The New Russia

In the past few years, Russia's hip-hop scene has transformed from artists emulating their American counterparts to niche audiences into a hotbed of urgent and distinctive voices. This rise is largely because rap openly speaks about resistance—a breath of fresh air from behind the cultural iron curtain. And the scene is as diverse as Russia itself, with the Caucasus-inspired styles of Miyagi and Endshpil, the unique flow of Loquimean, or Feduk's intoxicating Eurodance beats that evoke nostalgia from the crazy '90s raves in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Lizer bridges the gap between emo rock and rap, satisfying the younger generation's increasing hunger for profound voices, smashing beats and catchy bars. Our editors regularly update this playlist—if you hear something you like, add it to your library.