Taking the Plunge: Hip-Hop

Right, going against everything I present about my ideas towards music on these forums, I've decided its time to add some hip-hop to my tastes *gasp*

After a rather in depth conversation with a mate of a mate last night, I decided its high time I decided to experiment with it; I mean how can I make a decision on it if I've never tried it eh?

Anyway: The problem - no idea where to start. The dude I was talking to suggested Public Enemy - I like politically fueled rock, so it seemed like an ideal choice; who I'm in the process of trying to find more of now.

Other than that I haven't got a clue really! I know there's a good few hip-hop fans about on the forums, so I look to you guys for a bit of help

Cheers,
SG

Edit - Found a track I actually like quite alot - Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos

Listen to Sage Francis and nothing else.

I don't have a problem with people liking rap, but it seems that whenever a rock fan starts "expanding" taste to include rap, said fan ultimately all but abandons rock.

Unlikely man - I can't see any other genre's ever eclipsing my love of rock. I just need a bit more variety I think though

Not forgetting I'm a guitar player - I'm not gonna just forget about this minor obsession any time soon , and the guitar only really works for rock, at least in the way I like it.

You're so lucky I'm here. In fact, youre all lucky I am here. You should feel lucky to be in my magnanimous presence for I shall bestow upon you 3 tracks of unparralelled wonder. Get these songs legally as I cannot be responsible for paying your bail.

Whatever Happened (The Birth)-AZ ft. RZA

Thieves In The Night-Blackstar

4:30 AM-Atmosphere

Ye, go forth now and get these songs, and you shall be kissing my feet in no time. Hurry now, I have a wart on my big toe I need you to wet down.

haha, I had a feeling you'd have some suggestions

I'll give 'em a try once I find them

If you want political rap then

Benefit-Call of Revolt

Sage Francis-Makeshift Patriot

Immortal Technique-Peruvian Cocaine

Louis Logic-The Ugly Truth

Originally Posted by RZZZA

Immortal Technique-Peruvian Cocaine

I hear that Immortal Technique is amazing. My friend can't stop talking about him. He tells me about some of his songs.....let's just say that some of them are pretty ****ed up.

your bound to come back though because rap is the same to me. The f word every 20 words. Kill cops, drugs, and the cocking of a weapon.

d4L- im da man

jay z- can i get a f*&k you.

Originally Posted by Lavastein

your bound to come back though because rap is the same to me. The f word every 20 words. Kill cops, drugs, and the cocking of a weapon.

d4L- im da man

jay z- can i get a f*&k you.

Thats your fault then, your fault for listening to rap that all sounds the same. I specialize in eclectic variety of rap, I also dont like listening to artists who sound the same. The person up above who said Immortal Technique is kind of a pain to listen to is correct. Dance with the Devil sure is a great track but listening to a IT album all the way through is like taking a jackhammer to your temple. As for benefit, no im not aware of any album other than B.E.N.E.F.I.T., but I call that a classic rap album anyway and when you got a classic on your first try theres only one way you can go....down. (ask Nas).

If youre listening to rap and swear words offend you, my advice to you would be to stop listening to rap and go back to amish country. Its your own fault again, really, there are plenty of mcs who dont make bad words and offensive images their theme. I can name dozens....literally dozens of mcs who dont make that stuff their focus. I'm a backpacker, thats my job. atmosphere, binary star (these are groups and duos but nonetheless...), common, mf doom, outKast, etc etc etc. I obviously dont have the patience to sit here and think of all the dozens but trust me, there are plenty.

Jay Z is awesome though, he is the king of flow. Generally speaking rap deals with "real" things and offensive imagery and swear words are very real. Its the same reason George Carlin chooses to be offensive and use swear words on stage. If you cant handle that, then you must also not be a fan of stand up comedians, R rated movies, mature rated video games....gimme a break. adult entertainment is fun, everyone knows that. Adult content is great. If you dont agree with that then go back to Utah, Isaac.

Jay Z may not have the deepest and most relevant rap lyrics but his flow is largely recognized as one of the best....EVER....in rap. Check out tracks like Dead Presidents 1 & 2, D'evils, Renegade or Feelin' It for a sample. Of course if you want something more intellectual Jay-Z probably isnt the best way to go...he's morphed into a club rapper, he likes to talk about money, champagne, cars and women.

For deeper more abstract stuff I can pull out MF Doom, Jedi Mind Tricks, Pharoahe Monch or Aesop Rock.

Check out MF Doom-Rhinestone Cowboy or Binary Star-Wolfman Jack for something very un-Jay-Z like. Nice list up there guys but I think I can add a bit more onto it.

Wu-Tang Clan-Triumph(modern classic alert)
Common-I Used to Love H.E.R. (hidden meaning alert)
Nas-The Message (or Black Girl Lost, or Nas Is Like, or It Ain't Hard to Tell, or Memory Lane....cant go wrong with Nas)
Ganstarr-Code of the Streets (old school alert)
Geto Boys-Still (violent and aggresive but in a good way)
Onyx-Slam (same as above)

Originally Posted by Bulgaroctonus

I hear that Immortal Technique is amazing. My friend can't stop talking about him. He tells me about some of his songs.....let's just say that some of them are pretty ****ed up.

Yea he's a great contextual rapper. He's got a terrible voice though so you can't "just chill and listen to him", but gotta actually listen to him, which is quite tiring and that's why he'll never get into the mainstream. If you want to hear one of the best storytelling tracks ever, listen to dance with the devil.

