Top 10 Best Cyber Hip-Hop Songs

Cyber hip hop is a subgenre, subculture, and counter-movement in German hip hop that emerged around a group of independent artists, including Dat Adam (Taddl, Ardy, and Marley), Sierra Kidd, and Westghosts (Navy Westghost, Leroy Westghost, Young Kira, and Young Mokuba), as well as NOK From the Future. As I create this list, this scene is still relatively young, having recently risen from the underground to achieve some recognition in the hip hop community. Although the number of artists in this movement remains small, the style has already influenced mainstream artist Cro on his most recent album, tru. (While I don't regard this album as cyber hip hop itself, it does have cyber hip hop influences.) Additionally, some of the artists are on good terms with Glo Up Dinero Gang, a German rap crew influenced by American trap.

The movement opposes mainstream hip hop ideas such as street credibility, aggressiveness, and masculinity. Its main focus is on flow rather than complex rhyming, and on passion over commercial interests. Some artists have even turned down major label contracts to retain full creative control over their work. Despite these moves, both Dat Adam and Sierra Kidd have managed to enter the top ten charts in German-speaking Europe with their albums. Their lyrics often convey an offbeat and pacifist lifestyle, with punchlines that are humorous rather than hard-hitting. These punchlines are primarily aimed at mainstream hip hop as a scene rather than targeting listeners directly, as is more common in German rap.

Conscious hip hop themes are also not uncommon, especially on Dat Adam's commercially successful debut album, HYDRA 3D, though they don't necessarily appear on every cyber hip hop release. At times, the sound is lighthearted, with lyrics about enjoying life unspoiled by society's expectations. The general sentiment of the movement could be described as living for the moment and doing everything with passion. Cyber hip hop artists have a strong affinity for anime and science fiction, often referencing these genres in their lyrics. They sometimes adopt a futuristic or manga-inspired visual style that also influences their overall soundscape and word choices.

Musically, cyber hip hop songs are more experimental than those of other hip hop subgenres. They often have unconventional structures and make heavy use of electronic or rock elements. A vocal style that blurs the line between rapping and singing is also popular in this genre. These vocals are usually full of effects, not only autotune but also flanger, pitch-shifting, or robotic vocoder effects, to create a more futuristic sound. Sampling is typically not part of cyber hip hop songs. Instead, live instruments are sometimes played in the studio, though they are often heavily distorted.

The movement embraces a strong do-it-yourself ethos. While working on a song, all participants act as a unit and receive equal credit for the music. Vocalists are actively involved in the creative process of production, while producers contribute to songwriting. This differs from the usual process in German hip hop, where beats are created first, and rappers write and record lyrics over them (except for artists like Bushido, Cro, or Shindy, who produce their own work). Cyber hip hop producers are generally more musically inclined than typical hip hop producers. For example, Marley from Dat Adam also released an EP featuring his piano compositions. Electronic instruments and vocoder effects are usually used for aesthetic purposes, enhancing the genre's distinctive sound.

The Top Ten

  1. Sanageyama - Dat Adam

    "Why are so many in love with their ego?

    Why is democracy no democracy?

    And why don't all beings deserve a life?

    It just pisses me off."

    Best song of 2016.

  2. Ghidorah/Legobricks - Dat Adam

  3. Modus - Tj_beastboy & Mary Man

    TJ_beastboy and Mary Man are Taddl and Marley from Dat Adam. It's a less conscious and more fun-oriented, yet nevertheless great side project.

  4. Road - NOK from the Future & Ro Ransom

  5. Himmelstadt - Navy Westghost

  6. Fkn Ghost - Young Kira & Leroy Westghost

  7. S/O - Dat Adam

  8. Do - NOK from the Future

  9. 23 Shots - Young Mokuba & Young Kira

  10. Kopfvilla - Sierra Kidd

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Insomnia - TJ_beastboy & Mary Man

  12. ?

    Cloud 10 - Young Kira

    13. The Contenders

  13. Adlibs - Young Mokuba & Dat Adam

  14. Hydra 3D - Dat Adam

  15. Nextlevels**t - Dat Adam

  16. Dfa (CR-Version) - Dat Adam

  17. Galaxy - Spinning 9

  18. Never Growin' Up - DAT ADAM

    Also features the entire Westghosts (Navy Westghost, Leroy Westghost, Young Kira, and Young Mokuba).

  19. 9leben - Tj_beastboy & Mary Man

    The album version features Young Mokuba and Young Kira, while the video version features only Young Mokuba.

  20. Aus Der Zone - Spinning 9 & Sierra Kidd

  21. Horrorkid - Navy Westghost

  22. Raigeki - Young Kira

  23. No Worries - Dat Adam

  24. Jaws - Dat Adam

  25. First One Done - Gunboi

  26. 700 Main Street - Dat Adam

  27. Awake - Nok from the Future

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