4 Underrated Hip-Hop Tracks From the 2010s You Should Still Be Listening To

Noisey selects four of the most underrated hip-hop records from the 2010s, a vast, deeply creative decade for rappers.

Feb. 15, 2026 at 12:15am

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The 2010s were a fascinating time for hip-hop, with the increased use of the internet radically altering how fans engaged with the music. This article highlights four underrated hip-hop tracks from that decade that deserve more attention, including "Broken Again" by Pharoahe Monch, "Melo" by Lil Snupe, "Since" by Blu, and "Fetti" by Playboi Carti, Maxo Kream, and Da$h.

Why it matters

The 2010s saw the rise of new stars like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole, but the decade was also filled with many underrated and overlooked hip-hop gems. Highlighting these lesser-known tracks can help introduce fans to new artists and styles, expanding the appreciation for the depth and creativity of hip-hop during that time period.

The details

The article discusses how the 2010s bridged the old industry standards with how fans engaged with media, making the underground just as accessible as mainstream acts. It then highlights four specific underrated tracks: "Broken Again" by Pharoahe Monch, a reflection on the woes of heroin addiction; "Melo" by Lil Snupe, showcasing his raw, uncanny energy before his untimely death; "Since" by Blu, a grainily introspective track about the mundanities of life; and "Fetti" by Playboi Carti, Maxo Kream, and Da$h, a hazy, addictive collaboration.

  • The 2010s were a fascinating time for hip-hop.
  • Lil Snupe passed away at the age of 18.

The players

Pharoahe Monch

A veteran rapper who has endured as one of the best in the underground today, with records like "Simon Says" becoming a rap staple in the early 2000s.

Lil Snupe

A rapper signed under Meek Mill who had a raw, uncanny energy that recalled Lil Boosie and battle rapping on street corners, but whose life was cut short at 18 years old.

Blu

A rapper whose everyman rapping has never sounded cozier than on his 2011 album (technically a mixtape in 2009) "Her Favorite Colo(u)r", where he muses on romance, depression, and life's mundanities.

Playboi Carti

A rapper who, in 2015, was one of the "if you know, you know" artists bubbling in hip-hop's broader underground, known for crafting irresistible hooks.

Maxo Kream

A rapper whose droopy Houston flavor is featured on the track "Fetti" alongside Playboi Carti and Da$h.

Da$h

A rapper whose dreary, raspy voice is featured on the track "Fetti" alongside Playboi Carti and Maxo Kream.

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What they’re saying

“Constantly searching for the answers how I could kiss the sky without enhancing/But, it's so hard to learn.”

— Pharoahe Monch

“Kids look up to me, they say that I am they image/So tell me what the f*ck I look like gettin' a sentence, huh?!”

— Lil Snupe

“One time tried to lock me, couldn't knock me/Did a little bid but I got free/Now I'm on the block bustin' hot frees.”

— Blu

“I can't go in, I ain't ready, fetti on fetti on fetti.”

— Playboi Carti

The takeaway

The 2010s were a deeply creative decade for hip-hop, with the increased accessibility of the underground leading to a wealth of underrated and overlooked tracks. Highlighting these lesser-known gems can help expand the appreciation for the diversity and artistry within the genre during that time period.