As the internet and technology have grown in influence and ubiquity, so have opportunities and avenues for young artists to share their music with the world. With Soundcloud keeping the lights on, at least for now, Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube have made it possible to simply upload your latest hopeful hit for mass consumption, and sites like Bandcamp even allow artists to monetize their projects directly from a single online service it’s easier than ever to get into the music game.

However, being successful or profitable still takes a lot of hard work and infrastructure, and usually, more of both than most rookies have time or money to dedicate just starting out. This is where a record label comes in. Generally speaking, the label provides the bankroll and logistical support to record, produce, publish, package, and distribute your music so the artist can focus on simply writing, recording, or composing beats.

Unfortunately, much of that support comes with strings attached. We’ve all heard horror stories of unconscionable album delays. For instance, up-and-coming Oakland rap star Kamaiyah’s Don’t Ever Get It Twisted mixtape has been delayed for unknown reasons, leaving her to leak her own “Successful” video in frustration (the video has since been removed from Youtube). Many artists often lose creative control of their product, as I discussed with indie, LA-based, Chicago rapper Open Mike Eagle.

With so many hands in the pot and so much investment in recouping up-front expenses, many major labels exercise undue leverage over rappers who just want nothing more than to rap. The label often gets a say in what singles are released, the recording schedule, final production notes, and even the overall look of an artist, right down to their wardrobe. Many a rapper has expressed exasperation with the structure and some have even quit over it.

That’s where independent labels come in. An indie label is a record label that operates without the funding from outside major record labels. The definition can be hazy at times, but in general, an indie is a smaller label that is not owned by one of the “Big Three” major companies: Sony, Warner, and the Universal Music Group. Indies usually still handle the administrative tasks so that the artist doesn’t have to, but without their own distribution channels (with some notable exceptions).

Artists on independent labels usually exercise greater creative freedoms than their major label counterparts; whereas Chance The Rapper can release a gospel-influenced single such as “How Great” on his first commercial retail album, J. Cole remained stuck in Roc Nation limbo for almost a year while prepping the release of Sideline Story, which was only greenlit after the success of “Work Out,” a single he later apologized for, saying he “Let Nas Down” by selling out to corporate demands for a hit.

An independent label can be a huge boon for both rappers who are just starting out in the game, and grizzled industry veteran MCs tired of playing politics at majors. Artists can sign shorter deals, single album deals, and partnerships with indies, and many indies have distribution deals with major labels, which can afford them greater access to resources while still maintaining creative control. An additional fun fact: Uproxx itself has roots in a pivotal independent rap label from the ’90s.

All that to say, here are ten of the most well-known, important, and influential independent labels in rap today.