Haven’t filled that void where Eminem used to be? Paul Wall and his Shiny Grillz not delivering enough actual lyrics? GIMME DAT! GIMME DAT! Well, we can help you out with our list of the best current white rappers. All of these rappers are intellectual, entertaining, and eccentric. You may not have heard of many of these artists before, so we’ve provided a quick bio, style info, and a link to a song or video where you can feel them out.
Real name: Ian Mathias Bavitz
From: Long Island, New York
Label: Definitive Jux
Age: 31
Aesop Rock or “Bazooka Tooth” has intelligent gritty rhymes and has an unbelievable rapid fire flow. He is a seasoned vet with 5 albums, and one “instrumental” album that was made for Nike+. In the song “The Greatest Pac-Man Victory in History” he rapped using only words that started with L, S, and D, and in that order. The newest album “None Shall Pass” has the beat beats yet and contains album art and video art from the famous Jeremy Fish.
Recommended: “None Shall Pass” Video
Real name: Sean Daley
From: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Label: Rhymesayers Entertainment
Age: 35
Technically one half Caucasian, one quarter Native American, and one half Black, Slug is best known as one half of the rap group “Atmosphere”. Slug, also known as “Seven,” is one of the founders of Rhymesayers Entertainment and collaborates with MURS on many side projects called FELT. His rhymes are very personal and heartfelt; often about his ex who he calls “Lucy.” He has many differing styles on his 6+ albums, from “in your face” songs to slower songs that he devotes to his young child, he has mastered them all.
Recommended: “Trying to Find A Balance” Video
Real name: Shane Bunting
From: Vancouver, British Columbia
Label: Battle Axe
Mad Child is a member of the group “Swollen Members” which also includes Prevail, Rob the Viking, and the on-again off-again Moka Only. Swollen Members have won many Canadian awards and their 5 albums have pushed them to being the best selling rap group in Canadian History. Mad Child has a very unique voice, and is like a ball of fury when he comes on a track. The group’s last CD “Black Magic” was the best produced. It contains dark beats and a variety of collaborating artists. The group’s next CD “Beautiful Death Machine” is due out in spring/summer of ‘08.
Recommended: “Too Hot” Video
Real name: Chris Palko
From: Middletown, New York
Label: Definitive Jux
Age: Early 30’s
Cage has a severely screwed up childhood and boy does it show. His father had a heroin problem and did drugs freely around him, even having Cage tighten the tourniquet for him. His father was eventually jailed after a standoff with state police and threatening his family with a shotgun. Then after an abusive step father, being a guinea pig for drug companies, a mental institution, and years of drug use, Cage began writing and started rapping. His style is violent and straight forward. He mostly raps about his life, drugs, his horrible childhood, and failed relationships. But guess what? He is really good. For a full bio go here.
Recommended: “Shoot Frank” Video
Real name: Mike Skinner
From: Birmingham, England
Label: The Beats
Age: 29
The Streets is a British rapper who’s known for having great beats and being able to tell a great story. His second CD, “A Grand Don’t Come For Free”, is a concept piece that tells the tale of a group of friends who lost a good deal of money and the problems that came with it. The Streets newest CD, “The Hardest Way to Make An Easy Living”, debuted at number one in the UK and features a wide variety of sounds.
Recommended: “Prangin’ Out” Video
Real name: Paul Francis
From: Providence, Rhode Island
Label: Strange Famous Records
Age: 30
Sage emerged as a battle rapper, winning the Scribble Jam in 2000. Sage is very deep and takes listeners on a ride through pop-culture and cultural issues via amazing rap poetry.
Recommended: “Escape Artist” Video
Real name: Jaime Meline
From: Brooklyn, New York
Label: Definitive Jux
Age: 30
This son of a jazz pianist who got into rap early with an aggressive style. El-P was an original member of Company Flow, and started his own rap label, Definitive Jux. Not only is he a label owner, but also a producer, and a rapper. He has produced critically acclaimed discs like Cannibal Ox’s “Cold Vein”. His newest CD “I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead” released this year, has insane beats and straightforward cut-throat lyrics.
Recommended - “Flyentology” Video
From: Brooklyn, New York
Label: Embedded Music
Jaymanila (furthest left in above photo) teams up with Cool Calm Pete (right) as the lead rappers in the group Babbletron. Jaymanila has a robust voice and very solid, yet geeky rhymes. Babbletron has released two CDs, the most recent, “Mechanical Royalty”.
Check out “The Clock Song” from MySpace Page
From: Chicago, Illinois
Label: Galapagos4
Age: 27
Another former battle rapper, Qwel has a quick rhyme scheme and a very uninfected delivery. He was a Midwestern Battle Rapper that still shows in his fast-paced style.
Recommended: “Saved” from MySpace Page