The Hip Hop/Rap Thread

My friend and I have been battling it out on whether hip hop/rap is decent music. He says yes, I say not anymore. I think I say so because a lot of the creativity I grew up listening to is all but gone, save a few people here and there (Kayne West).

However, I still do enjoy listening to older hip hop/rap, especially The Roots. It seems like most of the stuff I'm hearing on the radio is sounding more and more like watered-down club music.

What is your opinion of hip hop/rap?

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Acro-nym, I didn't really want to clump them together, but I think having two separate threads would confuse people because a lot of people think they're the same thing. What are some of the good ones you've listened to?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Capo, I agree with you. I've already nicknamed today's state of hip hop commercial crap. It's sad to see the lack of creativity in beats, hooks, and overall lyrics. I remember when rap battles used to be cool (remember LL Cool J and Kool Moe Dee?). Now the cool people I grew up listening to have all but disappeared, like Pete Rock & CL Smooth and A Tribe Called Quest.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

That's why we all have our own opinions on it. That's what makes us unique as individual people. You're entitled to your opinion just like we're entitled to ours.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

You're very welcome.

I was speaking idiomatically.

OMG, WEAPON!!! Sup, man! Long time no see!

I know good hip hop is still around. I'm having a hard time finding some.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I'll check it out. However, I still have an ex-friend's independent CD lying around somewhere. Would you guys listen to that? His style isn't so much as beats and stuff, he concentrates more on lyrics.

FELIPE NO

The only problem with it is that I don't have the original track listing anymore, but I can remember the names of a few songs. I'll upload it a little later. I don't have a cover for it either because I don't think they got that far.

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I haven't really heard too much one them, maybe like one song or so, but that was awhile ago. I'd have to listen to them again.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Alright, here's the album I promised:

Elementz of da Earth - The Council

Despite hearing the use of "Team I.A.M." in the first song, that's not their name. Just a reminder, they concentrate more on lyrics than they do actual beats.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Yeah, him and his group (The Council) are independent artists. In case you couldn't tell, the MC (my ex-friend) is from NYC. He came down here for awhile and I have no idea what he's doing now. I have no idea how long he's been doing this, mostly likely years.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Alright, here's the re-uploaded version on Rapidshare:

http://rapidshare.de/files/17489409/...uncil.rar.html

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Capo and everyone else ~ What did you all think of the album I posted?

I was speaking idiomatically.

Haha, I remember that album. I used to have the CD of it before it was mysteriously lost when I moved.

I tend to hang onto songs by The Roots, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Black Sheep, Souls of Mischief, Lords of the Underground, J-Live, A Tribe Called Quest, and Del La Soul. There's more but I can't exactly remember them all right now.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

J-Live - Braggin' Writes
UNIverse - The Roots
This or That - Black Sheep

I'll think of more later.

FELIPE NO

Well, their main focus wasn't the beats at all. I thought it was a little strange when I heard them myself. Too bad I have no idea what they're up to see if they made another album.

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Originally Posted by Plug 4

for me, still now, Hiphop is dead...it aint like it used to be... there's still some good bands. Dont get me wrong. The roots, cunninlynguits, Common...hey I even like Kanye west haha..

But when you compare hiphop from the end of 80s and beg of 90s...the quality of hiphop is far from what it was back in the days... I lost a lot of feelings and involvement in the hiphop culture in the past 2 yrs...sadly...But i have hope..

OMG!!! You didn't mention The Roots! Have you given up on them?

How ya doing, buddy?

Nope, sorry, that's one I don't have.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I haven't. Does anybody listen to Pete Rock & CL Smooth? I know they're kinda old, but they still sound great.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Oh man, yes you did...

Does anybody here ever listen to J-Live?

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Have you heard the rare LP with "Longevity" and "Braggin' Writes" on there? Awesome stuff!

Also, who here has heard of the BoogieMonsters? For those that have no idea what I'm talking about, here's one of their songs, "Recognized Thresholds of Negative Stress":

http://www.sendspace.com/file/b67tek

I was speaking idiomatically.

I never really cared for Oprah anyway, but that's a whole different topic.

Funny song, though.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I agree with your assessment of Kayne West, knkwzrd. I've heard a few of his songs and they're quite annoying. His style is lower than all the hype that surrounds him makes him out to be. I think his arrogrance just about kills his rep in my eyes.

FELIPE NO

I think I'm reawakening my taste for old school hip hop. I've been on a search for all the stuff I used to listen to. I've found most of it.

I always thought Nas had a good style and I think he shows it off best in Illmatic.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

You didn't like "Braggin' Writes" or "Longevity"? "Braggin' Writes" is my favorite.

Just a general question, does anybody here listen to slightly older hip hop?

How ya doing, buddy?