philly underground rappers 2020
ARE YOU UPNEXT IN PHILLY? BABYis a beautiful Hip Hop album filled with soulful boom-bap beats and meaningful lyrics. The Top 15 Best Brooklyn Rappers of All Time Join our community of over 100,000 monthly hip hop heads and sign up to our newsletter. Sigel started the Philadelphia hardcore Hip Hop collective State Property in 2002, and the group gained steam into the middle of the decade. Lady B might be one of the most famous and best rappers from Pennsylvania. Trace this back to their humble beginnings in Philadelphia in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He also teaches in Philadelphia public schools. Today, Lil Uzi Vert has won a few awards and is likely to continue to achieve nominations for his rap. As Above, So Belowonce again proves that Ankhlejohns menacing, raspy-voiced delivery is suited to go with any production style. The new wave of Philly artists like PNB Rock, Lil Uzi Vert & many other artists helped push the envelope in what we know of the true Philly sound. This label is one of those outfits that are keeping real Hip Hop alive, heads need to stop sleeping on Dont Sleep Records. His rap career has had many controversial hurdles as AR-Ab often deals with legal troubles relating to drugs and some violent crimes. He dropped his sophomore effort, The Reason in 2001, and engaged in a highly publicized beef in the summer of that year with Jadakiss. Curly Castro is one of the most interesting Philly rappers out today. Jus Allah rejoined and re-left the group in this time period, and Stoupe also bowed out for their 2011 release, Violence Begets Violence. Some of the true pioneers of Phillys rap scene included Jazz Fresh, MC Breeze, Tuff Crew, Parry P, MC Sport, and numerous others. 25 Rappers to Watch in 2020 | Complex His music regularly breaks charts, no matter how he's performing. North Philadelphias Outerspace was one of the acts that would go on to put together a solid career. Classic rap fans will appreciate one of Philadelphia's best rappers, Schoolly D. Schoolly D started his career in the mid-1980s and often wrote rap songs featured in films. Thought-provoking lyrics, skillful wordplay, dope beats, nice throwback vibe everything we like in Hip Hop comes together onPow Bundy. Both rappers are involved in the same scandal, and Steady B is also carrying out a life sentence for contributing to the murder of a Philadelphia police officer during a bank robbery. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Vinnie Paz, Bahamadia, Reef the Lost Cauze, and Doap Nixon are just a few famous names that have served in the Army of the Pharaohs at one point. Perhaps one of her most famous songs is her first single, To the Beat, Y'all, a phrase that has become iconic in hip-hop culture. Its a sad reality most people who claim to love Hip Hop will listen totrash like DaBabys latest releasewhile ignoring projects like BlaksmifsPlatforms X Trophies. Top hits of his include the following: Lil Skies chose his rapper name as a play off his father, Dark Skies, who sparked his initial music interest. The History of Philadelphia Hip-Hop When Army of the Pharaohs formed in the late 1990s, it brought together roughly 10 underground rappers and producers, some of which would go on to have solid and celebrated solo careers. Take a cue from the city that never sleeps. While most remember Eve and Charli Baltimore, but Lady B was truly first of her kind representing for the ladies. In 2014, Fallon was awarded The Tonight Show, and brought The Roots with him. Appearances by Wrecking Crew affiliates BLUU Edwards and FreshKils as well as from Hubbs and Backwood Studioz heavy-hitters Armand Hammer add extra flavor to the tracklist. Despite coming from the City of Brotherly Love, Beanie Sigel has had a few public disputes and diss tracks with fellow Philadelphia artist Meek Mill. Philadelphia is a vibrant city with plenty of history and culture. The production onThou Shall Not Killis on par too, with a varied selection of instrumentals consisting of hard-hitting drum loops and interesting samples, with some good old-fashioned scratching here and there as well. Instead, Cassidy focuses on the true spirit of classic hip-hop battles. He is most prominently a figure of the rap duo OuterSpace, but he's also worked with the Army of the Pharaohs. In his personal life, Freeway has had to deal with kidney health issues. Third Root is a trio that consists of Charles Peters (Easy Lee), Marco Cervantes (Mexican StepGrandfather), and DJ Chicken George (DJCG). D would become involved with contributing to and writing film scores and soundtracks, and composed the music for the popular Adult Swim TV show Aqua Teen Hunger Force, which he would occasionally also provide voice over work for. Passion Of The Poetsis their fourth full-length album. A lot of these rappers kill it at free styling and aren't really concerned with the mainstream . One Be Lo has always been a fan of acronyms, evident here not just in the albums title but in the tracklist as well: all song titles are composed of the four letters inBABYtoo. Share your thoughts in the comments! 