alternative rap | Musicosity

alternative rap

The Roots

The Roots, also known as The Legendary Roots Crew, The Square Roots and The Foundation, are an influential, Grammy winning hip hop group based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, famed for a heavily jazzy sound and live instrumentation. Inspired by the "hip-hop band" concept pioneered by Stetsasonic, the Roots themselves have garnered critical acclaim and influenced later hip-hop and R&B acts. The Roots' original lineup included Black Thought (MC vocals) and Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson (drums), who were classmates at the Philadelphia High School for Creative Performing Arts.

Artist Type: 

Percee P

Percee P (b. John Percy Simon, 1971) is an underground hip-hop artist from the Patterson Projects, South Bronx, New York City. He is known in the underground for selling his mixtapes himself at shows and in front of Fat Beats and for his many guest appearances on other alternative and underground hip-hop artists' releases. He has worked with such rappers as Big Daddy Kane, Kool Keith, Lord Finesse, Aesop Rock, Edan, Jurassic 5, C-Rayz Walz, Jaylib, Jedi Mind Tricks, Maestro Fresh Wes, Wildchild, and many more.

Artist Type: 

Jungle Brothers

The Jungle Brothers are an American hip hop group who pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip-hop. They began performing in the mid-1980s and released their first album, Straight Out the Jungle, in 1988 (see 1988 in music). With Afrocentric lyrics and innovative beats, the Jungle Brothers were critically acclaimed and soon joined the influential Native Tongues Posse. The trio is comprised of Michael Small (Mike Gee), Nathaniel Hall (Afrika Baby Bam) and Sammy Burwell (DJ Sammy B).

Artist Type: 

Kool Keith

An original member of New York's pioneers the Ultramagnetic MC's, "Kool" Keith Thornton is best known as a solo rapper. His signature style is stream-of-consciousness lyrical flow and complex vocals, two skills that earn him a perennial nod from the underground community. The average Kool Keith album is peppered with bizarre, disjointed, even delusional or disassociated themes, concepts, and references. Nearly all of his albums incorporate a satirical dislike for more commercialized strains of hip-hop, as well as major record labels.

Artist Type: 

Chance The Rapper

Chance The Rapper is an 20 year old MC from Chicago. Chance first made some noise on the Chicago hip-hop blog Fake Shore Drive with his video for Nostalgia in early 2011. Since then Chance has building a steady buzz around Chicago with songs such as Brain Cells, Long Time & Fuck You Tahm Bout. Chance has just released 10 Day which was conceived during a 10 day suspension from High School his senior year. You can download 10 Day here: http://www.mediafire.com/?pbdqzlep63kljg4

Chance The Rapper on Last.fm.

Artist Type: 

Rakaa

Born Rakaa Taylor in Los Angeles, California, Rakaa (aka Iriscience) is a MC, and one third of the renown west-coast underground crew Dilated Peoples. In 2010 he released his first solo album, Crown Of Thorns. Aside from rapping, Rakaa's passions run deep: stretching from visual arts to training Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to traveling the world as a highly sought after Host and MC, all in his spare time.

Artist Type: