So, any good ones? I'm really running out of stuff to sisten to. To give you an idea of my tastes, I LOVED Illmatic, Blackstar, and Black on Both Sides. I also enjoyed some select Kanye, like All Falls Down, or Gold Digger, and I even like some G-funk sometimes (Regulate was pretty good.) Thanks in advance if you guys can suggest anything, if you can't, I hope you listen to what I listed!
P.S. Please don't list any Mac Miller of Lil Wayne. I hate them with a passion.
Jedi Mind Tricks is one of my favorite groups. Del tha Phunky Homosapien, Army of the Pharoahs, Louis Logic, KRS-One, Phi-Life Cypher. As far as rap/hip-hop goes I'm not a huge fan because most of it is like Lil Wayne and has no message or anything worth saying. I like the intelligent artists in the genre. Just my opinions/thoughts.
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For Lists, Click Here EDH: GW: Selvala, Let us help YOU. UB: Mirko Vosk, when outmatched cheat BW: Vish Kal, The Arbiter of Reanimation UG: Prime Speaker Zegana, the science of sorcery RB: Malfegor, Traitor's Haven UW: Daxos, Control-Fort-Tron BG: Pharika, Goddess of Stax RW: Gisela, Boros Control RG: Ruric Thar, a Primal Surge deck RU: Niv-Mizzet the Firemind, Spellslinger?!?! B:(Pauper) Mikaeus the Unhallowed R: Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient: The Power of Engineering
Yea I love Del, but that's about all so far. Based on what you like you should at least try him. I think the main problem I have with most rappers is I don't like most flows, so anyone knows people with ones similar to Del's tell me.
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"Virtue, Jacques, is an excellent thing. Both good people and wicked people speak highly of it..."
Sure thing. Here is a list of some of the best underground artists around and a top track from each. Everyone is definitely worth listening to and exploring.
So, any good ones? I'm really running out of stuff to sisten to. To give you an idea of my tastes, I LOVED Illmatic, Blackstar, and Black on Both Sides. I also enjoyed some select Kanye, like All Falls Down, or Gold Digger, and I even like some G-funk sometimes (Regulate was pretty good.) Thanks in advance if you guys can suggest anything, if you can't, I hope you listen to what I listed!
P.S. Please don't list any Mac Miller of Lil Wayne. I hate them with a passion.
DAAAAAAMN, you're on some old school ****, huh? Anyway, most of Kanye's singles, excepting Jesus Walks, are his weaker work. He makes catchy as **** pop **** so that he has money, and then makes really good, well crafted Alt. Hip Hop albums. Everything on My Dark Twisted Beautiful Fantasy is fantastic. I'd name some ****, buuuut....
Sure thing. Here is a list of some of the best underground artists around and a top track from each. Everyone is definitely worth listening to and exploring.
That should keep you busy for a while. Happy listening!
It's like you went to the Alt. Hip Hop thread and stole ALL THE LINKS. Anyway, to fill in the blanks:
Doomtree, as a group, have some good albums. They include POS, Sims, Cecil Otter, and a couple other artists of note, including Dessa.
Das Racist: works closely with El-P and others.
K. Flay: Google her, she's got a couple free mixtapes and a free EP, all of it top-notch.
Sole: Conscious rap that, as someone I forget puts it, "sounds like the end of the world." Dark, politically charged hip-hop with intense beats and a strong message? Yes please!
Lupe Fiasco: with the exception of L.A.S.E.R.S., a Grade A artist. Fairly mainstream, though I think you'll like him. His albums take ques ranging from Soul to Chicago house. But most importantly; he's conscious as ****. His albums are mostly about resisting ghetto culture, and maintaining strong personal values in the face of sin. Listen to Kick, Push and you'll know what I mean.
Wugazi: a "mash-up," of Wu-Tang Clan and Fugazi, done by Cecil Otter and some other dude. It's ****ing excellent. Check out the song "Sleep Rules Everything Around Me."
Kendrick Lamar: Classic west coast soul, with more advanced beats and conscious raps. Kendrick maintains a striking balance between his street upbringing, and his observation and deconstruction of the world he's immersed in. I'd describe him as being sort of a west coast Nas, in terms of subject matter. Check out his song "A.D.H.D.," in which he raps about being at a party, taking drugs, pills and booze, but also analyzing the pure emptiness of his generation, and how they (himself included) fill the void with pure nihilism.
Odd Future: gotta mention them. You might not like all of them, given that some of them make raps that they describe as, "Ignorant as ****!" They're actually fairly intelligent dudes. Tyler, The Creator's "Yonkers," is probably his best song. His best feature is definitely the production (and depending on your tastes, you might appreciate the raw shock value). Most of their work is on free mixtapes, so you might as well.
