Rap Music

[TCMD]

didn't see any thread yet. been a lot of good releases so far this year.

danny brown - XXX
asap rocky - liveloveASAP
das racist - relax

really looking forward to the new el-p in 2012. any others you guys have been listening to?

[Harry Seaward]

I'm not much into rap anymore, but Scroobius Pip - Distraction Pieces was great.

The opening track was produced by Danny Lohner.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_Gh8TWpQE8

[imail724]

Beastie Boys - HSCPII obviously
MC Esoteric - Boston Pharaoh, anything Eso puts out is always gonna make my top rap albums list
Apathy - Honkey Kong
Tyler, The Creator - Goblin
The Insane Warrior - We Are The Doorways, essentially Rjd2
Raekwon - Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang
MF DOOM with Thom Yorke & Jonny Greenwood - Retarded Fren, not an album but hot damn!

[TCMD]

Beastie Boys - HSCPII obviously
MC Esoteric - Boston Pharaoh, anything Eso puts out is always gonna make my top rap albums list
Apathy - Honkey Kong
Tyler, The Creator - Goblin
The Insane Warrior - We Are The Doorways, essentially Rjd2
Raekwon - Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang
MF DOOM with Thom Yorke & Jonny Greenwood - Retarded Fren, not an album but hot damn!

i havent heard the insane warrior yet, big rj fan - ill have to check it out. speaking of producers, ive been obsessed with clams casino's 2 releases so far. and im impressed with tyler's voice but hoping for some more substance the new round.

doom was good but im still waitin on his next full release. ive been a fan since 2000 and i watched a great interview with him, LONG, that helps give a lot of insight to all his persona's, influences and work style.

http://vimeo.com/31521253

also, i think it's debatable whats better - HSCPII or the fight for your right extended video. classic.

[cashpiles (closed)]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_k10O9FWTRzU/TObPARVjevI/AAAAAAAAA1o/VFSstFT_05c/s1600/COVER.jpg

I would call this some staying true to themselves hip hop. They take issue with artists that sell their souls for the big pop hooks and manufactured images. Gas Mask is a definite grower and now stands out as one of the best hip hop releases of the last year. You can feel a definite throwback to some of the early 90s artists that were hard but conscious.

[r_z]

any others you guys have been listening to?

i liked the ep by quelle chris titled "the son". he produced a few tracks on danny brown's "xxx" as well and also put an album out a few weeks ago. it's not as good as "xxx" but still solid. also the roots' new album, "undun", seemed quite good upon first listen. big k.r.i.t.s.'s "return of 4eva" also comes to mind.

i recently made a little mix of some rap-stuff, entirely released in 2011 (and also for free). you can listen or download here: http://www.soundcloud.com/bubble_joe/mix-02-hip-hop-music-is-good (http://soundcloud.com/bubble_joe/mix-02-hip-hop-music-is-good)

[aggroculture]

I know it's kind of shameful, but I really like Necro.

[imail724]

Game over.
http://pitchfork.com/news/44919-listen-new-track-from-doom-remixed-by-tv-on-the-radios-dave-sitek/
Dave Sitek MF DOOM remix!

[scorpiusdiamond]

Doomtree - No Kings

[Pillfred]

Doomtree - No Kings


How is that? I haven't checked out anything other than the single yet but that sounded pretty good.

[BenAkenobi]

been following Ice Cube but his latest album is not so good
looking forward to something vocal from El P, not really impressed with ...megamixxx
Doomtree - No Kings hmmm, El P has a song with this exact name, doesn't he?

maybe i'll check some of those mentioned

[Reser D]

If you're into rap, you simply must check out Kendrick Lamar. He's a Compton native with some unbelievable writing skills, and his delivery is amazing. His label debut just came out recently, and the production is top-notch as well. Here's a sample of his mastery:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBvngg87998

[Space Suicide]

I'm very strict and selective to rap artists I listen to. I'm not so much into the genre but some artists are actually really great.

[scorpiusdiamond]

How is that? I haven't checked out anything other than the single yet but that sounded pretty good.

One of my favourite albums this year. Would recommend checking out their self-titled too, as well as P.O.S.'s 'Never Better' and Cecil Otter's 'Rebel Yellow'

[xmd 5a]

http://criticalmassesmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/exmilitary.jpg

[Aaron]

Das Racist are pretty much everything I want from rap. Cripplingly clever rhymes, DGAF attitude, and a shred of social consciousness. On that note, I am really, really looking forward to Despot (hopefully) finally putting out an album next year--entirely produced by Ratatat. I also enjoyed A$AP Rocky, Danny Brown, and Shabbazz Palaces this year, to name a few. I noticed Shabbazz Palaces isn't getting any love in this thread, he's fucking great. And a little dude named Lakutis who "DJ"s for Das Racist on the road, just put out a free EP over at Mishka NYC (http://mishkanyc.bandcamp.com/album/lakutis-im-in-the-forest-ep) that is pretty decent. I'm down with any rapper who throws in back-to-back references to Twin Peaks and Kevin Costner in Waterworld.

edit: Odd Future's lyrics are way too problematic for me to appreciate them. Except Frank Ocean, but he's not rap, is he.

[Frozen Beach]

I didn't really like Tyler, The Creator until I suddenly realized what he was going for, especially on Goblin.

[blackholesun]

Really didn't like Goblin. I actually liked "Yonkers" but the rest of the album mostly fell flat. I enjoyed Bastard a considerable bit more.

I feel like I didn't really listen to enough rap and hip-hop this year. Been going through a few releases the last few days. Enjoyed Shabazz Palaces. Enjoyed Death Grips. Was disappointed by the new Common and The Roots.

[sadpanda]

ggg
ggg
gg
ggg
ggg
gg
ggg
ggg
gg
ggg-unit

[Brakish33]

I stopped by Best Buy on the way home from work a couple of days ago and got J. Cole's album Cole World.

The first 6 songs are freaking great, especially Sideline Story.


I listen to rap a lot more for the music than the rapping. It sounds great.

[R37R0]

just a quick question for any beastie boys experts... wtf is "legendary" is it some jumped-up bootleg or something? the beasties haven't advertised but it looks like being semi official as its on hmv/amazon etc

[Agent Dale Cooper]

Terrible spellers all these wrappers.

[Frozen Beach]

Earl Sweatshirt is back
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hidgtJsxm1g&feature=youtu.be

[Kid Charlemagne]

http://terttlefer.com/

[cicatriz]

team earl

sucks he isn't with ofwgkta though

[HiiiPoWeR XO]

team earl

sucks he isn't with ofwgkta though
im thinking he will be once he hits 18.

[Kid Charlemagne]

im thinking he will be once he hits 18.

He is 18 now isn't he? I thought he wasn't going to get out until he was 18 and now he's out.

My bad, he's 17 till the 24th. Still, I'm sure he had a falling out with Tyler or a clash with how it's going. Casey, what was the issue they were having?

[cicatriz]

I think they're all upset that Earl only got out of Samoa because of AIM/Steinberg Entertainment, with blessings from his mother too, and then signed the Steinberg lady to be his manager (who was also 2Pac's first manager, or somethin'). He's not with Odd Future, I doubt he will be in a little over 2 weeks when he turns 18 either. Him having his own website is a pretty big sign of that. I mean, Tyler doesn't have his own site.

That said, though... Jasper is Earl's age, and he seems genuinely happy that he's home. Tyler, Domo & Hodgy are kinda... happy, but upset about the situation. I haven't checked Twitter in a few hours but the last week I saw from any of them was Domo saying basically the situation is fucked, but he loved "Home". And so do I. It's tight as fuck.

Pretty sure I heard a reference to one of the OFWGKTA associates in there, maybe. Thought I heard a line about Lucas.

[october_midnight]

RIP Adam Yauch (http://www.pitchfork.com/news/46406-rip-adam-yauch-of-the-beastie-boys/)

:( Seriously bummed.

