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Alternative Hip-Hop
© Def Jam
Alt-rappers typically color outside the lines. These artists are less concerned with pop hooks and dance moves. Their main goal is to push the envelope and exploreunique concepts.
Key Artists: The Roots, Lupe Fiasco, Del the Funkee Homosapien,

Battle Rap
© About.com
Battle rap is a style of hip-hop music that blends braggadocio with the quest for lyricalsuperiority. Seasoned battle rappers focus on boastful lines and self-glorifying rhymes about one's proficiency or level of success, accompanied by verbal insults hurled at the other party (directly orsubliminally).
Key Artists: Kool Moe Dee, Jay-Z, Canibus, LL Cool J 
Related Article - 10 Greatest Hip-Hop Battles

Conscious Rap
© Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Conscious rap is powered by theidea that radical social change comes through knowledge of self, personal discovery, and societal awareness. So-called conscious rappers devote much of their rhymes decrying social ills and promotingpositive ideas. Conscious rap is a contentious category, and not all every rapper like to be classified as such.
Key Artists: Talib Kweli, Common, Mos Def

Crunk
© TVT Records
Crunk started in the1990s as a sub-form of southern hip-hop. Producer Lil Jon is widely credited with spearheading the movement. True to its name, crunk constitutes a chaotic interpolation of club beats and high-energychants.
Key Artists Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz, Lil Scrappy, Trillville
Genre Profile
East Coast Hip-Hop
© Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
East coast hip-hop originated in the streets of New York.The umbrella of this particular sub-genre covers a dizzying mess of styles--from the street hop that gave us to AZ and Nas to the conscious approach popularized by Public Enemy and Black Star.
KeyArtists: Run-D.M.C., Ghostface Killah, Nas
Genre Profile
Gangsta Rap
© Lench Mob Records
Gangsta rap revolves around aggressive lyrics and trunk-heavy beats. Despite its huge acceptance in the...