What Do They Mean When They Call Hip Hop “Alternative”?

Watch Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World on PBS: www.pbs.org/show/fight-power-...
Watch Hip Hop & the Metaverse: • Hold Up, How Did Hip-H...
We dive into the world of alternative Hip Hop and explore what it even means for Hip Hop to be called alternative. Our hosts, Arthur and Linda, take a deep dive into the history of the word alternative in music and how it relates to rap and r&b. Covering the journey of artists like The Pharcyde, Odd Future, and Missy Elliott.
To help us understand the concept of alternative Hip Hop, Arthur meets with Robeson "Taj" Frazier, PhD, host of Hip Hop and the Metaverse. Together, they discuss how Hip Hop is plural and how the term alternative has been used in the genre over the years.
In addition, Linda sits down with rising r&b star Jean Deaux to talk about the originality of her music and how she fits into the alternative Hip Hop landscape. Jean Deaux shares her unique perspective on the creative process and how she is carving out her own space in the music world.
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We like music. You like music. Let’s break it down. Sound Field is a PBS Digital Studios web series produced by Twin Cities PBS. #SoundFieldPBS #jeandeaux #alternativehiphop

[@SoundFieldPBS]

Add a verse to our track and tag us! on.soundcloud.com/88NRP

[@VINCEAKOKO]

noice!

[@b-boycastertroy]

To gloss over Kool Keith is highly suspect. You guys should be ashamed of yourselves.

[@chimpwimp9407]

For me, alternative means something I probably wouldn't hear on the radio but probably would hear on the radio in a Grand Theft Auto game.

[@bracket0398]

Doom got a mention which is great! Aesop Rock, Mr. Lif, J Live, Aceyalone, Hieroglyphics, The Procussions, J5, Lupe! Def Jux as a label back in the day! Alt isn't always about samples and such, half the time written subjects and conscious awareness does impact alt sound as well. Meaning in both senses.

[@2nd3rd1st]

J5 4Lyfe!

[@maryannappiagyei4277]

Atmosphere and MF DOOM homeboy sandman. Eyedea.

[@dgayle2348]

The early to mid 2000s underground scene was insane and no one seems to remember it happened.

[@foopity9160]

i wish they mentioned peggy as well

[@cpi23]

@@maryannappiagyei4277 R.I.P. Eyedea

[@DJClassicAuto]

Hip Hop is going through the same thing that 'punk rock' went through in the late 70s. In '77 you could have walked into CBGB's and heard The Ramones, Blondie, The Talking Heads, The B-52s, Patti Smith, The Police, and so many others, and it was all called punk rock until some guy decided to at least draw one distinction and call some of it new wave. Those six bands belong in at least for different boxes. Hip Hop is just waiting for someone to figure out what to call the sub-genres.

[@mrlego611]

Azealia Banks should’ve been mentioned w her bringing hip-house to the mainstream. Despite her personal shenanigans, no matter your opinions on her, her musical impact is undeniable!

[@olleheyb]

She wasn’t the first tho, so if anything they should have mentioned, for ex, Queen Latifah and Jungle Brothers who preceded her.

[@peachica]

@@olleheyb what are some hip house songs by latifah and jungle brothers?

[@olleheyb]

@@peachica Jungle Brothers: “I’ll House You”, Queen Latifah: “Come Into My House”

[@SoundFieldPBS]

Or early Chicago pioneers during the beginnings of house like Fast Eddie!

[@THAGAMEKILLA]

Impact? Ive never seen a single soul listen to azealia banks

[@thedon0516]

IMO I think it means something that is otherworldly sounding in terms of production & lyricism. Rappers like Danny Brown, JPEGMAFIA, Kanye West, Tyler The Creater, Travis Scott, LIL UZI VERT have shown this through their music either through their sounds or lyrics

[@peachtime]

I feel like all of these artists aren't alternative anymore, whereas yung lean, bladee, ecco2k, and especially Yabujin are the real modern alternatives

[@sasquatch884]

@@peachtime Danny and Peggy still are

[@SuperSonic-sf5sz]

@@peachtime MF Doom, JPEGMAFIA, and Danny Brown are still alternative

[@brvnotrash]

it's so sad they never mentioned peggy and injury reserve

[@thedon0516]

I'll also include BROCKHAMPTON, Earl Sweatshirt, Run The Jewels, & XXXTENTACION

[@WreckInSilenceRecords]

This is the sound field i remember!! More like this please, and more often please.

