The Underground Hip-Hop Renaissance Nobody is Talking About
Hip-hop is waking up again with the emergence of a new female rapper archetype, fresh drum styles beyond trap and drill, and yet another chapter in the convoluted love affair between rap and rock.
From 2013-2017, we saw a wave of innovative music explode online, steering hip-hop’s sound into uncharted waters and expanding the genre’s cultural reach. One definitive starting point of this artistic movement was the emergence of Yung Lean and the Sad Boys, who threw rap music viral curveballs with their spaced-out tracks like “Oreomilkshake” and “Kyoto,” (although it should be noted that artists like SpaceGhostPurp and Lil B paved the way for the Swedes).
From there, we saw the rise of “mumble” rap, attributed to the music-sharing website SoundCloud. This movement was a subconscious protest against the traditional norms in hip hop where artists were judged on lyrical content, storytelling, and seriousness and replaced these pillars with a focus on high energy, catchy melodies, and hedonistic “drugs, sex, and rock n’ roll” style lyrics.
Producers played an instrumental (nice pun lmao) role in this movement, spearheading new explorations into hip-hop production. Some of these never-before-heard sounds included the emo guitar-sampled trap beats from guys like Smokeasac, Nedarb, and Phish Narc, the highly distorted 808 sound of Ronny J’s beats, the ethereal and somewhat psychedelic vibe of Sadboys producers Yung Sherman and Yung Gud, and over-the-top drill beats pioneered by Chief Keef affiliate Yung Chop.
To some, it seemed like hip-hop had gone stale after this era, with new artists merely mimicking the sounds of their predecessors, and these once-unique styles becoming overly saturated and commercialized. In 2024 however, underground hip-hop is sizzling again, with several new movements laying the foundation for the next iteration of this genre.
#1: Female Stoner Rap (couldn’t think of a better term, sorry :/ )
Female rappers have had an influential role in hip-hop for a while now, and their “market share” in this male-dominated music genre only seems to increase as time goes on. Women MCs have taken different forms and styles, whether that be the sexually confident and unrestrained archetype first pioneered by Lil Kim, and then further portrayed by Nicki Minaj and Cardi B. This blueprint can be seen in many new artists like Latto, Megan The Stallion, Glorilla, Sexy Redd, and last but not least Ice Spice.
Then there are the likes of Rico Nasty, NoName, and the UK’s Little Simz, who have proven that women in this space can make music beyond the club and be just as sharp wordsmiths as their male counterparts. Just listen to Rico Nasty’s guest verse on Denzel Curry’s “Ain’t No Way,” and you’ll hear the Maryland native aggressively hold her own against several heavyweights including JID, 6Lack, and Jasaiah, delivering one of the song’s most memorable performances.
Recently, a new generation of women in hip-hop has emerged, with an aesthetic and vibe that’s neither in your face nor intensely deep in thought. Instead, this new breed is playful, laidback, and loves marijuana, proving that female MCs can also have a place in hip-hop’s stoner realm.
Introducing: Karrahbooo
We’ve officially reached the point in music where Lil Yachty, one of the definitive voices in the previously mentioned “mumble rap” subgenre, is now in the Birdman arc of his career, signing new artists to take under his wing, and Karrahbooo is his Lil Wayne.
Just like how Wayne started as a member of the Hot Boyz before becoming the solo artist we all know, Karrabhooo, currently part of the Concrete Boys group, has steadily been building a name of her own.
The Atlanta native started gaining traction after the clip of her freestyle from On the Radar Radio went viral on Instagram and YouTube, where she delivered the best verse against Yachty and the other Concrete members with a flow and cadence that is somehow both lackadaisical and poignant, sweet and condescending, and just an overall a vibe to listen to.
Her aesthetic involves baggy clothes, densely packed blunts, and lyrics that put forth an IDGAF attitude of a woman who has little to no interest in trying to impress men. Having been praised by Rolling Stone, Complex, and Pitchfork as an artist to keep on your radar, Karahboo is at the forefront of reinventing the role of a female rapper.
