alternative hip hop
what it is
Alternative hip-hop refers to hip-hop groups or MCs that refuse to conform to any of the stereotypes of rap that has been built up over the years, such as gangsta, bass, hardcore, and party rap. Instead, they blur genres, sampling from funk and pop/rock, as well as jazz, soul, reggae, and even folk. Most alternative hip-hop groups and artists are embraced primarily by fans that appreciate alternative music in general and "real hip-hop" instead of mainstream rap and pop audiences.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 1 · mainstream
the pop everyone knows
level 2 · the door
big names with a sharper edge
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make alternative hip hop a playlist
turn these 28 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is alternative hip hop?
Alternative hip-hop refers to hip-hop groups or MCs that refuse to conform to any of the stereotypes of rap that has been built up over the years, such as gangsta, bass, hardcore, and party rap. Instead, they blur genres, sampling from funk and pop/rock, as well as jazz, soul, reggae, and even folk. Most alternative hip-hop groups and artists are embraced primarily by fans that appreciate alternative music in general and "real hip-hop" instead of mainstream rap and pop audiences.
What are good alternative hip hop albums to start with?
Try American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story by Kevin Abstract, SATURATION by BROCKHAMPTON, Blowout Comb by Digable Planets, and Labor Days by Aesop Rock.
Who are some women making alternative hip hop?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/alternative-hip-hop/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making alternative hip hop, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-21