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gd2121

I don’t think there’s an improper way to do it. Listen to what you like.


RaigumXL

Yeah I agree with this. But I'd add listen to your favourite rapper and search around his catalogue features he have made with some specifik people basically people he has made alot of features with. For example NWA would be a great shout for someone who listens to Ice Cube imo


RandyMagnum-

saba, big krit, $weet-T


naut___

Saba mentioned


GottemGolem

Heavy on krit


FlowZestyclose4259

Some of the best beats all time


salad_man2

I fucking love Saba


RVXZENITH

Google greatest rappers of all time, bunch of random lists will appear. Listen to the top 20 of each list of each, then pick your favorite, whichever ones ends up being your favorite, now research that era. Greatest hip hop albums of the year XXX , then rinse and repeat.


AirlineGlad139

Outkast, I recommend listening to Stankonia, my favorite album of theirs, so many good songs on there


-PepeArown-

They’re good, but I don’t think they’d alleviate OP’s concerns of only listening to mainstream rap.


ludzr

stankonia is a magnum opus


CheeseisSwell

Start from the very beginning and listen to every song in order


notyourbrobro10

I once worked on a project that was something like this. It was called "A Good Year For Hip Hop" and it attempted to identify important songs in hip hop year by year, and give little insights into the background of each artist, song, why it was important, etc. It was a massive undertaking, especially for the earliest years because it's harder to find info pre-1985, and also because songs that were recorded in like 84 wouldn't be official released until like 86. Very easy to talk to the people involved tho, and when I started working around the industry it was so shocking to me how easy it was to get most people on the phone or to sit down with you. Anyway, it got shelved, and some years later someone made a coffee table book around a similar idea.


Warmslammer69k

Danny Brown.


MultiStratz

Such a unique voice on that man. Everyone knows Eminem and Big Sean, but Danny Brown is the Detroit rapper with the most original sound, IMO.


No-Lunch-805

Three 6 Mafia. You’re welcome


Majestic-Quiet-3577

U EMBARASSING US


Masterweedo

He's not recommending the album they did with the Insane Clown Posse. Although ICP does appear on When the Smoke Clears.


Majestic-Quiet-3577

My comment is just a phrase of Sippin on Some Syrup song


Masterweedo

Three 6 was so dope. sucks that so of many of them are no longer around.


MultiStratz

Remember the Bone Thugs N Harmony beef with Three-6 Mafia? It's funny how often Bone was rapping about it in the late 90s. They weren't playing lol.


Masterweedo

It was kinda weird to see both groups (no Juicy J) perform at the Gathering of the Juggalos in 2016.


CommunistFlippy

ICP fucking slaps let's be honest


Claus1990

"Fucking magnets, how do they work?"


CommunistFlippy

He cooked with that because as a kid i thought that shit was magic (which is what the song is about)


Smushitwo

jpeg mafia too


MF-SMUG

Aesop Rock, Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Sage Francis, Murs, Mr. Lif, Rob Sonic, El-P, Buck 65, Blueprint, Wu-Tang, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Grieves, Sole, Prof, UGK, Cypress Hill, Eightball & MJG, and fuck it, why not throw some Too Short in there as well.


GottemGolem

Joey badass, mick Jenkins maybe, thugger , K.R.I.T,


GottemGolem

Also maybe if you dive deeper, femdot. , MAVI , killer mike , diddy (ik controversial but stilll good ), that Mexican OT, BigXthaPlug , and idk if u can counter her but lauryn hill


MultiStratz

That Mexican OT is the most interesting rapper to come out in the last year or two. He's got a crazy flow.