Best Hip-Hop albums of 2006:

Nas: Hip-Hop Is Dead (another classic by Nas)
Lupe Fiasco: Food & Liquor (Very lyrical/emotianol nerd-rap album)
The Game: Doctor's Advocate (Straight Wests-Side album with great production, flow and mic precense)
Snoop Dogg: Tha Blue Carpet Treatment (Best Snoop Dogg album since doggy style in 1993)

I used to be a fan of hip hop for like a month, last year. I started liking it because I got bored of rock music. But then after a month of what is essentially the same music I got bored of that, and my love of rock started again.

But if you want a good hip hop track, start with El Mundo - shackaron (or however you spell it).

Yeah, that's the song I'm talking about.

souls of mischief - 93 till infinity
common - i used to love H.E.R
dr dre and snoop dog - lil ghetto boy
wu tang clan - triumph
wu tang clan - cream
rakim and erik b - microphone fiend (greatest rap song ever!)
rakim and erk b -dont sweat the technique
public enemy - welcome to the terrordome
public enemy - black steel in the hour of chaos (amazing lyrics)
public enemy - he got game (amazing beat)
pharcyde - passing me by
pete rock and cl smooth -they reminisce over you
mobb deep - shook ones pt 2
mobb deep - survival of the fittest
nas - halftime
method man -judgment day
ll cool j - mama said knock you out
geto boys - gotta let your nuts hang
geto boys - g-code
comptons most wanted - hood took me under
a tribe called quest - award tour
a tribe called quest - jazz we've got
2-pac - holla if ya hear me


download all of those and you have a great varied selection!

people under the stairs- Acid Raindrops
people under the stairs- the hang loose
people under the stairs- blowin' wax
people under the stairs- youth Explosion
A tribe Called Quest- really the entire Low end theory album, which is one of the most consistent albums ive ever heard
A tribe Called Quest- electric relaxation
the pharcyde- Bizarre Ride II album, which is also a very consistent album
Wu-tang clan- Protect your neck
Wu-tang clan- da mystery of chessboxin'
Wu-tang clan- C.R.E.A.M
the Roots- good music
The Roots- popcorn
The Roots- Grits
Notorious B.I.G- Everyday struggle
Notorious B.I.G- Me and my ***** ( a surprisingly sentimental song considering the title)
Notorious B.I.G-Unbelievable
Notorious B.I.G-Machine Gun funk
Souls of mischief- 93 till infinity
Grand Master Flash- the message
Erik B an Rakim- Follow the leader
Ugly Duckling- Friday night
Ugly Duckling- Einsteins takin' off
*im not sure if youll be able to find Ugly duckling in a store*
Common (common sense)- Soul By the Pound
Common (common sense)- Blows to the temple
Common- Communism
Common- Thisisme
Hieroglyphics- at the helm
Hieroglyphics- classic
pete rock and cl smooth -they reminisce over you ( sometimes abbreviated T.R.O.Y)
Digable Planets- Rebirth of slick
Digable planets- Nickel bag of funk ( my favorite title of all time)
Bone Thugs n Harmony- crossroads
Bone Thugs n Harmony and biggy- Notorious thug
Blackalicious- make you feel that way
black moon - who got the props
Dr.Dre and snoop- Nuthin' but a G thang
Dr Dre and snoop- Lil ghetto boy
Public enemy- bring the noise
Public enemy- Rebel without a pause
public enemy - welcome to the terrordome
public enemy - black steel in the hour of chaos

I would put down He got game ( by public enemy), but to anyone that knows rock well that beat comes from the song "What Its Worth" (Buffalo Springfield?), and they kind of destroy the song by writing terrible lyrics to it, just butcher it.

That an enormous list of good rap songs. if you don't like anything on that list than I can guarantee that you wont like anything else in rap eaither. I don't think that will happen though, as Ice T said there really is no rock, rap or RnB; music is music.


@ RZZZA- has benifit released a new album? I remember getting the first album he released and kind of liking it, but deleted it because of the horrible production ( what can you do when you make an album with 8$ of equipment?)



edit: don't know how I forgot to add him to the list:

Andre nickatina ( sometimes called dre,dog)- Jungle
Andre nickatina ( sometimes called dre,dog)- fa la la la (simetimes called my world)
Andre nickatina ( sometimes called dre,dog)- most wanted man in frisco

Immortal Technique is really awesome rap. I was going to say Peruvian Cocaine but someone did it already, I love the way that song goes from poor farmer, to drug lord, to corrupt politician, to American businessman, to street pusher, to cop and so on. Love it.

Some good rap beats and pretty deep philosophical songs are by Ras Kass, like Nature of the Threat (which comes off pretty racist in its way) and Interview with a Devil I think it's called, a conversation between him, God, and the Devil.

Andre Nickatina. Hells yeah.

You could go for more mainstream artists like Snoop, Dre, 50, and go back to Tupac, Biggie and Eazy E, these three of which are extremely good. I'm pretty much in the same wagon as RZZZA, but I love classic rock and blues just so much more a lot of the time.

another good beat is.

GZA,ghost face killa,RZA - 4th chamber

great song and intense beat to it!

Bodycount

Biohazard

Those to should ease the transgression nicely.

Then go old skool with NWA and expand their solo stuff.

Then theres Cypress Hill, Public Enemy, Wu Tang Clan, Ice T,

cussing isnt the problem. Its the ammount of it in just one track of rap. Il take my 80's freestyle, techno and rock anyday over it. But i do like a few tracks in rap, but only a few.

Originally Posted by monkian

Then theres Cypress Hill, Public Enemy, Wu Tang Clan, Ice T,

Why do hell do y'all listen to Wu Tang, I mean 70% of the time only Wu-Tang heads understand what the hell they're talking about.