art.38008 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.38008&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.38008&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Float, Labor Days, and Bazooka Tooth. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.56991&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:27:43 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.56991 art.56991 Talib Kweli art.56991 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.56991&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.56991&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Soundbombing collections, Lyricist Lounge Vol. 1 and New York State of Mind 1 and 2. An outspoken supporter of many sociopolitical issues (both on and off the mic), and he's also appeared on The Unbound Project and Hip Hop For Respect. As if that's not enough, his other group Reflection Eternal (a collaboration with DJ Hi-Tek), have stepped out with several 12-inches and an excellent debut LP. Talib released his long-awaited first solo album Quality in 2002, and found radio love with the single "Get By." His second full-length, The Beautiful Struggle hit the scene two years later, followed by 2007's Eardrum. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.3323&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss 90's Rap/Hip-Hop Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:03:39 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.3323 art.3323 Arrested Development art.3323 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.3323&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.3323&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss 3 Years, 5 Months, And 2 Days In The Life Of.... Merging positive, upbeat vibes with intelligent, socio-political lyricism, their infectious brand of friendly Funk sold millions of records and won them two Grammys. Fueled by the hits "Tennessee" and "Mr. Wendal," Arrested Development seemed to have it all. They released two more albums over the next few years (including Unplugged), but neither matched the critical or commercial impact of their first effort. Leader/emcee Speech released a solo album in 1996, and rumors continue to circulate about an impending reunion. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.43746&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss East Coast Underground Sat, 29 Aug 2009 10:21:46 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.43746 art.43746 Digable Planets art.43746 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.43746&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.43746&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5185455&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The Midwestern Basement Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:00:33 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.5185455 art.5185455 Brother Ali art.5185455 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5185455&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5185455&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Rites of Passage, followed by the excellent Shadows on the Sun in 2003. Though that album was well received by critics and the Rhymesayers faithful, it failed to catch on with the general public, and Ali spent the next two years fighting poverty and engaged in a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife, whom he claims was both mentally and physically abusive toward him and his son. The blood and tears were on full display on his next disc, The Undisputed Truth. For that record, Ali scaled back some of the bravado and explored his inner emotional fissures. Once again, the album gained critical praise and a cult following, but failed to make an impression on the wider listening audience. - Sam Chennault]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.36891&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Experimental Rap/Hip-Hop Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:27:21 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.36891 art.36891 P.M. Dawn art.36891 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.36891&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.36891&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Of the Heart, Of the Soul, and Of the Cross. DJ Minutemix's diverse blend of sounds and Prince Be's introspective vocals won them many fans, though some in the hip-hop community dismissed their eclectic image as formulated and soft. In 1992, after reading an interview in which Be challenged KRS-One, the Blastmaster himself physically tossed him off a stage in NYC. Although P.M. Dawn went on to release three more albums, they never revisited their early successes. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.39363&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The Midwestern Basement Sun, 1 Nov 2009 12:39:40 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.39363 art.39363 RJD2 art.39363 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.39363&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.39363&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Dead Ringer, on the uber-hip Def Jux label in 2002. Much like DJ Shadow (an obvious influence) before him, RJD2's music appeals not only to the underground hip-hop community, but also to aging indie-rockers and hipsters who don't care for most rap music. Loaded with moody samples, dusty drum breaks, dialogue clips, and pieces of vintage soul jams, the mostly instrumental Dead Ringer elicited rave reviews from a wide variety of listeners, and was bound for many critic's "best of 2002" lists. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5278372&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:52:06 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.5278372 art.5278372 J Dilla art.5278372 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5278372&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5278372&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss
Dilla began his musical odyssey in the late '80s as part of the emerging Detroit hip-hop crew Slum Village. He was labeled a prodigy -- when the group formed in 1988, Dilla was only 15. Dilla first reached national attention in the mid-'90s while producing for Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. Though Trife and Q-Tip's chemistry together had long since waned, Dilla's production on The Love Movement at least made the CD listenable. Subtle counter melodies and light, shuffling breaks were the order of the day, and tracks such as "Find My Way" and "4Moms" found Dilla in increasingly pastoral form. It provided a proper sendoff for one of hip-hop's most celebrated groups and set the stage for the neo-soul movement that would later help redefine urban music.