[@anthonii.x]

Mysterious Music

[@VanessaLivesInASociety]

😂

[@The_SOB_II]

Music has Alway bein a mystery to the universes . The meaning of. Why you can make music when the yo u music

[@SoundFieldPBS]

True

[@addictivenews]

😂😂😂 ok Dj khaled

[@fuziontonygaming]

DJ Khaled is fast food Hip-hop both figuratively and literally.

[@MXRX]

I pray I get embraced in this category one day. I think as an artist pushing boundaries is our responsibility. I hope I do too.

[@Chandasouk]

Makes me wanna listen to Supa Dupa Fly again

[@SoundFieldPBS]

You should, we’ve been listening to it a lot

[@earthshaker1217]

A wonderful episode. I saw someone mention hip house, and it sounds like a great episode idea for the team to explore the parallels between house/vogue/ballroom music and hip hop/rap music since both genres and cultures featured dancers, DJs, and MCs as a central figures in the culture and music.

[@aprilrhoden116]

I love this channel so much! I learn so much about music I already knew and music I didn't know but I'm glad I do now. I also love to see the threads of influence in music that cause major changes in the way things sound. Great work as always!

[@TheEr910]

As an "old head" I hate all the labels. It's all just Hip Hop.

[@BlackIndigenousPosse]

As an "old head" they are useful. It can all be hip-hop along with more specific terms to help people understand what you're talking about. Using more words can convey more information. It's fine.

[@slattslattslatt]

Cope harder

[@verbavolant6895]

Thats where hip hop messed up. Should have let subgenres be their own genres

[@ilyouslug]

Playboi Carti's Whole Lotta Red would've been a perfect example of an album that was considered alternative when It came out but is now the norm. I sometimes question if these mainstream media actually know anything about modern Hip-Hop because Carti has revolutionized Hip-Hop and there's rarly ever any mention of his contributions. Is it because he's controversial?

[@SoundFieldPBS]

We talk about Carti and are fans of WLR. We just can’t fit everyone into one video.

[@peachtime]

I'm more surprised yung lean wasnt in the video, without yung lean theres no carti and a lot of others

[@theinsidertraderfx_]

no becoz he didn't revolutionalize hip hop

[@jonnyvaladez8859]

Yeah I definitely would’ve mentioned him instead of coy leray for autotune haha

[@serious_nigga]

B.o.B definitely falls into this category... From pop-rap to conscious rap to psychedelic rap to lofi-rap.

[@slattslattslatt]

This comment is hilarious

[@brandonluff7992]

Ain’t heard bob in years since he was mainstream from the track magic which banged

[@serious_nigga]

@@slattslattslatt what's hilarious about it?

[@serious_nigga]

@@brandonluff7992 been a fan and I followed his career from being mainstream up to date. I remember when he left Atlantic. Fyi, as a non-american who has never been to the states, I get surprised when I hear people from the states not having a clue about him.

[@DeathSensei]

@@serious_nigga he had like 3 hit songs and then nobody listened to him anymore. Also he’s just ended up becoming another flat earth conspiracy theorist.

[@JohnMushitu]

Nice to see Tierra Whack and Danny Brown get a shout out. Would also include JPEGMafia

[@rekindle]

This was very cool. I think maybe some more emphasis on De La Soul would have been appropriate though - they made the juxtaposition of what they were doing vs the "mainstream" of hip hop at the time explicit in their Me, Myself & I video.... I think you could reasonably argue that they created the lane for Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde, Digable Planets, KMD, Black Sheep, Souls of Mischief and so on....

[@usxnews1834]

💪🏽

[@JulianWyllie]

Solid episode as usual.

[@ambriehlcrutchfield9786]

I love that you all experimented with creating you alls own song and putting it on SoundCloud!

[@Soltheking]

This is a special channel. Keep up the good work!

[@2nd3rd1st]

I love you guys, you give the coolest vibe and music tastes!

