Alternative Rap

Alternative rap sprouted in the late 1980s, primarily in the US, when some clever clogs decided that rhyme and reason could swagger off the beaten path without a cares about mainstream radio play. It features eclectic beats, quirky samples, and lyrics that often resemble a poet's diary rather than a pop song's punchline. Fans might argue that it's a subgenre that refuses to be pigeonholed, which is probably just code for 'we're not quite sure what we are either.'