Frank Ocean: A member of Odd Future, felt the need to mention separately. Really smart dude, his "Nostalgia, Ultra," mixtape is just awesome. He's sort of an R&B/Hip Hop artist, who sings about topics ranging from Suicide, to American Marriage Culture, to having hot-hot sex with a stripper, but feeling completely disconnected from reality. Definitely check him out. Nostalgia, Ultra is free, so you have no excuse.
Sadistik: Sort of like Grieves and Eyedea, in that they all make what can be described as Emo Rap. Except that it's nothing like Emo. They all tell dark stories, and discuss sadness and all that emo ****, but they bring the requisite Hip-Hop bravado, so that it sounds more like advice than the whining of Emo Rock.
Big K.R.I.T.: An excellent rapper, and probably the most redeeming feature about the largely mindless Southern Hip-Hop movement. He's not really breaking new ground, but his confidence, skill, and lyrics provide a pleasant mix between laid back street raps (think "Damn It Feels Good To Be a Gangata," or "Today Was A Good Day," the sort of **** you'd hear on the Office Space soundtrack), and some fairly conscious songs (one chorus goes, "I don't wanna be another ******." The Return of 4eva is a free mixtape, so no excuse to not check him out.
Aside from seconding IcedNeonFlames' suggestions (someone recently wrote an article on GZA's first album, Liquid Swords, and how it's really just an incredible album)... I'd say pretty much anything affiliated with Wu is, at worst, respectable. A few standouts from the solo albums (besides GZA) are the first Method Man, RZA, ODB, Killah Priest, and Cappadonna albums. Ghostface is really good as a rapper, but his song construction leaves me shaking my head sometimes. A lot of people really love Raekwon's solo stuff, but he's hit or miss with me.
Jeru tha Damaja is also absolutely amazing. Check out the video for "You Can't Stop the Prophet."
I'm also a huge Redman fan... But I'd guess that's no surprise.
Another overlooked classic is Pharaohe Monch's pre-solo work in Organized Konfusion. I'm not sure how many albums they had, but I own the first one (on cassette!). I forgot the title 'cause I buried my cassettes in boxes years ago.
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Now playing Transformers: Legends. 27-time top tier finisher and admin of the TFL Wikia site.
From the late 80's E.P.M.D. was pure dope. Their first two albums are classics and they got a little harder when they added Redman, Keith Murray, and Das EFX to the fold.
Ghetto Boys (Geto Boys) Grip it! On that other level. - If your into any type of gangsta, these guys put Houston on the map way before...well not even going to say who. It unapologetic in your face and dirty - lots of fun
Scarface - Mr. Scarface is back - continues where the Ghetto Boys left off and although the production is lacking, especially compared to anything in the last 15 years, but this is Scarface before the executives "changed" his sound into something with more commercial success.
Swollen Members great MC's and although they won some awards, they were never the commercial success many thought they could be. Mad child, Prevail and Moka Only (off an on) are all great MC's and they have a great underground vibe. They were unreal in their underground days
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the 36 chambers put NY hip hop back in the spotlight after the West coast took over. For me it took a few listens to fully appreciate this album and now I can't live without it. No one did it like this back then.
Wu stuff is hit or miss, most of the first solo albums by the main members of the group from the 92-96 period are all really good stuff. By the time the second wave came, they had flooded the market with so much material that it all got a bit stale save for a few select releases.
Do you like Jay-Z or prefer Nas? This tells us more about your preferences
Dela Soul, Del, Jungle Brothers, Guru, Jeru the Damaja, Mos Def, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, The Roots and Arrested Development are all part of that non violent hip hop movement, along with many others I have forgotten.
I have so much hip hop in FLAC format (exact copies of .wav files without loss of quality at 2/3 the file size give or take.
I got into a lot of stuff after it was popular, but there is so much more than some of the easy stuff I listed.
So many genres, so many artists, it's just flooded.
About Frox: for nearly 10 years, Frox has been helping women look good and feel great in easy-fit, mix-and-match, and work-to-weekend with just a few pieces by helping them make the right choices when it comes to clothing and accessories.
I hate to be that guy in this thread, but it really doesn't get any better than Notorious B.I.G. I think his stuff holds up better over time than almost any other rapper.
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Beauty of mine, sit before me. Let me peruse you and remember you... always like this.
I hate to be that guy in this thread, but it really doesn't get any better than Notorious B.I.G. I think his stuff holds up better over time than almost any other rapper.
Except MF Doom. Even his 15 year old tracks still sound modern, he's that far ahead of his time.
A$AP is fine if you care more about the production than his lyrics/flow... But I could never get over just how bad those were.
His first album in definitely more listenable than his newer one, though.
A$AP is the group, I am assuming you are referring to Rocky though.
I just wanted to chuck a hat in the ring for Aesop Rock, I have been loving his latest release Skelethon off which the tracks Zero Dark Thirty and Cycles to Gehenna are sick.