15 Best Philly Rappers (Philadelphia Rappers) Of All Time - MG The Barry Adrian Reese Story (2007), C.A.S.H. Rock the House featured decent rhymes from The Fresh Prince, but Jazzy Jeff stole the show with his turntablism. A lot of these rappers kill it at free styling and aren't really concerned with the mainstream scene, which the radio focuses on. #PHILLY2021 0% Check out some of their music below and let us know who we might've missed! Rappers from Philadelphia included a long list of legends, expanding from the 1980s with the Fresh Prince (Will Smith) to the late 1990s and 2000s with Eve and Beanie Siegel and State Property to the 2010s and 2020s with Meek Mill and Lil Uzi Vert. The best underground rappers, which includes a lot of underrated rappers within the underground rap scene. The album also saw Just Blaze and Kanye West receive their first widespread exposure as producers. Still a relatively new artist on the scene, she's sure to have a long career in hip-hop. Lists that rank the best rappers and hip hop artists from every time and place. Originating in the rough streets of west Philadelphia as a graffiti artist, D picked up the mic and quickly made an impact in the mid 1980s. in early 1995. Released by celebrated indie Hip Hop label Babygrande Records, the album showcased the lyrical skills and raw intelligence of the two MCs, who had a knack for street-life tales mixed with extraterrestrial themes. The Roots were, are, and probably always will be the most influential and important Hip Hop act to come out of Philadelphia. KRS-One | Underground Arts Philly | 10/20/22 - See Tickets Violent by Design was a smash in the underground Hip Hop community, and really put Jedi Mind Tricks on the map. Well, if youre in the top echelon of artists, then the answer is unquestionably yes! Some of the richest singers diversify their income streams by starting business ventures, getting into real estate, or by becoming art collectors, but its safe to say their first million was earned the, Read More 15 Highest Paid Singers In The World 2023Continue, The 1990s were truly a golden era for all forms of media, including music. Even the cover art is done exactly right. The Baltimore Housing Project, the sophomore full-length LP from Baltimore emcee Jay Royale, is a surprisingly good album for such a low-key release. Also, in the early days, the Philadelphia hip hop scene it often consist of a duo of DJs and MCs (rap artist) paired and performing together as one whole hip-hop act, like the Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff or DJ Jazz and Robbie B. Recognize Ali holds down about half of the songs on the tracklist by himself, for the rest he recruited a whos who of underground rap Vinnie Paz, Verbal Kent, Planet Asia, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Ill Bill, Tragedy Khadafi, Ruste Juxx, Reef The Lost Cauze, King Magnetic, Bronze Nazareth, Napoleon Da Legend, and others, make appearances to give some extra weight to this album. Nothing you havent heard before onThe Baltimore Housing Project, but if 90s-type mafioso rap is your thing, this album is a must-listen. Recognitionis one of the best underground Hip Hop albums of the year. He went to the Philadelphia University of the Arts to hone his songwriting and musical skills. JMT has released three solid albums since Servants in Heaven, including 2015s The Thief and the Fallen. The a and b-sides featured The Fresh Prince on every track, and included perhaps the duos first hit, Parents Just Dont Understand. Read also The 10 best Brooklyn drill rappers you should watch in 2021 8. Turned on to Hip Hop in the late 90's at the age of 11, and I've never looked back. Peddler. Vinnie Paz is one of the best Philadelphia rappers and has already made it on this list as a foundational member of other groups. In 2020 Chokeules is back with another solo full-length (if a short one at 36 minutes):Nepotism. On top of his charisma, Sigel was a clever lyricist, and his subject matter often dealt with street life. Both albums featured Jeffs production and turntablism with a smattering of guest rappers and singers, from Method Man, CL Smooth and Posdnuos to J-Live and Jill Scott. Vinnie Paz is a Sicilian American rapper from Philadelphia. Platforms x Trophiesis his second album, and his best yet. He also holds a Master's degree in Theology. It is typically associated