Please give me guys like Kanye, Drake, The Weeknd???

[Satire]

Haven't heard that much positive shit about him other than this place, this other forum I frequent trashes him beyond belief, let's just leave it at that.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say you're talking about Wu-Tang Corp, am I right?

[dead prez]

Thanks, but I have my hads tied up at the moment with a lot of other shit I'm checking out and hopping between artists, it's kinda frantic actually and is one big clusterfuck, so I don't think I'd give him a fair listen if I just tune in a few songs now. Something tells me he isn't someone I could just listen to in a few minutes than give a fair judgement, I feel like I actually have to spend some time paying attention to his shit, before I can really judge.

I'm fully aware of his fans here, and that kinda turns me away actuallly, if only cause of the hype he has, and mostly because if everyone else likes him, I tend to try to nitpick at their flaws, idk it's hard to explain.

And finally I wasn't even thinking of Wu Corp, there's a lot of idiots there though, even if I'm a Wu fan myself, who bash him beyond belief. It's another forum, it's whatever though.

[momentsgolden]

First time i listened to the Dusty Foot Philosopher i had seen it being album of the year on this other rap site someone here suggested. Also, the only song by him i knew was Waving Flag. Needless to say, on first listen i was extremely let-down.I mean, the guy is creative (making a beat through water tappings) and he mixes his stuff up but the album kinda lacked a mood for me. It was neither sad nor happy, triumphant nor depressed. Unlike Drake or Budden who you immediately feel the emotion K'Naan just lets his words convey that. Its good though and i've grown to appreciate the way it conveys the pretentious nature of the game and the hardships of Somalia with that song in your sig being the obvious highlight.

[8milestyle]

I'm gonna hit you with a lot of different shit here. Bear with me, but I think you'll find something.
First song: Jonny Price - Love Don't Cry.
When you said rap with an indie background, I immediately thought of this completely random song I had come across a while ago but loved. Like literally the first time I heard this, I got chills. The rap doesn't even kick in until the third verse. The music itself just makes you feel good. Anyways:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuztVsvJrg4

Next up, I'm gonna hit you with some acoustic/alternative/indie rap. Dudes go by the name of Kids These Days. They are real soul-full, very bluesy. I think you'll dig it.
Check out "My Days":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mriAvnEctro

and "Darling"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ObNOZuutqQ

Next up is Burial. They are dubstep. STOP. Not normal intense fast-paced in your face dubstep, but some of the most artistic dupstep you'll hear. It can be real dark, but just give it a listen.
Just listen to this shit: "Archangel"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlEkvbRmfrA

and "Etched Headplate"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS38JBh5gcw

You like those, go right ahead and download both of his albums. Pure gold.

Might've found this on here before, actually. Maybe more hip-hop than you want, but very emo-ish?
Freaky Jon P - Get Over
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55xuX0dITMM

Charles Hamilton - Choices... Chorus might be annoying
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0O1zTw8EBg

Probably the most mainstream person I can think of that suits this style but that you might not have explicitly listened to is The-Dream. Pretty much just mainstream, soulful R&B
"Falsetto"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TB10gonKlU

"Playing In Her Hair"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og7WtVSt7KQ

Notable Mentions: k-os, iSH if you like the idea of rapping over Jack Johnson, Childish Gambino if you can get past his singing voice (Check out "Be Alone")

If any of this piques your interest, let me know and I'll dig up some more stuff.

[DƎRDYPK]

^ Choices (A Wave For Alex)
brilliant song
everyone should peep that

[classthe_king]

I know you said no Atmosphere ish but I would download Grieves- Together/Apart. He's not really like Atmosphere outside of the fact that he's on Rhymesayers though. He's amazing musically though. Here's a sample to check out

[KillahBee]

This may be a bit of a long shot, but check out Dudley Perkins

He's not a good rapper, at all, and his voice takes getting used to, but nobody sounds like he does, plus he's got some of the best production Madlib has ever laid down: lush, soulful, nice samples, really great stuff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiGU0Dp1RFA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGSrACU4LMo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vZysOaZ ... re=related

^ can only find instrumentals of the last two on Youtube

Also check out Slum Village, and not strictly hip hop, but judging by your OP, D Angelo and Erykah Badu are right up your alley

[FreeSpeech]

Thanks guys, I been busy working/I'm not on here much, but I'll check this shit and let ya'll know.

[FreeSpeech]

I wish I could give you a more established artist, but since I can't remember any, try this dude:
http://www.youtube.com/user/crucial101
Listen to some of the shit on his channel, and if you like what you're hearing, download his mixtapes.
Links are in the 'About Me' section.
The mixtapes are great, and possibly the closest thing I've heard to the style you're looking for.

Hmm pretty dope. A lil unpolished, but dude's mad young, I'll keep my eye on him.

