Best hip hop songs - Page 13

On May 31 2009 03:12 iheartgna wrote:
I was gonna make a blog post on him eventually. K'naan is the man.

Soobax: His most famous song/ First single from the Dusty Foot Philosopher
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t5l31IVkC4

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

Fatima: My favorite song off of the new album Troubadour. Great story telling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6e7Tg6rSgI&feature=related

Take a Minute: Great song, very chill - truly inspirational.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIhm94a-8SE

Wavin' Flag: ... it's like Bob Marley Reincarnate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC8V8S_REhk

Edit: Forgot the 2nd Best song on the new album:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lCPXEARpE8

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 12:00 CharlieMurphy wrote:


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.

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 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.

On January 31 2009 08:58 Sadist wrote:
Summertime IMO greatest hip hop song ever.