New and engaging rap and hip hop artists


In my last thread before it was shut down I was introduced to a few artist new to me in the genre that I've really dove into. For those of you who are into this style and genre of music, what are some new relatively new artists you can recommend?


They could also be established or old school, especially if you have a certain album or a track you want to point to.


As of late I've been kicking it to Pharoahe Monch and Erykah Badu and have been trying to get into Lil Uzi Vert.


As always, if you have nothing constructive to add, please stay out. We're all audiophiles here, so at least respect the community from that perspective
128x128simao
@simao  I salute your tenacity.  I too learned of new (to me) and interesting artists on the prior threads.
Although he wasn’t a rap artist per se, the late, excellent guitarist Ronny Jordan incorporated rap into some of his music. Check out his album The Antidote.
Gerry - it’s not so much tenacity as it is a simple interest in what’s out there! There’s so much good new music with groove and depth and complexity out there today. And those past three threads have shown how resistant and scared and judgmental and bigoted an older generation is with something they don’t identify with or understand. And that’s pretty much human history in a nutshell.


But I’m going to continue appreciating new music - and acknowledging that a lot of it’s also complete crap, too - as long as I can still listen to it.
Simon  - Well...you said it all right there.  Amen.

The older generation thing - it’s interesting. I’ve read that many people identify most with the music they encountered in high school, and that does seem somewhat the case. I’ve never been that way myself, probably because I’ve been both a musician and a DJ.  There is just so much good music (among the less than stellar.)

On a non-rap tip, an album I’ve always really liked is Guitars by Philip Catherine from around ‘75. Sort of jazz/fusion but not just a shredfest - some emotional depth.  Check it out if you ever get the chance - I’d be interested to hear what you think.  Also Zap Mama - a long time favorite - and Higelin’s Illicite.  
@whipsaw thanks for the 🔗. I forgot where I first heard alpha mist, but he really got me - that synthesis of good jazz and groove and spoken word. I found his Antifon vinyl over in England and had to grab it.l!
Yes @ggoggin – agreed! And I enjoy them as well.

@simao That's the combination that appeals to me most naturally. I grew up on soul and funk, and still gravitate in those directions.

Along those lines, while I don't want to stray too far from the subject genre, check out this funky version of So What? from Marcus Miller and his fine band:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXS4qSZS6zE
I think Kendrick Lamar is a terrifically gifted artist.  Perhaps not so new, but highly engaging.
Thanks for bringing up Pharoahe Monch and Erykah Badu.  Both seem well worth listening to.  At 63 I love discovering new, innovative music.  
@simao

Miller has played with a long list of stars, but I’m not sure about Sting.

As for Cassandra Wilson, obviously she has been around for quite a while, but is very eclectic, and some of her work crosses over for sure.

Since we don’t have another "live" thread on the broader topic, I just wanted to share this remarkable clip of Biggie (aka Notorious B.I.G) freestyling in Brooklyn (Bedford Ave between Quincy St and Lexington Ave in Bed-Stuy) at 17:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufHZWt3xSZk

Note that the (NSFW) lyrics were transcribed by a commenter.
@roxy54 yes. Problem? 


Also, de la soul just released an all instrumental version of their ...Anonymous Nobody album. Interesting stuff. 

Maan! I'm also officially divin' deeeep in there.

Yeah, 

Alfa-Mist

Ramirez

Guru

HipHop rocks as never before!

@czarivey +1 on Alfamist. Had the Good Fortune to find his Antifon vinyl from a seller in England and jumped on it about a year ago and it sounds incredible. That combination of songwriting production and emotion and Jazz and Hip Hop is unparalleled.