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Genre
proto-rap
Parent Genre: hip hop

Proto-rap is a music genre that emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s, characterized by rhythmic spoken vocals over a beat. It often features electronic instrumentation and incorporates elements of funk, disco, and soul. Proto-rap paved the way for the development of hip-hop and rap music, and was popularized by groups such as Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde, Divine Sounds, and The Real Roxanne.


Top artists of proto-rap genre

Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde
Divine Sounds
The Real Roxanne
Busy Bee
Jimmy Spicer
Sweet G
Lovebug Starski
Master Jay
Crash Crew
Doctor Ice
Fantastic Freaks
Original Concept
Harlem World Crew
Spoonie Gee and The Treacherous Three
Poor Boy Rappers
Disco Four
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proto-rap music timeline

Explore proto-rap history by listening to songs from every decade. Click on the decade to view songs.

2020s 2010s 2000s 1990s 1980s 1970s 1960s 1950s 1940s 1930s

Similar Genres to proto-rap

Discover more related genres to proto-rap genre. This list is ordered by similarity from left to right.

old school hip hop electro east coast hip hop hip hop hip house harlem hip hop bronx hip hop rap gangster rap hardcore hip hop jazz rap philly rap new jack swing turntablism funk rare groove conscious hip hop alternative hip hop queens hip hop quiet storm
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proto-rap playlist created by Chosic

Enjoy this playlist of popular proto-rap music. We made this playlist using an algorithm created by our team.

Play on spotify

List of proto-rap artists

Here is a list of proto-rap artists on Spotify, ranked based on popularity, who exemplifies the proto-rap genre. You can find out what proto-rap genre sounds like where you can preview artists or sort them the way you want, just click the headers to sort.

#namePopularity instrumentalnessdanceabilityenergyacousticnessHappinesstempofollowers
1
Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde
20 0 89 71 5 64 103 5533
2
Divine Sounds
15 0 93 71 1 76 116 3862
3
The Real Roxanne
12 0 89 51 37 56 99 51596
4
Busy Bee
12 0 94 59 0 59 99 13095
5
Jimmy Spicer
10 0 85 61 55 89 111 3732
6
Sweet G
10 0 81 88 0 63 102 985
7
Lovebug Starski
8 0 85 74 0 61 107 5607
8
Master Jay
7 0 0 0 0 0 0 127
9
Crash Crew
7 0 74 79 29 75 156 11044
10
Doctor Ice
6 0 0 0 0 0 0 395
11
Fantastic Freaks
6 0 0 0 0 0 0 1551
12
Original Concept
6 10 79 51 0 63 106 4699
13
Harlem World Crew
5 0 90 61 55 95 119 1615
14
Spoonie Gee and The Treacherous Three
5 0 0 0 0 0 0 583
15
Poor Boy Rappers
4 0 0 0 0 0 0 101
16
Disco Four
3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1404
17
Brother's Disco
3 0 87 75 65 81 119 62
18
Fresh 3 MC's
3 0 86 87 3 73 99 1221
19
Scoopy
3 0 85 81 25 90 99 135
20
Spoonie Gee Meets The Sequence
2 0 88 91 45 81 107 104
21
Count Coolout
2 0 0 0 0 0 0 421
22
Lonnie Love
2 0 0 0 0 0 0 39
23
Mistafide
2 0 79 94 49 93 124 97
24
Tricky Tee
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 617
25
Eddie Cheba
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 168
26
The Younger Generation
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 207
27
Mr. Sweety "G"
1 0 83 78 5 82 116 34
28
Little Starsky
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 54
29
Grandmixer D. ST
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
30
Zoot II
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40
31
MC Rock Lovely
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33
32
Sicle Cell & Rhapazooty
0 0 83 81 52 87 115 92
33
Ikim & Bacardi
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 47
34
Margo's Kool Out Crew
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 71
35
Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1548
36
Super Coper & Clarence Breakers
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27
37
Jazzy 4 MCs
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 129
38
Nice & Nasty 3
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
39
Freddy B & The Mighty Mic Masters
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 185
40
Sherod
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40
41
Awesome Foursome
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 313
42
South Bronx
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 416
43
Fresh Female
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33
44
Willie Wood & Willie Wood Crew
0 0 83 88 29 89 110 66
45
Land of Hits Orchestra
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 188
46
CC Crew
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 205
47
T-Ski Valley
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 207
48
Margot's Kool Out Crew
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
49
Lavaba & E. Mallison
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40
50
Troy Rainey
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 119
51
Universal Two
0 0 73 83 39 76 119 45