Alternative hip-hop

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Alternative hip-hop (also known as alternative rap) is a subgenre of hip-hop defined by artists who reject the genre's traditional stereotypes, particularly those popularized by old-school hip-hop and gangsta rap. They blur genres together and are heavily inspired by funk, pop/rock, soul, jazz, folk and reggae. Originally emerging in the 1980s, the style was spearheaded by the Native Tongues collective in the East Coast which included acts like the Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and Queen Latifah. These artists used Afrocentric themes, use of eclectic sampling and jazz-influenced beats. During the 1990s, the alternative hip-hop movement expanded with West Coast artists such as the Pharcyde, Digital Underground, Souls of Mischief, and Outkast. The commercial and cultural momentum of the movement was impeded by the rise and popularity of West Coast gangsta rap, though experienced a degree of mainstream recognition through the success of the Fugees, De La Soul, A Tribe...

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