Noticed there wasn't a thread dedicated to hip hop / rap (although I could have sworn I saw one several years ago floating around), so I decided to make one.
Basically, use this thread to showcase some of your favorite songs that fall under the hip hop / rap category. I would also like to start a discussion about the genre as an art form.
My opinion (and the discussion's launchpad): whatever revolution hip hop would have sparked was killed by crack and rap. How can intelligent MCs be ignored and pointless drivel be elevated in our society? It's like popular rap skips the whole "let's discover what's wrong with our communities" and goes straight to "hey we made it!" Has anyone else noticed that when rappers make it big, like really big, their big hit always follows the same pattern? Let me break it down: "I'm the shit. I have money. I have bitches." That's it. There's nothing deep or insightful in that. Catchy, maybe, but nothing of real value. The reason why I use the word "revolution" is this: hip hop was a product of very specific environmental conditions; modern rap is a product of consumerism. One was being used as an agent of change in the community, and the other is being used to benefit select few individuals.
I'll take this chance to plug my blog about Minneapolis rap which is pretty damn unique. A lot of influence of funk and prince as well as the punk scene that came out of Minneapolis in the 80s.
Jedi Mind Tricks I like their style and some other underground hip-hop which doesn't get much exposure but are much more lyrically talented. Theres many more mcs I don't wanna name right now but I have specific taste as well. Ive always been a Nas fan and also like Common and Mos Def is definetly dope as well.
I'm not a huge expert on the matter, but I do really enjoy Mos Def/Yasin Bey. I feel like a lot of what is popular is not AS bad as some people like to say. On the other hand, what plays on the radio was part of the reason why it took me so long to learn to enjoy this type of music. I like Hip Hop artists that incorporate jazz into the mix.
On April 15 2013 13:23 heliusx wrote: Have you guys ever heard MF doom? Fantastic. Esp the album with MF grimm.
The Grey Album is fantastic
I think the grey is from danger mouse. a solo album separate from the dangerdoom collaborations. although it is still very good. I just really like dooms albums after his brother died (after kmd) real emotional and thought provoking. It can get confusing because some the people affiliated with doom have dozens of albums under different aliases(including himself).
Pretty much all the rap/hip hop I listen to, will post more if people are interested but I don't listen to many artists. Also, +1 to Aesop, dude is seriously dope.
Remembered some more QuESt - One Way (produced by Mt. Eden) + Show Spoiler +
RJD2 - Ghostwriter (more alternative then the other stuff I have posted) + Show Spoiler +
My favourite album of all time would probably have to be Liquid Swords by GZA. damn I've lost count of how many times my mind has been blown by that album.
It really pains me to see artists like little wayne and co. making it big from shitting out mindless and unintelligent lyrics.
Freddie Gibbs and Big K.R.I.T. are by far my favorite rappers right now. I'd say NYC, Chicago and LA are at the forefront of rap right now with plenty of really amazing artists coming out. Also I strongly urge anyone here to definitely check out Julian Malone. He's pretty damn dope.
First of all, I'm glad that someone made this thread, I was thinking about making one myself.
Has anyone else noticed that when rappers make it big, like really big, their big hit always follows the same pattern? Let me break it down: "I'm the shit. I have money. I have bitches." That's it. There's nothing deep or insightful in that
I guess this could be true for the big singles, but I feel like this is just... well wrong. While its true that someone like Jay Z or Kanye West aren't humble at all, its not like they aren't intelligent artists who are putting time and thought into their work. To say that an album like My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is just "I'm the shit. I have money. I have bitches." is just wrong.
And even then, even if a rapper isn't talking about to uplift his community, that doesn't mean they are terrible outright. The people who enjoy are just enjoying them for a different reason that you are enjoying your (rather fantastic) Mos Def.
My favorite rapper is Tech N9ne, that guy is breathing music. I'll link some stuff later, but you can just listen to random tracks on youtube, everything he made is good.
Immortal Technique is great at story telling (Dance With the Devil, You Never Know).
I've been listening to a lot of Lil Wayne's mixtapes recently, say what you want about him being an asshole or not having any talent, that man can truly make you laugh and dominates every beat he's on. "No Ceilings" is my favorite of them, but "Tha Drought 1/2" are also fucking fantastic. Tha Carter III is also a stellar album and it's, imo, a must-listen for any hiphop fan.
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