Introducing: Lexa Gates
Meet Lexa Gates, the Astoria native who has been catching people’s attention ever since her 2023 Valentine’s Day song “Angel” went viral on social media and was picked up by local New York platforms like &friends.nyc.
Although on the song “Lately Nothing” she raps, “might just smoke this sh!t to make my man mad, need that love I had a bad dad,” in her On the Radar Radio interview with Gabe P she told the host that she doesn’t smoke weed. Whether or not that’s the case is irrelevant, as her effortless deliveries, bluntly comedic lyrics, and overall aura that says she doesn’t take herself too seriously align with this archetype.
The New York native is someone you’re about to start seeing a lot more. She recently fulfilled a dream of hers and performed at Elsewhere in Brooklyn, played the Smokers Club event at Irving Plaza, and is now getting recognized by mainstream publications like The Fader.
Introducing: Anycia
Hailing from Atlanta, Anycia, a friend and collaborator of Karahbooo, who despite fan speculation is not signed to Lil Yachty or the Concrete Boys, is another artist in this lane that has been climbing the ranks of the music scene.
Anycia’s first taste of success came when snippet clips of her track “So What,” in which producer Popstar Benny samples Field Mob and Ciara’s 2006 track of the same name, went viral on Twitter over a year ago, which pushed her to then drop a flirtatious DIY Go-Pro music video for the full song.
Having sold out New York City’s legendary SOB’s venue earlier this year, Anycia’s deep-toned and slow-paced style has been embraced by heavy hitters. She recently collaborated with Latto and Flo Milli, and even received a co-sign from Drake.
#2 Jerk/Hoodtrap Type Beats
One way to assess where hip-hop stands in terms of its sound and style is the kind of “type beat” that’s popular within the producer community.
Until recently, the drum patterns in most “mainstream” hip-hop beats have sounded more or less the same, which can be attributed to the high hat-heavy Atlanta trap and Chicago drill styles.
A new approach to drums has finally surfaced in the underground, with less of an emphasis on hats and more on snares and claps, creating a bop that may be off-putting at first but addictive once understood. This new style of production has been called “Jerk” and “Hoodtrap,” and some of the definitive artists of this sound are Morningside Heights native Xaviersobased and the internet’s next teenage bad boy heartthrob Nettspend.
Introducing: Xaviersobased
With a name that pays homage to one of his influences, Lil B, Xaviersobased started his journey into music as a producer, only later realizing his ability and interest in rapping.
Emerging out of New York City, his 2024 full-length project Keep it Going Xav received an 8.2 from Pitchfork and was included in the publication’s “Best New Music” category. Additionally, hip-hop media outlet Our Generation Music included him in their 2024 Artists To Watch list, as he continues to develop his sound and gain traction in the industry.
Introducing: Nettspend
At just 17 years old, Nettspend, a Richmond Virginia native and affiliate of Xaviersobased, is on his way to becoming the next big sensation in rap and possibly pop culture broadly, having recently been spotted hanging out with Anna Wintour at Paris Fashion Week.
With a look like that of a delinquent Justin Beiber, the underground vocalist began making music in the 5th grade, taking inspiration from Future and Lil Uzi Vert. While he has ventured to a more mainstream style on newer releases like “Nothing like uuu,” which has a music video that’ll surely catch the attention of teenage girls looking for a rebellious fantasy, his uptempo jerk track “Shin N Peace” was featured in the New York Times “Best Songs of 2023,” bringing this burgeoning sound to the mainstream.
Beyond the East Coast
The jerk movement has already begun to transcend borders, with a recent clip going viral on Instagram of an amateur 14-year-old rapper in India performing over a jerk beat. The clip even caught the attention of the US scene, receiving comments from Xaviersobased and underground producer Captain Crunch, who worked with the late rapper 6 Dogs.
