Topic: suggest me some rap (Read 2485 times)

  • Avatar of noise
  • Group: Member
  • Joined: Apr 10, 2011
  • Posts: 33
hey saltowlrd. im hoping you all can suggest me some great rappers with lots of smart lyrical content.


my favorite musical genre is normally broadway stuff and i've got lots of progrock on my mp3 player too. lately i have been finding myself enjoying rap when i hear it (at work we play the rap station and i'm always impressed when i hear some slick original rhymes that catch me off guard). and i am very interesting in diving into a genre of music that i haven't had a particularly close relationship with.




what are the CORE RAPPERS that you think i should be familiar with, the icons of the industry or w/e. i mean like in terms of quality not necessary WHATS HOT, but like who is the best. and after that, who else? i know that rap is really diverse and i'm sure that there's lots of stuff out there that i don't even know about but i like.


smart lyrics really turn me especially if a song can tell a good story so if you could point me in the direction of your own favorites i would love to give them a listen! :)
  • Avatar of crone_lover720
  • PEW PEW PEW
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Premium Member
  • Joined: Mar 25, 2002
  • Posts: 5554
what are the CORE RAPPERS that you think i should be familiar with, the icons of the industry or w/e
wu tang
  • Avatar of Guana
  • PipPipPip
  • Group: Member
  • Joined: Sep 28, 2002
  • Posts: 389
I made a long reply, but it disappeared. Welp, here are some of my favourite albums/raps anyways, all of them are classics I think.


Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus
This is the only album Company Flow released (there is another but it doesn't have raps) and it is the best. Awesome, simple beats and insane raps.


Nas - Illmatic
Well, everyone likes this, it's the only thing worth listening to from Nas??


Big L - Lifestylez
A girl asked my for a ring, I put one around her whole eye. Niiiiiiice. I like this album.


Mobb Deep - Infamous
It's great. also it's the only thing worth listening to from Mobb Deep?


GZA - Liquid Swords
Wu-Tang - Chambers
(It's Wu-Tang)
  • Avatar of losc
  • Also known as Pinecone
  • Pip
  • Group: Member
  • Joined: Aug 9, 2005
  • Posts: 177
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i939H2nnzKw
  • Avatar of Biggles
  • I know your secrets
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Premium Member
  • Joined: May 5, 2005
  • Posts: 688
well i am a nerd so all i care about is lyrics, weirdass production and technical skill. here are some of my favourite acts in no particular order. once a wise man said never to do this list thing  but guess what i'm doin it.

busdriver http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a0Y-CRx4nE
sole http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grj_HR715SQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCLhZQt9cEQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcC1C2YsOU8
themselves http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUQ-QAbG21M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qUELSKJq9Q
big k.r.i.t. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DembK6LdV_Q
ceschi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdfA5Ws7bks
wu tang http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=000HFOQAToc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjZRAvsZf1g
binary star http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ-PRvqpQ-E
mf doom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewc1hixzYPY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxcqTiLVYa0
blueprint http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnKdnDS9KtM
buck 65 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wyyVh3uc5Y http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b47rjyyyvEU
das racist http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzWxf7tf3Qo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-6fYidsXXY
cannibal ox http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pADgllloQg4
myka 9 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhWnzMbooak
open mike eagle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSf7RvaSS4A
sage francis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4vVH3hBfs4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIMVrEsYygU
time machine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il4WC08SRBo
homeboy sandman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64JV6i-OicU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7PC8pe05bQ
mr lif http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbLEZxWI4-I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioY_0oaZV_A
aesop rock http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd_W_x3nclY
mac lethal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC6tLhXi_rQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X65IRWU06Ak
b dolan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byg5cOGrZ-E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EodiBQ845_s
saafir http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ1o0AkKrdQ

that should be enough to start with. have fun.
  • Avatar of DS
  • DragonSlayer o_O
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Member
  • Joined: Jul 7, 2002
  • Posts: 2668
cunninlynguists
sage francis
deltron 3030
busdriver
k'naan
dälek
sadistik
aesop rock
nujabes
blue scholars

some good stuff

i actually got loads of new hip-hop yesterday so if any of that's good i can say, though it's all pretty random underground stuff and by no means essential/core/whatever you might be looking for.

i also really like jackson jackson and archive when they do hip-hop.
To Never Be Known Is The Worst Death
  • I fear and I tremble
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Premium Member
  • Joined: Aug 21, 2005
  • Posts: 6162
I'm into B.O.B. right now some recent album he made with alot of collab work I can't remember what its called but you'll know it when you see it its got the song "airplanes" I think thats the single.