with independent artists, signed to independent labels or no label at all. Lately, Lil Dicky spends his time working on a TV show based on his life. In more recent years, Reef seems to have slowed down a bit, with his latest release being 2014s The Fast Way, a collaboration with house music producer Emynd. AR-Ab is another rapper who grew up in North Philadelphia. Theres A LOT of this kind of boom-bap projects being released in recent times, and even if theres little innovative or surprising to be found here, Guerilla Dynastyis one of the best albums of its kind out this year. BABYpacks 16 tracks and runs for close to an hour, but its not a minute too long. Through the late 80s and early 1990s, the two would enter local talent shows and would recruit musicians to create a unique, live-music setting that would end up being a major game-changer for Hip Hop. His family immigrated to Philly when he was a young kid, so he has citizenship in Italy and America. While its big brother to the north, New York City, was the undisputed birthplace and epicenter of Hip Hop, Philadelphia benefitted from its proximity to rap musics mecca, lying just 90 miles to the southwest, and clearly feeding off of New Yorks energy. As the name Wrecking Crew, along with the album cover and title (referring to Juice 1992s cult movie hit) suggests, this project has some definite throwback vibes. While Bleek and Jay-Z were more into braggadocio in 2000, Sigel was a bit more hardcore. Aside from his work in groups, Doap Nixon's solo career has also had successes. Meek Mill follow on Instagram: @Meek Mill and watch on Youtube: Meek Mill 2. The album included an all-star production line-up, with 7 of the albums 15 tracks produced by members of Gang Starr 5 by DJ Premier, 2 by Guru and four beats done by Da Beatminerz. 24 independent hip hop albums from 2021 we recommend buying on Bandcamp rank it your way 1 Meek Mill 2,088 votes Born in South Philly; raised in North Philly #44 of 238 The Greatest Rappers Of All Time #23 of 194 The Best New School Rappers #40 of 92 The Best Rappers Of The 2000s 2 However, Beanies legacy remains, and puts him in the top tier of artists from Philadelphia to achieve mainstream success while staying raw, lyrical and respected. Charlie Mack: Philly's Favorite Hip-Hop Folk Hero Oct 28, 2020 Cassidy saw major mainstream success with hits like "I'm a Hustla" and "My Drink and My 2 Step." But his reputation as a battle rapper has kept Cass at the forefront of Philly's underground for 15 years. Stoupe and Vinnie Paz are back together and still going in 2016, and continue their legacy as the most influential underground Hip Hop group out of Philadelphia. This sound first manifested itself on the groups 1993 debut Organix. Fans of the TV show Aqua Teen Hunger Force may also be familiar with Schoolly D's voice work, as he provides both the theme and periodic narration. Fans of the 90s and early 2000s rap might be familiar with Eve. 2002s Phrenology, 2004s The Tipping Point, 2006s Game Theory, 2008s Rising Down, 2010s How I Got Over and 2011s Undun all can be heralded as alternative Hip Hop classics. She was one of the backbone members of the R&B group TLC. In 2016, it is one of the countys few growing urban centers, and is developing and expanding like no other city in the cold, desolate northern half of the country. Recognitionarguably is the best of the three, better than the decent but kind of one-noteDuelling Expertsalbum, and musically and lyrically deeper and more interesting than the excellent but more straightforwardly boom-bap content ofGuerilla Dynasty. Philly has been historically known for breeding the best rappers. Although he only released his first album, Voice Memos, in 2019, Quadeca has produced many hits. The rap battling scene of Philadelphia expanded with the help of local DVDs like 2 Raw for The Streets DVD or Headshots DVD, long before YouTube. Recognize Ali is an excellent emcee whos got bars for days, and with this album, he solidifies his status as one of the MVPs in todays underground Hip Hop scene. Home to a bustling jazz scene in the 1940s and 1950s, and home city to legend John Coltrane during the beginning of his career, Philadelphia was also an epicenter to soul music in the 1960s and 1970s. More than the lyrics, its the beats that make this album an above average listen. Some of the American rapper's top songs include "You Got Me" and "The Seed.". Photo courtesy of YaBoyToken. Will Smith left the rap game at that point, but DJ Jazzy Jeff would emerge again in the 2000s with two critically acclaimed albums: 2002s The Magnificent and 2007s The Return of the Magnificent. The album did show a bit of a deviation from the live music sound that was so prominent on their first two