[@Beryllahawk]

Loved this one! I had to fight the evil algorithm to get back to it but absolutely worth it! Great return to the original vibe of Sound Field. I was surprised and pleased to realize how many of these groups I recognized and enjoyed back in the day! You guys have so much talent and it shines through in this ep even more than usual!

[@dee7352]

So cool to have jean deaux featured in this video! Glad i got to meet her at a concert

[@sunflowersamurai10]

Dr octagon is the og. EL P and def jux are the goats

[@Simi.Sun_]

As a HipHop/Sol artist who identifies as alternative… and just as a lover and as a lover of hip-hop and music in general, I love this show! Subscribed 😎. Lol. Thank you! I’m going to play with the track & tag you guys!

[@MusicVibeChannel]

It was interesting, thanks ❤

[@dunkkid23]

Aye, where’s Dilla? 😅

[@televszn]

Hip Hop on PBS now, we outside

[@davido3109]

Jay Dilla??? Dr.Octogon?? Common??? Madlib???

[@jeremai1769]

@Soundfield Yall dropped the ball... SMINO IS ONE OF THE FACES OF ALTERNATIVE OF HIP HOP....EARTHGANG JID...SABA MICK JENKINGS ...RAVYN LENAE .... NONAME....

[@trippyvannoir.333]

I can unquestionably say that I am alternative hiphop.... I can't wait to do something with the track ya'll made. 🦅

[@m-tetsuo]

Flying Lotus You're Dead, Kendrick Lamar's 2016 Grammy performance, Childish Gambino's Awaken My Love Album, Shabazz Palaces Quazarz. Rappers collaborating with Robert Glasper, Badbadnotgood, Thundercat, Anderson Paak... I feel like hip-hop/rap has been on the verge to greatness for so long, but the breakthrough doesn't seem to happen. Rock, Jazz, R&B and Funk have all evolved over time with sub-genres for the better (and some for worse). Think of Bossa Nova, Jazz Fusion, Prog Rock- but new Rap genres for 90% seem stuck in a slightly different simple beat. Record sales or clout seems more important than musicianship. The world needs a new N*E*R*D.

[@m-tetsuo]

Sampling is WHACK

[@OMGxITZxPACMAN]

I love N*E*R*D but I'm curious as to what you mean by that last sentence?

[@m-tetsuo]

@@OMGxITZxPACMAN That the world needs a new NERD or about sampling?

[@OMGxITZxPACMAN]

@@m-tetsuo That the world needs a new N*E*R*D. It sounds like you're saying that would be the answer to what you described as rap's stunted growth. I'm just wondering how so? What would a new N*E*R*D mean/look like?

[@7Bobby7]

Hip hop been great, commercialism will warp everything but as a genre its roots remain strong

[@jonnywuzhere5]

I love this channel !!!!! ✨✨✨

[@retrorocket7247]

Im surprised that they didn't mention Del at all, or Kool Keith...

[@b-boycastertroy]

Digable Planet, Odd Future and MF DOOM all were influenced by Kool Keith. This has been happening to him since the 80s.

[@sj187]

I cane up with "alternative hip hop" to describe my style of music i take part in

[@La_chusma]

This is lacking research. Kool Keith not mentioned at all is a crime to alternative Rap itself

[@johnralph2536]

Jean Deaux!!! Recipe is a favorite of mine

[@clayrichardson4624]

They didn’t mention Kanye’s 808s and heartbreak for the popularization of auto tune…..

[@SoundFieldPBS]

Lollipop came out first

[@verbavolant6895]

Kid Cudi inspired Kanye to make that album

[@gabrielhynes2173]

Surprised that Kool Keith did not get a shout here!

[@banginzaza]

3:36 Yes! That's what I like to hear!