check out the roots if you haven't pretty good smartrap

I think lil waynes carter 3 is pretty core rap as well as wu tang.
DEUCE: MEETING THE URINE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL AND REALIZING IT'S JUST LIKE ME AND MY PREJUDICES  THIS WHOLE TIME WERE COMPLETELY FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF PTTTTHTHTHH GOD IT'S EVERYWHERE<br />DEUCE: FUCK THIS TASTES LIKE PISS<br />PANTS: WHERE IT SHOULD TASTE LIKE COTTON CANDY OR PICKLES<br />DEUCE: OR AT LEAST LIKE URINE NOT PISS
  • Avatar of Guana
  • PipPipPip
  • Group: Member
  • Joined: Sep 28, 2002
  • Posts: 389
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqxoIGuvWPk
  • Avatar of Barack Obama
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Premium Member
  • Joined: Jun 16, 2008
  • Posts: 5244
Definitely get familiar with N.W.A.'s straight out of Compton which basically gave birth to west coast gangsta rap. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Easy E, Ice Cube, etc.
Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. were both incredible. Nas' Illmatic is one of the best rap records.
The Wu Tang Clan and a bunch of their solo work: method man, redman, raekwon, ol' dirty bastard, etc.
Onyx's Bacdafucup is a classic record
Busta Rhymes earlier stuff is awesome
Mos Def is mos def, his first solo album is really good.
if you're just now coming around to rap, then you should probably steer clear of the dirrrrty souf for now and only proceed when you're ready.

I'm missing a lot I know it, but these are pretty much your staples in starting your rap adventure
  • Avatar of Barack Obama
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Premium Member
  • Joined: Jun 16, 2008
  • Posts: 5244
try not to be one of those people who's only listening to white people rap because i mean....

Quote
sole http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grj_HR715SQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCLhZQt9cEQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcC1C2YsOU8

ugh.
  • Avatar of crone_lover720
  • PEW PEW PEW
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Premium Member
  • Joined: Mar 25, 2002
  • Posts: 5554
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld9o8s9BOSc
  • Avatar of Barack Obama
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Premium Member
  • Joined: Jun 16, 2008
  • Posts: 5244
alot of you guys are wiggity wack as fuck, he's asking for CORE RAPPERS/industry icons so you respond with Def Jux acts and shit.
  • Avatar of crone_lover720
  • PEW PEW PEW
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Premium Member
  • Joined: Mar 25, 2002
  • Posts: 5554
he also asked for "smart lyrical" stuff, and people tend to mean shit like aesop rock and sage francis and whoever else when they say that
  • Avatar of noise
  • Group: Member
  • Joined: Apr 10, 2011
  • Posts: 33
yeah i want both. i mean imo it's important to be familiar with the iconic rap artists if i want to get into the genre but then on the next level i am also interested in the less pop stuff that has a stronger focus on the lyrics etc.


Quote
well i am a nerd so all i care about is lyrics, weirdass production and technical skill.

yes this sounds about right.

so far there has been a huge list here and thanks everyone!! :) it'll take a while to sort through these but keep them coming. im ...getting..blacker...by the m o m e  n  t
  • Avatar of the_bub_from_the_pit
  • Power to the flowers
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Member
  • Joined: Dec 17, 2005
  • Posts: 1608
some not mentioned: krs-one, rakim, lil b, eric b, lord finesse, big boi, andre 3000, pharcyde, el-p, j cole, slick rick, pete rock & cl smooth, royce da 5'9", fugees
  • Avatar of the_bub_from_the_pit
  • Power to the flowers
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Member
  • Joined: Dec 17, 2005
  • Posts: 1608
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKFrjQSEYJ4
  • Avatar of the_bub_from_the_pit
  • Power to the flowers
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Member
  • Joined: Dec 17, 2005
  • Posts: 1608
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fWBxg5xDDA

also this is the best song off of steel's rap playlist, i can upload it if anyone is interested
  • Avatar of noise
  • Group: Member
  • Joined: Apr 10, 2011
  • Posts: 33

so i've just downloaded these: nas-illmatic, company flow-funcrusher plus, and i found a torent of "wu-tang discography (1993-2005)" with 36 chambers (1993), wu-tag forever (1997), wu chronicles (1999), the w (2000), iron flag (2001, wu chronicles 2 (2001), collectice (2003), the legend of the wtclan (2004) and think differently (2005).


these are on my mp3 player now and also i've been reading the wikipedia pages for nearly all the artists mentioned. (as is the natrual instinct for man in 2011 to immediately wiki EVERYTHING). imo i am well on my way to becoming wellversed in rap thanks and i look forward to the journey ahead of us



  • Avatar of Biggles
  • I know your secrets
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Premium Member
  • Joined: May 5, 2005
  • Posts: 688
alot of you guys are wiggity wack as fuck, he's asking for CORE RAPPERS/industry icons so you respond with Def Jux acts and shit.
core rappers is subjective. sole rules. 'white people rap' is a lot of rap. in your pickup truck. at the club. who do you think buys all the rap??? it's you!!! the white consumer creates the image of blackness.

n.w.a. is great and anyone you ask about rap can tell you about n.w.a. but i wanted to mention the acts that are big in my mind because they're how i started listening to rap and how i still listen to it. i was born after the release of straight outta compton. on the other side of the world. i started listening to rap in my late teens. i started with sage francis. what i've listened to reflects that. keep that GOSH DARN PALE ASS BACKPACKERS FFF (IM WHITE TOO) shit to the blog comments.
  • Avatar of Biggles
  • I know your secrets
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Premium Member
  • Joined: May 5, 2005
  • Posts: 688
for those that don't know, what happens in this thread now is it's proven that whether or not i have a point, my opinions are thorroughly uncool because i was successfully baited. let's watch, shall we?