Furthermore, up-and-coming California vocalist Cr1tter (who’s shown real potential on songs like “im drunk” and “shaun white”) recently hopped on a jerk beat in her new track “rob dyrdek,” showing that while production styles in the US, such as Jersey Club and West Coast G-Funk, are often regional, the jerk movement hasn’t fallen into this norm. Possibly due to its internet routes, the style is proving to be borderless and on its way to becoming a universal sound.
#3 Metal Rap Replacing Emo Rap
Introducing: Sematary and the Haunted Mound
It’s hard to put Sematary in a box, as his music draws influences from black metal, goth rock, witch house, trap, and drill, but the North California artist and his collective Haunted Mound are filling a void in alternative hip-hop that was left in 2017 when Gothboiclique dissipated following the death of Lil Peep.
While others have tried to continue the momentum in emo rap since the passing of the style’s wunderkind Lil Peep, few have managed to add to the sound, merely replicating what we’ve heard before. Semetary, also known as Grave Man and DJ Sorrow, has finally brought something new to this subgenre, which has led to him amassing a cultlike fanbase and widespread recognition in the underground.
The rapper and producer has received a slew of industry cosigns, including opening for SuicideBoys on the 2023 Greyday tour, performing at Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash festival, collaborating with Chief Keef and Gothboiclique member WiccaPhaseSpringsEternal. Additionally, he recently dropped a new music video shot by MetroBlu, who filmed Lil Peep’s breakout “Withblades” video, and his most metal project to date, the sonic hell ride that is 2021’s “Rainbow Bridge 3,” was rated a “strong 8 to light 9” by Anthony Fantano.
While not my personal favorite Sematary album, “Rainbow Bridge 3” solidified to listeners his ability to somehow throw black metal, trap, and electronic music into a sonic blender, sprinkle this concoction with disassociative vocals reminiscent of Yung Lean, and create an end product that is undeniably fascinating and addictive to those who appreciate music that may be more “weird” and less “cool.” If that sounds like you, I recommend you check out one of my favorites from this project, the bizarre electro-metal trap banger “Chainsaw Party.”
And if you want something more digestible from Sematary’s catalog, I suggest the Salem-inspired song “Headlights” off his 2024 mixtape “Bloody Angel.” On this project, fans finally saw Sematary shed the horrorcore persona on a few tracks, revealing more about the man behind the Haunted Mound with introspective lyrics about depression, drug addiction, and love.
Sematary and the Haunted Mound completed their second European tour with no major label backing this summer. Other notable artists in the collective include rapper Hackle, producers Grimore and Anvil, guitarist Oscar8teen, and Irish vocalist Buckshot.
Closing Statement
The purpose of this piece isn’t to say that the artists and styles mentioned are definitive of this moment in underground hip-hop, but rather to look at the genre from a bird’s eye view and put several different creative movements in context with each other.
There is a lot of great new music being put out that I didn’t mention, like British backpack rapper Niko B’s debut album “dog eat dog food world,” which features slick house-inspired production peppered with tongue-in-cheek lyrics, and the bizarre workings of Christ Dillinger and Acid Souljah (known as Based Negative Squad), who are resurrecting Lil B’s offbeat and “based” style of rap with a much darker and degenerate attitude. Acid Souljah and the previously mentioned Xaviersobased are cut from the same cloth, both artists being members of the online collective SoEvilBoyz and collaborating earlier in their creative endeavors. Then there’s Dina Ayada, another innovative new female MC who is ethnically Morrocan, grew up in Belgium, and recently relocated to Los Angeles to further pursue her rap career. Dina’s style combines melodic flows with high-pitched adlibs like Playboi Carti and Lil Uzi Vert, and she recently toured the U.S. as an opener for Bronx native Lil Tjay.
Hip-hop is nowhere near the end of its journey and continues to be embraced by new generations looking to add their own spins and personalities to the genre. It’s hard to predict where things will go next, but for rap fans who struggle to find new music that’s exciting to them, I guarantee that it’s there somewhere, you just need to spend a little more time online.
daylist take notes 📝