Alternative hip hop artists are an emerging group in the hip-hop industry. Alternative hip-hop mixes sound of original rap music, with sounds that are initially expected to go against the grain, such as rock and funk. Made extremely popular by Kanye West and OutKast, these industry leaders have given rise to other unique sounds like those created by Macklemore.
Mixing two different sounds, while using a modern hip-hop beat makes for catchy tunes, and lots of radio air play. Other sounds to be mixed with the gangster hip-hop sound include jazz, reggae, country, soul, and even folk. Beastie Boys are some of the original creators of the genre, which gave rise to many modern day artists. Alternative hip hop artists mostly originated from the East coast, while the West Coast music industry was being dominated by Gangster Rap.
Initially alternative hip hop saw a rapid decline after being taken over by Gangster rap artists like NWA. But, alternative hip hop artists like Kanye West and others revived the scene with albums like Graduation. These artists have dominated the whole music industry by using the genre of alternative hip-hop, and have made great music because of the innovation. Some of the alternative hip hop artists that have been reviewed by Indie Music Plus are listed below…
Detroit strikes again. There must be something in the water up there because Detroit is pumping out hip-hop talent like Flint should be pumping in water. Too soon? Jazlyn Gold is another Detroit native making noise in the hip-hop scene. You can tell music runs deep within her. This is not just a vain attempt […]
Brad Jones is a rapper, singer, and songwriter from good ol’ Chattanooga, TN. He just released an album in October 2019 called Where I’m Going and he’s been releasing singles ever since then. When I asked him what his “elevator pitch” is for his music, he basically said he’s just trying to tell his story […]
Kristen Karma’s new song “Dear John” is a passionate, emotional plea homage to a lost lover. The Canadian artist already has a long list of collaborations and accolades, and “Dear John” finds her continuing to grow as an artist. Kristen Karma – Dear John The song follows a traditional AB/AB structure, with the chorus instrumentation […]
Let’s be real for a minute. Michigan is killing it when it comes to hip-hop. And I’m not just saying that because that’s where I am from. Ever since Eminem came on the scene, we have been seeing more and more talent flow out of the mitten state with Chelzzz being one of the latest. […]
Just in case you were worried, I can tell you with sincerity that real hip-hop is alive and well. Strong A.R.M. is a Brownsville, Brooklyn native who is for sure living up to his name. I actually did a quick Google search for the term “Strong-arm” and the definition I liked best was this: “To […]
Alan Dreezer is a singer/songwriter from the UK who keeps making hit after hit. We have featured him on the website before, and you can check out his featured artist write-up here. We have also written a couple of reviews here and here. I’m a big fan of Alan’s. He just released a new single […]
B-Eazy is a rapper, MC, and master wordsmith from Chi-town USA. Some of the best music comes from Chicago and B-Eazy is no exception. I’ve always had a soft spot in my musical heart for this dude. He was one of the first guests we ever had on Indie Music LIVE! and he continued to […]
DJ R3V3R3ND MURD3R is an interesting character. He’s one of those artists that stands behind his music and you don’t ever see his face, like the man behind the green curtain. He’s peculiar, unique and interesting. We’ve reviewed his music a couple of times here on the site. Check out other reviews here and here. […]
