Thug Intelligence

It's very hard to respect crude music. There's a feeling like being a thug means a love for simplicity and urban background. Although that is true, the thugs that created the archetype were very intelligent and made deep brooding mainstream respected music as well as putting on for their culture.

DC The Don - I Want You

Fivio Foreign - Hello (Feat. Chlöe & KayCyy)

Clarity

RapIndie is always evolving. People have disagreements about the choices the platform makes. It's not really in the spirit of "indie" specification to attempt to sell ALL of hip hop. That was never really our vision. However, the community seems to solely be looking for that.

In my opinion, the real problem is the continuity of being a part of something hateful. Hot lips; Doritos evolution; How diverse are the Black Panthers ever really going to be? I think "normalizing stereotypes" seems noble but it's dangerous because if you see a very low brow rapper and develop a hate or vanity from it, it's hurting the culture even if there are millions of them.

Kendrick Lamar - N95

Kendrick Lamar - N95

Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (R.I. Review)

Kendrick Lamar is rapper from Compton, California. The thing that you have to keep in mind about this album is this is the most unapologetically "black" aligned rap I've ever heard. Tupac had more tact... Kanye has more tact. (Yes, I said it). If you can keep an open mind, you can appreciate his finesse talent and creativity. He calls attention to social issues that most people may have missed, ("The heart part 5" for example). There's an Eminem style showing-off in a lot of these songs, but his love for urban hip hop culture gives this album a legitimacy and authenticity that his fans have come to listen for.

Kendrick Lamar - The Heart Part 5

2Novembers - Blues Like Clues

Asap Rocky - D.M.B.

Polo G - Don't Play (feat. Lil Baby)

Jasiah - Earthquake (feat. jxdn)