[@owensmith2137]

Big oversight when you lumped Biggie in the same era as Public Enemy when Ready To Die came out 7 years after Yo! Bum Rush The Show, totally different era! 🤦🏻

[@sauditate4562]

It was the golden era , not the golden age of HIPHOP .I grew up in the early 90's an at that time music genres fused alot of styles together and anything that couldn't be put in a box and labeled easily was called alternative, which was actually cool you got a mix of cultures making classic music.alot of rock groups got into HIPHOP and vice versa , not too mention the jazz and funk elements fused into HIPHOP .also the heavy metal and classic rock elements fused into HIPHOP as well . salute 🍻👍🏾👍🏾

[@DumbIdeaPresentedStupidly]

What I think this video misses on is that sometimes alternative can be pitted against the main stream. I think there is danger in being assigned that label or embracing it when bands and artist use it to become the enemy of everything that is main stream

[@deedwayne2752]

Hip means Conscience, Hop means Movement ~ KRS ONE. Hip (mic in one's hand rapping anything) while Hop (moving as in dancing, nod your head etc)...

[@bklyncrook]

Man, I feel like MF DOOM is the go to GOAT when it comes the very left field of alternative due to his iconoclast of his mask, but, no mentions of Kool Keith as Dr. Octagon and any of his alt. egos to Deltron 3030 and Handsome Boy Modeling feel a bit missing.

[@b-boycastertroy]

Kool Keith inspired MF DOOM

[@sadasdasda6978]

just finished watching, truely an eye opening video for some pepole aruging about the alternate label all the time.

[@mxmirage]

i would love an evolution of the jungle and dnb breakcore genre that would be so fab!

[@jjjjj2220]

But they miss a lot of things out of the history of what they talk about

[@jaimerodriguez1550]

Alrernative Hip Hop artists have loyal fanbases and longer careers, especially compared to mainstream artists.

[@slattslattslatt]

"Mainstream" doesn't mean you don't make alt music. Do you mean artists that make mainstream music?

[@BantuOtaku]

🔥🔥🔥 Another Banger!!!

[@VicGrimes210]

As someone born in the 70's, this take reads completely false but the culture is dictated by marketing execs now, so this is where we are.

[@jayhill7587]

Lol this is a crazy time for Fugees history

[@whoandgo]

When yall interpretation started playing, i thought somebody was playing Earthbound around me for a sec lmao

[@gabriellesudal9004]

heyy Sound Field! what mic did y'all use n what is that purple thing around the mic? i'm lookin to start recording at home n would appreciate if u could share those products! thx for another great vid!

[@jstnurmind]

Hip hop is a BLESSING

[@macey463]

Do you have a playlist of all the artist you shared?

[@chioma916]

commenting 4 a playlist también

[@margemason]

never thought I would see Death Grips on PBS LOL

[@margemason]

and DOOM and OF and Danny Brown etc etc

[@sergeigen1]

Oh man , this rabbit hole goes deep

[@CatholicWithaBiblePodcast]

Man, you can't skip Atmosphere and Rhymesayers Entertainment like that.

[@verbavolant6895]

I wonder if Wu-Tang is alternative Hip hop

[@danteshollowedgrounds]

goddam well played PBS.

[@__J_____]

Linda is such a natural beauty!

[@fedoramcclaren4294]

I wonder why folks forget Lil Wayne's first album was released in 1995...

[@notjordanza]

Calling Igor and Lil Yachtys new album hip hop is a big stretch, just because an artist mainly makes hip hop doesnt mean that all of their projects have to fall into the genre

[@slattslattslatt]

Both albums have hints of hip hop in it

[@VonDecken97]

Rappers trying to get the rock image without the sound and it make it look weird

[@ARE_YOU_SICK_OF_YT_CENSORSHIP]

rebellion as well but bot only and probably not mainly, everyone knows that it started from block parties and DJing in parks, so the driving force was the desire to have fun

[@uzi9200]

XXXTENTACION should’ve been mentioned hes the definition of Alternative from his soundcloud days to blowing up in the mainstream X was so unique n creative

[@lineialquantum]

Kool Keith

[@b-boycastertroy]

G.O.A.T.

[@cosmicghost811]

The best form of hip-hop.

[@arttismo7002]

6:31 Wasn't Flower Boy the big change-over for Tyler?

[@ReyhanJoseph]

I thought J Dilla did the passin' me by joint on the Pharcyde record just want somebody to double check them thats all I'm trying to say

[@borismichajlovic5853]

Maybe I'm just old, but did anybody here even mention Beastie Boys? How about every album past "Paul's Boutique"?

