hip hop
what it is
Hip hop is a musical genre which developed alongside hip hop culture, defined by key stylistic elements such as rapping, DJing, sampling, scratching and beatboxing. Hip hop began in the Bronx in New York City in the 1970s, primarily among African Americans and Jamaican Americans, with some Latino influences. The term rap is often used synonymously with hip hop, but hip hop denotes the practices of an entire subculture.
✦ 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 hip hop a playlist
turn these 40 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is hip hop?
Hip hop is a musical genre which developed alongside hip hop culture, defined by key stylistic elements such as rapping, DJing, sampling, scratching and beatboxing. Hip hop began in the Bronx in New York City in the 1970s, primarily among African Americans and Jamaican Americans, with some Latino influences. The term rap is often used synonymously with hip hop, but hip hop denotes the practices of an entire subculture.
What are good hip hop albums to start with?
Try SATURATION by BROCKHAMPTON, Midnight Marauders by A Tribe Called Quest, VULTURES 1 by ¥$, and Before I Self-Destruct by 50 Cent.
Who are some women making hip hop?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/hip-hop/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making hip hop, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-19