The New Hip-Hop Scene

Rappers & Groups

7th Foul (Amsterdam)
Blade
Blak Twang
Company Flow (Brooklyn)
Dilated Peoples (Los Angeles)
Gamma
The Infesticons (Mike Ladd) (New York)
Kardinal Offishal (Toronto)
Lewis Parker
Moka Only (Vancouver)
MUD Family
Natural Resource (Brooklyn)
Numskullz
Perfect Strangers (Vancouver)
Phi-Life Cypher (Luton)
Roots Manuva
Shades of Culture (Montreal)
Swollen Members (Vancouver)
Task Force
T Y

What's so special about these artists?

If you're looking for that gangsta song you heard on the radio, you won't find it here. If you want to know what rappers sound like Jay-Z, or what producers sound like Puffy, you've come to the wrong place.

The new hip-hop scene is made for and by people who like the beats and the rhymes but could do without the bitch, nigga, muthafucka attitude that many assume goes hand in hand with hip-hop. The new scene is for those of us who truly love hip-hop.

Smart, smooth rhymes and funky beats characterise this new hip-hop scene. Many of the artists reviewed in this site are on indie labels, but even the more popular groups retain the for-the-people attitude in their lyrics and party-worthy beats.

Most importantly, it's fun listening to Mark B & Blade, or The Herbaliser, or a rare MUD Family track. Each artist has their own style, a refreshing change from rappers like Snoop Dogg or X-Zibit who bring nothing new to the table. The new scene is almost a reincarnation of a tired old hip-hop scene that was stuck in a decade-long rut of unoriginal beats and aggressive lyrics that alienated more potential fans than they attracted.

In short, check it out. Music is part of life and hip-hoppers finally realise that. Beats should make you groove and lyrics should make you think, and you will definately find that here.