[LaneSax]

i am stunned...really stunned and depressed aboot this..RIP MCA

[orestes]

God, cancer sucks.

[Kid Charlemagne]

Hello Nasty was the first album I bought with my own money. I've probably loved the Beastie Boys longer than any group ever. I'm heartbroken, one of my true heroes in music.

[orestes]

Still one my favorite songs to this day.


http://youtu.be/qORYO0atB6g

[october_midnight]

I JUST watched that video...I remember back in junior high being ALL over that album when it dropped.

[imail724]

Rip Adam. I'm really upset over this

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[imail724]

http://lexrecords.com/2012/08/jj-doom-guardian-album-stream/

[aggroculture]

Digging the new Necro video, suitably sick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btqr3bmLKT8&feature=relmfu

[Highly Psychological]

J Dilla is probably one of my favourite Hip Hop producers of all time, definitely the best in the past 10 years.His stuff had a dark seductive subtle power.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MYydLxYjbA)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MYydLxYjbA

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdZK0HeYkwM)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdZK0HeYkwM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZR0BgcBjUI

[sa_nick]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6G1cLYoivQ

The whole album is pretty damn good. If you like NIN and rap then this has to appeal to you.

[imail724]

I must have listened to that album and C4C a hundred times in a row when they first came out. Both are so good. Didn't expect that much out of Killer Mike either, and the album turned out to be phenomenal. Can't get enough of JJ DOOM right now though.

[r_z]

If you haven't heard of him, you absolutely MUST check him out: KA. He's a rapper from Brooklyn in his late 30s. He just released an album in fully DIY mode called "Grief Pedigree". He also shot a video for EVERY song on there. Stuff is brilliant!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKlCUHjU7p4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeMW5JIVmxM


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIun1JrKyfM

[Jinsai]

good timing to talk about the new Sole album that should be coming out soon. http://soleone.org/

the new song is pretty great

[sa_nick]

Anyone into Aussie hip hop? It's certainly got a different feel to it. A lot of US stuff (not so much the songs posted in this thread, but the more mainstream stuff) is so unrelatable to people down here. We dont have a huge african australian population and we're not so much into jesus and all that. A lot of that gangsta stuff just comes off a little gimmicky and try hard, i guess.

Popular aussie rap/hiphop is way more laid back. It doesn't take itself too seriously and a lot of tunes are about enjoying the simple things. Here's a few cool songs I've dug over the years. (skip to 1:10 on the first song if the intro bores you)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCJ9PPDwoBA#t=1m0s


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3GnqJSg80g


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns82tHhJOr0


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyzrKPcLpBw


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQGHiU7jsFQ


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3X38hhr4a4

[BlueCalx]

Anyone playing any good kid, M.A.D.D. City I'm halfway through my first listen, really impressed so far, especially by the production on "Backseat Freestyle".

[carpenoctem]

Yeah, that track is pretty good. When I have time I'll listen to the rest.

This year has been my year of finally accepting hip-hop, whereas before I had this weird prejudice against it. I don't like it if all they ever talk about is drugs and women though, I prefer it to actually be about something. Or at least be somewhat clever with the drugs and women references? And also maybe have a vocabulary.

This year I've been really into:
Kanye West (going back through his past work has been a revelation after ignoring him for so long)
Le1f (great NYC rapper who I love for objectifying men in the same way that straight male rappers objectify women? double standard)
Shabazz Palaces (last year's Black Up was the best album of 2011 - very cool and unique sound)
The Weeknd (some of it, anyway)
WHY? (white boy rap fused to indie rock)
Death Grips (The Money Store and Exmilitary are so brutal and fresh and exciting)
THEESatisfaction (sort of protégées to Shabazz Palaces, very promising duo)

[wizfan]

Stuck on this goddamn song, it's amazing.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjIpHoXcihI

[r_z]

I'd also like to recommend "History Will Absolve Me" by rapper billy woods. It's got very powerful lyrics... topics mainly include politics, colonialism and so on. It's full of references to historical figures and quotes (the album title for example is of course a reference to Fidel Castro’s famous speech). Here are a few songs:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOe2voq-FP0


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhbFWZmBxYE


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVrrznHTVyc


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilG-1uAuMh0

[sa_nick]

Like Kanye but less of a jerk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otPxoVQiIGo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otPxoVQiIGo)

[cashpiles (closed)]

This one has had staying power on the iPod:

The Left - Gas Mask

[Fredy_Brown]

Good Kid M.A.A.D City

[thefragile_jake]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe5dGoVxpgM

One of the best, if not the best, mixtapes from last year.

Lil Ugly Mane is a rapper who used to be in a noise band and now making pretty stellar post-southern hip hop. Amazing stuff.

[Sutekh]

this thread needs more uk grime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ELX91ChFvs

[xmd 5a]

Getting super into Shabazz Palaces and THEESatisfaction. I'm psyched to hear whatever each group releases next.

I've also been revisiting some classic 90s hip-hop of late. I surely can't be the only one to believe Digable Planets' debut LP is one of the all-time greatest albums of the genre...

[xmd 5a]

Hate to doublepost, but I'm really digging the Billy Woods album. Thanks for the recommendation!

[thefragile_jake]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmjzBbLuMJc

This video is pretty great. Danny Brown never disappoints.

Can't wait for his record "Old" this year..

[thefragile_jake]

Double post but just found these guys awhile ago...

Hip hop meets noisy Merzbow

http://clppng.bandcamp.com/

[wizfan]

Double post but just found these guys awhile ago...

Hip hop meets noisy Merzbow

http://clppng.bandcamp.com/

The album is available in 24/48 FLAC. The noise is much harsher!

[elevenism]

i dig Subtle.

[aggroculture]

some good stuff here:
http://www.vice.com/read/gangsta-boo-reviews-azealia-banks-mia-iggy-azalea-brooke-candy-and-more

[thefragile_jake]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTDJmROdC0k

Arguably the best mixtape so far this year...

[imail724]

After the awesomeness that was the double whammy of R.A.P. Music and Cancer 4 Cure, El-P and Killer Mike have teamed up as Run The Jewels

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xUtNrr0nw8
They will be releasing a full album this summer online for free. Titties.

[Clownboat]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYw0NnHDRzc

De La Soul was known for making more upbeat, positive stuff in the day, so this track (beats by J Dilla) blindsided everyone. It's fucking raw and sinister and delicious, and it's totally unexpected from either De La Soul or J Dilla. Been a favorite of mine forever.

[bobbie solo]

and they'd better perform it when I see them with LL Cool J, Ice Cube & Public Enemy 6/19

[Pillfred]

P.O.S and Astronautalis join up and form a new group. Sounds pretty good to me. I put the direct link to the song in as SC glitches when trying to use embedded links for me.

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2013/09/exclusive_premi.php

http://soundcloud.com/doomtree/6666-mmmmmhmmmmm/s-h9FUi?utm_source=soundcloud

[Halo Infinity]

I haven't really gotten into rap either, but Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down by Brand Nubian has to be by far one of the rap songs that immediately clicked with me. I found out about it after looking up some of Hed PE's rap influences. :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxBvUqLs_eU

[nin5in]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0fSCoOfQqU

[xmd 5a]

New Billy Woods project (with Elucid):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gihquodzucs

Highly recommended.

[nin5in]

Death Grips entire discography, especially this album

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arvtMFpIKs8

[r_z]

New Billy Woods project (with Elucid):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gihquodzucs

Highly recommended.

They also put up a free project a few weeks ago: http://armandhammer.bandcamp.com/

[Charmingly Miserable]

I have never really been into rap. I always ran the other direction musically. Boy, was I so close minded. My musical tastes has been so varied within the last few years: I'm embracing everything. I freakin' love Death Grips. The Cool Kids' The Bake Sale is a really good album.

