Backpack Rap: Writing For The Subculture

Backpack rappers are artist that are not on the mainstream scene and typically do not have a large following. The term "backpack rapper" was given to these artist because the first backpack artists were mostly seen wearing a backpack. The artist would normally keep there CD's and notebook in there backpack and write whenever and wherever they could. More commonly referred to as indie rappers or underground rappers now, these artist are not on the mainstream scene because they don't what to be. The style of these rappers is more lyrically focused than mainstream rappers, and the lyrical content is usually about real life things that they have experienced or have witnessed. These artist stay away from the mainstream scene mostly because they have a different and unique style and want to be able to stay true to that style while making their music.

 

My first example of a backpack rapper is Chance The Rapper. He is from Chicago and has recently gained a following since the release of his first mixtape, #10Day, which came out in spring 2011. He has a very unique and interesting style of rap in terms of his flow and ad-libs. In terms of lyric content, he doesn't really rap about many topics that mainstream artist rap about. The topics he reference mostly is his 10 day suspension from high school during his senior year which lead to his first mixtape, #10Day. He is currently self-produced, so he has the freedom to make his music however he likes. 

Another example is Ab-Soul. He is from Carson, California and is with the independent label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). He has been recording music since '04 and was slowly acquiring a following, but due to the success of his label mate, Kendrick Lamar, he has been gaining more fans over the past few years. His style can be described by the two videos above for the most part. Although he does rap about some things that mainstream artist rap about, like smoking weed and women, majority of his music is about his life and his opinions on events around him. Ab-Soul can be described as a political rapper because many of his songs contains references to his views on topics ranging from double standards in society to the government. Although he now has close ties to Dr. Dre, due to Kendrick Lamar's relationship with him, he continues to release his music through TDE.