Genre: Midwest Hip Hop
Featured Artists
About Midwest Hip Hop
Midwest hip hop refers to Hip Hop from artists based in the midwestern region of the United States and is considered one of the major regional scenes within US-based hip hop alongside East Coast Hip Hop, West Coast Hip Hop and Southern Hip Hop. Midwest hip hop formed multiple styles within various city-based scenes, most prominently within Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri and Minnesota. Given these factors, Midwest hip hop has a wide stylistic palette in production, looks and rapping. Read more on Last.fm.
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Midwest hip hop refers to Hip Hop from artists based in the midwestern region of the United States and is considered one of the major regional scenes within US-based hip hop alongside East Coast Hip Hop, West Coast Hip Hop and Southern Hip Hop. Midwest hip hop formed multiple styles within various city-based scenes, most prominently within Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri and Minnesota. Given these factors, Midwest hip hop has a wide stylistic palette in production, looks and rapping.
Throughout the 1990s, Midwest rappers commonly featured fast and/or technical rapping flows packed with lyrical dexterity and wordplay. There was also a major west coast G-Funk influence in the scene's production, as evident from gangsta rappers such as MC Breed, Mass 187 and The Dayton Family. This was throughout the Midwest, with prominent rappers such as Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Twista rapping in the Chopper style. Midwest hip hop at this time also heavily featured Horrorcore elements and a strong rap battle culture. This was particularly so within the Detroit hip hop scene from the likes of Esham, Insane Clown Posse and most notably Eminem, who became the best-selling rapper of all time.
Throughout the late-1990s to mid-2000s backpacker era, scenes within the Midwest featured hip hop production and lyrical themes that counteracted the shiny suit and bling era sensibilities at that time. Chicago emerged the chi-town hip hop scene, which featured elements of Neo-Soul, Jazz Rap and Pop Rap in its production. Prominent rappers in this scene at this time include Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco and Common. Detroit hip hop took an equally soulful, jazzy approach spearheaded by those within Slum Village, most notably J Dilla. The Twin Cities region (Minneapolis / St. Paul) had an indie hip hop scene consisting of rappers such as Brother Ali, Eyedea and those within the Atmosphere and Doomtree collectives. Despite this era, a more bling-centric, Bounce-influenced style emerged from St. Louis, with Nelly, Chingy and J-Kwon propelling that sound to the mainstream.
Throughout the late-2000s to mid-2010s, Midwest rappers were heavily involved within the blog rap era. Chicago had its second wave of the chi-town hip hop scene by the names of Chance the Rapper, Noname and Saba. Detroit hip hop went leftfield from the likes of Danny Brown and Quelle Chris. Other prominent Midwest rappers who emerged from the blog rap era include Kid Cudi and Freddie Gibbs. Outside the blog rap era within the 2010s onwards, Trap music influenced the sound of several city-based scenes and styles within the Midwest. Southside Chicago gave rise to Drill music in the form of Chicago Drill and its scene. This consisted of those within the Glo Gang and OTF collectives, most notably Chief Keef and Lil Durk. Michigan had its own trap-influenced styles in the way of Detroit Sound, Flint Sound and Scam Rap. The Milwaukee hip hop scene formed the Lowend sound. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
Throughout the 1990s, Midwest rappers commonly featured fast and/or technical rapping flows packed with lyrical dexterity and wordplay. There was also a major west coast G-Funk influence in the scene's production, as evident from gangsta rappers such as MC Breed, Mass 187 and The Dayton Family. This was throughout the Midwest, with prominent rappers such as Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Twista rapping in the Chopper style. Midwest hip hop at this time also heavily featured Horrorcore elements and a strong rap battle culture. This was particularly so within the Detroit hip hop scene from the likes of Esham, Insane Clown Posse and most notably Eminem, who became the best-selling rapper of all time.
Throughout the late-1990s to mid-2000s backpacker era, scenes within the Midwest featured hip hop production and lyrical themes that counteracted the shiny suit and bling era sensibilities at that time. Chicago emerged the chi-town hip hop scene, which featured elements of Neo-Soul, Jazz Rap and Pop Rap in its production. Prominent rappers in this scene at this time include Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco and Common. Detroit hip hop took an equally soulful, jazzy approach spearheaded by those within Slum Village, most notably J Dilla. The Twin Cities region (Minneapolis / St. Paul) had an indie hip hop scene consisting of rappers such as Brother Ali, Eyedea and those within the Atmosphere and Doomtree collectives. Despite this era, a more bling-centric, Bounce-influenced style emerged from St. Louis, with Nelly, Chingy and J-Kwon propelling that sound to the mainstream.
Throughout the late-2000s to mid-2010s, Midwest rappers were heavily involved within the blog rap era. Chicago had its second wave of the chi-town hip hop scene by the names of Chance the Rapper, Noname and Saba. Detroit hip hop went leftfield from the likes of Danny Brown and Quelle Chris. Other prominent Midwest rappers who emerged from the blog rap era include Kid Cudi and Freddie Gibbs. Outside the blog rap era within the 2010s onwards, Trap music influenced the sound of several city-based scenes and styles within the Midwest. Southside Chicago gave rise to Drill music in the form of Chicago Drill and its scene. This consisted of those within the Glo Gang and OTF collectives, most notably Chief Keef and Lil Durk. Michigan had its own trap-influenced styles in the way of Detroit Sound, Flint Sound and Scam Rap. The Milwaukee hip hop scene formed the Lowend sound. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.