[nin5in]

I have never really been into rap. I always ran the other direction musically. Boy, was I so close minded. My musical tastes has been so varied within the last few years: I'm embracing everything. I freakin' love Death Grips. The Cool Kids' The Bake Sale is a really good album.[Death Grips is what made me get back into rap music after walking away from the genre due to frustration with the lack of originality and lyrical content. Death Grips is considered experimental though, some even call it noise-rap. It consists of so many different genres, ranging from industrial to prog-rock. Plus Zach Hill is an awesome ass drummer.

[GulDukat]

Not really into rap music--just not my thing. A lot of it sounds pretty redundant to me and I hate the macho posturing. That said, I love Public Enemy, The Chronic, Eminem's early albums and a few others.

[Charmingly Miserable]

Die Antwoord: $O$

I have a girl crush on Yolandi Visser.

[Highly Psychological]

Black Moon were awesome, this is my favorite Black Moon track, first heard it on a Massive Attack mixtape. Such a sexy track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3xON2BapBY

It has a certain Dope fueled vibe which reminds me of the fact i cant stop listening to this one either at the moment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCpylYiPwBo

[nin5in]

Die Antwoord: $O$

I have a girl crush on Yolandi Visser.

Yes, they are pretty cool.

[TheyCallMeDrug]

im actually ok with the top 10 in this list, except id put danny brown at #1, bronson higher up and slip earl into the top 10. rest of the list is whatever for the most part.

http://www.stereogum.com/1595461/the-40-best-rap-albums-of-2013/list/

overall i can't help but think rap has been much more exciting than any other genre i've listened to in recent memory.

edit: ha, i just realized i started this thread under my old screen name. guess i was really into danny brown last year too

[r_z]

It's KA, Danny Brown and Run The Jewels in the top 3 for me this year.

[imail724]

These guys just keep churning out awesomeness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ5rI461KNE&feature=share

[Charmingly Miserable]

^Yeah, I'm late to the Run the Jewels game. I just downloaded it yesterday and haven't finished listening to the whole thing but from what I heard and read, both El-P and Killer Mike are at the top of their game.

[r_z]

No way is this better than a record by Nas featuring production by Pete Rock, Primo, Large Pro and Q-Tip. It's a solid effort 'though.

[r_z]

FWIW I think 2013/2012 had been great years for rap music. If you're into rap with great lyrics and that typical NY flavour I'd suggest you listen to KA. He's been killing it with his albums "Grief Pedigree" and "The Night's Gambit".

[Jinsai]

Part of my punishment was being forced to read the track titles out loud to my dad when he came home from work that night, which included such doozies as "Bichassniguz", "Getdafucout", "Im'a Bust Dat Ass", "Blac Vagina Finda" and "Da Nex Niguz"

... and then when you got to "Slam" he said "oh, it's that shitty group?"

[Highly Psychological]

I remember this girl was awesome, she seemed fucking tough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYjwGXoXI8A



This is what Death Grips want to sound like. Hip Hop never really took off in London, it was more about Jungle, Ragga,Trip Hop, Rave but a few good tunes came out sort of influenced by the bomb squad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McIj5CPvCAs

[cashpiles (closed)]

Been listening to this a lot lately:

http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0001/594/MI0001594919.jpg?partner=allrovi.com

AZ was the only guest spot on Nas' Illmatic album a year prior. Nas returns the favor by showing up on one of the tracks on this record. Track for track, it's almost a musical companion piece to Illmatic.

But for all the acclaim Illmatic receives, this is the better of the two albums, in my opinion. The songs leave a better lasting first impression and grow richer the more time you spend with them. Plus, the beats are fucking sublime. Well worth checking out if you like underground NYC hip-hop from the 90's.

Because of your post I found this album and gave it a few listens. Although this album contains a few really good songs... I would never say it's close to or surpasses Illmatic. The reason for this is that Doe Or Die also features a couple really cheesy choruses and weak tracks. "Sugar Hill Baby. Sugar Hill!" being an example of a cheesy section of one of those songs.

However, the solid songs are well worth listening to and AZ has a nice up-beat, technically strong flow.... You can feel that AZ comes from the same school as Nas. I will eventually pare this album down to a really good one with the removal of some songs.

[cashpiles (closed)]

One of my favorite hip hop albums of all time is The Shining by J Dilla and company. Every track is a classic.

[r_z]

I thought The Shining lacked something as it sounded unfinished (as it probably was unfinished at the time of Dilla's passing). It's a bit all over the place, sonically. His best album, imo, is still Fantastic Vol. II by Slum Village, followed by his own release, Ruff Draft.

I also love this production of his... it really shows his Detroit techno influences:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tAItSFIfjw

[ziltoid]

I don't know if I should post this here, in the Run The Jewels thread or both?
Run The Jewels is playing the Jimmy Fallon Show on Jan. 22nd

[Charmingly Miserable]

New Cool Kids coming out. Yes!!!!!

[virushopper]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6VT20XTtDY

[ziltoid]

Danny brown recently played on the Jimmy Kimmel show. Pretty good although I would have chosen a different song from the album Old to showcase.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njbP1X5y8ws


Lately I have been listening to more Scroobius Pip and Dan Le Sac, specifically Angels:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWrMGXwhFLk

Angels really is an amazing album I keep coming to, as well as Distraction Pieces and No commercial Breaks.

Dan Le Sac's solo albums are not so bad either.

Edit: dan le sac Vs Scroobius pip is currently on tour in the U.K.

[october_midnight]

I throw it up for a little hip hop here and there, and I'm a big fan of fellow Canadian group 'Oddities'. Doesn't hurt that I've been an Esthero fan for like 15 years as well...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GwvSB8SLAI

[r_k_f]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNK6DN12yAw&list=TLNm9-c4kBAhmfxRnIIRqjV4i_DMMnHB_4

[xmd 5a]

http://www.wearedelasoul.com/

Entire De La Soul discography available as free downloads for 25 hours (starting at 11AM US EST).

[r_k_f]

http://www.wearedelasoul.com/

Entire De La Soul discography available as free downloads for 25 hours (starting at 11AM US EST). ahhh you beat me.

[aggroculture]

Awesome, I totally did it.

[r_k_f]

http://youtu.be/bOvu0wGSBho

[TheyCallMeDrug]

just picked up tickets to both nyc stops off the danny brown tour. seeing earl and ratking next weekend and couldn't be happier. going to catch action bronson and mobb deep at best buy and the next move will be trying to catch lakutis, heems (sweatshop boys) and the rest of the greedhead family when they come around

[TheyCallMeDrug]

Danny brown recently played on the Jimmy Kimmel show. Pretty good although I would have chosen a different song from the album Old to showcase.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njbP1X5y8ws


25 bucks is one of the better songs on old. it's a perfect depiction of his earlier days before things got too dark with drugs.

to me, it's very reminiscent of the fondness of hustling during your youth before the reality of drugs and real life settled in.

[Louie_Cypher]

Nappy Roots touring now give them your support
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG1egeDwHaw

[Charmingly Miserable]

Just downloaded 3 Sheashells by Latikus. It is unexpectedly rad!

http://youtu.be/Gfoj-vSeVeI

[TheyCallMeDrug]

Just downloaded 3 Sheashells by Latikus. It is unexpectedly rad!

http://youtu.be/Gfoj-vSeVeI

ive been waiting for this album since summer 2012. Lakutis does his thing and it's good to see DVS in there too. Lakutis is honestly one of the most genuine and nicest guys if you ever get the chance to meet him.

also, SCHOOLBOY Q SCHOOLBOY Q SCHOOLBOY Q...Oxymoron bangs, and this extra track gravy with clams casino is my shit right now.

i caught Earl Sweatshirt last week in brooklyn, and while the crowd was underwhelming it was a good show. Schoolboy Q came out during the encore and did Man of the Year which set shit off. Good week for rap.

