Hip-Hop/Rap Fans [May include foul language, Be warned]

[Adub]

I've been a fan of the genre for 14ish years, since i was in grade school.

Anyone else round these parts into hiphop?

I will post up reviews and stuff to checkout here, not sure why i didn't make a thread like this before hehe.

[CrowdAds]

[Rufus Burrus]

I tried twice to start writing paragraphs about what I like and don't like about hip-hop, but I honestly think that I don't know enough about the genre to make broad generalizations without sounding like an idiot. Instead, I'll just post what rappers I like and I think you can draw some conclusions from that. So, here's my favorite hip-hop acts:

Public Enemy
The Coup
A Tribe Called Quest
Blackstar
Mos Def
Blackalicious
Wu-Tang Clan
Genius/GZA
Outkast
Nas
Masta Ace
Dead Prez

[Adub]

That's an idea I'll do the same and we can spark some discussion that way hehe. I figured you would post as i saw in other threads you posted about listening to some hip hop.

There are a lot of my favorites.

A Tribe Called Quest
Beastie Boys
Big L
Big Pun
Binary Star
Blackstar
Canibus
Capone-N-Noreaga
Cappadonna
Common
Copywrite
Cunninlynguists
Cypress Hill
Das EFX
Deltron 3030
Del the funky homosapien
Erick Sermon
Fugees
Gang Starr
Ghostface Killah
Gravediggaz
GZA
Heltah Skeltah
Hieroglyphics
Immortal Technique
Inspectah Deck
Jedi Mind Tricks
Jurassic 5
Kardinal Offishal
Killah Priest
KRS One
Large Professor
Little Brother
Lost Boyz
Lupe Fiasco
Masta Killa
Method Man
MF Doom
MOP
Mos Def
Nas
Non-Prophets
Notorious B.I.G
O.C
Ol' Dirty Bastard
One Be Lo
Organized Konfusion
Outerspace
Outkast
People Under the Stairs
Pharoahe Monch
Raekwon
Redman
Reflection Eternal
Rock
RZA
Screwball
Sean Price
Senim Silla
Slick Rick
Slum Village
Snoop Doggy Dog
Souls of Mischief
The Game
The Roots
U-God
Wiz Khalifa
Wu-Tang Clan

[curiouswonderer]

I noticed that no one has posted Eminem yet.

Eminem is one of the best rappers ever (excluding his new Relapse stuff). I grew up on his stuff

[musicyay]

Lately I've constructed some kind of theorem about this genre, maybe someone can comment on this.

In my opinion there are two kinds of rap/hip-hop fans:

1)
You're a genuine fan of the genre and enjoy the music in it's entirety meaning you like the lyrics just as much as you like the flow or the beat

2)
You're in it for the flow and the beat but you don't buy any of those gangster lyrics (or any theme that comes up in the lyrics)

From what I've seen around here (meaning RL) most people belong into group 2) but that could be totally different elsewhere. So if you generally dislike Rap (stereotypical "that's all gangster bullshit") then you should think of the voice as just another instrument. Try to concentrate on the flow and how it interacts with the beat.

Example: Dead Prez - Hip Hop

You Tube

You Tube

Imho the bassline is rather crappy but somehow I like how the lyrics "sound" not really what they say but the intonation.

And sometimes the beat alone does it for me - like in Pharoahe Monch - Simon Says (I actually dislike the lyrics in this one but the beat is just classic; Eric Knox says hi :P)

[Adub]

The bass line is great hehe i hit 153db in competition in high school in my ford focus in high school in my 96 ford focus playing that song haha. I agree on the simon says beat and the lyrics imo are quote cleaver is you listen close enough to pick em up, it's one of my all time favorites as well here is some sick ass freestyle to the beat:

You Tube

You Tube

Eminem is definitely great, but i have liked less of his stuff as more albums came out, but i listened to him back when my friend found infinite online before eminem was really anybody lol.

Here is some good stuff, Scratch Basterd at Scribble Jam 2007, he is insane.

You Tube

You Tube

[suprman2020]

Been a hip-hop fan for as long as I can remember. My favorite rappers are Nas, Joe Budden, Scarface, Eminem, Jay-Z, and Jay Electronica. If you haven't heard of Jay Elec, you to go on youtube ASAP and then download What The Fuck Is A Jay Electronica.

[Spk282]

I Would by no means call Eminem great, but I tend to prefer actual Hip-Hop.

Murs
Atmosphere
Felt
Mos Def
Talib Kweli
Blackstar
Cunninlynguists
Lupe Fiasco
One Be Lo
Common
Immortal Technique
Jurassic 5
The Roots
Nas
Street Reportas
Aesop Rock


-Adub has a good list IMO

[Adub]

Not considering Eminem "actual Hiphop" is suspect to me, I'm not a big fan of his by any means but he has a high amount of skill and he used to release very good material. His first 3 albums were fantastic, after that he got too much into beef and being offensive to sell albums beyond those albums.

I'm really liking the MURS & 9th Wonder albums lately, i just got their 4th album Forvener which came out recently and it's great.

