What's Hardcore: Again, from the Dusty Foot Philosopher, this time it's much more lyrical- he talks about growing up in Somalia. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0IuUXHBkaw
On February 01 2009 06:37 CharlieMurphy wrote: You are missing the point of underground vs mainstream. Not all underground is good (as mentioned about IT or whoever). It's still better than 90% of the mainstream. Stuff is mainstream for a few reasons; 1 - to sell records and make money (not for the musical/lyrical content), 2 - to gain power,fame, etc., These people are not in it for the music. If they knew they wouldn't get paid they probably wouldn't do it.
What exactly does 'in it for the music' mean? Do you only listen to artists who don't make money from their music?
On February 01 2009 06:37 CharlieMurphy wrote: People are generally not underground because 'they can't make it' or whatever, they are there by choice.
This strikes me as odd, wouldn't these 'underground' artists want more people to hear their message? I have this idea (it's stupid, I know) that music is a means of expressing oneself. Why not just keep a diary if the work isn't supposed to become known?
On February 01 2009 06:37 CharlieMurphy wrote: The thing is people claim to be underground or whatever and they just don't know much about the genre (or hip-hop) at all. This is when I get the offense/defense up and let them know. So naturally when people come in posting Jedi Mind Trick videos and saying 'THIS IS THE BEST SONG', I have to disagree and explain why. Some of these underground guys may still be in it for just the fame/money but they don't really mention it in their lyrics (which is why it's still better than most mainstreamed), but it's still not that great.
Could you publish your checklist/grading sheet for determining the quality of music please? I'm tired of this whole 'having-my-own-opinions' bullshit so it would be great if you could help me to share the same exact tastes in music as you. I dunno what's wrong with my own tastes; I guess its inferior DNA or something. Oh shit! I just realized that you probably can't do that because once everyone thinks exactly like you then you won't feel so goddamn special anymore and then you'd have to like mainstream rap. My bad.
On February 01 2009 09:19 CharlieMurphy wrote: As far as being able to tell underground from mainstream, I could probably get 95% of it correct without having previous knowledge of artists.
/golfclap
On February 03 2009 09:48 CharlieMurphy wrote: Like I could list all my favorite MCs and I would bet 95% of them you guys have never even heard of. And would probably change your mind about underground sucking or whining or whatever. But I'm not going to because you're being closed minded, so why should I share?
On February 01 2009 09:57 Sadist wrote: Now I like some "underground" artists but seriously this whole idea that mainstream people suck is fucking retarded. Quite a few of them can rap even if you dont like them at all. I dont care for Eminem bitching about kim and his daughter and whining about shit....but in terms of rapping ability his multi's are pretty damn sick. Nas is mainstream...jay-z....big pun....Biggie..Tupac... seriously. Are you telling me TI cant rap? I mean fuck.
Anyway..just my little rant =-)
A lot of people are just like you, that have this distorted biased view of how all hip-hop/rap should sound. That's wrong imo, but its also fine. You can like whatever you want, you're missing out though.
Distorted biased view? Sadist even said that he didn't like Eminem right before he complimented his skill. Your views are the distorted ones. Regardless of ones personal preferences, any fan of hip-hop/rap should have respect for talent when they see it, regardless of what label/category nit-picking elitists put them under.
On February 03 2009 09:48 CharlieMurphy wrote: Like I could list all my favorite MCs and I would bet 95% of them you guys have never even heard of. And would probably change your mind about underground sucking or whining or whatever. But I'm not going to because you're being closed minded, so why should I share?
Why should you share? Well... the first thing that came to my mind was to share so that you don't look like you're completely full of shit. But then again, I've been lurking on TL long enough to know that you're perfectly comfortable with being full of shit; so please, by all means, continue.
With that aside, my personal favorite artist is Tech N9ne, particularly his older solo works and 57 street RDV.
I already explained most of this shit, and I also said I'm not gonna argue about this stuff anymore. The first two I will reply to as they are facts and not opinion.
"In it for the music" is not hard to understand. How much more do I need to explain this? Most of the mainstream/record label people have owners and higher up people (I dunno exactly what their titles are) breathing down their, neck calling them, telling them to make songs, and trying to basically 'force art' in order to sell more records and make more money. The people I listen to mostly make the shit on their own time which results in more quality over quantity. IE, Guys will release maybe 1 good album every few years instead of 2 every year or whatever with a bunch of crappy filler songs and/or skits.
A bonus to this imo is that it makes the music easier to relate to as well. They don't have this flood of money corrupting their lifestyle and changing their mentality. Just think of how much better the first or underground versions of eminem or Jay-z for example. Its always better before they make it big, because they want to make it so much more, they have that desire and drive to make great music. Then once they make it, they don't really care as much anymore they 'hustled' their money and are just doing the minimal instead of really striving to make good music to get heard. They are already heard, they can release whatever crap they want and people will eat it up. (just look at eminem's latest trash album).
I never said underground people were self righteous or trying to spread any kind of message. They make their music for themselves and whoever the fuck cares to listen. Their goal is not to sell as many records as possible or get as many listeners as possible, their goal is just to make music and if it sells that's just a plus. Most of them have day jobs and make most of their money at shows selling merch to people who actually come out to see and socialize with them.