[cahernandez]

I'm thinking of buying NWA's Straight Outta Compton, should I buy the 20th Anniversary edition or go with the standard version? Which one sounds better?

[Mantra]

Good lord, look at this.


Wu-Tang Clan Announce Another New Album, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin. Only one copy will be produced.

http://cdn4.pitchfork.com/news/54518/bf238d4d.jpg

In July, Wu-Tang Clan will release a new album, A Better Tomorrow, which coincides with the 20th anniversary of the group's debut. But Forbes reports that they're also set to release another LP, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, with a caveat: They're just making one copy of the double album, which was recorded in secret over the last few years.

The album, which features the group's original members, will be housed inside an engraved silver-and-nickel box created by British-Moroccan artist Yahya. According to RZA and producer Tarik "Cilvaringz" Azzougarh, the plan is to tour it through museums, galleries and festivals, where visitors will be charged a price to listen to the 128-minute, 31 song album on headphones provided by the venue. (Rigorous security checks will discourage the possibility of any illegal recording.)

"We’re about to put out a piece of art like nobody else has done in the history of [modern] music," RZA said in an interview with Forbes. "We’re making a single-sale collector’s item. This is like somebody having the scepter of an Egyptian king." After the tour is over, the group will make the album available for purchase for a price "in the millions."

The project dates back to 1997, when Cilvaringz hopped on stage during a Wu-Tang show in Amsterdam. From there, he maintained a correspondence with RZA and eventually broached the idea of producing a new album in the late 2000s. "It took a long time," Cilvaringz said to Forbes. "After five years, I’m sitting here and I’m like, 'Am I really going to release this record and see it die after a week?'" He and RZA came up with the concept for the album's release, which is still in the planning stages as no exhibition dates have been confirmed.

Regardless of how it turns out—Cilvaringz acknowledges in the interview that the whole thing could turn into a bust—you could never accuse Wu-Tang for lack of ambition.

[TheyCallMeDrug]

reworked old school de la with unreleased dilla beats: http://bundles.bittorrent.com/bundles/smell-the-daisy/

and on a different note, here's a new sweatshop boys video. it's heems from das racist and riz mc who's new to my ear. slick track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLlYykSUXLk

[thelastdisciple]

Don't know about Swetshop Boys but i dig Sweatshop Union from Canada.


http://youtu.be/hTfu5Hy01Vk

[elevenism]

So.
Motherfucking OUTKAST is headlining Coachella.
Can i get a Ho..ly...shit?

Growing up i was REALLY into Busta Rhymes and the Fugees.
I also love me some Jay-Z...not the biggest Kanye fan, but Watch the Throne is one of my favorite albums of the past several years.

Eminem is fucking amazing.

Bone is eternal.

As far as the new school, man, Chance the Rapper...good god, he's the shit.

and if you like strange and you like rap, you MUST check out THIS...Subtle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEpqjBoIhxg&feature=kp

[Charmingly Miserable]

So.
Motherfucking OUTKAST is headlining Coachella.
Can i get a Ho..ly...shit?


My sister is working Coachella and she said she heard them sound check last night.

[elevenism]

My sister is working Coachella and she said she heard them sound check last night.
Killer! any details?

[Charmingly Miserable]

Killer! any details?

I barely saw her this morning (she's gonna be hella busy this weekend) but she said she heard them loud and clear she said she can get into the production area and I told her to scout out QOTSA for me.

[elevenism]

i'll be streaming outkast and girltalk live tonite!

[r_z]

lol @ anyone thinking this isn't 100% about Raekwon wanting more money.

8 Diagrams is very underrated btw. Revisited it recently and aside from 2 or 3 songs it's a very well produced and cohesive effort. Too bad Ghostface appears only on like three songs.

Also, I know it's part of the deal and thus there'll most likely won't be a tracklist for the double album, but it's my feeling, that A Better Tomorrow is the real deal. The double album has Cilvaringz attached to it - he's a "Wu Element", a producer/rapper from Marocco, who had the idea for this only-one-copy-thing and most likely executive produced the whole thing.

[TheyCallMeDrug]

ratking just put out a good album, so it goes. always good to see kids from nyc doing something authentic to the area. wiki is gonna grow up to be a talent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpBCXWKx4Tg

[ziltoid]

New Hail Mary Mallon coming soon!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXzScUqTFX4

[xmd 5a]

Posted this in the 2014 Appreciation thread, but it belongs here too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVSSESLaZHQ

The album is bound to be a contender for Best of '14.

[r_z]

Really looking forward to both Hail Mary Mallon and Shabazz Palaces.

Yet another good year for rap, it seems.

[TheyCallMeDrug]

new antwon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JtTrd_Xaj0

[elevenism]

i still can't get enough of Chance the Rapper's Acidrap.

It is refreshingly playful, like old Em.

[elevenism]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfoj-vSeVeI

someone on ets posted this.
at first i hated it.
then i wanted to hear it again.
now i can't get enuff.
thanks a lot.

[imail724]

How is no one talking about this?!
http://pitchfork-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/content/compton.jpg?wmode=transparent

Should have it's own damn thread.

[Mr. Blaileen]

I don't get too excited by a lot of new hip hop these days, but 'Compton' is an exception. I'm pumped for this!

1. "Intro"
2. "Talk About It" (feat. King Mez & Justus)
3. "Genocide" (feat. Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius & Candice Pillay)
4. "It’s All On Me" (feat. Justus & BJ the Chicago Kid)
5. "All In a Day’s Work" (feat. Anderson Paak & Marsha Ambrosius)
6. "Darkside/Gone" (feat. King Mez, Marsha Ambrosius & Kendrick Lamar)
7. "Loose Cannons" (feat. Xzibit & COLD 187um)
8. "Issues" (feat. Ice Cube & Anderson Paak)
9. "Deep Water" (feat. Kendrick Lamar & Justus)
10. Jon Connor - "One Shot One Kill" (feat. Snoop Dogg)
11. The Game - "Just Another Day" (feat. Asia Bryant)
12. "For the Love of Money" (feat. Jill Scott & Jon Connor)
13. "Satisfiction" (feat. Snoop Dogg, Marsha Ambrosius & King Mez)
14. "Animals" (feat. Anderson Paak)
15. "Medicine Man" (feat. Eminem, Candice Pillay & Anderson Paak)
16. "Talking to My Diary"

[Maximilian]

I don't get too excited by a lot of new hip hop these days, but 'Compton' is an exception. I'm pumped for this!

1. "Intro"
2. "Talk About It" (feat. King Mez & Justus)
3. "Genocide" (feat. Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius & Candice Pillay)
4. "It’s All On Me" (feat. Justus & BJ the Chicago Kid)
5. "All In a Day’s Work" (feat. Anderson Paak & Marsha Ambrosius)
6. "Darkside/Gone" (feat. King Mez, Marsha Ambrosius & Kendrick Lamar)
7. "Loose Cannons" (feat. Xzibit & COLD 187um)
8. "Issues" (feat. Ice Cube & Anderson Paak)
9. "Deep Water" (feat. Kendrick Lamar & Justus)
10. Jon Connor - "One Shot One Kill" (feat. Snoop Dogg)
11. The Game - "Just Another Day" (feat. Asia Bryant)
12. "For the Love of Money" (feat. Jill Scott & Jon Connor)
13. "Satisfiction" (feat. Snoop Dogg, Marsha Ambrosius & King Mez)
14. "Animals" (feat. Anderson Paak)
15. "Medicine Man" (feat. Eminem, Candice Pillay & Anderson Paak)
16. "Talking to My Diary"


I feel like the name MC Ren should be somewhere there, but whatever....

[Dr Channard]

How is no one talking about this?!
http://pitchfork-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/content/compton.jpg?wmode=transparent



I’m reading that the album is exclusive to Apple Music and iTunes? No physical release? :(
　
The Chronic went 3× Platinum, and 2001 is 6x Platinum. It’ll be interesting to hear what The Notorious Compton G, D.R.E. has for us after 16 years.

