Throughout the past decade, the diverse umbrella genre of hip–hop has evolved rapidly both in sound and distribution. The Internet has made it possible for any 16–year–old kid to record music and release it to the world from his or her own bedroom—for better or worse. That's what makes SoundCloud such a fascinating platform: it hosts a multitude of interesting, quirky artists, free of the label–orchestrated cookie–cutter payola of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. Spend 20 minutes on the SoundCloud hip–hop "related songs" feed and you'll stumble into songs you love — plus some you'll wish you had never, ever, ever heard.
The term "SoundCloud rappers" has become almost pejorative. Dusty old hip–hop has–beens use the term to insult young rappers like Lil Yachty or Lil Uzi Vert. But being a SoundCloud rapper comes with some positive traits, too. The music, when executed well, is often charmingly DIY, and it can break free of the genre's conventional tropes should it so desire. Want to hear someone rap over a famous ice cream truck jingle? SoundCloud's got you covered. Want to make soulful, funky music that might be a little too forward–thinking for mainstream hip–hop? This is the platform for you.
This playlist is an intro to the best of what "SoundCloud rap" has to offer:
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