Alternative Hip-Hop

Hip-Hop isn't just a straight-from-the-streets movement; it's a state of mind — a morning-noon-and-night lifestyle rooted in the four elements of MCing, DJing, graf-writing, and break-dancing. This is especially true in the "backpack rap" realm of alternative hip-hop, where reinventing the wheels of steel (and its complimentary mic) is an art form, from the thorny tongue-twisters and scattershot drum'n'bass of "B.O.B." to the laid-back jazz-cat delivery of "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" and "Can I Kick It?" Follow our trail of Aussie alt-rap connections through Next Steps.

Home turf kicks up a bunch of crackin' alt-rap tracks here, courtesy of Hilltop Hoods and the funky '70s vibe of their "Chase That Feeling"; Sydney's Bliss N Eso, who root "Woodstock 2008" in a squall of menacing surf guitar and psychedelic go-go brass; and Koolism's irresistible "Jam Hot." The other Next Steps come straight out of left field as well, including the creative firestorm of El-P with the apocalypse-now production of "Deep Space 9mm." For the alt-est of the alt, head to Deep Cuts.

Don't get too distracted by the well-groomed Afro of ?uestlove, the Roots' time-keeping drummer/part-time producer. It's far from the most interesting element in hip-hop's longest-running live band, here delivering the twinkling keys and championship-level beat-boxing of "The Next Movement." Judging by its name alone, cLOUDDEAD's "I Promise Never to Get Paint On My Glasses Again (1)" sounds just like it's on some next-level tip . . . and it is, from the freaky, downright frightening free verse of Doesone to the pensive, drone-on production of Odd Nosdam.

While he might be better known for his acting, no starring role can dilute the raw power of Mos Def's music. Small wonder that he's an honorary member of the legendary Native Tongues collective, right alongside such seminal hip-hop artists as Black Star, Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, and Common. Together, they're just a taste of our ear-opening Alternative Hip-Hop history lesson, a thorough overview of every underground era and scene, including the L.A. uprising of the Pharcyde, Dilated Peoples, and Jurassic 5; the Bay Area broadcasts of Del Tha Funky Homosapien and the Hieroglyphics crew; and the homespun protest rhymes of the Herd ("The King Is Dead").