[Jinsai]

maybe the fact that there's no physical release is why there's been no leaks, which is interesting. You'd think an album this big would leak.

[imail724]

maybe the fact that there's no physical release is why there's been no leaks, which is interesting. You'd think an album this big would leak.
Yeah. The fact that he managed to keep the project completely under wraps until a week before release is pretty amazing.

I'd imagine there will be a physical release down the line.

[Dr Channard]

I'd imagine there will be a physical release down the line.

I really hope so. The music world is going to get very weird if artists start going exclusive to a particular music service, with no physical CD purchase option, forcing their fans to jump through hoops to get access to their music the legal way. Plus I like my tangible CD collection, that I fucking own. Archiving files on a hard drive, or streaming just isn’t the same.

[Krazy]

Dres album streams tonight starting at 6:00 Pacific time an Apple music for 3 hours apparently. Don't think I'll be able to listen to it but if anyone gets a chance post reviews!

[RJK]

Dres album streams tonight starting at 6:00 Pacific time an Apple music for 3 hours apparently. Don't think I'll be able to listen to it but if anyone gets a chance post reviews!

They put it up an hour earlier.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/station/idra.1027639986

[richardp]

Almost done with my first listen to Compton, and so far it's been pretty great. The beats on this album are fantastic. But, obviously.

[cashpiles (closed)]

Solid and surprising album. It sounds very different from 2001. More nuanced and jazzy. More melodic. Only song I don't really care for is the Eminem one.. He sounds so out of place on this album.

[Dr Channard]

Compton, the new album is good. Not The Chronic good, but it stacks up with 2001. Dre was more edgy back in his feudin’ days, I miss that.

[richardp]

Solid and surprising album. It sounds very different from 2001. More nuanced and jazzy. More melodic.

Agreed. It actually reminds me of TPAB at times.

[Sutekh]

Massive chronic & 2001 fan, really don't like the new one. Doesn't compare at all, sounds nothing like the previous 2, awkward melodies, so so guest stars. Just meh, really disappointed.

[Krazy]

Yeah, I'm having a hard time getting into this album. Nothing seems to "stick" or standout for me, pretty forgettable. It sounds modern so it's got that- wasn't really expecting The Chronic or 2001.

It seems like the vocals are constantly being fucked with (over production?). First few listens grade: "meh"

Maybe I'm just getting old, along with their voices. :/

[october_midnight]

Nah, I'm in the same boat. It's not bad by any stretch, it's got some memorable hooks and some of the beats are nothing but 'Only Dre could do this, ever.', but damn 2001 had soooo many memorable lines/hooks...it's almost as if it reached the zenith with that album haha.

[GulDukat]

I don't really like rap, all that much, but I'm looking forward to Compton and the N.W.A. movie.

[Sutekh]

It's growing on me a bit, I like the first 2 tracks, one shot one kill and satisfiction. Talking to my diary is almost like something off 2001 but the im just im just talkin to my diary bit sounds so clunky.

[Jon]

Herd mentality? (http://www.metacritic.com/music/compton/dr-dre/critic-reviews)

I'll be having my 4th listen today and honestly, I'm not really feeling any of this so far. I think o_m hit the nail on the head with his post above.

[Presideo]

It's a decent album - very far from great. At 16 tracks, there's plenty of fat that could have been trimmed. The tracks with hooks from the arbitrary R&B vocalists come off as particularly lazy and generic. Dre's production, as always, is very clean and polished; it's a solid foundation to an otherwise flimsy project. Tracks like Genocide, Deep Water, One Shot One Kill, and Animals are great, but you have to sift through a good bit of filler to find the true gems. As a whole, it tries desperately to shine next to Kendrick's 'Good Kid M.A.A.D City', but nothing is nearly as nuanced or endearing as that album. Honestly, even YG's Compton ode 'My Krazy Life', is a better West Coast rap album.

What I really find disheartening is how corporate the whole thing feels. Dre suddenly gets the inspiration to release a new album right around the time a NWA biopic gets released? Right around the time Apple Music gets rolled out? Right around the time West Coast rap sees a rebirth with the likes of Kendrick, YG, Schoolboy Q, etc? The whole thing reeks of a savy businessman being opportunistic, not a music artist feeling inspired to create something new.

[Krazy]

What I really find disheartening is how corporate the whole thing feels. Dre suddenly gets the inspiration to release a new album right around the time a NWA biopic gets released? Right around the time Apple Music gets rolled out? Right around the time West Coast rap sees a rebirth with the likes of Kendrick, YG, Schoolboy Q, etc? The whole thing reeks of a savy businessman being opportunistic, not a music artist feeling inspired to create something new.


This is another reason I'm having a difficult time with this album. In the end it shouldn't matter, but I'd be full of crap to say this hasn't crossed my mind numerous times.

[Sutekh]

Herd mentality? (http://www.metacritic.com/music/compton/dr-dre/critic-reviews)




Yeah I'm getting that impression tbh... so few reviews seem to mention what a departure this is from his other 2, it leaves me tempted to assume they don't really get it and are giving glowing reviews because they know he's a legend. And like... even if one likes the album, it's certainly not 9/10 or 8/10... I mean what would that make the chronic, an 11 out of 10 unesco world heritage artefact?

[Jon]

Yeah I'm getting that impression tbh... so few reviews seem to mention what a departure this is from his other 2, it leaves me tempted to assume they don't really get it and are giving glowing reviews because they know he's a legend. And like... even if one likes the album, it's certainly not 9/10 or 8/10... I mean what would that make the chronic, an 11 out of 10 unesco world heritage artefact?

Exactly, that's pretty much what I was getting at. The reviews seem to all be, "Yep, Dr. Dre is back and we should be happy". I'm very happy to have a new Dr. Dre album, I'm just not understanding why it hasn't gotten a "full" review yet.

EDIT: We need you, Big Ghost!

[Dr Channard]

And like... even if one likes the album, it's certainly not 9/10 or 8/10... I mean what would that make the chronic, an 11 out of 10 unesco world heritage artefact?

I’d have no problems with that score for The Chronic. The Chronic impeccably typified Gangsta rap and was a blueprint for the G-funk sound. Pretty much a flawless album.

Compton has pretty much zero G-funk going on in it. Instead it sounds like mostly above average hip hop with elements of… trap music, maybe? Compton is good, but it don’t come close to The Chronic.

[cashpiles (closed)]

This album is truly an album in the sense that it's cohesive. Each track continues the story being told. I've listened to it about 20 times already. From start to finish the album is solid. I'm impressed by how much Dr. Dre's rapping has improved. I'm impressed by how pop-savvy these songs are. Some of the songs address the racism and ignorance of black life that Kendrick Lamar dealt with so passionately on his album.

I must say that as a whole, 2001 had more mega great songs. However Compton has several great songs and the others are never below good.

(and the quality of this work is much better than any NIN album Trent Reznor has released in the 21st century [apart from Ghosts])

[Dr Channard]

This album is truly an album in the sense that it's cohesive. Each track continues the story being told. I've listened to it about 20 times already. From start to finish the album is solid.
Yeah, Compton is a grower. I like it a little bit more each time listening through. And it does feel like the tracks flow really well. I particularly like the tracks All In a Day's Work and Darkside/Gone. Hearing the clip of Eazy-E got me (Eazy-E CPT OG from the other side).


I must say that as a whole, 2001 had more mega great songs. However Compton has several great songs and the others are never below good.

Agreed. I think Dre went at 2001 from a business angle. The Chronic was different, it was more from the angle of Dre and his posse raising hell and turning heads, and in the process of doing that they made something truly groundbreaking. By 1999 Dre was long over being a ‘gangsta’ and had gone into businessman mode. I can’t blame him, he saw how that lifestyle turned out for Eazy, Tupac, and Biggie. 2001 felt calculated and designed for more potential hits and a better commercial performance than The Chronic. While 2001 did commercially outperform its predecessor, I still don’t see it being anything really groundbreaking like The Chronic.

