Rap
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International Rap
British Rap
Although it is rarely heard outside of the U.K. and Europe, British Rap has its own traditions and is a style onto itself. Though it doesn't have quite the heritage of American hip-hop, many British rappers grew up within the fertile Caribbean ragga tradition and introduced patois into hip-hop styles. British rap began in the late '80s, and it used the sonic collage of Public Enemy as a launching pad. Soon, many U.K. rappers were adding acid-house flourishes to their sound, resulting in a music style that was darker than its American counterpart. There were poor facsimiles of American rappers, but the best British hip-hop fell into three different camps. There were groups like the Prodigy, which fused hip-hop with rave. There were groups like Leftfield that went for a dance-club style of hip-hop. And there was Massive Attack, who slowed hip-hop beats down and added acid-jazz textures, resulting in trip-hop. By the end of the '90s, a generation of rap fans had assumed control of the scene, resulting in excellent work from the Herbaliser, Roots Manuva, New Flesh, and many others.
British Rap Album Highlights
![Urban Hits [EMI]](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/release/mr0002917983/front/220/7crK0d5Mug4Cq69v8mcupj6KsMttLlyBmmVTZ6_CLs0=.jpg)
![Now That's What I Call Music! 76 [UK]](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/release/mr0003100173/front/220/wuYnrRED8U7okOCq2ZXVyj6KsMttLlyBmmVTZ6_CLs0=.jpg)
![Guns Don't Kill, Rappers Do [#1]](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/release/mr0001346747/front/220/mZwveiXBfArCNhOKWQKPXj6KsMttLlyBmmVTZ6_CLs0=.jpg)
![Marbles [5 Tracks]](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/release/mr0001699639/front/220/GeFuAW4nBvTwTM_vq1JQMT6KsMttLlyBmmVTZ6_CLs0=.jpg)
![Full Term Love [CD/Vinyl Single]](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/release/mr0001892716/front/220/ONYGIjk7ospRukkfgvMNqT6KsMttLlyBmmVTZ6_CLs0=.jpg)