[Spk282]

All Eminem ever rapped about was killing his ex-wife/doing drugs/or his hatred for his mother... that's Rap not Hip Hop. Eminem falls in with the likes of Lil Wayne, 50 Cent and Chamilionaire. IMO

[Adub]

Hip-Hop is MCing, DJing, beat boxing, break-dancing, and graffiti writing, rap is what an MC does it has nothing to do with what you think about an MC's skill or lyrical content.

Dismissing an artist when you haven't heard more than a small portion of their library is pretty silly and for every terrible eminem song there is a good one, and there is also keeping in mind that he is one of the BEST story tellers to ever be on the mic. Those songs about violence and drugs are stories, and when he is telling them they are fantastic if you can get it through your mind that he is just telling stories and he didn't and doesn't actually kill his wife.

Here is an example if early Eminem, and it's fantastic.

Ayo, my pen and paper cause a chain reaction
To get your brain relaxing, a zany acting maniac in action
A brainiac in fact son, you mainly lack attraction
You look insanely whack when just a fraction of my tracks run
My rhyming skills got you climbing hills
I travel through your mind into your spine like siren drills
I'm slammin grills of roaches, who sprayed the disaffects &
Twist the necks of rappers 'til their spinal column disconnects
We disinfect then check the monologue, turn your system up
Twist them up, and indulge in the marijuana smog
This is the season for noise pollution contamination
Examination of more cartoons than animation
My lamination of narration
Hit's a snare & bass in a track fucked up rapper interrogation
When I declare invasion, there ain't no time to be stare and gazing
I turn the stage into a barren wasteland...
I'm Infinite

Bust it, I let the beat commence so I can beat the sense in your elite defense
I got some meat to mince, a crew to stomp and two feet to rinse
I greet the gents and ladies, I spoil loyal fans
I foil plans and leave fluids leaking like oil bands
My coil hands around this microphone are lethal
One thought in my cerebral is deeper then a Jeep full of people
MC's are feeble, I came to cause some pandemonium
Battle a band of phony MC's and stand the lonely one
Imitator, Intimidator, Stimulator, Simulator of data, Eliminator
There's never been a greater since the burial of Jesus
Fuck around and catch all the venereal diseases
My thesis will smash a stereo to pieces
My accapella releases classic masterpieces through telekinesis
And eases you mentally, gently, sentimentally, instrumentally
With entity, dementedly meant to be Infinite

In fact how can you dislike Eminem for violence and drugs in his song when you like Nas? Do you actually listen to Nas' lyrics? He made writing about crime, violence, and the drug game profitable in Hip-Hop!

One of Nas' greatest tracks:

[Nas]
One 44, two 45's
3 loaded clips, 4 niggas roll, one nigga drives
500 Benz, 6 reasons why
This kid should die
We shootin every motherfucker outside
Pulled on his block, jumped out the car, guns in our hand
At the same time everybody ran
There that nigga go, hiding in the crowd
Let the trigger blow, 7 shots now he lying on the ground
Blood on the floor
Then we shot some more
Niggas he was with
2 niggas hit, one nigga fell
One tryed to run, go get him son
Make sure he's done before we bail, i aint trying to goto jail
Must handle beef, code of the street
Load up the heat, if these nigga think they could fuck around
Real niggas do real things
By all means, niggas knowin how we get down.. It goes......

[Chorus (3X)]
Shoot 'em up, just shoot 'em up, what..
(whispering)
Kill kill kill, murder murder murder

[Nas]
Driving through roads, Suburban Chevrolet
6 tinted windows, and I'm on my way
To get up with my hoes, I pull up to they house
Not a freak to be heard, nobody came out
Ringin the bell, where in the hell
Could they be at, I'm about to leave
Steppin' slow, where my truck was at
Who the fuck is that?
Could it be a jack?
Now pull my strap, it's my man
And we have the same plan
There them bitches go
Civic '94, looking funny though
Open up the car door, funny smile
Fuck 2 already, 3rd ass was heavy
"Nas this is Sherri, Sherri this is Nas, and his man. Ready?"
Walked in the house, snatched off they clothes
Ran through them hoes
Plenty ice, that they all seemed to like
Can't find my man, heard a blam blam
Now I'm wonderin, "In this scam, do I even stand a chance?"
He killed the hoes, took all they doe
Fire in his eyes, higher than the sky
Comin down the stairs
Now he wantin mine, reachin for my nine
Aiming with our guns at each others face, at the same time
my nine on his lips, his fifth on my chin, I start whispering
"Put your gun down, we can skip town"
Rocked him to sleep, pushed back his beef
Lift off his chain
Took his shit, emptied out close range...

[Chorus (4X)]
[3rd time there is no whispering of: "kill kill kill, murder murder muder".]

Do you see the irony that i see?

[Spk282]

Murs has a song about killing someone as well, along with many other artists that I listed and listen to. Nas also has a song called "I Can" all about people being able to do whatever they inspire to become" also a song about how Hip Hop is dead (talking about how mainstream music is now all Rap not Hip Hop) IMO Hip Hop is more about real life situations/struggles which I didn't really pick up from Eminem. I have heard 2 of Eminem's albums and like I said he raps about killing his ex-wife/doing drugs/or his hatred for his mother (Which in my mind is not Hip Hop) that pretty much summed up his first 2 albums. I would say Eminem hit a target market of tweens/teens very well.