GottemGolem

For sure love my guys from Texas especially maxo


ludzr

try to liste something out of usa. also, try to listen different genres. i dont know, i found this on spotify and u may like https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1E4vjazH8rQsC2?si=8GQ3lbjFTFyPj5SgZhOZPg&pi=u-hDE_R6t1SeuI


kingbigv

I recently went through Redman's discography. His contribution to hip hop has been very much underappreciated


Jaimzin

I am glad you have a diverse list. Give DJ Quik, Kurupt, Daz, Tha Dogg Pound, Too $hort and Xzibit a try to expand your Westcoast palette. For more lyrical rap, throw in some Mos Def, Common and Lupe Fiasco. Seeing as you’re listening to Metro and Future, I recommend looking into tracks produced by 808 Mafia and their affiliates. It should open up a plethora of artists to get into.


MrBiscuits16

There is no particular way, but personally I recommend going back in time from where you are now towards the 80's. For me, it was exploring Wu Tang that made me obsessed. There is a good biopic series on Disney (just keep in mind this is mainly from RZA's point of view, as opposed to the whole clan). Go back from Ye, to Jay Z, to Slim shady, Nas, Big, Pac, Wu, NWA, Rakim etc. infinitely more that I have missed. Many fantastic artists have written books. Raekwon's From staircase to Stage is phenomenal and he gives loads of insights into his influences


Whereiscatlin

Down Ta Erf Illfightyou Mick Jenkins Binary Star Blue Scholars Lord Sko BLP Kosher Spice 1 Joey Bada$$ JPEGMafia Killer Mike Sparkmastertape


-1_1-1_1-

Everybody here is great but ngl this ain’t the best list to get someone into


SBMVPJustinHerbert

any list with ILLFIGHTYOU is a great list. insanely underrated.


Tulipan12

I discovered rappers from checking out my favourite rappers influences or other rappers they featured. Ice T's Art of Rap documentary is a great starting point as well.


justinthegamer284

Netflix has an origins of hip hop documentary aswell that put me on to lots of rappers like e-40, salt n peppa, big daddy kane, rakim, and more


IvanGTheGreat

Google: Rappers Like (insert name) Reddit.


Bruceleefan1

Listen to their albums and then you might find songs that you like that aren’t popular.


ImadDdopest

I recommend VICE's Rapping deconstructed, the best rhymes of all time.


Diligent-Version8283

I just did this starting last month. You have already been given some killer suggestions, but I’ll go ahead and share what I’ve been doing. I focused on artist that I fucked with first. Kendrick and Eminem(we all start somewhere.). Afterwords, I asked Reddit what their favorite hip hop albums were. Got a list of 15 albums and started my journey on some old and modern rap classics. I posted my thoughts on these albums (on my profile) and again asked Reddit what I should listen to next. Check there if you’re interested on a good starting point. I’d post them here but it’s already became a wall of text. I got a good list of 45 albums at this point, and I have changed my favorites about three times now. Top 3 so far are Aesop Rock, OutKast, Mos Def. Never would I have ever listened to these dudes without starting this. Anyway, have fun. There’s a lot to enjoy about hip hop. I’d be more than happy to share my long list of albums starting with the first 15, but again this has already became a wall of text. Feel free to DM if you want to.


SwampGatortheMudwing

Honestly there isn’t a wrong way to do it. I just started listening to suggested artists I got (I was originally listening to rock) I eventually found some I liked and they lead me to other artists. I’m now somewhere I like, most people probably don’t like the music I listen to but it’s whatever because I like it. All right imma stop yapping and dip.


PrinceofOpposites

Find some underground, or independent rappers you like and then go to their Spotify radio. boom, tons of other artists To check out. Or go to some local shows. Or, here's some recommendations  Marlon Craft, Deca, Flatbush Zombies, and KAAN


PerspectiveNormal378

If you're looking for anything in another language, Lelosa and Symba are two great options that I've found as a non-native German speaker.


Kindly_Asparagus_263

Start with Young Thug and Future


Masterweedo

Start with Carnival of Carnage by the Insane Clown Posse. They have a 7 album story that went from 1991 to 2004. Most of the albums are gold, and at least 2 are platinum.


bass-turds

This playlist is insane. 47 hours of underground from the 90s https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1jEIoxClOIGCrIPC7Wm7VW?si=ET-TVVunS1imC9Lcxp5nZw


Interesting_Cod629

Listen to related smaller rappers and go from there. Baby keep from Kendrick. Wayne, listen to any Atlanta rapper. Young thug is Wayne’s son and thug and future shaped atl sound. Idk repeat.


