Criteria: -
This list was based on innovation, creativity, popularity, and significance. These artists operate outside of the traditional subject matter and/or musical approach that is associated with mainstream hip-hop at any given time. It is NOT based solely on 'underground' artists.
1. A Tribe Called Quest 2. Outkast 3. The Beastie Boys 4. GangStarr 5. De La Soul 6. The Roots 7. Queen Latifah 8. Stetsasonic 9. The Pharcyde 10. Digital Underground 11. Talib Kweli 12. Common 13. The Fugees 14. Arrested Development 15. Digable Planets 16. Lauryn Hill 17. Brand Nubian 18. Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott 19. Mos Def 20. Tha Alkaholiks 21. Ultramagnetic MCs 22. Kool Keith/Dr. Octagon 23. Channel Live 24. Wyclef Jean 25. Organized Konfusion 26. KRS-One (later work) 27. Jeru the Damaja 28. Black Sheep 29. Jurassic 5 30. Goodie MOB 31. MF Doom 32. Slum Village 33. Company Flow 34. Jedi Mind Tricks 35. Esham 36. Jungle Brothers 37. Pete Rock & CL Smooth 38. Main Source 39. 3rd Bass 40. Busta Rhymes 41. Big L 42. Dead Prez 43. Blackilicious 44. Black Moon 45. Dilated Peoples 46. Souls of Mischief 47. Bahamadia 48. Aceyalone 49. Leaders of the New School 50. Pharoah Monche
51. Dan the Automator 52. Del the Funkee Homosapien 53. Kanye West 54. The Coup 55. Prince Paul 56. Antipop Consortium 57. Guru 58. Nappy Roots 59. Boogiemonsters 60. Lords of the Underground 61. Peanut Butter Wolf 62. Cee-Lo 63. The Beat Junkies 64. Atmosphere 65. Black Eyed Peas 66. Thirstin Howl III 67. Deltron 3030 68. Poor Righteous Teachers 69. Aesop Rock 70. All Natural 71. X-Clan 72. Grand Puba 73. Dream Warriors 74. JVC Force 75. N.E.R.D. 76. Spearhead 77. Intelligent Hoodlum 78. P.M. Dawn 79. Camp Lo 80. Funkdoobiest 81. Witchdoctor 82. Da Bush Babees 83. Kwame 84. The Beatnuts 85. Isis/Lin Que 86. Raw Fusion 87. Jean Grae 88. Sadat X 89. Basehead 90. Handsome Boy Modeling School 91. Q-Tip 92. The Arsonists 93. Questionmark Asylum 94. Monie Love 95. KMC 96. Imani Coppola 97. UMC's 98. The Disposable Heroes of HipHoprisy 99. Gorillaz 100. Nonchalant
Disclaimer: There is nothing 'Official' about these lists. They are compiled by the 'editor' using the
stated criteria, and revised considering the competent suggestions of visitors to this website only.
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- - This Page was created Nov. 21. 2004 - - Click For Previous List To Compare.
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