Buck 65

An emcee/singer/musician out of Canada, Buck 65 is the kind of artist who gets a lot of praise from critics and listeners who aren't really fans of traditional hip-hop. Strapped with a weathered, raspy voice that has generated countless Tom Waits comparisons, he's more of a rumpled troubadour than stereotypical rapper, delivering introspective and autobiographical stories not unlike the heady emcees of Anticon and Atmosphere. With a dedicated fanbase primarily made up of indie-rock kids, bewitched females, Europeans and Canadians, he has released a staggering amount of material since 1992, with plenty of concept albums, collaborations and limited edition EPs in the mix. In 2003 he released the Everlast-esque Talkin' Honky Blues, followed by This Right Here Is Buck 65, a compilation album that includes much of his older material