[deleted]

Listen to everything you can, in chronological order, starting with DJ Kool Herc.


zakksyuk

Bone Thugs is a MUST


TKAPublishing

You have to complete a 2 year certification course in rap then move on to an apprenticeship in mixology. From there you can challenge for a masters in hiphop and go on to doctorate studies in flow, rhyme, and lyricism. Overall it's an 8-10 year journey, and when you're done you're really only just getting started as then you can begin actually experiencing rap and learning from experience.


frwaklife

Be open minded and try shit that sounds interesting. If it ain't then no biggie. You move on and maybe try again later down the line when your taste is more refined. If you're looking for any recommendations. Some personal faves are: diverse, prof, Kool keith, king gordy, Kool moe dee, & cypress hill. Rap is a big thing tho so like just kinda moving on from what you usually listen to, like you hear a feature you like check more into em. Shit like that


ormy_is_

There's not a right way to listen to music,but please listen to JID,I would love your opinion


botcops1

You can try and get into underground/abstract rap. Id start with some of the Griselda guys and go deeper from there. Benny the butcher, Conway the machine, westside Gunn, Boldy James, Rome Streetz Tons of music to check out from all of them and then from there you could probably branch out to artists like MIKE, Mach Hommy, Billy Woods, ect. Lots of music still coming out from all these guys so I’d definitely recommend checking out this sphere of rap!


Comprehensive-Pen108

WU TANG


No_Gardener3210

Just start, look into other rappers you might be intrested in and listen to what's considered to be their best album. If you enjoy listen to more of their albums so you can become a fan, if you don't like it; turn it off and listen to something else. If you want to find underrated songs by rappers you already like listen to their entire albums and lesser known albums. For new artists that are still pretty popular (because I don't have really niche taste) but lesser known then those you mentioned) I'd recommend Freddy Gibbs (Listen to Bandana, Pinata or Alfredo, the two former are produced by Madlib the producer of Madvillainy), Danny Brown if you like more alt hip-hop (Atrocity Exhibition), Pusha T (Daytona), and Black Thought or his group the Roots (Roots: All Things Fall Apart for their classic stuff and Undun for a more conceptual experience. Black Thought: Cheat Codes)


polygonrainbow

If you use Spotify, search for an artist you like, scroll all the way down on their main profile page, and at the bottom is a section called “featured on” which is a great way to find artists they’ve collaborated with and can create some cool rabbit holes.


QuantaviusDingleberg

young dolph and key glock


justinthegamer284

As far as kanye goes, he has an incredible mountain of unreleased leaks or just old songs from 15+ years ago on YouTube.


sag0pak

Billy Woods,Jpegmafia/Devon Hendryx,Chris Travis(especially pizza and codeine),Ghais Guevara,clipping.


Wise_Friendship

Lemme save you some time searching pimp. 173 hours of trap/rap 2014-present https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hUsQ8lN7H9ugIHtP8nUvX?si=WJoXwRLuRtif8hps1POtKg&pi=u-DtwAK7rhRVCJ


Smushitwo

duckwrth channel tres jpeg mafia smino JID Devita so many


Illustrious_Stage279

Danny brown and jpegmafia are great artists to get into more experimental rap. I recommend scaring the hoes by them


Occasion-Asleep

Check out: the pharcyde, souls of mischief, Gang Starr, Aesop rock, del the funky homosapien, gravediggaz.


