A collective has something that individual artists don’t. When listening to the song of an artist, you feel their experiences through their eyes. Listening to a hip-hop group, however, you feel the moment as it was. The chemistry that a room of gifted artists can produce is incredible. Crews like Wu-Tang Clan, N.W.A., and A$AP Mob made the model for hip-hop collectives as we know it. Flash forward to today and you’ll see these ten hip-hop groups taking that idea and making it their own.
10 Hip-Hop Groups Actively on the Rise
Image via @agclub IG
99 Neighbors
99 Neighbors are a rap group from Burlington, Vermont. Consisting of members, Sam Paulino, Hank “HANKNATIVE” Collins, Aidan Otsby, Connor “Swank” Stankevich, Caleb “Somba” Hoh, Julian “Juju” Segar-Reid, and Jared Feir, their tracks are full of trade-offs and flow switch-ups. After their 2019 breakout album, Television, 99 Neighbors signed on with Warner Records. They dropped multiple singles in 2019 before releasing their second full-length album under Warner Records, Wherever You’re Going I Hope It’s Great in 2021. 99 Neighbors aren’t afraid to stray away from traditional hip-hop norms. Blending jazz influences in songs like “Lock N Key” and “Coughing Up Smoke,” 99 Neighbors demonstrate exemplary range.
clipping.
Gruesome, horrific bars mixed with dark, gritty, and industrial beats, clipping. carved out a niche for themselves. This trio out of Los Angeles, California takes heavy inspiration from the dark and disturbing nature of horror movies, embodying scary and gory themes through their beats and lyrics. These aspects certainly make them stand out against other hip-hop groups. Members, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes have since made their rounds. With seven albums, clipping. paints vivid pictures of a dark and twisted world with features from Benny The Butcher and JPEGMAFIA among others. Moreover, popular tracks “Nothing Is Safe” and “Story 2” exemplify the intense storytelling clipping. excels at.
LORD$OFDOGTOWN
From Southern California, this six-man group made big strides in a short time. LORD$OFDOGTOWN met as a group of friends in high school with a need for expression. Members, Petti, lightpink, Andre Santi, DKAI, $ixx, and abdel.kreation crafted an impressively consistent 15-track self-titled album. With sounds reminiscent of XXXTentacion, LORD$OFDOGTOWN brings the energy with tracks like “SHOT$.” They also excel in melodic hooks in tracks like “AUTUMN” and “PANIC.” LORD$OFDOGTOWN blend many genres into their tracks, imbuing them with youthful energy and lyrics that mirror the experiences of the rebellious youth.
AG Club
AG Club (a.k.a. Avant-Garde Club) hail from East Bay, California. Embracing the freedom of art, AG Club doesn’t hold themselves to any genre. Members, Baby Boy, Jody Fontaine, Mick Anthony, and Manny aka 777MEDIA are dropping some unique high-intensity tracks, fueled by their youthful energy. Their hit song “Memphis” caught the attention of many, including NLE Choppa and A$AP Ferg. This then led to the sequel track “Memphis, Pt. 2” with features from both artists. Alongside bangers, AG Club is unafraid to reel it in and slow it down with tracks like “Youtube2MP3.” Staying true to their genre-less nature, you’ll find a wide array of fire tracks in their three-album discography.
CoolAssPPL
This six-person collective blends aspects of music from all over America. Originally producers, members A.Heard, Jettison Bombardier, KaKaKaKaKaKaKatastrophe, Ju Fresh, Jabriel, and Easy Ell have worked with the likes of Machine Gun Kelly and Xzibit. CoolAssPPL found influence from groups like OutKast, Wu-Tang Clan, and BROCKHAMPTON, filling songs with loads of energy, like their 2019 single “Tempo.” CoolAssPPL also excels with strong hooks and melodies like those heard in their 2022 single “Daze.”
Villain Park
With breakneck flows, West Los Angeles collective Villain Park doesn’t follow trends. Inspired by hip-hop groups like N.W.A., Villain Park speaks about life as a youth growing up in L.A. Consisting of three members, Smokey V, Bunge, and DJ Coley Cole, their chemistry is strong. Stamping their own style on beats reminiscent of their 90s influences with tracks like “Brain Cells,” Villain Park is bringing the best of both worlds while staying true to themselves.
seeyousoon
From Florida, the nine-person collective seeyousoon blends multiple genres to create ambient, and energetic tracks, all the while incorporating aspects of house music and R&B that surely gets the listener moving. Members, Ignacio, Kenny, Denny, Maddie, Josh, Dre, Drex, Luke, and Mitch originally bonded over abnormal beats. Inspired by artists like The Mars Volta, seeyousoon creates catchy hooks with unique beats that will surely linger after listening. Moreover, their tracks “Steamy” and “NO DAYLIGHT” will have you chanting along.
Raw Collective
Raw Collective is a ten-piece hip-hop group from Wellington, New Zealand. With an ensemble of horns and seductive vocals, Raw Collective emulates a vintage hip-hop sound with some modern twists. Members, Raw Deazy, Chris CK, Pauly Lowe, Blaine Fitzpatrick, Sam Notman, Ben Hunt, Eilish Wilson, Julian Kirgan, and Moira Jean Jones fill the sonic space with gorgeous layers that blend perfectly. With laid-back tracks like “In the Light” and “Must Be Love,” Raw Collective is a great listen.
Injury Reserve
The trio Injury Reserve left a big impression on the hip-hop community. Inspired by artists like Death Grips and Arca, Injury Reserve shows electric swagger in their hit song “Jailbreak The Tesla” with Aminé. Injury Reserve always try and experiment, crafting tracks that are sonically unique but accessible on a dance floor. With aspects of jazz and alt-rap, they drop memorable hooks alongside chill beats. Members, Nathanial, Parker, and the late Groggs toured with names like JPEGMAFIA and been featured on tracks by Aminé also. After the passing of Groggs, Nathanial and Parker will continue performing as Injury Reserve, with many shows lined up in the future, including a show with popular experimental rock band Black Midi.
Forever Golden
Formed in the memory of dear friend CaiahBeats, Forever Golden is a six-manned hip-hop group out of Detroit, Michigan. Members, Jay Squared, Curtis Roach, Santana Divinci, Whyandotte, B Free, and producer Prod.ByBert released their first EP Gold in 2018. With a more stripped-down sound, Forever Golden delivers raw tracks, lyrics, and delivery at the forefront of their sound. Strong, bassy songs like “Parking Lot Pimpin’” and “Menace” are thoughtful and bound to hit the mark.
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