Alternative hip hop

Alternative hip hop is a style of hip hop music distinguished by beats, samples, and lyrics that differ from the general template of popular commercial hip hop. Positive lyrics are often a hallmark of alternative hip hop. Although some listeners may associate live instrumentation with alternative hip hop, this distinction is invalid because popular rap acts like J-Kwon use live instruments as well. Alternative hip hop artists generally have not achieved much or any mainstream success, although they are often critically acclaimed. Interestingly, alternative hip hop has developed differently from virtually every other musical genre, with its originators (De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest) being more popular than later innovators (Guru, Mos Def). This is why some consider alternative hip hop more a trend than a rigid genre within hip hop.

Related Topics:
Style - Hip hop music - J-Kwon - De La Soul - A Tribe Called Quest - Guru - Mos Def

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The term "alternative hip hop", coined by music scholars, can be considered something of a misnomer: artists labeled as "alternative hip hop" musicians usually record and perform in styles that are more closely related ot the original concepts and styles of hip hop music and hip hop culture, as opposed to their more popular commercial counterparts. DJ Kool Herc, the inventor of Hip Hop music, once said in an essay about Hip Hop, that "its not about keeping it real. it's about keeping it right." In this sense, many would argue that alternative hip hop might not be so much an alternative as much as it is a continuation of the original concepts and ideals of Hip Hop.

Related Topics:
Hip hop culture - Commercial counterparts - DJ Kool Herc

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