Dilla produced for many key artists in the neo-soul genre. His work on D'Angelo's Voodoo was quintessential, while the tracks that he completed for Erykah Badu (including "Cleva" and "Didn't Cha Know") were equally compelling. But Dilla was too restless a musician to be confined to one sound. As he was turning out tracks for the headwrap soul set, he was also helping to guide the careers of hip-hop superstars Common and Busta Rhymes and overseeing the commercial emergence of his old Detroit crew, Slum Village. SV's 2000 single "Rise Up," from the Fantastic, Vol. 2 album, was featured extensively on MTV and was vintage Jay Dee: sample-based with slight electro embellishments and awkward, non-quantized drum programming that would be dubbed by the Roots' ?uestlove as Dilla's "drunken style."

It was during this time that Dilla would experience his greatest commercial successes. Q-Tip's "Vivrant Thing," from his solo debut Amplified , was that rapper's biggest single to date, and Dilla's work on Busta Rhymes' The Genesis and Common's Like Water for Chocolate was equally popular. Suddenly, Dilla was a top-tier producer, a status that was cemented when Janet Jackson contracted him in 2000. Dilla never felt comfortable in the role, and he soon departed from Slum Village (rumor has it that that the group wanted to take a more commercial approach) and began to focus on producing for lesser-known Detroit acts. His production during this period was grittier. While his signature off-tempo drums were still in place, the delicate soul samples that dominated his earlier work were supplanted by a thornier electro edge.

In 2003, Dilla linked up with California producer Madlib. Madlib's work was obviously influenced by Dilla, though it was abstract and tangential where Dilla's was focused and concise. Their 2003 collaborative LP, Jaylib's Champion Sound, was an underground hip-hop classic. Dilla was so smitten with Madlib and his Stones Throw label that he relocated to L.A. and signed to Stones Throw. It would be here that Dilla released Donuts , his last album. The record found Dilla flipping classic soul samples and was widely heralded as his best work in years. It was a fitting bookend to one of hip-hop's most illustrious careers.

Due to Dilla's incredible medical expences, a fund has been set up to provide financial relief for Dilla's mother. If you'd like to help, please send check or money orders to the following address:

Maureen Yancey

132 N. Sycamore Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90036 - Sam Chennault]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.16894&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:00:50 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.16894 art.16894 Kardinal Offishall art.16894 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.16894&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.16894&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Eye&I generated substantial hype and led to collaborations with some of the underground's major players. In 2000, he signed with MCA, releasing his major label debut, Quest for Fire: Firestarter Vol. 1, in 2001. His MCA debut features hits like "BaKardi Slang" and "Ol' Time Killin'" and helped him build visibility with American fans and artists alike. Although he wouldn't release another album for seven years because of label politics, he stayed busy collaborating with the Clipse, Pharoahe Monch, Rick Ross, Sean Kingston and many others. During this time he maintained enough of a buzz that Akon signed him to his Kon Live label. Finally in 2008, he scored big with his top five smash, "Dangerous," featuring Akon, off the critically acclaimed Not 4 Sale. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.17304043&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 1 Dec 2009 09:47:22 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.17304043 art.17304043 Cool Kids art.17304043 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.17304043&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.17304043&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Do the Right Thing. Still, kids Chuck Inglish and Mikey Rocks put enough space in their beats and randomness in their rhymes to make their aesthetic fresh -- think the Beastie Boys filtered through Pharrell and Diplo. The two retro-futurists met up in music's current melting pot, Myspace, and garnered a significant underground buzz when they were featured at the 2007 CMJ Music Conference and selected to open for hip harbinger M.I.A. Later that year, their debut single, "Black Mags," a paean to tricked-out bikes, took the indie world by storm. Its success, as well as the ascension of like-minded acts the Knux, Kid Sister and others, birthed the new micro-genre hipster hop. Their debut EP, The Bake Sale, dropped in the summer of 2008 on Chocolate Industries. - Sam Chennault]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.41998&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The Midwestern Basement Thu, 3 Dec 2009 22:53:08 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.41998 art.41998 P.O.S. art.41998 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.41998&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.41998&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Funcrusher Plus. That record, as well as various underground mix tapes he was picking up, demonstrated that the genre was much more pliable than P.O.S. originally thought, and would allow the musician to express himself in new and exciting ways. Along with rapper Syst and DJ Basis, P.O.S. founded the group Cenospecies in 2001. The crew was short-lived but its album, Indefinition, introduced the rapper/producer to local audiences. From there, P.O.S. teamed up with childhood friend Kai and formed the group Doomtree. As they begin attracting the attention of like-minded artists, the group became the crew that currently includes Mictlan, Sims, Dessa, Cecil Otter, Marshall Larada, Bobby Gorgeous, Emily Bloodmobile, Lazerbeak, Paper Tiger, Turbo Nemesis and Tom Servo. In 2004, P.O.S. released his first full-length, Ipecac Neat. Though it was a self-released album, the buzz surrounding it was significant enough to land P.O.S. a distribution deal through local indie stalwarts Rhymesayers, who are headed by indie heartthrob Slug (also of Atmosphere). With the right label deal and a sound that crossed genre boundaries, P.O.S. was suddenly the center of national attention. His 2006 follow-up, Audition, didn't disappoint. Full of odd instrumentation and agro-flavored sonic abrasion, the album was exceedingly immediate -- as if it were ticker-tape from the sub-conscious of a new -- and until now -- voiceless generation. - Sam Chennault]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.543&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Sun, 6 Dec 2009 09:55:41 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.543 art.543 De La Soul art.543 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.543&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.543&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss
De La Soul began as three high school friends whose stage names reflected their sense of whimsical in-jokery: through backward spelling David Jolicoeur became "Trugoy the Dove" (yogurt, his favorite food, spelled backwards); Kelvin Mercer derived "Posdnuos" (his nickname as a high school DJ, "Sound-Sop"). Their first demo, "Plug Tunin'," attracted the attention of Paul "Prince Paul" Houston, of local rap group Stetsasonic. He played the tape for colleagues on New York's rap scene, and soon De La Soul signed with Tommy Boy.

