The Best Alternative Hip Hop Groups/Artists

Over 800 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Alternative Hip Hop Groups/Artists

Alternative hip hop is one of the most underrated rap subgenres. While hip hop and rap music has captured the ears of mainstream music listeners. alternative hip hop bands, which are outside of the mainstream, haven't sold as well as their pop rap contemporaries, but are just as important. Alternative hip hop artists are among the most celebrated in all of rap. The best alternative hip hop includes experimental beats, clever lyrics and have not conformed to the mainstream. The fusing of genres outside of the mainstream is what made alternative hip hop bands some of the most progressive in urban music, and helped the top alternative hip hop bands eventually achieve mainstream success.

That said, who are the best alternative hip hop bands and rappers? This list includes all alternative rap artists, including solo performers. So you'll see rappers like Andre 3000 and Big Boi on here separately, in addition to Outkast since they have had solo careers after Outkast disbanded. Kanye West, Gang Starr, A Tribe Called Quest, Jurassic 5 and the Beastie Boys are also considered among the most popular alternative hip hop bands and best alternative hip hop musicians. Their unique spin on rap music has made them beloved rappers and truly earned the title of alternative hip hop artists. 

So, who can truly be considered the top alternative hip hop bands. This list of alternative rappers takes into account all of the popular alternative hip hop bands and critically acclaimed ones as well. This list answers the questions "who are the best alternative hip hop bands of all time?" and "who is the greatest alternative rappers ever?" If you know enough about the genre, please vote based on the quality of the band's music instead of just voting for the most popular alternative hip hop bands that you might've heard of. {#nodes}

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