I’ll need to give Compton more time to see where it fits in with the other two albums. But it’s still Dre making businessman decisions here. It can’t be just a coincidence that the new album appears out of the blue, and virtually coincides with the film, and the Apple music thing (and an Apple exclusive at that).


(and the quality of this work is much better than any NIN album Trent Reznor has released in the 21st century [apart from Ghosts])

Hip hop can be a difficult production to stack up against. Hip hop albums like Compton have the collaboration and writing and performance of many very talented artists bubbling up to the surface from one track to the next. Creatively and performancewise, Trent works with a few talented people, but he carries the bulk of nin studio albums himself.

[Jinsai]

What frustrates me most about 'Compton' is that it's not up there with his previous two albums by any stretch, but it's also not bad

Not bad as in...he put this shit together in the span of a year. A YEAR. What the hell does the stuff he's been sitting on for the last 16 sound like, I venture?

There's a good chance he hasn't been composing new material on a consistent basis for the past 16 years. That's part of the problem that meets expectations like you hit with an album release like this.

Also... just saying, there should be a separate thread for the Compton album. We sound like such a band of dorks discussing this album under the banner of a general "rap music" thread.

[Mr. Blaileen]

Overall, I like 'Compton', but I need to give it a few more listens yet. I think one of the issues this album has is that it's the Chinese Democracy of rap albums, so the hype for it/Detox was sky high. Those expectations were impossible to meet.

I'm not a huge fan of some of the guests on the album, but none of them are that bad, either. The beats are rich, luscious, and are sometimes more interesting than the vocalists themselves. I wish the album had more of that G-funk rap sound, but maybe Dre wasn't feeling that stuff so much as a 50 year old man. Who knows.

Overall, I like it.

[Jinsai]

I'm still really thrilled whenever there's an album that a lot of people get genuinely excited about.

This used to happen all the time.

I'm curious to see the numbers it sold though.

Actually, I think the album is great.

[Dr Channard]

I'm not a huge fan of some of the guests on the album, but none of them are that bad, either. The beats are rich, luscious, and are sometimes more interesting than the vocalists themselves. I wish the album had more of that G-funk rap sound, but maybe Dre wasn't feeling that stuff so much as a 50 year old man. Who knows.

Overall, I like it.

I don’t listen to much modern hip hop so I don’t really even know much about the artist it features. I also think it would have been great if some of the old guard had been more front and center on Compton. But using today’s stars is probably Dre’s way of keeping this album relevant to a 2015 audience, and if this is indeed his last album it may be his way of passing the torch.

I also miss those G-funk groves. I know we’re 20+ years removed from the early 90’s, but G-funk was the Compton sound, like Grunge was the Seattle sound. Not to detract from what he did with this album, which is pretty good, but calling the album Compton when it doesn’t have that sound is a little bit weird for me. What if Nirvana had put out its third and final album, calling it Seattle, but when you listened, it was a Post-metal album with little to no Grunge sound? I guess it shouldn’t matter if it’s a good album, but it would still be weird to me.

[Krazy]

Since I didn't see a thread in Le Cinema, just got back from Straight Outta Compton. If you're a fan- go see it. Great casting and moved really well for a nearly 2.5 hour movie. Nothing earth shattering as far as revealing things, just entertaining.

[botley]

Yep, it's pretty great, as far as biopics go. Quite a fine display of vintage 80s–90s recording gear, too (sadly, they used historically inauthentic LED lighting fixtures for the big stage performance scenes).

[Krazy]

(sadly, they used historically inauthentic LED lighting fixtures for the big stage performance scenes).

i didn't catch that- I saw standard "wall of bulbs" against the back of the stage.

One inacuracy I caught was during the open scene of 1986 Eazy- his vintage Chicago White Sox hat. Pretty sure the Sox didn't have that merchandise until very late 80's or 1990, could be wrong though.

[Dr Channard]

I was reading that Compton (the album) had been streamed 25 million times in its first week. Also that the album sold half a million downloads through iTunes. If accurate, that seems like a solid debut. I like the album, but I still refuse to buy it unless I can get it as a CD.

[Mr. Blaileen]

After listening to it for awhile now, Compton has grown on me a lot. I'm not sure why, but it took me a little bit to get used to the vocals. They sounded weird to me for some reason when I first heard the album. I got over that, and I've come to enjoy a lot of the features on the album. Kendrick Lamar crushes it on all of the songs he appears in. I don't really listen to The Game, but I really liked his performance on 'Just Another Day'.

The only songs I'm 'meh' about are 'Issues', 'For the Love of Money', and 'Animals'.

It's a shame this is Dre's last album.

[imail724]

Two new songs from MF DOOM. One with Ghostface and the other with Madlib (essentially a new Madvillain song):

DOOMSTARKS - Lively Hood
https://soundcloud.com/adultswimsingles/doomstarks

MED/Blu/Madlib - Knock Knock (feat. MF DOOM)
https://soundcloud.com/rappcats/knock-knock

[ziltoid]

Run The Jewels - Meow The Jewels is out not for free!

[GulDukat]

Any thoughts on the new Public Enemy?

[ziltoid]

Public Enemies Man Plans God Laughs is a really great album but its too short. I wish the songs were a bit longer since it leaves me wanting more.
To me its the surprise album of the year since I had no idea Chuck D released the album.
I only found out that Public Enemy had a new album through R.A. The Rugged Mans constant Facebook updates.

[GulDukat]

Public Enemies Man Plans God Laughs is a really great album but its too short. I wish the songs were a bit longer since it leaves me wanting more.
To me its the surprise album of the year since I had no idea Chuck D released the album.
I only found out that Public Enemy had a new album through R.A. The Rugged Mans constant Facebook updates.
PE releases new music every few years, but they get very little publicity for some reason. Kanye West releases a new album and you never hear the end of it.

[imail724]

I've always felt it was mainly The Bomb Squad's production that made early PE so good. Everything after just hasn't really done anything for me.

[mfte]

I am surprised how much I like the new Game album. I never thought much of him as a rapper. His voice is cool but his lyrics never transcended very high and he would constantly name drop. It's as if he heard the Kendrick album, and the Compton album and thought.... Maybe I should do it like that. Whatever he did, it worked because it is good.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI5QDao4qqY

[scorpiusdiamond]

Holy crap this is so good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dMxNxmIyBQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dMxNxmIyBQ)

[richardp]

https://images.rapgenius.com/c16287e16fcdaf2b2d9bec0b5634641f.600x600x1.jpg

What's everyone think of the new Drake LP??

This thing is soooooo long but it's really REALLY good. Surprisingly not anywhere near as much filler as you'd expect with a nearly 90 minute album. The track with Future is straight heat, tho.

Honestly between Drake, Bey, Kanye, and Kendrick all putting out fantastic records in just the first FOUR(!!!) months of the year, this is shaping up to be one of the strongest years for hip hip and R&B in a looong time.

[imail724]

Yeah I had the same reaction. For such a long album there's not really any filler. I'm digging it a lot.

[bobbie solo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOEDtqdbWAg

watching this at work tomorrow. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that an hour long Drake/Nardwuar interview will be fucking gold. They're like bff at this point.

[imail724]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOEDtqdbWAg

watching this at work tomorrow. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that an hour long Drake/Nardwuar interview will be fucking gold. They're like bff at this point.
I didn't think I'd be get through the whole thing, but I did and it's great. Drake seems like one of the nicest/coolest dudes and you can tell how much he admires and respects what the Nard-dog does.

[r_k_f]

Combo of 3 things I love... Portishead, Donald Glover and Mobb Deep


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WiSmTPy32c

[cashpiles (closed)]

http://www.thepantheronline.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Common_Black_America_Again.jpg

This is really good.