albums, and had a distinctly more behind the boards sound. Today Jay Bezel works both as a signed and independent artist. As Hip Hop grew in popularity in the 1980s, few cities other than New York and Los Angeles had any sort of presence on the scene. We were right about the best underground artists in 2020, and we'll be right about them again in 2023. From AR-AB and Kur to numerous up and coming rappers that have expanded from being local and regional to gaining a nationwide and at times an international reach. Reef the Lost Cauze grew up in Philly and started his career in rap battling and MCing. Aaron Debraganza records an Instagram rap video skit featuring Nafis "Fisbanga" Middleton in North Philadelphia on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. Schoolly Ds early contributions to gangsta rap and Philadelphia Hip Hop cannot be denied or overlooked. In 2010, he released The Stimulus Package with Seattle-based producer Jake One, which became an underground sensation, and was one of the more celebrated albums of 2010. He co-founded the musical group The Roots with fellow Philly musician Questlove. It is an under-represented and often-overshadowed Hip Hop city, yet some of the genres most influential and most consistent artists come out of this great city.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'hiphopgoldenage_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_0',105,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-hiphopgoldenage_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Below is a list of the top 10 Hip Hop artists to ever come out of Philadelphia. The album brings back a bit more of the live instrumentation, but the beats sound incredibly evolved and have a new millennium sound while staying true to the smooth jazz rap sound the group had perfected to this point. Clandestine Ritualsarguably is Pruvens best yet. Started in 2015 as a collaboration between Virginia emcee Awon and New England-based producer Phoniks the label specializes in jazz and soul-infused Hip Hop and limited-edition vinyl releases. Lil Uzi Vert's rap is a mixture of styles, including emo and trap music elements. Recognize Ali holds down about half of the songs on the tracklist by himself, for the rest he recruited a who's who of underground rap - Vinnie Paz, Verbal Kent, Planet Asia, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Ill Bill, Tragedy Khadafi, Ruste Juxx, Reef The Lost Cauze, King Magnetic, Bronze Nazareth, Napoleon Da Legend, and others, make appearances to give some 13 dope tracks, without interludes, skits, or other useless filler. Lil Uzi Vert. He is on everybodys album as a featured artist, and Recognitionis his third full-length release of the year following the solidDuelling Expertsproject (as Duelling Experts, with Verbal Kent), and the boom-bap bangerGuerilla Dynasty, the above-mentioned collaborative project with producer Stu Bangas. Detroit emcee Guilty Simpson & New Zealand producer Leonard Charles team up as The Leonard Simpson Duo to provide a one of a kind 70s inspired, psychedelic & acid influenced album. Hometown: Lauderhill Twitter: @Lajanslim Notable songs: "Haitians," "Quik Pik," "Lajan Anthem" Sounds like: Creole. As Above, So Belowis Ankhlejohns fifth 2020 project, his second full-length after the excellentThe Face Of Jason. Viro the Virus is a Philly-area based rapper, representing nearby Mt. Soon, he had numerous singles, including Going Bad, reach the top spots on the charts. Philly Artists To Look Out For In 2021 There is a contemporary, even experimental vibe toRaheems Lament Wrecking Crew pretty much nails creating a sound that should please fans of 90s-centric boom-bap, as well as those who had enough of the genericness of that sound Raheems Lamenthas something distinctly unique going on in its sound. He would go on to collaborate with Snowgoons twice in 2009 before releasing the celebrated Virohazard EP in 2011. Dont Sleep Records is a record label with roots in Portland, Maine, and Newport News, Virginia. June Marx is a fine emcee, with a nice cadence and flow and with lyrics worth listening to. Includingboth solo artists, like Meek Mill and Lil Uzi Vert,andhip hop groups, like Army of the Pharaohs and The Roots, this list of the most popular Philadelphia rappers features rap artists who were born or raised in the Pennsylvania city. Schoolly D was also the first successful Hip Hop artist to come out of Philadelphia, emerging in 1984. The young artist started to become famous in 2016, securing a double platinum single in 2017. Thank you for subscribing! CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR MUSIC! Veteran Toronto emcee, DJ, and producer More Or Les dropped an intriguing album withThe Human Condition an hour-long album mainly dealing with mental health issues. