25 Hip-Hop acts to see at SXSW 2010

The best boom-bap on tap in Austin

By CHRIS FARAONE | March 12, 2010

Screw my editors for allotting me a lousy 10 SXSW hip-hop picks. This isn't 2005, when a diehard fan with a pocketful of stimulants could make every rap showcase around Austin. Of the seven of us heading down, I'm the only one checking for boom-bap, so I'll prop as many damn artists as I want.

My methodology was simple: I selected acts that have amazed me in person before and/or released phenomenal projects in the past year. Those left off should not fear, though, as I'll be at six showcases a day writing, tweeting, firing my camera, and taping your mid-street ciphers.

If there's any theme here, it's that while hipster-hop is not officially over, it's damn near close. Looking at the line-ups, it seems like authentic and lyrically substantial rap music has returned. You'd never know that from reading lists contrived by indie rockers, who exclusively select MCs who share publicists with their favorite bands. But as usual, I've got you covered.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | next >... last >>

1 of 26 (results 26)

Topics: Music Features , Entertainment, Entertainment, Chamillionaire, More

| More

Most Popular

The Current Issue

Table of Contents

Cover Archive

Masthead | Authors | Contact us

Blogs

Where To Follow Me
Talking Politics | March 24, 2013 at 11:09 AM

Mo Takes His Turn
March 21, 2013 at 12:59 PM

[Q&A] KMFDM's Sascha Konietzko on art, Columbine and having balls
On The Download | March 18, 2013 at 3:22 PM

See this film series: The Belmont World Film Series @ Studio Cinema in Belmont
Outside The Frame | March 18, 2013 at 11:00 AM

See this film: This is Spinal Tap [with post-film talk by expert from Acoustical Society of America] @ the Coolidge
March 17, 2013 at 12:00 PM

ARTICLES BY CHRIS FARAONE

THE TRIALS OF NADIA NAFFE | March 04, 2013
Young, attractive, ambitious, conservative, and black, Nadia Naffe should have been a right-wing operative’s dream.

HIP-HOP TRIVIA GROWS UP | February 26, 2013
In their fourth year of operation, the Hip-Hop Trivia squad is finally taking the night (somewhat) seriously.

OCCUPY DENIED DAY IN COURT | February 22, 2013
It took more than a year for Suffolk County prosecutors to come to their senses.

CZARFACE SOARS ABOVE THE CLOUDS | February 11, 2013
This week 7LES and Inspectah Deck drop Czarface , a full-length work of adventurous genius revolving around a metal-clad protagonist who feeds on destruction.

THE BPD ADDS INSULT TO INJURY | February 05, 2013
At times, this kind of decision makes you wonder whether the BPD is saving its best awards for officers who've been involved in the death of civilians.