EDIT: I actually only listened to this one like 3 times. Totally different story with Outkast's Atliens. Incredible album.

[imail724]

Final Tribe album leaked

[cashpiles (closed)]

After removing Wheels of Steel, Outkast's Atliens is not only one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time, but also a classic album, period. Love it.

[steelnails95]

EL-P, Killer Mike, and Run the Jewels. Diggin this shit

[steelnails95]

https://youtu.be/OQ5rI461KNE

[steelnails95]

I highly suggest EL-P and Killer Mike.

[mfte]

I could count the number of "hip-hop artists" in the modern day that I actually give a fuck about on one hand. Kendrick, Joey Badass, Freddie Gibbs, maybe a few others. Everything today gets compared to the 90s scene I grew up on and very few can even approach the level of talent the 90s generation routinely displayed.


You mean to tell me that you think that this


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPuQxkonEGI


Is better than this?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvpWJKRPadk

[steelnails95]

I heard flyentology years ago. But have not really checked him out till now. Its almost like rap over reznor type beats, mixed with D12.

[mfte]

Yachty is alright. I haven't heard a whole lot of his stuff and that song you posted doesn't really do anything for me, but its by no means the worst thing out there today.

To be fair, I've never been much of a Fat Joe fan. I have his first two records and they're both underground classics, but the video you posted is from his third record, when he started sounding way too commercialized and studio-fabricated. I didn't care for that song at the time and it does nothing for me now. No grit or rawness to it; he's just tailgating with Puffy and Mase in the late-90s at that point.

But if we're talking about Jealous One's Envy-era Joe, then yea...he's killing Yachty and pretty much everything else I'm hearing today, save for Kendrick..


Im not a real Joe fan outside of tunes he's a guest on. I really like that song because of Nas, Pun and Raekwon being on it. Apparently Nas rewrote his verse after hearing Pun. Most Joe verses Im familiar with are from DITC. Such as this gem... although Big L always stole the show. hmm Big L and all that could have been.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObuP9mHWOdw

Shit is real, I used to steal but now own several businesses.
I dont know why but that line makes me chuckle every time.

[thelastdisciple]

Did anyone ever like Chamillionaire?

I kinda miss that guy, his time has certainly come and gone but damn you could not question the way that guy could ride a beat. Incredible flow! Always enjoyed listening to him.

[mfte]

Pretty creative. Some lost in La Mancha shit


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9L3j-lVLwk

[bobbie solo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxwsQOGA7oU


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leBkzbnpMAI

R.I.P.

[aggroculture]

Opinions on Cardi B? I think she's a talented rapper, but I don't like Bodak Yellow, it sounds to me like a rip off of Rihanna's Pour It Up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEGccV-NOm8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehcVomMexkY

here you can more clearly here her rhyming skills

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nFwjck_bY4

[bobbie solo]

she is friends with many of the DJ's and air talent on my station, Hot 97. She's been in and out of here for years now, so I'm very happy for her to finally break through. No one thought it would be this big though! She's very nice and has worked hard to get here. I hated Bodak at first, but came to really love it, part. each time the beat drops and she goes harder with her verses. She's not MC Lyte or Nas, but she does this current form of rap well for what it is.

[Xen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQZqPi1aHNo


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdX79pwyBII


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONyV610j4sU


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AxaBugdt2I


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZeTJ3PoXTI


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgoK1npGvoI

There will never be another rapper like Pac. He was able to combine all aspects of rap music together and make it work.

[ton]

Opinions on Cardi B? I think she's a talented rapper, but I don't like Bodak Yellow, it sounds to me like a rip off of Rihanna's Pour It Up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEGccV-NOm8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehcVomMexkY

here you can more clearly here her rhyming skills

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nFwjck_bY4

She can rap for sure. One of the better female rappers I've heard in a long time (I hate pointing out she's a female but they stand out in a very male dominant genre). Hopefully she inspires more women to start rapping, or if they already are, to really keep going against all odds.

[bobbie solo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg0TFQhHtUg

fiyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

[elevenism]

When Madvillainy (and most of the essential MF Doom) came out, I was borderline homeless and damn sure didn't have internet or any of that cool shit, so I totally missed it.
And now that I'm getting into those records, they just utterly blow my fucking mind. They are incredible in ways I never even imagined. He's like an evil genius.

[r_z]

Doom is one of the greatest lyricists in the rap game, no doubt.

"Couldn't find a pen, had to think of a new trick,
this one he wrote in cold blood with a toothpick."

[imail724]

When Madvillainy (and most of the essential MF Doom) came out, I was borderline homeless and damn sure didn't have internet or any of that cool shit, so I totally missed it.
And now that I'm getting into those records, they just utterly blow my fucking mind. They are incredible in ways I never even imagined. He's like an evil genius.
If you haven't listened to Vaudeville Villain yet I envy you. That's my favorite rap album of all time. Listen to it, then listen to it again.

[elevenism]

Doom is one of the greatest lyricists in the rap game, no doubt.

"Couldn't find a pen, had to think of a new trick,
this one he wrote in cold blood with a toothpick." Yeah, the motherfucker has whole bars that rhyme.
Also the rhythm of it I guess you would say? I'm not even sure how to describe it, but I'm talking about the way the flow kind of "dances" around the beat and bars start earlier or later than it seems like they're supposed to and like run longer than you would expect- it's nuts.

[elevenism]

If you haven't listened to Vaudeville Villain yet I envy you. That's my favorite rap album of all time. Listen to it, then listen to it again.

Thank you. Yeah, JESUS, it's fucking bad ass.
HAHAHAHAH
Conformation of your worst fears ever since his first years had a thirst for beers

Also, how bout this line from books of war:

Stop kiddin, middle men need ritalin
Hit me with the full tin of gin and i'm a kid again

[imail724]

Also, how bout this line from books of war:

Stop kiddin, middle men need ritalin
Hit me with the full tin of gin and i'm a kid againThat verse is actually from It Ain't Nuttin originally.

[Boots]

The only rap music I can listen to is Eminem. I like Not Afraid and that song Monster he does with Rihanna.

[bobbie solo]

new A$AP Ferg produced by Premo! Banger!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHuM2OD4fRk

[bobbie solo]

Black Thought came up to my station the other day and absolutely murdered the mic for ten minutes straight. Criminally underrated MC who has never risen to the level he should be at. This was trending #1 on twitter for most of Thursday I believe:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prmQgSpV3fA

[Pillfred]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=somkkeKpAyM&index=16&list=PLPEIafZF1rWkFak OhdLvspPopYHm72l6a

[r_z]

Jesus, this Black Thought freestyle pretty much murders every rap that's out there right now.

Blach Thought > Eminem.

Here's another example of his skills (skip to 2:15 for his verse):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsmXpIr1dbU

Speaking of Pharoahe Monch, his verse on this song (2:00) always comes to mind when speaking about the greatest verses ever recorded:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCz0NFZABiI

[mfte]

Damn.

https://www.spin.com/2018/05/pusha-t-the-story-of-adidon-drake-diss/

[bobbie solo]

Damn.

https://www.spin.com/2018/05/pusha-t-the-story-of-adidon-drake-diss/

Pusha destroyed his entire being with that diss track. No holds barred. Went after his damn right hand man's MS even. Goddamn.

[Boots]

Drake has paid tribute to the rapper Smoke Dawg, his former tour mate, who was murdered in Toronto on Canada Day.
https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-44679514

[imail724]

I love Drake. Don't give a fuck what anyone says. Scorpion is a great album.

[thefragile_jake]

Take Care by Drake is one of my favorite albums of the last 10 years, but I do understand some of his criticism. I like the new album, but I'm not sure if I love it. I feel like I like Side B more since its has more interesting production.

