instrumental hip hop
what it is
Instrumental hip hop is hip hop music without vocals. Hip hop as a general rule consists of two elements: an instrumental track (the "beat") and a vocal track (the "rap"). The artist who crafts the beat is the producer, and the one who crafts the rap is the MC.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make instrumental hip hop a playlist
turn these 26 artists into something you can press play on.
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questions
What is instrumental hip hop?
Instrumental hip hop is hip hop music without vocals. Hip hop as a general rule consists of two elements: an instrumental track (the "beat") and a vocal track (the "rap"). The artist who crafts the beat is the producer, and the one who crafts the rap is the MC.
What are good instrumental hip hop albums to start with?
Try NONE OF THIS IS REAL by DJ Rozwell, Three Sided Tape Volume One by Lil Ugly Mane, A BOY NAMED HEXD by 999 Heartake Sabileye, and Blessed by a Young Death by Glen Porter.
Who are some women making instrumental hip hop?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/instrumental-hip-hop/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making instrumental hip hop, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20