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is another one of those albums that will not turn up in any other major Hip Hop outlets best-of-the-year lists, because most of those outlets dont curate anymore they only pay attention to what they are fed by major labels, so they all act like that generic mainstream trap is all there is. all credits. Nowadays, Dice Raw has refocused his passion on theater. When asked about his upcoming year, Dimi had this to say, My year crazy, tbh, in a good way though. Some of the most popular hits for Lil Uzi Vert include Just Wanna Rock, XO Tour Llif3, and The Way Life Goes.. The latter of the two albums featured two of JMTs best known songs the amazing Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story, featuring R.A. the Rugged Man, and Heavy Metal Kings featuring Ill Bill. Some of her top hits include Let Me Blow Ya Mind and Who's That Girl.. Check outThou Shall Not Kill, you will not regret it. Before his Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Days and long before his career as one of Hollywoods most celebrated leading men, Will Smith, AKA The Fresh Prince, was essentially the face of Philadelphia Hip Hop. Born in South Philly; raised in North Philly, Born in Philly; raised in West Philly and Germantown, Born in Philadelphia; raised in Wynnefield. With a reputation for lyrical complexity and aggressive beats, its no surprise there are many NBA Youngboy hit songs. This paved the way for many guest appearances on what is often considered JMTs magnum opus, 2000s Violent by Design. We can thank the city for the likes of Will Smith, Lady B, and Meek Mill. After releasing The Solution in 2007, he was arrested in 2009, 2010 and 2012 on various charges, and ended up doing two years in prison from 2012 to 2014. 25 Underrated Female Rappers You Should Be Listening To R.A. the Rugged Man is among the underground rappers whose music need a remarkable ear. The strength of this album is its consistency and its cohesiveness, the haunting atmosphere is maintained from beginning to end thanks to the ominous beats crafted by Evil Ed and DJ Drinks and Cyrus Malachis distinctive voice and raw rhymes. And just gotta love that cover-art too. The Best Rappers From Philadelphia - Ranker Cliff Clavin, Hi-Q & Elz Sinatra are Bowery Bruisers. 25. In Philly, he remains an underground legend. Quadeca is one of the best modern young American rappers. Original Demos & Unreleased Tracks is one of the best compilations of the year, 100% pure Hip Hop. Dont sleep on Cyrus Malachi andThe Blind Watchmaker. If you're wondering how other nearby rappers compare, consider checking out our list of the best East Coast rappers. Guilty Simpson is one of the finest emcees ever to come out of Detroit (thats saying something), and his distinctive and uncompromising lyrical style meshes really well with Leonard Simpsons trippy boom-bap instrumentals, resulting in something truly unique. Blog/Testimonials/Song Idea Generator/Rap Name Generator/Band Name Generator / Streaming Royalty Calculator /Other Pages And Resources/Contact Us/Cookie Policy/Privacy Policy, 15 Highest Paid Singers In The World 2023. Raw Poetic is a great emcee and Damu The Fudgemunk is one of the most underappreciated producers in the game, so the result is as could be expected when taking into account Raw Poetic and Damu The Fudgemunks skill-levels:Moment Of Changeis a totally fine project, with solid lyricism and dope melodic boom-bap beats. Unfortunately, Virohazard would be Viros last release. The album features DJ Premier, Slug from Atmosphere, Sid Wilson from Slipknot, Sick Jacken from Psycho Realm & Slaine from La Coka Nostra. His music quickly goes viral, and he often incorporates comedy into his rap. Until the mid-2010s, the group released one classic after the next. A nice surprise, this one. Use this underground rappers list to learn about indie hip hop artists and expand your knowledge of underground rap. Ice-T credits Schoolly D as a prominent influence for his courage to explore gangsta rap. It took him 18 years of rapping until he started releasing solo work. