Underground Rap’s Resurgence: A New Era Defined by a Return to Digital Innovation

As 2024 draws to a close, a new era in underground rap is shaping the future of Hip-hop, even as the genre struggles to produce mainstream superstars. Y2K aesthetics and new forms of music discovery, such as TikTok, define this resurgence. 

Written by Ricardo Lopez

Photo courtesy of YhapoJJ/SoundCloud

Content Warning: This article contains graphic language on death and violence.

A new era of underground rap has emerged as Hip-hop’s role in producing new superstars steadily wanes. This revival ushers in a return to Y2K aesthetics, defined by insouciant bars and the growth of vibrant subcommunities.

While SoundCloud’s influence in music discovery has dwindled, platforms for short-form content videos, like reels on Instagram and videos on TikTok, have paved new paths for underground artists to grow their fan bases without relying on traditional marketing tactics. Live-streamed music-making sessions, for example, with diss track production often taking center stage, allow artists to connect with their audiences in real-time as they create. One popular event is “Song Wars” — a competition hosted by Twitch streamer plaqueboymax — where rap artists collaborate with producers to create tracks, and a panel of judges determines the winner.

Like any industry, controversy has also marked the underground scene. Rapper Jaydes, known for his track “migraine” — which delves into his inner turmoil as he reconciles his self-belonging after being love-bombed by a partner — was charged with first-degree murder after allegedly stabbing a woman who “was not taking on his sexual advances to her,” according to The U.S. Sun.  

Despite these ups and downs, 2024 has catalyzed a new underground era. As the year winds down, here are some of underground rap’s standout songs of 2024.

“Flock” – YhapoJJ

Imagine a mixture of jerk and early Young Thug autotune, with vulnerability standing unapologetically front and center, and you get the July 2024 release, “Flock,” by YhapoJJ. Themes of disloyalty and isolation dominate the track. At the same time, Yhapojj defiantly displays vulgarity as he reflects on his refusal to engage in meaningful relationships with women. Over a simple piano chord layered with guitar, the track is propelled by melodic, autotuned ad-libs like “you,” referring to his disdain for his significant other, and “let’s fucking go.”

In the lyrics, “You said you were done with all these stupid n— / …But I caught that shit, I seen it when he liked yo picture,” Yhap personifies his disdain for his partner, embodying a moment of petty, tasteless action. An influx of memes contributed to the track’s influence as YhapoJJ enabled fans to do his promo for him, producing bold authenticity, capturing modern relationships' complexities, and pushing Hip-Hop boundaries. 

“lie” – 2hollis

The confusion surrounding 2hollis' identity as a rapper stems from his contradictory posts on X, where he first declared, "im not a rapper," only to backtrack a day later with, "i am a rapper." Regardless, 2hollishas built a notable following, growing his fanbase after opening for the first leg of rage-rapper Ken Carson’s tour, despite the harsh perception of his music. 2hollis’ music blends a myriad of sounds, encompassing electropop, cloud rap, and digicore.

On his self-produced track “lie,” released in June 2024, 2hollis personifies white boy aura, highlighting a playful side to rap, singing over an electropop beat with colorful synths. The flamboyant chorus exemplifies his experimental approach as he sings, “Cross my eyes, I hope to die / I'll never lie / I said I never lie.” “lie” symbolizes 2hollis’ ability to challenge traditional conventions in rap and electropop, delivering a track of equal parts introspective, exuberant, and genre-bending. 2hollis sets himself apart with “lie” as a voice of the new wave, unbonded by traditional expectations. 

“Special” – Xaviersobased

Xaviersobased, a New York-born Dominican rapper, has emblazoned his distinctive path with his fusion of Y2K skater aesthetics, erratic hyperpop, and Hip-hop. His unpredictable production and bold experimentation offer something fresh and avant-garde to the underground scene, earning him massive attention, particularly through internet memes.  

Initially previewed on the On the Radar show in January, featuring freestyles from lesser-known and mainstream artists, “Special” highlights Xaviersobased’s unique approach to music. The track follows the format of a typical freestyle, lacking a clear thematic structure, with each bar feeling distinct yet memorable in its spontaneity. He gleefully boasts about his collective, 1c, and addresses his haters: “Opp was talkin' down, yeah, we caught him in the alley / N— talkin' down, I don't think they understand me.” The production, featuring a floaty, blown-out jerk sound, enhances the track’s chaotic energy. The track pushes boundaries in the underground scene, highlighting his bold artistry with innovative genre-mixing. His shoutouts to the 1c collective, paired with playful lyricism, encapsulate the collaborative, meme-driven culture of the underground. “Special” solidifies its relevance by representing a new wave of brilliance that thrives on innovation and unpredictability. 

“White Owls” – smokedope2016

The general public knows little about smokedope2016, who previously went by the alias Fairfieldd. Now embracing his new aesthetic, he taps into Gen Z’s nostalgia for 2016, while the “smokedope” element of his name hints at his fondness for smoking weed. Smokedope’s deliberate choice to remain anonymous matches his grimy, Y2K-inspired, confrontational style, blending a mid-2010s aesthetics with purposeful mystery.

On “White Owls,” dropped in March of 2024, smokedope2016 channels Lil B, delivering his lines over a simple, spacey, cloud rap beat. Throughout the track, he references his love for drugs, weaving in nods to basketball stars, like Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, and rappers like Kid Cudi and Youngboy Never Broke Again, cementing his place within underground rap. Smokedope’s deliberate air of mystique  reinforces his rise as a rapper, thriving in the spotlight, rapping “Off a 30 in the crib, might be pressed, dude / If I take these tabs, then I'm gonna have to test two.” His ability to synthesize cultural and nostalgic influences resonates throughout his music, alluring subcultures drawn to gritty yet glamorous music. 

 WHITE OWLS ***MUSIC VIDEO*** 480p EXCLUSIVE

“withdrawals” – OsamaSon, Nettspend

No other rapper has come close to gaining as big a following this year as OsamaSon and Nettspend. OsamaSon’s rage style combines groggy lyricism and layered autotuned vocals, blending dark plugg with rage-trap. Nettspend, hailing from Richmond, VA, is known for his self-dubbed “badasskid” persona. As one of the most polarizing figures — indicative of his objectionable, inauthentic portrayal and vapid, off-beat rapping — Nettspend’s unique sound blends hypnotic cloud rap with elements of jerk and hyper-pop, creating a unique and captivating style.

On “withdrawals,” produced by underground rising producer Ok and released in June, the duo sporadically raps over a sonically assaultive beat layered with aggressive synths, piano, guitar, and 808s. The track’s relentless energy compliments its dark, enigmatic message, with OsamaSon rapping, “Withdrawals, slime go through withdrawals / He gon' go through it all, we gon' go through it all.” “Withdrawals” is a cornerstone track in underground rap this year, embodying a new, raw energy, and rebellious spirit that defines the scene. The track’s aggressive delivery pushes boundaries with its chaotic sound and melancholic lyricism, cementing it as a defining moment in 2024’s underground rap landscape. 

2024 has been a pivotal year for underground rap, marked by experimental innovation, controversy, and paradoxical artistry. These tracks reflect the creativity and resilience of a genre slowly losing its mainstream influence as artists reinvent what pops in subcultures in the digital age.