The Nerve

The Nerve

It already feels like an eternity since the initial emo-rap boom of the mid-2010s, but the sound continues to resonate. Some artists evolved towards the mainstream; others—like the ones featured here—pushed back towards the underground, seeking out beautiful, downcast hybrids of hip-hop, pop punk, emo and grunge a little too raw for broader audiences. The music here can be bleak, but in the bleakness, there’s a sense of redemption. Like the author Oscar Wilde once wrote: We’re all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Consider this a guide to the night sky. We regularly update this playlist with new music. If you hear something you like, add it to your library.

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