Miami's Top Ten Underground Rap and Hip-Hop Acts

Miami hip-hop? Yes N Deed.

​New Yorkers still think they run hip hop. Canadians say, "It ain't dead. It lives in the North." L.A. radio plays more Pitbull than we do. Houston is still leaning off a never-ending cup of codeine. NOLA's doing it in the dark. Philly, Detroit, and Chi-Town are mad because it's winter.

In Miami, though, we're in shorts and a hoodie, kicking it with 70-degree weather and palm trees. The world has been looking to the 305 for street heat since before the first block party in the Bronx.

Here are ten groups and artists goin' hard in the MIA right now.



10. NoEmotion Goldmask
This one-man Wu Tang Clan raps like Mitch Hedberg choke-slamming Don Francisco through the afterlife. Recent live shows include an opening set for Blowfly. His slow-pitched vocals, and infinite punchline scheme kill on record, and he's one video away from blowing up the Internets. Download Jungle Fever 5000



9. J. Nics
His signature polar bear flow and storytelling rap style puts his life to music without sounding fake or made up. His Southern Niggas Ain't Slow: The Tribute tape puts his voice over classic tracks by Master P, Outkast, and Three-Six Mafia. Look out for his next release, all original music, The Product.



8. Llamabeats
This crew makes Dade County house party music with a heavy Sublime influence. In the past year, you may have seen these Miami rockaz at La Covacha in Doral, Midtown's Bardot, Kill Your Idol on South Beach, or downtown's Eve doing campaign fundraising with Uncle Luke. Their recordings feature live instrumentation, samples, and songs about drinking. Download "Don't Show This To Anyone."



7. Serum and Manifesto
Straight-up New York City-sounding, 1995-style hip-hop with heavy lyrics and apocalyptic raps over dope instrumentals. This is graffiti head, backpack, skateboard, big headphones on the Metrobus kinda shit. Download The S&M Project



6. MC Jumanji
Catch this party MC rapping his head off at The Vagabond for monthly dubstep throwdown Get Low. Even with a rolling bass apocalypse rumbling through your skull, you'll still hear Jumanji's free-form, improvised lyrics rapped loud and clear enough to understand every word.