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

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.

Ghidorah/Legobricks - Dat Adam

Modus - Tj_beastboy & Mary Man