Das Racist

Das Racist was a Brooklyn-based American alternative hip hop group comprised of MCs Heems and Kool A.D., as well as hype man Ashok Kondabolu. Das Racist has been hailed as an urgent new voice in rap but has also been dismissed as joke rap due to its use of humor, academic references, foreign allusions, and unconventional style. Das Racist released their first commercial album, Relax, in September 2011, and it was named in many year-end best-of lists, including Rolling Stone and Spin, as well as being named the fourth best rap album of the year by Spin. Das Racist was also featured on the cover of Spin's November 2011 issue, along with an article written by Dap's brother, comedian Hari Kondabolu.

Das Racist's first album, the Shut Up, Dude mixtape, was released in March 2010 as a free download. The mixtape received positive feedback, earning a 7.8 rating from Pitchfork. Das Racist was named one of fifty acts to watch at the 2010 SXSW festival by Spin, and MTV Iggy named Das Racist one of the "25 Best New Bands in the World" in April 2010. The song "Hahahaha jk?" from Sit Down, Man was named one of the fifty best singles of 2010 by Rolling Stone. The group made its American television debut on Conan on November 28, 2011.