Hottest Independent Hip Hop/ Rap Artists
 

I am doing some research for a new project and needed some music insight. If I were to ask any rap or hip hop fan to name a list of the top hip hop artists right now, I am sure they would be able to compile a list very quickly.

But was thinking. Can anyone come up with a list of second tier hip hop artists (not major) maybe from the independent scene who is making noise and recognized at least in the underground scenes?

Where does one look? Is there a resource that anyone would consider an authority in that niche?

well i'd recommend the hipster sites like pitchfork and vice.

nahright, 2dopeboyz, are constantly updating but most of it is junk.

So to be clear your asking for current influential "underground" artists?

If so my list would be:

danny brown
death grips
jay electronica
das racist
action bronson
azealia banks
flying lotus
shabazz palaces
cheif keef

Then you have the stapls who have been synonymous with alternative hip hop for the past decade(s)

El-p
Aesop Rock
MF Doom
Atmosphere
Del tha funkee homosapian

If you just browse the thread titles of the hip hop section back a couple pages thats pretty comprehensive

Thanks for the great info. Yes I was talking about current influential artists. Will check the threads and titles a few pages back too.

So I am assuming you would consider Pitchfork and Vice to be at the top of the list as far as indie music authorities.

Good list there Sparky. I would add the following:

Lushlife
Bigg Jus
Big K.R.I.T. - Not so much "underground" any more, but whatever.
Billy Woods
Quakers
THEESatisfaction
Cunninlynguists
Elzhi
Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire
Killer Mike

Also, if you wanna use You Tube to keep up with new Hip Hop artists, look out for Dead End Hip Hop, and for general underground music (with a lot of Hip Hop) check out theneedledrop.

No mention of Dalek yet? That makes me a sad Panda

Since Death Grips signed with Epic, can we really call theme independent?

In terms of historical importance with underground hip-hop, you can't ignore Dr. Octagon and Company Flow since Funcrusher Plus and Dr. Octagynecologist did more for underground hip-hop then anyone else.

He is asking for current Hip Hop acts to be honest.

True point, but when A$AP mentioned those 5 artists who have been significant in the past decades, I figured Dr. Octagon and Company Flow deserved a mention as well.

And while Dalek hasn't released an album in 2 years, I think we can still consider them a current artist.

company flow was more or less el-p and friends considering he produced every song.

but yeah kool keith was an omission for sure, i wasn't necessarily providing the defacto list.

Did they break up or something?

Thanks guys for the start on my project. I currently working on a post on my blog to list the top 25 influential underground/independent hip hip artists/ rappers.

There really is no better source than to come to a forum where you guys live and breath this stuff all the time. Once I finish the article I will post the link here.

If anyone has more suggestions feel free to drop some names.