Proto-rap

Proto-rap is a foundational music genre that emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s, characterized by its innovative blend of spoken word, rhythm, and melody. This genre serves as a precursor to hip-hop, featuring dynamic and rhythmic vocal delivery over groovy, funk-inspired beats. Artists like Crash Crew and T.J. Swann & Company contributed to its development by incorporating call-and-response techniques and catchy hooks. Proto-rap often highlights storytelling and social commentary, with an emphasis on party vibes and crowd engagement that laid the groundwork for modern rap. These early pioneers utilized turntablism and MCing to create an energized and communal experience that influenced the evolution of hip-hop culture.

Latest Proto-rap Release
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Cold Hearted Ep
Ep - 6 Tracks - Released December 6, 2024

RecentMusic users are tracking 64 Proto-rap artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 149 releases .

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Awesome Foursome
Black Bird & Kevski
Bobby Deemo
Bon-Rock & The Rhythm Rebellion
Bramsam
Brother's Disco
Busy Bee
Count Coolout
Crash Crew
Disco Daddy & Capt. Rapp
Disco Four
Divine Sounds
Doctor Ice
Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde
Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde
Eddie Cheba
Fantastic Freaks
Freddy B & The Mighty Mic Masters
Fresh 3 MC's
Fresh Female
Grand Master Chilly T and Stevie G
Grandmixer D.ST
Harlem World Crew
Ikim & Bacardi
Jazzy 4 MCs
Jimmy Spicer
Kool DJ A.J.
Land of Hits Orchestra
Lavaba & E. Mallison
Little Starsky
Lonnie Love
Lovebug Starski
MC Rock Lovely
Manujothi
Margo's Kool Out Crew
Master Jay
Mifflin Ensemble
Mistafide
Mr. Sweety "G"
Neil B
Original Concept
Poor Boy Rappers
Rappers Rapp Group
Scoopy
Sherod
Sherod
Sicle Cell & Rhapazooty
Solid C, Bobby D & Kool Drop
South Bronx
Spoonie Gee and The Treacherous Three
Super Coper & Clarence Breakers
Sweet G
T-Ski Valley
T.J. Swann & Company
T.J. Swann, Pee Wee Mel and Swann Controllers
Teen Machine
The Caution Crew
The Real Roxanne
The Younger Generation
Tricky Tee
Troy Rainey
Universal Two
Willie Wood & Willie Wood Crew
Zoot II
Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde
Master Jay
Divine Sounds
Busy Bee
The Real Roxanne
Jimmy Spicer
Lovebug Starski
Disco Four
Sweet G
Crash Crew
Original Concept
Doctor Ice
Fantastic Freaks
Harlem World Crew
Scoopy
Poor Boy Rappers
Count Coolout
Fresh 3 MC's
Spoonie Gee and The Treacherous Three
Brother's Disco
Tricky Tee
Freddy B & The Mighty Mic Masters
The Younger Generation
Bon-Rock & The Rhythm Rebellion
Disco Daddy & Capt. Rapp
Eddie Cheba
Mr. Sweety "G"
Teen Machine
Willie Wood & Willie Wood Crew
Bramsam
Mistafide
Lonnie Love
Sherod
Land of Hits Orchestra
MC Rock Lovely
Troy Rainey
Fresh Female
Ikim & Bacardi
Bobby Deemo
Jazzy 4 MCs
Neil B
Solid C, Bobby D & Kool Drop
Margo's Kool Out Crew
Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde
Awesome Foursome
T-Ski Valley
Rappers Rapp Group
Mifflin Ensemble
Grand Master Chilly T and Stevie G
T.J. Swann, Pee Wee Mel and Swann Controllers
Sicle Cell & Rhapazooty
Little Starsky
Universal Two
South Bronx
Kool DJ A.J.
Grandmixer D.ST
Manujothi
Lavaba & E. Mallison
T.J. Swann & Company
Zoot II
Sherod
Super Coper & Clarence Breakers
Black Bird & Kevski
The Caution Crew