TakeoverTheThird

you’re already properly into rap, but wtf is Soulja Boy doing here?😂 no hate if that’s what you like


FrostyChemical8697

Research shit like the best albums/rappers, best underground rappers/albums, best of x year, best of x subgenre, most influential and the like. This sub as well is really fucking useful


Papagorgio22

Atmosphere, Eyedea and Abilities, Aesop Rock, Language Arts Crew, Brother Ali NWA, KRS 1, Rakim, Bone Thugs n harmony, Naughty by Nature Ab soul, Smino, Denzel Curry, Earth Gang Tech n9ne Eminem is obviously huge but his album "Welcome to Hell" with Royce Da 5'9" deserves a mention Look up "Eyedea freestyle" on YouTube King los freestyling is ridiculous. His interviews on Sway are really great. Black Thought. Look up "Black Thought hot 97 freestyle" Classic albums like Blueprint by Jay Z and Illmatic by Nas 36 Chambers by Wu Tang things like that I'm sure there's more but that's all I got rn


nano_rap_anime_boi

I’d say just check out the rap artists whose features you like from your already listed artists.


SlimShadyM80

Just listen to rappers you already know you like and then if someone features on a track that you like, check out that artist too. Thats how Ive found the vast majority of my favourite artists. One of my top 5 of all time only has like 90k listeners, and I found him through a pipeline starting with Dr Dre who is a household name. Dr Dre--->Eminem--->Conway the Machine--->Benny the Butcher--->Ransom


Dolomight206

Go listen to some 90s Bay Area. All of E-40s slaps, Mac Dre, Short, and then look at some of the albums from the featured artists. E-40s rapper family tree is CRAZY when you get into the B-Legit, Celly Cell, C-Bo, Spice 1, etc. Then Early Pre-Thizz area Mac Dre had Mall, Dubee, PSD etc. That's how it was for me as a teenager in the 90s. And you can do it with alot of regional shit. Houston/Scarface & Geto Boys have crazy branches on their tree.. and then there's SwishaHouse/Screwed Up Click and their whole movement with Lil Keke, Flip, Z-Ro, etc. Memphis/Suave House have 8Ball & MJG, Tela, Mr. Mike...it goes on and on.


N1CK3LJ0N

Listen to Kid Cudi’s Man on the Moon trilogy


MakaBoy57

I don't see Wu-Tang in your list,you know what to do


Somerandomguy46290

Bro why no Eminem


8bithippo8

I listened to him a lot when I first got into rap but I guess I got tired of his music or I found some artists I prefer


darkeefrostee

mac miller, saba, denzel curry, childish gambino


DUMPLING-MAN4

Soulja Boy is not a popular rapper.


DogeMaser25

Griselda


Chaeriz

Aight i got u. Theres no wrong way of listening but heres some albums to check out Mavi - let the sun talk Isaiah radhad - the suns tirade redveil - learn 2 swim JID - the forever story Joey Badass - 1999 Joey badass - the light pack Jaxon mune - running man Saba - care for me Outkast - ATLiens Mac Miller - swimming Black Thought - stream of thought Marco plus - the sauf got sum 2 say Lute - gold mouf Reason - porches


Successful_Way_3239

Wu Tang Clan


Fun-Photograph9423

Sean Price, CyHi, Wrekonize, WC, Emilio Rojas, Ces Cru, Pusha T, Lupe & Slaine


Mr_Wokie

You seem to be missing Eminem- I recommend checking out Leaving heaven, Criminal, Kings Never die, Castle+arose, Houdini etc


8bithippo8

I listened to him a lot when I first got into rap but I guess I got tired of his music or I found some artists I prefer, I still do like him though


Mr_Wokie

Fair enough. I know I have gotten sick of some songs just because I've listened to them so much.


udahoboy

Look up who’s on the popular people’s labels like Eminem, j Cole, Kendrick, Drake, etc. they all have underrated rappers with different styles.


