Here’s a space for the poets, the thinkers—for the mellow, melodic side of modern hip-hop. Conscious? Not necessarily. But not in step with the mainstream, either. These are the artists gently nudging hip-hop forward while retaining a sense of poise and imagination that calls back to the days of neo-soul. And while the beats are novel, the focus here is on the lyrical agility that has been at the cornerstone of great hip-hop since the beginning. Our editors update picks here regularly, so if you hear something you like, add it to your library.