Lo-Fi hip-hop has emerged as a hugely popular genre and internet subculture. Its millions of loyal fans rely on curated lo-fi playlists and live-streams to write to, study to and even fall asleep to. Heck, we even wrote a good chunk of our book to Spotify’s lo-fi beats playlists. There’s just something about those ambient, spacey, plodding beats that place us in a state of determined zen. But what of its musical roots? Who are its stars? And why, despite its mass following on YouTube, Spotify and elsewhere, is it nearly impossible to spot on the Billboard? We trace lo-fi from its godfathers to its moments in the sun, to the complex creative ecosystem playing out on streaming platforms today.

MOREYou can find music from this episode on this week’s Spotify playlistSign up for Cherie Hu’s newsletter Water & Music that sent us down the lo-fi hip hop rabbit holeCheck out Seneca B on Spotify:Check out weird inside on SpotifyCheck out eevee on Spotify

SONGS DISCUSSEDBrenky - ByeBrenky - PeopleJ Dilla ft. Common, D’Angelo - So Far To GoIsley Brothers - Don’t Say Goodnight (It’s Time For Love), Pts. 1&2Charlatan - Wasted JazzLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices