Indie-rap/Hip-hop (lyrics, country, genre, artists)

[toughguy]

It's become apparent that the average person's only exposure to hiphop/rap is through commercial outlets (radio/MTV). This is unfortunate because most of the stuff on heavy rotation is watered down, overproduced, formulaic garbage. Hiphop is just as diverse as rock, country, and jazz, containing many sub-genres with varying levels of publicity.

Who here listens to some of the lesser known artists, that actually write sophisticated arrangements with nuanced production and intelligent lyrics, but still retains some of that rap bragadoccio?

Some examples, these are probably some of the most well known:

Aesop Rock
Cannibal Ox
El-p
Blue Scholars
Grayskul
Sage Francis
Atmosphere
Sole
Living Legends
MF Doom
Brother Ali
C-Rayz Walz

[Haaziq]

I like Sage, Aesop, and DOOM.

Do you consider Black Star indie? They have their own label. I listen to them a lot.

Jedi Mind Tricks also.

[Drover]

I keep bringing them up in these various threads to the point where people might ask if I am their press agent or something... but I'm partial to Animate Objects in part because they rock the house and in part because their bassist went to my law school.

[charolastra00]

What's kind of funny are those are the ONLY hip hop artists I know of. :P I love Brother Ali, Sage Francis, and Aesop Rock and am looking to get into Atmosphere. I saw Jedi Mind Tricks this past weekend and wasn't impressed. I also really like Wax Poetic.. though that's classified as trip hop. I'm not good with the whole genre thing..