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The era of State Property, as well other rappers from Philadelphia like Eveand Gillie Da Kid and Major Figgas, would bring new light into the city with the selling of millions of records and solidifying a new generation for the Philadelphia hip hop scene. The duo formed Jedi Mind Tricks soon after, and quickly put out The Amber Probe E.P. NR3the North Philly group made up of rappers OT7 Quanny, NR Boor, and Lil Namade a name for themselves over the past year with street anthems like "Who Shot Ya" and "Dead Rappers . The Ambassador is part of the rap group The Cross Movement. Only famous rappers who were born in or started their careers in Philadelphia. We were right about the best underground artists in 2020, and we'll be right about them again in 2023. MC Ikon the Verbal Hologram spun twisting verbal tales about topics way out of left-field, including extraterrestrial life forms and religious extremism. It really has been a legendary journey for The Roots. How To Produce Music Like A Pro Despite his reputation as a Christian rapper, Phanatik has recently denounced Christianity. A year later, they would release their eyebrow-raising debut, titled The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological, and Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness, backed by the brilliant closing track, I Who Have Nothing. Passionate about all types of music, but Hip Hop is my specialty. Will Smith is one of the most famous and best Philadelphia rappers. Pruven is one of those independent artists who has been grinding for a while, with a bunch of dope projects on his name go check out his other full-lengths1st Words: Earn Everything(2010),Designed Growth Destiny(2013) andReach Surroudings(2017) too if you like this one. Doap Nixon is such a significant figure in Philly's rap scene that it felt worth finishing on him. State Property dissolved in 2005, and in that same year, Sigel released his third solo album, perhaps the most celebrated of his career the commanding The B. Will Smith was part of a duo with fellow Philly artist DJ Jazzy Jeff. Featuring bigger names such as Sheek Louch, Vinnie Paz and Royce da 59, Blood Brothers displayed all sides of Planetary and Crypt, ranging from furious battle raps such as The Boiling Point, Hustle and Flow and Silence to more serious and introspective songs such as Grown Ass Man and Time Will Tell. All Rights Reserved. One of the best modern rappers from Pennsylvania is Lil Uzi Vert. Heres our list of the best underground rappers you should keep an eye on because they are bound to have a big year. The duo released their third album in 1989, And in This Corner which featured fun yet well-done songs such as I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson and Who Stole My Car?. Rank the rappers based on who should be considered the king of the underground, or at least has a cult audience among rap and music fans. In the 2000s, they released three albums, beginning with 2004s Jedi Mind Tricks Presents Outerspace. 4. Real Hip Hop heads know better though, they will pay attention to quality and they will know where to find it. If you were listening to rap/Hip Hop radio in the United States around the year 2000, you simply could not go more than five minutes without hearing something out of Jay-Z. Kevin. Their two newest albums have not received the same amount of acclaim as their previous efforts, but the fact that they are still making music, still touring and sitting in for Jimmy Fallon on a nightly basis is a testament to how influential and far-reaching their music and art is. Sigels personal troubles would continue after the release of the album, as he was shot and robbed in 2006. Rapper, songwriter, poet and multi-instrumentalist, Khemist is a Philadelphia-bred artist and musical savant beloved as a bonafide lyrical force. While Freeway made his most dominant mainstream efforts on Philadelphia Freeway and 2007s Free at Last, he would go on to have a consistent career after his mainstream exposure. He went in and out of the group but often made headlines when he joined back. Paz is also the lyricist for Philadelphia underground hip hop group named Jedi Mind Tricks. American rapper Schoolly D (Jesse Weaver) poses in front of a graffiti tagged wall on Harrow Road, London, UK, 1986. The Roots would get signed to Geffen Records in 1994, and subsequently put out Do You Want More?!!!??! Dont sleep on One Be Lo andBABY. Thought-provoking, conscious lyrics by Bronx-by-way-of-Connecticut emcee Pruven over a selection of fire beats crafted by producer Jak Progresso. Recognize Ali is one of the most prolific emcees in the game these days. The 15 best white rappers of all time: Who ranks number 1? The album would go on to be the groups biggest critical success since Violent by Design. Just based off of the albums title, it was clear that these guys were intelligent weirdos, and for most, this was an extremely good thing.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'hiphopgoldenage_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_4',178,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-hiphopgoldenage_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); The Psycho Social Album gave Hip Hop a breath of fresh air in the years where the genre was quickly becoming overly commercial.