Alternative hip hop (also known as alternative rap) is a genre that is defined in greatly varying ways. Allmusic defines it as follows:

Alternative Rap refers to Hip-Hop groups that refuse to conform to any of the traditional stereotypes of rap, such as gangsta, bass, hardcore, and party rap. Instead, they blur genres - drawing from funk and pop/rock, as well as jazz, soul and reggae.

^[1]

Stephen Rodrick cites Arrested Development, Basehead, and The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy as examples of such "alternative" hip-hop.^[2] Arrested Development, along with The Fugees, stand as the some of the first few alternative rap groups to be recognized by mainstream audiences.^[1] Since the mid 90's, labels such as Rawkus Records have experienced similar mainstream success with alternative rap acts such as Black Star, Pharoahe Monch, and Mos Def.

Aside from exceptions, most alternative rap groups tend to be embraced primarily by alternative rock fans, rather than hip-hop or pop audiences.^[1] Rodrick writes that alternative hip-hop has "drawn little more than barely concealed yawns from other rappers and urban audiences." ^[2] Heywood and Drake counter that "making rap music that appeals to mass audiences isn't simply about selling out," stating that alternative hip-hop is an attempt to counter the association that much of the mass market has between hip-hop music and violence, giving as an example the "Smokin' Grooves Tour" of 1996, featuring Cypress Hill, A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Ziggy Marley, and Busta Rhymes—most of whom are hip-hop performers who "don't fit the mold of gangsta rap."^[3]

References

1. ↑ ^{a b c} allmusic: alternative rap
2. ↑ ^{a b}
3. ↑

External links

• "Jazz and Hip-Hop: Can They Really Mix?" by Jared Pauley, (Jazz.com)

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