If you grew up listening to Mos Def and Jurrasic Five, then you probably have trouble finding similar sounds on radio stations today. Songs that top the hip-hop charts tend to have fewer instruments and more expletives than the conscious rappers of the past. But, there are some artists who have been successful in blending old school and new school music Albany NY. For those searching for a message in today’s music, you don’t need to go far. You just need to dig a little deeper.
Logic
Logic was born in Maryland in 1990. He released many mixtapes before his first studio album was released in 2014. Since then he has released three No. 1 albums and won two Grammy’s for his song about suicide with Alessia Cara. He credits many old-school rappers for his love of rap music, including Outcast and Kanye West. His flow and musicality are reminiscent of hip hop from the ’80s. After the release of his last album in 2020, Logic announced he would be retiring. Some are skeptical about this and expect him to continue to be involved in music behind the scenes.
Childish Gambino
Donald Glover, known as Childish Gambino, started his career in television. He has been a writer and actor in many successful shows like 30 Rock and Atlanta. He released his first studio album in 2011. He is most known for his song about racism, “This Is America”, which earned him 4 Grammy awards. Childish Gambino blends an impressive amount of talent with current controversial topics, cementing his place as a voice for the generation.
J. Cole
J. Cole is a songwriter, producer and rapper. He quickly gained recognition after releasing his first studio album in 2011, which went to the top of the Billboard charts. J. Cole’s heart and soul shows in his music. His experience writing for artists in different genres enhances the musical quality of his raps. J. Cole uses his platform to help many new artists and also founded a non-profit called Dreamville Foundation.