Emo rap (also known as emo hip-hop^[1] and hipster hop^[2]) is a term typically used to describe hip hop music with emotional lyrical content comparable to that of emo music. Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... Emo is a genre of rock music. ...

Criticism

The cultural term emo has generated significant backlash, and many fans of alleged emo rap artists disapprove of such use of the term "emo." Like emo rock,^[3] emo rap is often criticized by artists labeled as such.^{[4] [5]}

Emo rap is also seen as an inherently racist or biased label, because most emo rappers are white, suggesting that other (mostly African American) rap artists are unemotional or shallow.^[2] Although hip hop is a primarily music oriented culture, the political significance of race sometimes comes into play, with accusations of cultural appropriation against non-black-- typically white and Asian-- performers, and charges of racism and self-stereotyping against black performers. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ...

Some critics point out that emotion is nothing new to the hip hop scene, as many rappers (including gangsta rappers) have previously written emotionally charged and/or romantic lyrics. For the Ice T album, see Gangsta Rap (album). ...

Criticism of rappers who try to market their music to non-urban audiences isn't limited to supposed "emo rap" artists, but to alternative hip hop at large.^[6] Alternative hip hop (also known as alternative rap) is a genre that is defined in greatly varying ways. ...

Emo rap groups and record labels

• Atmosphere
• anticon.^[7]
• Buck 65^[8]
• Closed Heart Surgery^[9]
• Crack Jack
• Dead Artists (Мертвые художники)^[10]
• Eyedea^[11]
• MC Paul Barman
• Pigeon John^[12]
• P.O.S.^[13]
• Sage Francis
• Social Deviantz
• MC Serginho
• Sole^[14]
• Hollywood Undead
• B.I.G.Benni

This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... anticon. ... Richard Terfry (b. ... Eyedea (born Michael Larsen in 1981, also known as Oliver Hart) is a well-known freestyle battle champion and underground rapper. ... MC Paul Barman is a hip hop MC from Ridgewood, New Jersey, who attended Brown University. ... Pigeon John is a prolific Christian, American underground rapper, based in Los Angeles, California. ... P.O.S. P.O.S. (born Stefon Alexander), is a rapper signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment and a founding member of Doomtree. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Social Deviantz are a Canadian rap trio based in Vancouver, British Columbia. ... Sole press shot from Anticon site. ...

See also

• Abstract hip hop
• Alternative hip hop
• Conscious hip hop
• Indie hip hop

Abstract hip hop is a subgenre of alternative hip hop that differs from other hip hop music largely in the content of the lyrics. ... Alternative hip hop (also known as alternative rap) is a genre that is defined in greatly varying ways. ... Conscious hip hop is a subgenre of alternative hip hop which focuses on social issues. ... Indie hip hop or Indy hip hop (short for independent hip hop) is hip hop music that primarily exists in the independent underground music scene. ...

References

• Emo rap at University of Wisconsin
• Atmosphere brings ‘emo-rap’ to the masses
• Emo Rap: Up From The Underground
  • Also available from mushrecords.com, which includes additional insert from original publication.
• Emo rap gains exposure
• An Essential Hip-Hop Triumvirate
• DJ Muggs at Remix Mag
• Anticon.com: Archive of May 2000 edition of San Francisco Bay Guardian article "Anticon: Hip-Hop Straight Outta Cyberspace."

Footnotes