Alternative Hip-Hop

History

Native Tongues, De La Soul, The Pharcyde, Del the Funky Homosapien, OutKast, The Roots, and later Tyler, the Creator all expanded what rap could artistically contain without leaving rap behind. The label has always been a bit unruly, which is part of the point.

Defining artists

• De La SoulSpotifyYouTube
• OutKastSpotifyYouTube
• Del the Funky HomosapienSpotifyYouTube
• The RootsSpotifyYouTube
• MF DOOMSpotifyYouTube
• Tyler, The CreatorSpotifyYouTube

Essential listening

• Me Myself and I — De La SoulSpotifyYouTube
• Elevators — OutKastSpotifyYouTube
• Mistadobalina — Del the Funky HomosapienSpotifyYouTube
• The Seed (2.0) — The RootsSpotifyYouTube
• Accordion — MadvillainSpotifyYouTube
• Yonkers — Tyler, The CreatorSpotifyYouTube

Sources

• Alternative/conscious rap histories and canon overviews