| Hip Hop You Haven't Heard | |
| Type: | EP |
| Artist: | Northern State |
| Cover: | Hip Hop You Haven't Heard.png |
| Released: | 2002 |
| Genre: | Hip hop, pop rap |
| Label: | Self-released |
| Next Title: | Dying in Stereo |
| Next Year: | 2002 |
Hip Hop You Haven't Heard is the debut EP by New York City-based rap group Northern State. It was self-released in 2002, and was originally intended to be a demo.[1] As of 2003, it had gone out of print.[2]
Hip Hop You Haven't Heard ended up getting Northern State a considerable amount of exposure, with some critics comparing its sound to early Beastie Boys music.[3] Pitchfork Media also noted the sincere sound of their rapping on the EP.[4] One favorable review the album received was written by Robert Christgau, who gave it a four star (out of five) review in Rolling Stone.[5] This review, in which Christgau praised Northern State as "everything you want underground hip-hop to be", sparked criticism from other rap critics, who argued that the band was guilty of cultural appropriation.[6] The review has also been credited with helping the EP, and by extension Northern State themselves, get more publicity.[7] [8]