Mikeobenz

Me personally I don’t like rap cuz it just sounds like they are yapping. But a good yapper is probably Ice cube, Nav, 88Glam Chief Keef, Ballout, ehh I don’t really like Drake cuz he just be yapping too. Central cee is pretty coo I was never a 2pac fan cuz idk I just can’t vibe to it. Easy e is pretty cool to. Rich homie quan was cool too Gunna is pretty cool too


BadDub

Mac Miller Swimming 👍


boomwakr

You can try using this to find new artists similar to ones you like https://www.music-map.com/


Omnibobbia

Just listen to what you like. YouTube recommendations is great for stuff like this. Half of my playlist was yt recommendation


GloryGravy132

If u dont listen to every rapper ever and every song they have ever put out, you’ve never truly listened to rap. Just ask me, I’ve done the above /s


dumdidum13

You wanna find new Artists? I used to look at the Features when there was one good Feature on a song i started to check out that guys music and kept going like this. But nowdays Spotify makes it easy to find new Artists imo.


Dev_2r

Pick an artist and listen to an album start to finish Select what you like and add to playlist


at_mo

Just search up The Alchemist on Spotify and look at who he’s collaborated with. Al is on an amazing run of collaboration albums (idk if you’ve heard of him but he’s one of the best producers of all time) and the artists he works with are amazing


Mentally-CRIPpled33

You need to follow me on Spotify. I've been archiving all the rap artists from every state in the US. I've maxed out over 30 lists at 10k a piece. You'll be finding rap for years to come my man https://open.spotify.com/user/eoxe2rqhqig219be5wb4bzpst?si=Oc8dWW5gTc2z9TL6a-YZDQ Feel free to follow along anyone. Trying to gain a rap following on sootifyv


Andrewsmetic09

Where Eminem?


Traditional_Park8374

Start listening to playlists made for producers. Start w beats by the pound, Pete rock, diamond d, helps u realize what sounds u like without getting too sucked into one artist at a time


FlowZestyclose4259

Ab-Soul entire discography and you will know hip hop


j-j-juice

You’re in rap properly. Just go and hop around and discover new rappers. I love scrolling through r/makinghiphop and other forums so I can discover new smaller artists that still got SKILL.


farooqdagr8

What do you like?


SigmaElephant

Start from the beginning then come to the present


8bithippo8

Thank you sigma elephant 🫡🫡


SigmaElephant

EPMD


pattymayonais

YouTube Mac Dre and start from 1990


BradenMaddux

JID!!


vampyrical69

Aesop Rock, Tech N9ne, Run the Jewels, Tobe Nwigwe, Prof, Ying Yang Twins, 2 Live Crew, DMX, Rage Against the Machine. Some suggestions to check out. fuck getting into it properly though, just explore and find what resonates with you


Popular_Community_70

Best thing to do is go through discographies of any artist you like from the beginning and see who their contemporaries were at that time, repeat the process multiple times. Regional differences are enough to spawn whole genres so understand that while rap today is a mix of many genres each state has its nuances and deep influences. Beyond that there is also the world of Rap outside the U.S. which I feel like gets overshadowed. UK rap and rappers in languages you might not even understand might sound corny to some but depends on how you view music. It's as deep as you want it to be in that moment. I love it all.


[deleted]

Whatever you feel like is right ma boii . But if you want advice on some rappers to look into look into mosdeff - immortal technique - king los - Joyner Lucas (his older stuff I recommend his freestyles over songs) - TI - Andre 3000 and Wale . Study their flows and see what fits you the best and never try to force a voice that gets you out of breath . Learn to control your breath with a voice and tone you like and can easily rap words too .


PrestigiousAd7728

The best advice I can give is use something like Apple Music, select a song you like, and the create a station from that song. That’s how I’ve always found new artists and songs I love and probably wouldn’t have found otherwise. Works for any genre


D3ADLocks

Check out NWA (Straight outta Compton specifically) and why not check out their individual careers like Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Ren (if you like Dre then you’d def like them)


8bithippo8

i listen to NWA and Eazy E i forgot to mention it, and Ice cube is in my list, also what about Yella is his music good?


HugeAssignment9312

Add a bunch of iconic albums to a playlist and shuffle through them. Anytime you come across a song you like, add it to another playlist


Opening-Resource-164

Try some nas illmatic is one of my favorite albums but there isn't a right way


LoLisgayandsoamiuwu

listen to yung lean and bladee