5 Hip Hop Artists To Add To Your Playlist

5 Hip Hop Artists Everyone Should Listen To

I love finding new music. I will discover a new artist and listen to as much of their work as I can find, check out their background, and find similar artists. More importantly, I like to share the music with anyone who likes music.

Here are 5 hip hop artists I think everyone should check out.

Open Mike Eagle

If you follow the Nyrdcast socials, you’ll see reels with OME’s music; it’s because he does a lot of rap about pop culture. He deals in “Art Rap“, a term he created, because the beats and themes don’t fit with traditional hip hop.

I discovered OME years ago; we wrote for the same website – Inside Pulse – and he was one of the music writers that I read every article from (shout out Mathan and Aaron “That Bootleg Guy” Cameron. He eventually switched to podcasting; first Secret Skin (ended 2022) and eventually What Had Happened Was (still going, but we need a new episode).

OME will rap about anything from comic books and wrestling to mental health and parenting. I know the music isn’t for everyone, but check out 3 of my favorites.

(While I won’t use a slot for him, also checkout Busdriver, who does a lot of production for OME. Casting Agents and Cowgirls and The Troglodyte Win)

Murs

During OME’s Secret Skins day, he interviewed a rapper named Murs and that conversation led me down a rabbit hole of Murs videos; it was a good use of time. The west coast rappers has an amazing catalog of music, both as a solo artist and as a part of many groups.

Murs is a very socially conscious rapper; a lot of his music focuses on introspection and society. He’s got some powerful lyrics with catchy beats. Unfortunately, he’s currently “retired” to focus on family.

You can also find him with Living Legends (check them out along with Aesop’s solo work), Felt (with Slug…see the next entry), 3 Melancholy Gypsys, Melrose, the Invincibles, and the White Mandingos (with Darryl Jenifer of Bad Brains). He’s hosted quite a few podcast. You’ll also find him in the Guinness Book of World Records for longest rap.

(And here’s a bonus Living Legends track)

Atmosphere

Atmosphere is the duo of rapper Slug and DJ/Producer Ant from Minnesota, and part of the collective, and later label, Rhymesayers.

Like his Felt contributor Murs, Slug is very introspective in his lyrics, specifically around his relationships with women. He’s created a character, Lucy Ford, to represent past relationships. He’s also written about substance abuse, depression, touring, and blue collar life. It’s very easy to connect with even if it can be a little dark.

Ant’s beats are a mixture of a lot of styles: jazz, funk, rock. The instrumental chords and drum breaks pair well with Slug’s lyrics.

Of the list, they might be the easiest to see as they seem to always be on the road; they are known for extensive touring and always putting on a good set.

Heiruspecs

Heiruspecs is another Minnesota hip hop group who is also on the Rhymesayers label. The difference between them and everyone else on this list is they use live instruments instead of samples for their beats; they get a lot of comparisons to the Roots for this reason.

There are a lot of funk aspects to their music, with hints of other genres depending on the song. MCs Felix and Muad’Dib are flexible in their styles, ranging from old school rapid-fire verses to slow flows.

The band doesn’t tour much, nor do they release a lot of new music at this point; it’s more of side project, raise money for their high school (where some of the members met) type thing.

Del The Funky Homosapien

Probably the most well-known unknown on the list. You’ll hear Del start to rap and go “Hey, that’s the guy from the Gorillaz.” Yes, it is; there is so much more to him than being in the Gorillaz.

The cousin of Ice Cube, Del has been rapping since the late ’80s. He’s got a lot of solo work, but Deltron 3030 is a masterclass of storytelling; it’s a concept album created with Dan the Automator and Kid Koala about Deltron Zero and his revolt against the dystopian New World Order in the year 3030. The beats are unreal and the story is entralling.

Del also worked with the collective Hieroglyphics and started a label under the same name. He’s collaborated with everyone, from the Wu-Tang Clan and MF Doom to Dinosaur Jr (on the incredible Judgment Day soundtrack).

And just because, a Deltron 3030 track…

…and a Hieroglyphics track…

…and his collab with the Wu-Tang Clan.

What are some hip hop artists that I need to listen to? Post them in the comments.