1. {
The conventions and
target audience of
Alternative Rap
By Ochuko Ideh

2. Alternative Rap is a style pf Rap that got increasingly
popular during the late 90s due to Rap music entering a
major identity crisis, Alternative rap is know for its traits
of aspiring to distance it self from the rest of rap music.
Alternative rap is just a way of approaching rap music
from a different perspective. It is theorised that the term
“Alternative” is a synonyms for the tendency that lied
inside of rap during the late 90s that is slowing dragging
rap away from its core.

3. The Convention and Target
audience of Alternative Rap
Alternative rap follows the conventions of delivery of a message to the public, the motif alternative rap
can be perceived by others as ambitious. Alternative rap acts a medium for poets and lyricist to express
their thoughts about social issues to the public, some people even dub the style of music as a freedom
movement but contrary to their believes alternative rap falls into two different sub groups that both have
very different techniques and music styles.
• The Wikipedia page of reordered Alternative
rappers
Artist like MF DOOM and Tyler
The Creator fall into two
separate sub groups of the
Alternative Rap styles, these two
sub groups are Lyrical and
Comical, these sub groups
appeal to different
demographics and have very
different styles of music.

4. Comical Style
Influences and Demographic
Unlike the “Lyrical” style Comical style focuses more on word play and takes its influences from pop culture and current trends,
the influences consist from:
• Tween waves such as tumblr
• Teen fashion trends such as Seapunk
• Eastern media, consisting of Amines and K-Dramas and even K-Pop( a completely different music genre)
Comical Alternative rappers pride them selves on being completely different from other artist and musical genres, they are
known for pulling outrageous stunts for the sake of entertainment and would often mock and mimic other artist and public
figures in their music/videos and sometimes even form running gimmicks and parodies in their music other than focusing on
current word affairs or creating music with deep substances.
A prime example of a Comical Alternative rap artist would be Tyler the creator and his entourage of misfit artist Oddfuture.
*Oddfuture pictured left and their comical sketch show *Loiter Squad pictured below.
The synopsis of the show follows Oddfuture embodying different characters some
fiction and others non-fiction in hilarious sketches and parodies, which mainstream
TV as a medium Oddfuture are able to expand their fan base by reaching out to like
minded teens who may not be music listeners but wacky comedy fans.
Comical artist such ass Oddfuture are also
know for being trend seters and display
strong interest in teen fashion , they are
often endorsed my companies that mainly
distribute teen central items , for example
the Supreme clothing line endorses
Oddfuture and other Alternative groups
such as A$AP MOB.
The Oddfuture clothing site

5. Comical Style
Influences and Demographic
The label of Comical rappers and the rappers themselves gave targeted teens to be their
demographic. Why target teens? well teens are the biggest listeners of all types of rap music and
the largest consumer demographic , and they are also though to have a large about of disposable
money; money they can spend on luxuries without having to spend any on taxes or bills, this is
great for rappers with large endorsement deals for example the Odd future clothing line. Teens
can be easily influenced by their peers by what they believe is trendy and to be trendy rappers
must sell and image to their audience to which is something comical rappers have done
successfully. Comical rappers have been able to sell the lifestyle and image of irresponsibility,
humour and shock into their music and products which is something that has had a heavy
influence of teens of today.
The Typical demographic for Comical rappers would be
mostly teens between the ages of 15-25, they would mostly be
boys but the majority of female followers are growing . This
teens would all dress in the same way “outfits which are
deemed as trendy by different youths” these dressing styles
are also very similar to the Comical artist , the demographic
of Comical rappers would try to be like their comical models
in any shape and form either by dressing like them or by
mimicking their irresponsible behaviour, pranks and stunts
(some of these even ending up going viral). In a way the
demographic of Comical rappers would flock to the Comical
rappers like sheep's.
Tyler The Creator pictured left and
typical Comical listeners pictured right.
The listeners style of clothing or “Swag”
is influenced by the rappers style and or
music.

6. Lyrical Style
Influences and Demographic
The style of Lyrical Alternative artist are very different from the style on Comical artist, Lyrical artist rap about close to home
subjects and that were influenced by their upbringing and the faiths that was meet by some of their families friends and even them
their selves for example rapping about going to prison, Lyrical artist that their influences from the binary opposites of Comical artist:
• Crime and drugs during their upbringing
• Discrimination against minorities
• Vintage and MO town music
• Comic book antagonist
• Current world problems
• Suicidal thoughts
• And many more
Unlike Comical rappers Lyrical rappers tend to stay away from record labels and mainstream media and keep themselves
underground, they treat their trade more like freedom fighting or expressing their individuality through lyrics and song rather than
just an occupation, one example out of many Lyrical rapper is MF DOOM not much is known about his personal life but he has been
critically famed and as even been dubbed as the King of Alternative rap, MF DOOM keeps his personal life a secrete from his fans
and has never shown his face during a performance; this is part of his physical motif as he based his alter ego (MF DOOM) from the
Marvel Villain Doctor Doom
*Lyrical rapper MF DOOM pictured left and Marvel
super villain Doctor Doom pictured right

7. Lyrical Style
Influences and Demographic
Most Lyrical rappers are freelance and do not work under labels so they do not have convention
set that they need to follow, because of this they sometimes lack in gaining a following and rely
on their music to gain a following. For them there is no set demographic but the most of their
following are like minded music listeners, to be frank most of their followers are Black men
between the ages of 17-31 but that’s just a stereo type, Lyrical rap listeners could range from
teenage girls too middle aged men of any race.
Unlike Comical listeners Lyrical listeners believe
in freedom movement and are know for uses
Lyrical rap as an influence to produce political
and social status; a prime example being rallies
in parks to even mass rallies that are
acknowledged world wide.