Seriously though, Fabolous is a good rapper and he makes great music with some lyricism on it, first verse :

And also you should check out Warren G, G-Funk combines being artistic and your typical west coast lyrical rapper, Warren G puts them both in a way that increases them both, one of my favorite rappers of all time :

Yeah, I love Fabo, was listening to him the past week. That Nate Dogg song's awesome, it sounds like Jin's Speak Chinese, same sample maybe?
An yeah, Warren's dope too.

I'm at a completely similar position in that I could give less of a fuck about punchline/multi cramming wordplay/ esque rap, and am trying to venture out more into the creativity side, artists with originality or uniqueness, kind of hard to describe, but I get what you're saying. A few of the rappers I would have recommended would have fit the bill as "lyrical" rap, but aren't the full product and don't really have that great of beats or aren't really artistic, which in the long run doesn't do much for me.
One rapper that I would defintely reccomend right now would be Edan, who's sort of like a cross between Eminem and The Beastie Boys, but tends to sample the shit out of producers, so if you like to play guess that sample, than I guess you'll like him. Sorta reminds me of Mf Doom with the emphasis he puts on his production.
Favorite song from him would be Mic Manipulator
Torture Chamber
He sounds different on a lot of songs though, these were some of his most accessible, I could see you hating his other songs though.
I'd recommend K-os and K'naan but I'm pretty sure you listened to them already.
Shad is great, definitely give all his three albums a listen. He has that Indie feel, and can actually blend Rock/Rap without falling flat on his feet, and actually sound genuine meaning it's not just a gimmick made for would be Hip Hop fans who have no clue about the genre and just happen to be dicking around. He can rap but he's not a multies only rapper, and his delivery is pleasant, I guess.
New School Leaders
Out of Love
At the same time- Pretty nice introspective track, I think you'll like it actually.
Each song great songs from his albums in chronological order, only complaint I have against him is that he might remain stagnant and formulaic meaning he's not going to really switch up his style.
I was about to recommend POS and Dessa, but you said no Atmosphere type rap, so...
Uh and Das Racist I guess, I love the song in my sig, mostly cause of the beat.
Oh and I'm actually not to keen on Blu :/

Yeah I feel you, the punchlines/metaphors are played out to me. I think it's because honestly anyone can do it, to me it's WAYYYY harder to be creative musically than lyrically.
-Not a fan of Edan, prolly cuz I can't stand the Beastie Boys haha.
-Yeah I've heard K-OS and K'naan, good but not my thing. I need to give them some full album listens though.
-Shad's pretty dope, I'll listen more. I'm liking him, reminds me of Cool Kids x Common if that makes sense...
-POS, IDK just heard a lil and wasn't sucked in. Dessa, from the lil I've heard, is awesome, I need to give her more listens. I'm listening to Dixon's Girl now actually, realllll good. She's hot too.

@FreeSpeech, does Lauryn Hill match what you're looking for? I mean, she sings AND she raps. Her production may not be what you're looking for so I guess not. I honestly think that Chris Brown's album F.A.M.E. could be an option. It has dope production, amazing singing and a little bit of rapping from the features and even from Chris. I really don't know what else to recommend since there's not a lot of artists that match your criteria.

Yeah homie, was listening to Miseducation and FAME last 2 weeks haha. I been on their stuff though.
I think I heard Lauryn's actually coming out with a mixtape which is awesome, she's done almost nothing lately, girl's a hermit.

First time i listened to the Dusty Foot Philosopher i had seen it being album of the year on this other rap site someone here suggested. Also, the only song by him i knew was Waving Flag. Needless to say, on first listen i was extremely let-down.I mean, the guy is creative (making a beat through water tappings) and he mixes his stuff up but the album kinda lacked a mood for me. It was neither sad nor happy, triumphant nor depressed. Unlike Drake or Budden who you immediately feel the emotion K'Naan just lets his words convey that. Its good though and i've grown to appreciate the way it conveys the pretentious nature of the game and the hardships of Somalia with that song in your sig being the obvious highlight.

Yeah, I've only heard a few select tracks from him and wasn't amazed, but I'll listen top the whole album to be fair, I may do a 180.

Thanks for the input guys, I'm getting to the rest of what everyone posted and I'll for sure respond

[Satire]

Dessa, from the lil I've heard, is awesome, I need to give her more listens. I'm listening to Dixon's Girl now actually, realllll good. She's hot too.

6.5/10 at best.

Inb4elbowstoopointy.

[FreeSpeech]

Dessa, from the lil I've heard, is awesome, I need to give her more listens. I'm listening to Dixon's Girl now actually, realllll good. She's hot too.

6.5/10 at best.

Inb4elbowstoopointy.

Eh. Ya. The only live vid I watched was Dixon's Girl, where she's dressed all fancy. Google images didn't help, she's still cute though.