Abstract hip hop is a genre of hip hop that eschews many of the conventions of the mainstream, including the use of more upfront, visceral language. Instead, artists often use extensive metaphors and symbolic word choice to present their ideas.

The origin of abstract hip hop dates back to the early 2000s, when it was first gaining popularity in the underground hip hop scene. Lyrically, these songs tend to focus on more abstract topics such as existentialism or social institutions rather than everyday problems or braggadocio.

They also usually eschew the more traditional rhythms of typical hip hop and prefer unconventional beats that resemble experimental hip hop. The style of music is a mix of jazz, funk, soul, and electronic music.

Abstract hip hop has been an important tool for poor, marginalized youth to express their thoughts and feelings about life. However, this genre has been criticized by some people as an inferior form of popular music.

One of the most influential abstract hip hop artists is Earl Sweatshirt, who was a member of Odd Future and released his debut album Some Rap Songs in 2008. This is an extremely experimental and avant-garde album with sudden cut-offs in the sound which helps to create a more intense feeling of emotion.

It also features very emotional and vulnerable lyrics that express a lot of pain and loneliness. Despite this, Earl’s music has a very positive effect on many people and it is an excellent album to start with for those who are interested in learning about the avant-garde side of hip hop.