Artist Chiddy Bang

In a world where Jay-Z rocks out to Grizzly Bear and Kanye West taps Bon Iver for a verse, the lines between rap and “rock” (whatever that is) are obviously non-existent. Philadelphia hip-hop duo Chiddy Bang embodies that all-in cultural zeitgeist by bridging the gap with live guitars over basement-party beats, but even more so by nicking samples from such untapped sources as Sufjan Stevens, Tom Waits, and The Crystals—the last turning up on a leaked outtake from the long-gestating debut LP, The Swelly Life. Another Swelly cast-off features a hook from Train’s Patrick Monahan—but if the guy who sang “Hey, Soul Sister” can’t help get the record out, who can? A new full-length, Breakfast, was released in February.

Updated 04/12/2012