In fact a few of the DJs/Producers on the underground scene that I listen to actually have their beats used in commercials and even as Intros on NPR which is debatably selling out, but no one even cares/knows for the most part who made the song for the commercial. Which is again, they don't care if you like their music.
In summation, underground artists are they because they don't care about money and just want to make their own music how they want to. Not because they think its superior.
On June 06 2009 09:42 CharlieMurphy wrote: I already explained most of this shit, and I also said I'm not gonna argue about this stuff anymore. The first two I will reply to as they are facts and not opinion.
"In it for the music" is not hard to understand. How much more do I need to explain this? Most of the mainstream/record label people have owners and higher up people (I dunno exactly what their titles are) breathing down their, neck calling them, telling them to make songs, and trying to basically 'force art' in order to sell more records and make more money. The people I listen to mostly make the shit on their own time which results in more quality over quantity. IE, Guys will release maybe 1 good album every few years instead of 2 every year or whatever with a bunch of crappy filler songs and/or skits.
A bonus to this imo is that it makes the music easier to relate to as well. They don't have this flood of money corrupting their lifestyle and changing their mentality. Just think of how much better the first or underground versions of eminem or Jay-z for example. Its always better before they make it big, because they want to make it so much more, they have that desire and drive to make great music. Then once they make it, they don't really care as much anymore they 'hustled' their money and are just doing the minimal instead of really striving to make good music to get heard. They are already heard, they can release whatever crap they want and people will eat it up. (just look at eminem's latest trash album).
I never said underground people were self righteous or trying to spread any kind of message. They make their music for themselves and whoever the fuck cares to listen. Their goal is not to sell as many records as possible or get as many listeners as possible, their goal is just to make music and if it sells that's just a plus. Most of them have day jobs and make most of their money at shows selling merch to people who actually come out to see and socialize with them.
In fact a few of the DJs/Producers on the underground scene that I listen to actually have their beats used in commercials and even as Intros on NPR which is debatably selling out, but no one even cares/knows for the most part who made the song for the commercial. Which is again, they don't care if you like their music.
In summation, underground artists are they because they don't care about money and just want to make their own music how they want to. Not because they think its superior.
That's a pretty big generalization. I've written a few raps of my own for myself because I enjoy it and I love rap. I don't expect any money for it and I have no intention of trying to make any money off of it either. Am I better than Jay Z and Eminem now?
On January 31 2009 08:58 Sadist wrote: Summertime IMO greatest hip hop song ever.
just want to mention the origins of this song because it (summer madness) is one of the chillest songs to sit back and relax to. I was suprised to find this (live album) version online, its the best but I couldnt find it earlier when I looked.
Im generally not a big rap fan, but Ive been getting into old school rap lately, here are my favorites so far
No bassline or music in a song sounds like a bad thing on paper, but I love it here, it seems like a pure form of rap or something, couple a groovy beat with amazing mc'ing and thats it thats all. oh yeah so this is also the song moby sampled a hook from and got famous off of
"We rock, and don't stop Well, it's the supercagifragilisticexpialidocious, with no strings attached, no bags of tricks, this is the way we get our kicks We're qualifyin, rectifyin, rock until the day we're dyin, everytime you're scream and cryin, well, we're here with no denyin We hold our honor and our pride, just take a step and kept in stride, set down rules you will abide, we're gonna take you for a ride Before we rock and have some fun, let's introduce us 1 by 1..."
...apparently this was the first song to use "fast rapping".
not as old, but I like ATCQ alot too
next one isnt old school but whatever, keith has been around since the old days. edit: haha someone just posted ultramagnetic while I was writing this, nice
"Now, we're as sick as anyone of the "vulgar" words being overused incessantly in our hip-hop saturated world. And lame-ass toilet humor is really tired, but man, don't put this into any category like that. There's mania here that goes way beyond shock/schlock or any other such lame crutch —at the risk of over-analyzing the sublime nature of the lyrics, consider for instance this chorus:
New York City We piss in it We live in it We die... We all take shits in it
You could be forgiven for writing this off at first glance as dumb poo poo humour and not the post-apocalyptic Haiku that is actually is. But as Keith delivers this unironic mantra repeatedly, he strikes some obscure vein in the cultural feng shui perfectly enough to trigger us into some kind of vortex state where it just gets more and more incredible, funnier and funnier, and more real and "in the moment" than anything previously imaginable. I mean, is that even funny? Read it again.
Keith has an unparalleled ability to deliver this kind of stuff. He takes us to a higher mental octave — and shit, piss, fuck etc. are there in that octave, so don't kid yourself."
and finally, my favorite moment in hip hop: coolio getting pissed about weird al doing amish paradise "I ain't with that. No. I didn't give it any sanction ... I think he's wrong for that, because his record company asked for my permission, and I said no. But they did it anyway. I couldn't stop him. But you know, more power to him. I hope they sell a lot of records. Just stay away from me."
I cant believe they gave coolios ass royalty checks for that :\ ! Weird Al shouldve asked stevie wonders permission in the first place, he's the one who wrote all the hooks!