Prince Paul produced the group's debut album,3 Feet High and Rising, a mock-game show soundtrack that introduced such De La terms as "the D.A.I.S.Y. Age (Da Inner Sound, Y'all)." De La Soul were labeled "hippies" — a term at which the group bridled — but also hailed as ingenious revolutionaries. The album brimmed with off-center inventiveness, its samples taken not from the usual James Brown rhythm tracks but from TV shows and obscure recordings, many from De La Soul's parents' collections. "Transmitting Live From Mars" set a sample from a French lesson record atop a sample from the 1968 Turtles hit "You Showed Me." The former Turtles filed a $1.7 million lawsuit, charging their music was sampled without their permission; the case was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. Three Feet (Number 24 Pop, Number 1 R&B, 1989) yielded a hit single in "Me Myself and I" (Number 34 Pop, Number 1 R&B, 1989), set to a sample of Funkadelic's 1979 "(not just) Knee Deep." De La Soul then helped formed "Native Tongues," a loose alliance with A Tribe Called Quest, the Jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah, Monie Love, and Black Sheep.

De La Soul's second album was an obvious reaction to the perception that its debut, however innovative, was "soft." Titled De La Soul Is Dead (Number 26 pop, Number 24 R&B, 1991), it took a darker, more serious tone with songs about drug abuse ("My Brother's a Basehead"), incest ("Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa"), and the vicissitudes of fame ("Ring Ring Ring [Ha Ha Hey]" [Number 22 R&B, 1991]). Critical and commercial reaction to the album was mixed.

De La Soul came back strong in late 1993, however, with Buhloone Mindstate (Number 40 pop, Number Nine R&B), hailed as a return to the group's quirky, groundbreaking form. A more conventional effort, the 1996 album Stakes Is High found the group stuck in neutral. Three singles — "The Bizness" (Number 53 R&B), "Stakes Is High" (Number 70 R&B), and "Itsoweezee (Hot)" (Number 60 R&B) — failed to stir sustained interest.

De La Soul wasn't dead, however, as the trio returned to the studio for a 2000 release, Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump (Number Nine Pop, Number Three R&B, 2000), part of a reported three-disc series. Guest artists include Chaka Khan, the Beastie Boys, Busta Rhymes, and Redman. The next year, the group followed up with a second installment of the series, AOI: Bionix, but a third part never showed up. Instead, in 2004, the group's longtime label Tommy Boy tossed out a dated, badly recorded performance disc, Live at Tramps, NYC, 1996. It ended De La Soul's relationship with the label.

