Hip-hop fans who find the current stock of hip-hop artists rather dull and superficial often struggle to find artists who they actually like. Some artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, and Bishop Nehru give the genre some hope of being interesting, but mainstream hip-hop still remains mostly dull. We’re often left wondering if this is all that there is. Fortunately, it definitely isn’t. Here are four hip-hop groups that create incredible hip-hop sounds. These are just a few of the wide array of great old school and alternative hip-hop artists.
1. CunninLynguists
CunninLynguists is a hip-hop trio that originated in Lexington, Kentucky in 2000. Their delivery is crisp and the lyrics themselves are strong and substantial. From storytelling to political messages, there's certainly none of the mind numbing, carbon-copy lyrics that are often found in recent mainstream hip-hop. One album released by CunninLynguists is “A Piece of Strange,” which often samples soul and features interesting beats.
2. Little Brother
Little Brother originated in Durham, North Carolina and they were active from 2001 to 2010. The most prominent artist from the group was 9th Wonder, who created the smooth beats that gave Little Brother such a distinct appeal. Little Brother's album “Minstrel Show” has a really smooth sound that heavily samples soul, an integral part of 9th Wonder’s sound. The song “All for You” gives listeners the sound that is so characteristic to Little Brother.
3. Hieroglyphics
Hieroglyphics is a large hip-hop collective from Oakland, California that has been active since 2000. Hieroglyphics can be easily recognized by their distinct symbol, the Mayan numeral for the number eight, chosen by lead member Del the Funky Homosapien. Their album “3rd Eye Vision” is marked by smooth flow, funk-oriented beats, and storytelling lyrics. The song “All Things” demonstrates this well. This group gives an alternative bend to a genre that heavily favors violence and hostility towards women. Instead, Hieroglyphics frequently tells stories and makes deep societal observations.
4. De La Soul
De La Soul is a classic, old-school hip-hop group formed in Long Island, New York. They, along with equally influential group A Tribe Called Quest, formed part of the Native Tongues Posse. This collective set out to change the direction of hip-hop from a confrontational, negative art form into a more positive and Afrocentric one. De La Soul often created happier songs that gave rap a more lighthearted feel. Their album “3 Feet High and Rising” sampled Funkadelic-era funk music and featured excellent lyrical deliveries. The song “Me, Myself and I” captures the spirit of De La Soul brilliantly.
There are many hip-hop groups like these that are extremely talented, yet overlooked in today’s world. In general, these groups have far more soulful beats and much more substantial lyrics. They are much more interesting and have a far less mind-numbing sound, which remains timelessly superior to today’s mainstream hip-hop.