P.S. Please don't list any Mac Miller of Lil Wayne. I hate them with a passion.
For Lists, Click Here
EDH:
GW: Selvala, Let us help YOU.
UB: Mirko Vosk, when outmatched cheat
BW: Vish Kal, The Arbiter of Reanimation
UG: Prime Speaker Zegana, the science of sorcery
RB: Malfegor, Traitor's Haven
UW: Daxos, Control-Fort-Tron
BG: Pharika, Goddess of Stax
RW: Gisela, Boros Control
RG: Ruric Thar, a Primal Surge deck
RU: Niv-Mizzet the Firemind, Spellslinger?!?!
B:(Pauper) Mikaeus the Unhallowed
R: Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient: The Power of Engineering
Same guys that did Feather with Nujabes.
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EDH
G Isao
Another Wu related group are Gravediggaz. Not a fan of their second album, but 6 Feet Deep is brilliant stuff.
A Tribe Called Quest - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91kaFxBoTno
Aceyalone - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnsCO0Fxw3A
Astronautilus - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylnbFXWK_b4
Atmosphere - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAZIMGF5lmU
B.Dolan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA5gRbE1LTA
Buck 65 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D97SGLKcWs
Cannibal Ox - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHKn6n3SE5k
Cecil Otter - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHgxS_1EKoQ
Dessa - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G3G3G56m10
Dr. Octagon (Kool Keith) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjKHQeRSvjk
El-P - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DIK7QFtQjQ
Eyedea - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvy3x9_SauM
Glue - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQcaZOgWPiE
Grieves - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHa8ZJko-GA
Immortal Technique - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lYYc8Xtwkw
Jedi Mind Tricks - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxQ73RF9p0g
The Last Emperor - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIT6C9YTyPA
Mac Lethal - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUta27xEOW4
MC Frontalot - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yrwzi3clPQ
MC Lars - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_55j2m1Ikg4
P.O.S. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGxPyvm5qhk
Prayers For Atheists - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AV4-Fozsp4&feature=relmfu
Prolyphic - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUb6vl34cPY
Ras Kass - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdJgVf4l1A0
Sage Francis -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdVbsFH6fRM
Saul Williams - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycMlqVHub4s
Scroobius Pip - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KnGNOiFll4
Sims - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zp1EJ_-L_c
Weerd Science - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSsB4WlPCsY
That should keep you busy for a while. Happy listening!
EDH:
[Competitive] Azusa, Lost but Seeking (54 Lands)
[Competitive] Azami, Lady of Scrolls (Time Warp combo/control)
[Competitive] Kruphix, God of No (True EDH DrawGo)
DAAAAAAMN, you're on some old school ****, huh? Anyway, most of Kanye's singles, excepting Jesus Walks, are his weaker work. He makes catchy as **** pop **** so that he has money, and then makes really good, well crafted Alt. Hip Hop albums. Everything on My Dark Twisted Beautiful Fantasy is fantastic. I'd name some ****, buuuut....
It's like you went to the Alt. Hip Hop thread and stole ALL THE LINKS. Anyway, to fill in the blanks:
Doomtree, as a group, have some good albums. They include POS, Sims, Cecil Otter, and a couple other artists of note, including Dessa.
Das Racist: works closely with El-P and others.
K. Flay: Google her, she's got a couple free mixtapes and a free EP, all of it top-notch.
Sole: Conscious rap that, as someone I forget puts it, "sounds like the end of the world." Dark, politically charged hip-hop with intense beats and a strong message? Yes please!
Lupe Fiasco: with the exception of L.A.S.E.R.S., a Grade A artist. Fairly mainstream, though I think you'll like him. His albums take ques ranging from Soul to Chicago house. But most importantly; he's conscious as ****. His albums are mostly about resisting ghetto culture, and maintaining strong personal values in the face of sin. Listen to Kick, Push and you'll know what I mean.
Wugazi: a "mash-up," of Wu-Tang Clan and Fugazi, done by Cecil Otter and some other dude. It's ****ing excellent. Check out the song "Sleep Rules Everything Around Me."
Kendrick Lamar: Classic west coast soul, with more advanced beats and conscious raps. Kendrick maintains a striking balance between his street upbringing, and his observation and deconstruction of the world he's immersed in. I'd describe him as being sort of a west coast Nas, in terms of subject matter. Check out his song "A.D.H.D.," in which he raps about being at a party, taking drugs, pills and booze, but also analyzing the pure emptiness of his generation, and how they (himself included) fill the void with pure nihilism.
Odd Future: gotta mention them. You might not like all of them, given that some of them make raps that they describe as, "Ignorant as ****!" They're actually fairly intelligent dudes. Tyler, The Creator's "Yonkers," is probably his best song. His best feature is definitely the production (and depending on your tastes, you might appreciate the raw shock value). Most of their work is on free mixtapes, so you might as well.