The trio signed with indie label Sanctuary Records, a company known more for putting out new albums by older metal and hard rock acts than for its roster of hip-hop. De La Soul's 2004 Sanctuary debut, The Grind Date, was generally well received but broke no new ground. In 2005, De La Soul appeared with the Gorillaz on the single "Feel Good Inc." (Number One, Modern Rock; Number 14 Pop), which won Best Pop Vocal Collaboration at the Grammys. The following year, De La Soul returned with a self-released mixtape, Impossible Mission: TV Series, Pt. 1, on which Posdnuos announced the mission statement in a track called "Freedom Train:" "No longer backed by record companies but back by popular demand." The clunky rhyme was not totally accurate; by 2006 a collection of spotty old and new material failed to chart at all. In 2008 the band toured with A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Pharcyde and others on the Rock the Bells tour. ]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.9503&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:13:26 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.9503 art.9503 Handsome Boy Modeling School art.9503 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.9503&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.9503&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss So...How's Your Girl? Chock-full of schizophrenic, genre-bending beats, left-field lyricism and plenty of bugged-out humor (as well as multiple Get a Life references), the record was a critically-acclaimed hit, spawning the high-octane single "Rock N' Roll (Could Never Hip Hop Like This)." Five years later, Chest and Nathaniel reunited for White People, drafting another team of musical oddballs to help them on their quest. De La Soul, Cat Power, RZA, Mike Patten, Casual and Mars Volta all lent their skills to the mix, resulting in another one-of-a-kind album that is both hard to classify and easy to dig. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.37462&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:43:49 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.37462 art.37462 Black Star art.37462 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.37462&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.37462&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1059&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss West Coast Indie Mon, 5 Oct 2009 10:16:43 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.1059 art.1059 The Pharcyde art.1059 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1059&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1059&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde (1993). Fuelled by the hits "Passin' Me By," "Ya Mama," and "Otha Fish," the album was a hodgepodge of styles and influences, reflected by the crazy rollercoaster cover art. The group's often humorous rhymes and charismatic deliveries were the antithesis of Gangsta Rap, with vividly colorful and musically diverse production, and an uncanny knack for exceptional party jams. Their 1996 follow-up, Labcabincalifornia, featured a slightly more serious vibe, but continued their legacy of high-quality tracks, maintaining sonic and lyrical accessibility without selling out. They have since taken time to regroup and reorganize, with some members embarking on solo careers. An abbreviated line-up returned in 2000 with Plain Rap, while a greatest hits collection called Cydeways surfaced the following year. Although the full crew only released two LPs, the Pharcyde are without a doubt one of the most important acts of the 1990s; their originality and experimentation has influenced countless artists, who strive to keep hip-hop innovative and fresh. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5549&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss West Coast Lyricists Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:13:29 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.5549 art.5549 Blackalicious art.5549 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5549&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5549&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.38425&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss West Coast Lyricists Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:07:28 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.38425 art.38425 Murs art.38425 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.38425&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.38425&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The End of the Beginning in early 2003, Murs teamed up with North Carolina super-producer 9th Wonder (Little Brother) for 2004's excellent Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition and its 2006 follow-up Murray's Revenge. In 2007, Murs signed to Warner Brothers. Though some feared that the major label would dilute Murs' message, his 2008 album Murs for President was in the same vein as his earlier material. - Sam Chennault]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.41309&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss East Coast Street Poets Thu, 3 Dec 2009 22:53:08 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.41309 art.41309 Sage Francis art.41309 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.41309&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.41309&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Still Sick, Sick of Waiting Tables, and Personal Journals. Though his hyper-literary rhyme schemes can get a bit intense on the ears, there is no denying his extraordinary verbal skills.]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.7701&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss West Coast Indie Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:00:19 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.7701 art.7701 Del tha Funky Homosapien art.7701 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.7701&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.7701&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.65056&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:04:48 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.65056 art.65056 Little Brother art.65056 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.65056&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.65056&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The Listening on Beni B's ABB label in 2003. Revered for their mellow, bling-free rhyme style and soulful, golden-era-influenced beats, they quickly ascended to the top of the crowded underground scene, especially amongst jaded older fans who considered them the second coming of ATCQ and Pete Rock. In particular, 9th Wonder got a lot of