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Joined: August 07 2008
Location: Philadelphia,PA
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Points: 7826
Topic: Rap Suggestions to Complete Newb? Posted: November 02 2010 at 17:56
Hey guys,
For those of you who know me, you'd know that my musical preferences have been constantly shifting for the last year or so. From death metal to progressive rock, to be-bop jazz and almost everything in between, I'll listen to most types of music.... except rap. This is the one genre that I have never, ever given a shot.
Why?
Because, honestly, I hate it. The stuff I hear on the radio and at parties is awful IMO. However, since I'm an opened-minded person, I don't want to completely dismiss the genre without giving it a fair shot. Thus, I've opened this suggestion thread for anyone who wants to help me out. I don't even own one rap album, so basically any suggestion is welcome. Preferably stuff that is generally considered a classic or essential album. I've been wanting to check out Wu-Tang Clan for a little bit now...
Lastly, I want something with substance. I don't want to hear a bunch of wasted criminals talking over a drum machine. I want to hear real music that triggers emotions, etc. Most of you guys should know what types of music I like and don't like, so don't give me something too absurd.
these r some of my faves, most of these artists are alternative or underground hip hop. Its no the stuff u see on mtv nowadays or hear on the radio. Im sure u will get plenty more great hip hop suggestions.
Special Collaborator
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Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Baltimore,Md US
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Posted: November 02 2010 at 18:30
JROCHA wrote:
Check these out:
A Tribe Called Quest
Sage Francis
The Roots
Black Star
Aesop Rock
Antipop Consortium
Madlib
Jay Dee
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
People Under the Stairs
these r some of my faves, most of these artists are alternative or underground hip hop. Its no the stuff u see on mtv nowadays or hear on the radio. Im sure u will get plenty more great hip hop suggestions.
These are very good suggestions.I particularly like A Tribe Called Quest and The Roots.Also,in the same vein as the bands you recommended I would add De La Soul and maybe Digable Planets.
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Baltimore,Md US
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Posted: November 02 2010 at 18:39
J-Man wrote:
TheProgtologist wrote:
J-Man wrote:
TheProgtologist wrote:
Two words......
PUBLIC ENEMY
Nuff said
Any particular album, Jody? I noticed they have quite a few releases...
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back and Fear of a Black Planet are 5 star,essential albums.
Really? I may have to check those out... I never knew that you were such a big fan of them!
PE are one of the few rap bands I ever REALLY liked.Chuck D has the best delivery in the industry and the social and political themes featured in his rhymes always appealed to me.
I do like smooth,well made hip hop,and when artists fuse that with jazz even better.A Tribe Called Quest and their brilliant album The Low End Theory is a perfect example.
Another good album is the groundbreaking,sample heavy Paul's Boutique by The Beastie Boys.Great stuff!
Edited by TheProgtologist - November 02 2010 at 18:40
Wyclef Jean by the way is a multi-instrumentalist and damn good guitarist. That album is a concept album with recurring themes but tons of variety. You get not just rap, but compas, R&B, Latin music, hilarious skits, and even Aaron Neville.
Outkast is likewise very diverse, but they take the art of rapping to another level. Our marching band in High School one year did "Spottieottiedopalicious."
Joined: October 08 2009
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Posted: November 02 2010 at 20:53
J-Man: Wu Tang Clan are hugely important but you may not like them because they have a foot firmly in gangsta land. What made them so different was this:
i) Rap's equivalent of lo-fi, with dirty and ugly sounds in the beats which was quite shocking at the time.
ii) They wrote lyrics that were sometimes opaque at best with insider slang and philosophical/cultural references that were not always obvious.
iii) A lot of rap groups were previously formed around MCs that were similar (and still are actually. Souls Of Mischief always amused me, 4 MCs that may as well have been the same guy.) The huge difference between some of the Wu Tang MCs (compare the lyrical precision of GZA to the deranged clowning of Old Dirty b*****d for instance or the way Ghostface Killah sounds like he's being chased by the police all the time while Method Man is the coolest, calmest, coldest guy in town) meant you were never quite sure who or what was coming up next which made listening to them exciting.
However, a lot of Wu Tang beats and rhyme aren't really *that* deep and there's a lot of stuff about violence and crime and drugs. Generally they used metaphor and code which was more interesting than speaking on it plainly, but it's still not that interesting for people who just don't want street stuff.
I would probably refer you to the Wu Tang spin-off group, Sunz Of Man who kind of took what the Wu Tang did but added further lyrical layers, with rhymes often grounded in medieval history, religious theory and general esoteric intellectual topics. Of particular interest is the solo career of group member Killah Priest, who does a great job of being a bridge between the Wu's raw rugged street sh*t and the world of academia, history and philosophy. His best albums are Heavy Mental and The Offering.
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Rap Suggestions to Complete Newb?
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TheProgtologist wrote:
not something to post on a prog site one would think!
