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- MF Doom. 516 votes. A master of intricate rhyme schemes and intricate storytelling, MF Doom is known for his enigmatic persona and often wears a signature metal-mask on stage.
- Big L. 493 votes. The late Big L was a Harlem-based rapper known for his fierce wordplay and intricate lyricism. He gained fame in the early '90s during the golden age of hip-hop through his association with D.I.T.C.
- Immortal Technique. 426 votes. With razor-sharp political commentary, controversial opinions, and thought-provoking lyrics, Peruvian-American rapper Immortal Technique has been challenging the status quo ever since entering the underground hip-hop scene in the early 2000s.
- Jedi Mind Tricks. 239 votes. Jedi Mind Tricks have carved their niche with thought-provoking lyrics and an innovative sound that combines hardcore beats with raw, emotional storytelling.
- Kota The Friend. If you only walk away with one new artist after reading my top ten, please let it be Kota. He’s the people’s champ, a true underdog that has decided to do things his way on the indie route.
- Ronsocold. Ronsocold is from Charlotte, North Carolina but is quickly getting his sound heard across the country thanks to his debut self-titled album, RonSoCold, which dropped earlier this year on May 15th.
- 2KBaby. 2KBaby is an emerging Louisville, Kentucky artist that is signed to Warner Music Group. He dropped his most recent project, Pregame Rituals, on April 10th and as the title suggests, he is just getting started!
- Curtis Roach. Although he’s been making great music for a few years now, it was on TikTok that this 21-year-old Detroit artist received his big moment earlier this year.
- MF Doom
- Mos Def
- Talib Kweli
- J Dilla
- Immortal Technique
- Quasimoto
- Gang Starr
- KRS-One
- Denzel Curry
- Joey Bada$$
MF Doom, or Daniel Dumile, was one of the major names of underground hip-hop music from the 2000s until his death in 2020. He was famous for his brilliant wordplays and his “supervillain” stage character built with his signature metal mask, offensive attitude, and lyrics. One of his most celebrated albums, ”Madvillainy” from 2004, is considered o...
Known for his great releases such as “Oh No,” “Ms. Fat Booty,” and “Mathematics,” Yasiin Bey or commonly known as Mos Def, is considered one of the best lyricistsand MCs of hip-hop history. He has been a part of the conscious rap movement as he often talked about social and political causes like police brutality and the struggles of African-America...
Talib Kweli Greene is an American indie rapper mainly known for his collaborations with famous artists such as Mos Def, Kanye West, and Pharell Williams. His first steps onto the underground hip-hop scene were with his fellow Brooklyn rapper Mos Def, as they formed the Black Star hip-hop duo. Talib Kweli is a highly political artist and activist, o...
James Dewitt Yancey, commonly known as J Dilla, is one of the most influential producersand rappers of the 90s underground hip-hop scene. He was most appreciated for his way of creating melodic and long loops with great breakbeats and vocal samples. His approach helped hip-hop to reach a more musically complex level. The most important innovation h...
Felipe Andres Coronel, better known by his stage name Immortal Technique, has been one of the strongest defenders of indie hip-hop music and the underground rap scene since the 2000s. He is against record labels, who profit more than artists, and has been releasing his music without labels. He has been a famous name in the rap battles scene, which ...
One of the most famous names in the underground hip-hop scene is Madlib, who later created a side project with his alter ego Lord Quas and called it Quasimoto. Lord Quas uses a high-pitched voice, instead of the deeper vocals of Madlib and often talks about violence and drug use with a sarcastic stand. Madlib records his songs with a slow beat befo...
The American hip-hop duo Gang Starr was a collaboration between the record producer DJ Premier and the rapper Guru, which was quite famous among underground hip-hop fans and was considered one of the best hip-hop duos in history. The duo rocked the audience with their jazz-rap style, which they pioneered. Their recordings, such as “Mass Appeal,” “F...
Lawrence “Kris” Parker, or KRS-One, is a highly influential hip-hop artist who stepped onto the underground hip-hop scene during the mid-80s with the hip-hop band Boogie Down Productions. The band released some of the most iconic underground hip-hop songs, such as “Love’s Gonna Get’cha (Material Love)” and “Sound of da Police.” Later, KRS-One start...
One of the newer names in the underground hip-hop scene is Denzel Curry, who started rapping when he was only in the 6th grade and released his first mixtape in 2011. Since then, he released many albums like “Nostalgic 64”, “Ta13oo,” and “Zuu,” which all had quite commercial successes. Curry is famous for his aggressive style and lyrics, which have...
Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott, or Joey Bada$$, is another relatively new underground hip-hop artist who is the founder of the hip-hop project Pro Era. Influenced by names like Nas, 2Pac, Black Thought, and MF DOOM, he uses sugar-sweet beats and lyrical flow that takes the audience back to the swagtastic golden age of hip-hop. Joey Bada$$ released three ...
- Busdriver – Temporary Forever. The Project Blowed member’s debut was full of the most humorous and mind numbing free-associative rhymes one will ever hear.
- Quasimoto – The Unseen. Madness is the pleasure of the unseen, and Madlib’s pig-nosed hippo with the brick is everyone’s unseen. The lost thoughts of a rambling stairwell dweller, or the undine styled under-thoughts of a producer living in a basement studio, Lord Quas was our one and only pleasure of pure id.
- Little Brother – The Listening. For many, The Listening could be considered one of the most groundbreaking underground Hip Hop records of the modern era.
- Brother Ali – Shadows On The Sun. Mr. Ali Newman really hit his stride on his sophomore album Shadows On The Sun. Besides Brother Ali’s way better than average beat selection, the album proved how lyrically far the Rhymesayers Entertainment emcee.
- MF Doom. 8,613 votes. Beginning his career under the moniker Zev Love X, MF Doom is known for his meticulously crafted lyrics, eclectic beats, and iconic mask inspired by comic book villain Doctor Doom.
- Mos Def. 4,668 votes. Better known today as Yasiin Bey, Mos Def garnered critical acclaim in the late 90s for his deft lyricism, intelligent social commentary, and charismatic stage presence.
- Big L. 5,670 votes. Hailing from Harlem, Big L was a skilled wordsmith known for his witty punchlines and intricate rhyme patterns. Tragically murdered in 1999, Big L's legacy lives on through his two albums – Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous and posthumous release The Big Picture.
- Immortal Technique. 7,765 votes. Peruvian-born rapper Immortal Technique has built a reputation for his fiercely political lyricism, focusing on issues such as class struggle, poverty, and corruption.
Mar 22, 2022 · The Torture Papers is the debut album by underground Hip Hop collective Army of the Pharaohs, released in 2006 after years of anticipation. The crew was established in 1998 by Jedi Mind Tricks frontman Vinnie Paz, and originally featured Jedi Mind Tricks, Chief Kamachi, 7L & Esoteric, Virtuoso, and Bahamadia.
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Jun 28, 2012 · Before El-P took the reins of Def Jux and assaulted listeners as a solo artist, he and cohorts Bigg Jus and Mr. Len crafted one of independent Hip-Hop’s most aggressive and indelible statements ...