attention from indie and mainstream artists alike; Jay-Z had him contribute a cut on The Black Album, and hooked him up with Destiny's Child for their single "Girl." He also produced entire albums for MURS (Living Legends) and Black Moon frontman Buckshot. Meanwhile, Phonte teamed up with Nicolay (a Dutch producer heavily influenced by 9th) for the much-sweated transcontinental collabo record The Foreign Exchange: Connected (2004), and Big Pooh dropped the excellent solo piece Sleepers (2005). Thanks to quality music and tons of good press, the group was picked up by Atlantic Records and released their sophomore LP The Minstrel Show in the fall of 2005. The album was deemed a classic by SCRATCH magazine and XXL, while the editor of The Source resigned from his post after co-CEO and aging never-ran Benzino lowered Little Brother's mic rating. In addition to the LB and their outside projects, they are also part of the Justus League, a 12-man hip-hop collective that includes the Away Team, Cesar Comanche, Legacy and Chaundon. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44285&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss East Coast Underground Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:01:24 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.44285 art.44285 Jedi Mind Tricks art.44285 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44285&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44285&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The Psycho-Social Biological and Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness. Comprising Stoupe (the Enemy of Mankind) on production and Ikon the Hologram (aka Vinnie Paz) on the mic, they made serious noise with sick beats and crazy rhymes that fused religious scriptures with conspiracy theories. In 2000 they returned with new member JusAllah in tow for their more hardcore album, Violent By Design. Flexing a fiercer, blood-drenched style, the team continues their underground dominance. Their side-project, Army of the Pharoahs, adds Virtuoso, 7L and Esoteric, Bahamadia, and Chief Kamachi to the mix. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.8902812&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:52:05 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.8902812 art.8902812 Sa-Ra Creative Partners art.8902812 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.8902812&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.8902812&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.40188&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss East Coast Street Poets Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:27:16 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.40188 art.40188 Q-Tip art.40188 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.40188&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.40188&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Amplified. It was a flashier, more "commercial" sounding record that alienated many of his longtime fans but found sales success thanks to the hit single "Vivrant Thing." With his career moving into the 21st century, Q-Tip has changed his name to Kamaal The Abstract and dropped a new album loaded with singing and extended live jams. Though reactions to his new sound were mixed, he continues to evolve as an artist in dramatic ways. Meanwhile, rumors continue to swirl about a Tribe reunion and new LP.]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4317&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Trip-Hop Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:08:47 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.4317 art.4317 DJ Shadow art.4317 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4317&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4317&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Endtroducing..., that really took the world by storm. Incorporating heavy drums, hyper-obscure samples, and moody atmospherics, his unique soundscapes found praise from a wide variety of listeners and critics. He's chronicled his early work on Preemptive Strike (1998) and has also recorded extensively with his crew Solesides (now known as Quannum) which includes Blackalicious and Latyrx. Shadow also contributed to the U.N.K.L.E. album, and helped put together several compilations, including Guns, Cars, and Sitars and Schoolhouse Funk. In 2000 he provided the score to the homelessness documentary Dark Days and was featured on Solesides Greatest Bumps. Shadow's long-awaited new full-length, The Private Press, dropped in 2002. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.39773&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The Midwestern Basement Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:42:50 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.39773 art.39773 Slum Village art.39773 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.39773&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.39773&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.68859&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss West Coast Lyricists Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:07:23 -0800 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.68859 art.68859 Lyrics Born art.68859 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.68859&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.68859&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Quannum Spectrum) for more gems from a truly unique talent. In 2003, Lyrics Born released his long-awaited solo debut Later That Day .... The album was greeted with critical praise as well as commercial success, largely thanks to the regional hit "Callin' Out." After spending the next few years concentrating on touring, Lyrics Born returned in 2008 with Everywhere at Once, which was his first album released on Epitaph. - Brolin Winning]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6386&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss West Coast Instrumental Sat, 3 Oct 2009 10:44:39 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.6386 art.6386 J Boogie's Dubtronic Science art.6386 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6386&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6386&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44668&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss East Coast Underground Tue, 2 Jun 2009 14:15:33 -0700 Top Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.44668 art.44668 Dead Prez art.44668 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44668&variant=play&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44668&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Findie-rap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss