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…
Upon first listen, Blac Samurai sounds like a mix of Schoolboy Q, Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco and Wu Tang Clan (mainly Rza and O.D.B). The Lupe vibes are understandable though as much like the legendary emcee, Blac Samurai is also from the Windy City of Chicago. And following in the footsteps of such great Chicago […]
The music world is full of rubber-stamp rappers. Every day some dude has a “new single dropping” that you’ve never heard of before. With so many carbon copies out there, the hip hop game needs something different. Brandon Flowers is different by choice, that much is certain. Never one to fall in line. Never one […]
Challenging the status quo with their ethereal blend of trip-hop, jazz, and EDM, Clash Contrast has built a catalogue of more than thirty-five original tracks since forming in 2007. A talented vocalist, lyricist, electronic music maker, and producer based in Winnipeg, Canada, Clash Contrast has collaborated with a variety of other artists and gained exposure […]
Branjae is a singer/songwriter from Tulsa, OK. Let me start this featured artist write-up by saying that Tulsa is a lucky town to have such an amazing artist call it home. In all of my touring days I never played a gig in Tulsa, but I drove through it many times. I never really got […]
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. […]