Frank Ocean: A member of Odd Future, felt the need to mention separately. Really smart dude, his "Nostalgia, Ultra," mixtape is just awesome. He's sort of an R&B/Hip Hop artist, who sings about topics ranging from Suicide, to American Marriage Culture, to having hot-hot sex with a stripper, but feeling completely disconnected from reality. Definitely check him out. Nostalgia, Ultra is free, so you have no excuse.
Sadistik: Sort of like Grieves and Eyedea, in that they all make what can be described as Emo Rap. Except that it's nothing like Emo. They all tell dark stories, and discuss sadness and all that emo ****, but they bring the requisite Hip-Hop bravado, so that it sounds more like advice than the whining of Emo Rock.
Big K.R.I.T.: An excellent rapper, and probably the most redeeming feature about the largely mindless Southern Hip-Hop movement. He's not really breaking new ground, but his confidence, skill, and lyrics provide a pleasant mix between laid back street raps (think "Damn It Feels Good To Be a Gangata," or "Today Was A Good Day," the sort of **** you'd hear on the Office Space soundtrack), and some fairly conscious songs (one chorus goes, "I don't wanna be another ******." The Return of 4eva is a free mixtape, so no excuse to not check him out.
Agree.
Seriously though, TechnoGeek, you're a serious hip-hop head bro! Props! I've got respect for anyone who name drops Prayers for Atheists.
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Jeru tha Damaja is also absolutely amazing. Check out the video for "You Can't Stop the Prophet."
I'm also a huge Redman fan... But I'd guess that's no surprise.
Another overlooked classic is Pharaohe Monch's pre-solo work in Organized Konfusion. I'm not sure how many albums they had, but I own the first one (on cassette!). I forgot the title 'cause I buried my cassettes in boxes years ago.
The MirroCube - 420 card Mirrodin themed cube
And if I've offended you, I'm sorry, but maybe you need to be offended. But here's my apology and one more thing...
From the late 80's E.P.M.D. was pure dope. Their first two albums are classics and they got a little harder when they added Redman, Keith Murray, and Das EFX to the fold.
Ghetto Boys (Geto Boys) Grip it! On that other level. - If your into any type of gangsta, these guys put Houston on the map way before...well not even going to say who. It unapologetic in your face and dirty - lots of fun
Scarface - Mr. Scarface is back - continues where the Ghetto Boys left off and although the production is lacking, especially compared to anything in the last 15 years, but this is Scarface before the executives "changed" his sound into something with more commercial success.
Swollen Members great MC's and although they won some awards, they were never the commercial success many thought they could be. Mad child, Prevail and Moka Only (off an on) are all great MC's and they have a great underground vibe. They were unreal in their underground days
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the 36 chambers put NY hip hop back in the spotlight after the West coast took over. For me it took a few listens to fully appreciate this album and now I can't live without it. No one did it like this back then.
Wu stuff is hit or miss, most of the first solo albums by the main members of the group from the 92-96 period are all really good stuff. By the time the second wave came, they had flooded the market with so much material that it all got a bit stale save for a few select releases.
Do you like Jay-Z or prefer Nas? This tells us more about your preferences
Dela Soul, Del, Jungle Brothers, Guru, Jeru the Damaja, Mos Def, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, The Roots and Arrested Development are all part of that non violent hip hop movement, along with many others I have forgotten.
I have so much hip hop in FLAC format (exact copies of .wav files without loss of quality at 2/3 the file size give or take.
I got into a lot of stuff after it was popular, but there is so much more than some of the easy stuff I listed.
So many genres, so many artists, it's just flooded.
I like Sage Francis but Dizzie Rascal is hit and miss with me
Also, MF DOOM is one of my all-time favorite rappers and he has a ton of releases. Check him out.
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About Frox: for nearly 10 years, Frox has been helping women look good and feel great in easy-fit, mix-and-match, and work-to-weekend with just a few pieces by helping them make the right choices when it comes to clothing and accessories.
Triple QFT
Except MF Doom. Even his 15 year old tracks still sound modern, he's that far ahead of his time.
Join the Poetry Running Contest!
LOL
A$AP is fine if you care more about the production than his lyrics/flow... But I could never get over just how bad those were.
His first album in definitely more listenable than his newer one, though.
A$AP is the group, I am assuming you are referring to Rocky though.
I just wanted to chuck a hat in the ring for Aesop Rock, I have been loving his latest release Skelethon off which the tracks Zero Dark Thirty and Cycles to Gehenna are sick.
Like smashing face? Like not worrying about pitiful tokens or life gain? Check out Stonebrow, Krosan Hero for all your face smashing needs