[@Trioptic3D]

Where is this SoundCloud link? I wanna experience this in its entirety!

[@SoundFieldPBS]

it's in the pinned comment!

[@Trioptic3D]

@@SoundFieldPBS thank you

[@bwops9463]

I feel like saying alternative is the way we temporarily lump music with a similar genre until enough people follow that style to establish a name.

[@peachtime]

What about yung lean? And Drain gang, cloud rap, HexD and hyperpop influenced hiphop are the real modern "alternative rap"

[@thatsit5049]

I like pink siifu

[@user50852]

to me alternative rap is any rap that incorporates other genres more than hip hop itself

[@kreaola93]

Why bring up odd Future if y'all were just gonna skip past it and talk about Igor? Also, Tyler the Creator had sampling like Igor as far back as Cherry bomb

[@Snotboxrocked156]

I just look at it as a sub genre of hip hop that folks who arent really into traditional hip hop would listen to.

[@SimonSozzi7258]

I ❤ Public Television 📺

[@lowkeyfallasleep9511]

Familiar yet brand new that’s how I put it

[@mfathelyricist]

These are alternative facts.

[@justforfun1647]

does sidhu moose wala with stefflon don or mist or burna boy or tion wayne fall into this alternative rap category?

[@SLFKimosabae]

I don't know if I should give props or feel appalled that Aesop Rock's name wasn't mentioned ONCE in this entire video.

[@SamFocused]

Love your high quality and researched Content 💯💯💯 I as a child of the 90's grew up in the boom bap/gangsta rap era. With your Lil wayne - Loly pop example I got the Point it was so fresh new and our Club Anthem. That was my XXL freshman 2016 cypher moment. where I thought WTF are they kiddin me what is this. Today I get it and accept the evolution and all the subgenres and enjoy how HIP HOP is taking over the world 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@suederiot]

yatchy did switch it up on his sophomore album & hes not a mumble rapper

[@JaeHavoc]

I did not expect y’all to mention Doomtree next to Missy Elliot and Outkast, but I’m here for it! That being said, I’m also an “alternative “ hip hop artist from Minnesota and just dropped a new album! Check me out!

[@Social_Pugatory]

Where’s doechii 8:35

[@SoundFieldPBS]

Doechii is the future. We could do a whole video about her

[@racheltodd5424]

Oopoi

[@STEPHEN1463]

Hmmmm

[@TrillyThough]

Igor is not a rap/Hip-Hop album. Tyler has made that clear himself.

[@MichaelTurner856]

It's hip hop, funk, RNB, and neo soul. I feel like there's enough rap in it to have hip hop in there and it doesn't make it any less of a fantastic peice of art as I'm sure you know so I don't see what the problem is really.

[@kaimanthelizardwizard1248]

@@MichaelTurner856 Thank you for this comment. It's a great experimental album, but it is still within the hip-hop/rap spectrum. This is what hip-hop needs at this point.

[@envyops]

Alternative Hip Hop became a media term to describe artists that refused to sell themselves ad black stereotypes. All the white kids thought snoop dogg was the real hip hop and MTV couldn't ruin it.

[@marlonwhitely2935]

What genre is The Roots?

[@BigLBadman]

East Coast Hip-Hop, Conscious Hip-Hop, Jazz Rap. You could probably lump them in an alternative category as well.

[@Osei_Bean_8ryant]

Lol @ hearing lollipop in 1990 😂

[@PriestForever]

Whoever wrote this piece needs to do the education cause, yall got this one wrong, wrong, wrong yo.

[@marlonwhitely2935]

Educate. Please inform

[@vascoambrosio7798]

Present Rap or hip hop= Rap + R&B

[@MarshallMathers3000]

Billy Woods

[@alimcb94]

A tribe called quest

[@thescoobymike]

Kendrick worked with Tame Impala?

[@DSSbeats]

that's what i was wondering too! i need to know what song that is

[@nignognas3352]

6:44 bruh this song isn't hip hop, the album in general wasn't hip hop and Tyler came to be speak out about that when he won the Grammy bruh.

[@user-po5bi6jb9g]

Dreamybull speaking facts