The Best West Coast Underground Hip-Hop You Haven't Heard
Tired of listening to rap that samples nothing but gunshots? Sick of hearing 'bitch' and 'ho' every other line on a track? You've come to the right place...
Don't come here expecting crap gangsta rap. This is true hip hop. If you were expecting Snoop or The Game to make an appearance here, you've slept on this stuff for long enough. Ordered from most to least underrated, I present you a list of artists that are guaranteed to run lyrical circles around the competition, and chances are high that most of these names will be new to you. If so, peep dem out!- 1Electronic music, Dance-pop, House music
A hip-hop group composed of Awol One, Circus, Akuma, Liferexall, Existereo, Radioinactive, Die Young, and DJ LA Jae, with appearances by 2Mex, The Shapeshifters is by far one of the greatest hip-hop groups to come from LA. If you haven't heard them by now, it's not too late. Do it, and you can thank me later.
"Who's got presence on the microphone?
Rob One & Memo - R.I.P.
Shapeshifters got presence on the microphone."
Shapeshifters - Who's Got Presence? Hailing from LA and comprising half of OMD (Of Mexican Decent), Xololanxinxo simply cannot be described in words. Think spoken-word meets hood storytelling, Xolo has a flavor all his own.
"Well I'm an Iguana
and I move like I wanna
Through the hills of Tijuana"
Excerpt of Xololanxinxo from song "Farmer's Market of the Beast"- 4Hip hop music, Alternative hip hop, Abstract hip hop
WARNING: Lyrics may sound faster than they appear.
With a rapid-fire delivery, Busdriver is the forefront of abstract hip-hop, and although his style can be abrasive at first, give him a chance and you will learn to Fear the Black Tangent. - Comprised of Matre, Doc Lewd, Liferexall, and DJ Jericho J, The English League is effin' impossible to find in any store, so if you see it, BUY IT. You will not be disappointed.
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Liferexall
7Hip hop music- 8
Akuma
Punk rock - 9
Existereo
- 10Hip hop music, Alternative hip hop, Abstract hip hop
- 11Hip hop music, Alternative hip hop, Underground hip hop
- 12Alternative hip hop, Underground hip hop
Raspy voice, schizophrenic lyrics, and a penchant for social observation. 'Nuff said.
"Up all night,
Sleepin' all day.
My father wasted sperm when he made me.I have a strange trick that I can do with my eyes...
Awol One - Sleepin' All Day
I can change them from brown to blind.
Up all night,
Sleepin' all day." - 13
Deeskee
Super-producer for the West Coast, Deeskee produces tracks that always have a raw, acoustic feeling to them unique in today's hip-hop. - 14I was hesitant to put 2Mex on this list, since he's becoming very popular, but a West Coast list of hip-hop would never be complete without him. Half of the OMD crew, and a part of The Visionaries crew, 2Mex ALWAYS brings nothing but freshness to any track he's on.
- 15
Joe Dub
- 16
- 17
Subtitle
- 18
- 19Hip hop music
- 20Alternative hip hop, Underground hip hop
- 21Hip hop music
- 22Hip hop music, Jazz rap, Freestyle rap
- 23Electronic music, Indie rock, Hip hop music
- 24Hip hop music, Alternative hip hop
- 26Hip hop music, Alternative hip hop
- 27Hip hop music, Alternative hip hop, Gangsta rap
- 28Hip hop music, Alternative hip hop, Underground hip hop
- 29Hip hop music, Alternative hip hop, Christian hip hop
- 30Hip hop music, Jazz rap, Alternative hip hop
