Alternative Hip-Hop is a sub-genre of hip hop which uses elements of different genres such as Jazz, Rock, Soul or Funk to blur the lines of Hip-Hop. It came to prominence in the 1980’s as a direct contrast to the gangsta rap ideals which were dominating Hip-Hop at the time and has remained an important sub-genre ever since. Although Alternative Hip-Hop is difficult to define with Wikipedia even claiming Nas and Kenrick Lamar fall under the Alternative Hip Hop umbrella I thought I would make a list of Ten of the best Alternative Hip-Hop songs in no order, enjoy. I also decided to omit The Roots after doing a look at Questlove’s career in another article.
Number 10
Digitable Planets- Cool Like Dat
Jazz rap trio Digitable Planets released this grammy winning single back in 1992 and had it certified gold just a year after release. The walking bass line and the entrance of the trumpets with laidback rapping on top of it, make this tune an Alternative Hip Hop classic
Number 9
Arrested Development- People Everyday
It was a tough choice from Arrested Development’s incredible debut album but People Everyday which borrows the song structure from a Sly & The Family Stone song called ‘Everyday people’ has an infectious chorus and summery feel to the song which is perfect for our current heat-wave.
Number 8
Blackstar- Respiration ft. Common
Blackstar, the musical effort from rappers Mos Def and Talib Kweli brought out a great collaboration with one more rumoured to be on the way as a tribute to Aretha Franklin. This song is a great advertisement for Alternative Hip Hop and Conscious rap with a song about the harshness of city life he raps about New York as the big apple with the ingenious line ‘he shiny apple is bruised but sweet/and if you choose to eat/you could lose your teeth.’
Number 7
Pete Rock and Cl Smooth- They reminisce over you
This is one of the finest rap songs ever made as Pete rock excels in this moving tribute to the duo’s good friend Troy Dixon. The song samples Jazz saxophonist Tom Scott extensively with back-up singers to add a harmony in the background, the song has been cited in other rap efforts by Nas, De La Soul, Common and Mos def as well as Lupe Fiasco controversially using the same beat on one of his songs.
Number 6
A Tribe Called Quest- Can I Kick it
Rife with multiple samples from Lou Reed, Hot Chocolate, Ian Dury and even a spoken word by DJ Pete Tong, this Jazz influenced chilled rap song is an absolute classic, released in 1990, the second single from A Tribe’s.. debut album thrust the band and in particular Q-Tip into the hearts and minds of rap aficionados.
Number 5
The Pharcyde- Passin me By
The second single from South Central LA based The Pharcyde showcases all the group’s skills which allow for them to still tour the world today. The nice choice of samples of Quincy Jones and even Hendrix, with the rappers rhyming about heartbreak in their younger days creates an Alternative Hip Hop classic. TI even references this tune in latest track Blurred Lines with Robin Thicke, by rapping ‘In a hundred years not dare would I, pull a Pharcyde bitch, you’re passin’ me by”.
Number 4
N.E.R.D- Things are getting better
Before Pharrell was known as the coolest man in the world, he was merely one half (probably more like 3 quarters) of the mastermind behind N.E.R.D where he was showcasing all the skills he had learnt from working with Teddy Riley from a young age. This song comes from No One Ever Really Dies, and I could of chosen any track from that album in reality, but this one really showcases the Jazz/Rock sentiments that Spymob (the backing band) showcase throughout the whole album, with Pharrell rapping and singing over it, a complete belter of a track.
Number 3
Lauryn Hill- Doo Wop (That Thing)
This song shows better times for Lauryn Hill when she wasn’t trading cigarettes trying not to get shanked in prison showers, this song is from one of the best hip hop albums of all time in ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ which showcases her rap and vocal capabilities before she joined up with Wycleff Jean and created The Fugees. The song debuted at number 1 in the billboard charts, making it the tenth time in the charts history to have ever achieved this, and is an alternative-hip-hop classic.
Number 2
Ugly Duckling- Turn it up
I was thinking about going for The Beastie Boys, but everyone knows how sick they are, so I chose one of underground hip-hop’s most prominent stars Ugly Duckling and their tune ‘Turn It Up’. The three white rappers bring some happy, summery beats with enthusiastic and funny rap lines, listen above.
Number 1
J Dilla- So Far to go (Common and D’Angelo)
I couldn’t make this list without including J Dilla/Slum Village at one point and decided to put this track with Common and D’Angelo at the top of their game on the list. J Dilla worked with some of the best rap artists and groups and his death is still seen as hard to accept from some sections of hip-hop fans, however he left us with an incredible and varied catalogue of work so J Dilla’s genius can forever live on.
KJ's Music 