I don't get why people have this hatred of arrogance in their art. Art is naturally narcissistic in it's self since the artist is essentially projecting their personal identity and thoughts into an abstraction assuming that people want or need to experience it. Maybe not as openly bumptious as a Kanye, but still fairly egotistical.

I just find people bragging about what an ******* they are pretty tedious so I guess that's the sort of ego I'm trying to avoid.

4'33" and other aleoteric Cage works are an exception.

Not wanting egotistical rap will indeed close you out of a lot of great stuff (like El-P, who turns the concept on its head in a way), but it's pretty clearly a response to early 2000s gangsta rap that was braggadocious and not much else.

Good Kid maad city with Kendrick perfectly describes what you are looking for

In terms of Any recs that have

- complex syncopated rapping
- somewhat melodic vocal style
- funk tendencies
- zero gangsta and ego

?

Hows this?

This is definitely what I am feeling, totally alpha with a sense of consciousness to it exactly what I find ideal @dwnwthvwls

The new Jean Grae & Quelle Chris album Everything's Fine is dope as ****.