I don't really think the Wiki definition of Hip Hop, " Hip-Hop is MCing, DJing, beat boxing, break-dancing, and graffiti writing" defines Hip Hop. Those are the roots of Hip Hop anyways.

I have nothing against you Adub, I was just stating that I didn't think Eminem was either great or actual Hip Hop. Just my opinion.

[suprman2020]

Originally Posted by Spk282

All Eminem ever rapped about was killing his ex-wife/doing drugs/or his hatred for his mother... that's Rap not Hip Hop. Eminem falls in with the likes of Lil Wayne, 50 Cent and Chamilionaire. IMO

Chamillionaire does not belong in that list. You should really check out his mixtape messiah series.

[suprman2020]

Originally Posted by Spk282

Murs has a song about killing someone as well, along with many other artists that I listed and listen to. Nas also has a song called "I Can" all about people being able to do whatever they inspire to become" also a song about how Hip Hop is dead (talking about how mainstream music is now all Rap not Hip Hop) IMO Hip Hop is more about real life situations/struggles which I didn't really pick up from Eminem. I have heard 2 of Eminem's albums and like I said he raps about killing his ex-wife/doing drugs/or his hatred for his mother (Which in my mind is not Hip Hop) that pretty much summed up his first 2 albums. I would say Eminem hit a target market of tweens/teens very well.

I don't really think the Wiki definition of Hip Hop, " Hip-Hop is MCing, DJing, beat boxing, break-dancing, and graffiti writing" defines Hip Hop. Those are the roots of Hip Hop anyways.

I have nothing against you Adub, I was just stating that I didn't think Eminem was either great or actual Hip Hop. Just my opinion.

You at least have to give his flow and multisyllabic rhyme scheme some credit. There are very few people who can hang with him in terms of flow. These are his best qualities imo. His subject matter isn't the norm of main stream rap and sometimes sounds like he's doing horror core.

[Adub]

Oh there is no animosity here at all, as a long time listener with a lot of knowledge i am simply giving out information i don't hold grudges.

You have heard 2 of Eminems albums and decided what you haven't heard are the same? You clearly have not listened to Infinite as it is one of the best Hip-hop albums ever made.

I don't think what one person thinks is going to be the definition of something that has been for over 20 years. Rap is what an MC does, it is not a type of music or a sub genre of Hip-hop. The definition of Hip-hop doesn't change because you want it to, it encompasses all those aspects because that is what Hip-hop is.

Scribble Jam is the annual Hip-hop gathering which offers competition in every aspect of Hip-hop, you go tell those who are a part of the Hip-hop scene that they are wrong because you think so.

Eminem has made his impact on Hip-hop whether it is good or bad is opinion, but dismissing him is just silly and makes no sense.

[Adub]

Originally Posted by suprman2020

You at least have to give his flow and multisyllabic rhyme scheme some credit. There are very few people who can hang with him in terms of flow. These are his best qualities imo. His subject matter isn't the norm of main stream rap and sometimes sounds like he's doing horror core.

I consider post Infinite/SlimShadyLP/Marshal MatherLP to be a lot of hardcore mixed with comedy mixed with mainstream appeal, i only like a few tracks past those first three albums, he got really loose after those albums.

[Spk282]

This is just the first site I came across but if you look around you will find many like it... It's an interesting read none the less.

http://www.daveyd.com/commentaryishiphopdead.html

[suprman2020]

Originally Posted by Adub

I consider post Infinite/SlimShadyLP/Marshal MatherLP to be a lot of hardcore mixed with comedy mixed with mainstream appeal, i only like a few tracks past those first three albums, he got really loose after those albums.

I really enjoyed Eminem Show and Relapse (excluding the annoying voice he used on a few songs). Encore was a complete travesty. I gotta give it to him, he knows how to be the center of attention whether its good or bad. Every hip-hop forum I've been on he's a hot topic. A few weeks ago I was talking with some friends who aren't really into music (or hip-hop) and the first name they brought up was Eminem.

[Adub]

That is a really old article too circa 2002/2003, i read that years ago it was and still is a good read definitely. When you think about it, people have been saying Hip-hop is dead since just after Biggie and Pac were killed so it's nothing new and has no effect on how i see the genre.

Here is a great recent Nas interview as well, talking about solo album to come, the colab that's coming out in a week with Damian Marley and his views on the state of Hip-hop.

http://kevinnottingham.com/2010/04/2...l-talk-ny-net/

[Adub]

Originally Posted by suprman2020

I really enjoyed Eminem Show and Relapse (excluding the annoying voice he used on a few songs). Encore was a complete travesty. I gotta give it to him, he knows how to be the center of attention whether its good or bad. Every hip-hop forum I've been on he's a hot topic. A few weeks ago I was talking with some friends who aren't really into music (or hip-hop) and the first name they brought up was Eminem.

Yeah hes such a large figure in the industry and people just love to hate him, not like he makes it hard though haha.