[ton]

There are some good moments on the album like the opening song, Talk Up, Nice For What, March 14, Emotionless

Sometime it feels like the album takes a dip with some of the ballads and I often like when Drake does rnb music. I think the album could've been edited down to make something great. There's too much, which has always been a problem with his albums.

[imail724]

I agree they could have trimmed the fat and made a 1 disc classic, but after 3 listens I dig it for what it is a lot. Standouts for me are Nonstop, Mob Ties, Sandra's Rose, Nice For What, and Ratchet Happy Birthday.

[elevenism]

Take Care by Drake is one of my favorite albums of the last 10 years, but I do understand some of his criticism. I like the new album, but I'm not sure if I love it. I feel like I like Side B more since its has more interesting production.
Drake is fucking awesome but "drake" is a team of people, you know? Songwriters, ghostwriters, image consultants.
So while I love the music, I just can't put him on par with like DOOM or Redman or Rah Digga or Busta or...you get the idea.

[sonic_discord]

Any Prof fans in here?

[bobbie solo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFyTzjJDeCk&ab_channel=bossplaya82

In honor of Aretha.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=6ZAc41N2QRU&ab_channel=Cha nceTheRapper

[Krazy]

Since Kill Shot was a big thing this past week (both in the Eminem thread and Internet), list your favorite/best diss songs:

1) 2Pac’s Hit ‘Em Up (nothing else to say here- the diss is great and love the beat. The shit-talking in this one is phenomenal)
2) Ice Cube’s No Vasoline (tells it like it is/how he feels, and a good reminder of how he’s one of the best ever)
— pretty much everything else—

Eminems “Girls” on The D12 album is really fucking good too. Reminder to myself to revisit the Jay-Z and Nas thing.

[Xen]

Off the top of my head:

Nas - Ether (Can't have a diss track list w/o this classic)
Canibus - 2nd Round KO (Best punch lines for its time)
2Pac - Against All Odds (Underrated Diss track)
Westside Connection - Cross 'Em Out and Put a 'K (Don't piss off Ice Cube!)
Westside Connection - King of the Hill (Ditto!)
Common - The Bitch in Yoo (But if you are gonna respond to Ice Cube, this is how it's done!)

[mfte]

Nas - Destroy and Rebuild
JayZ - Blueprint 2 (actually a really good response to Nas' Ether calling out alot of obvious hypocrisy)
Biggie - Kick In The Door
Rae and Ghost - Shark N****s (not exactly a diss track but it kind of is)

MF Doom is great. The record he did with Czarface is worthwhile to listen to.

[imail724]

MF Doom is great. The record he did with Czarface is worthwhile to listen to.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Viktor Vaughn - Vaudeville Villain is the greatest hip-hop album of all time. elevenism knows whats up.

[elevenism]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Viktor Vaughn - Vaudeville Villain is the greatest hip-hop album of all time. @elevenism (https://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=2475) knows whats up.
Yeah man DOOM is just...man. He's on another level. He really, really is.

Hey dude, and get this: I realized that his bastard lyrical offspring is Earl Sweatshirt.

Hearing them side by side in this track made me notice it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sMLUg7VdXo

Edit: while I'm here: the name is ODB and I'll beat your ass.

[Krazy]

Bugs Bunny rapping to 2Pac’s Hail Mary:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=231059557615036&id=228699724517686&refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2FHipHopHub24% 2Fvideos%2F231059557615036%2F&_rdr

[Graz]

New Cypress Hill “Elephants on Acid” is pure fire. Best thing they’ve done in 20 years. Production from Muggs is dark & album flows perfectly, no skippers here. Lyrics on point as well. Check it.

[elevenism]

If anything cooler than this ever comes out, you guys let me know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq5vHAvyNlg

[mfte]

I was at home sick this week and went down a youtube hole trying to understand, and cringe at new young rappers... much of this included watching a lot of No Jumper vlog. Something I noticed is that most of these rappers don't really perform their material live. Their DJ plays the album tracks and they just selectively yell or sing a long to their vocal tracks. It's like bad karaoke..... and most of them perform like this. The young audiences don't seem to mind. Am I old and out of touch? or is it the children who are wrong?

[Krazy]

Suge Knight is finally going to prison:

https://fox6now.com/2018/10/04/ex-rap-mogul-suge-knight-set-to-get-28-years-in-prison/

[GavinCollins420]

Vince Staples new album is fucking great, you guys.

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

[bobbie solo]

Vince Staples new album is fucking great, you guys.

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

Agreed. And this accompanying video is great:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz9-pXuvFEU&ab_channel=VinceStaples


New song from Cozz, a dude just signed to J. Cole's label. So he's a real rapper as such. Came up to my station the other day too. Nice guy.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKd7l_x57pU&ab_channel=HOT97

[elevenism]

So there's apparently a Flipmide reunion album on the way, with the whole squad: Busta, Spliff, Rampage, Baby Sham, Rah Digga, AND Lord Have Mercy!

I'm so damn happy!

The Imperial is one of my all time favorite albums. I saw them live in like 97.

I'm REALLY surprised Lord Have and Busta patched things up, but I'm glad they did.

[Patrick_Nicholas]

I have not been keeping up with the hip hop scene, but I am reviving this thread because the one about a certain song with a NIN sample (https://www.echoingthesound.org/community/threads/5456-Lil-Nas-X-samples-34-Ghosts-IV-Old-Town-Road) seems to be getting a bit off topic.

I'm a little put off by a recent trend in mainstream hip hop. A trend dominated by young men with face tattoos, short dreadlocks/braids (bright colors optional), short songs with laughable lyrics that make Kanye sound like a scholar, beats that are almost trap, vocals that at times barely even sound like rapping, etc. Most of it can be classified as "mumble rap" with 6ix9ine and Lil Pump being notable examples or rappers in the trend (the former has been getting lots of media attention lately, to the point where I could no longer ignore his existence).


This post is not to bash modern hip hop, but to ask how to get past the crap that's dominating the mainstream. Where do you go to discover better hip hop that doesn't get as much commercial recognition? Preferably relatively new artists (from the mid-00s and later). Most of you appear to have dug beneath the surface quite a while ago, citing performers to counter claims that hip hop is as bad as the mainstream is making it appear.

[Jon]

Where do you go to discover better hip hop that doesn't get as much commercial recognition?

I listen to a lot of podcasts and interviews. I'll usually check out someone I'm not familiar with if brought up by another musician/artist. Down the rabbit hole...

If you're looking for a (relatively) mainstream and accessible rapper with talent, J. Cole has been killing it for over a decade now.

[bobbie solo]

Meek Mill is a popular mainstream rapper who has a traditional flow you would probably like. He trend hops with those flows you don't like with certain songs and those are generally cringey, but the lion's share of his work is solid rap with a traditional flow.

This song is his biggest and he loses his fucking mind on it (at 1:37):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8gfqs1-NuE&ab_channel=MeekMill

Flatbush Zombies are excellent too. Major Gravediggaz vibes at times. Love their verses on this A$AP Mob posse cut:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmHkzRb90D8&ab_channel=ASAPROCKYUPTOWN


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ924VGx5n0&ab_channel=FlatbushZombiesTV

Your Old Droog just dropped a new album out of nowhere. Very old school sounding. Here's a track with Doom from it:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eczdp1OslHU&ab_channel=SunTzu

[r_z]

imo one of the best rappers this decade has been billy woods. He recently released an album called Hiding Places. Here's a video off it:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83F4JpVu61k

Listen to the whole album here: https://billywoods.bandcamp.com/album/hiding-places

[brotha52]

Fixed

https://youtu.be/PD24oApjci8

[bobbie solo]

Fixed

https://youtu.be/PD24oApjci8

You're helping the terrorists win by posting this.

[imail724]

You're helping the terrorists win by posting this.I'm now a Trump supporter.

[Archive_Reports]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSbJC4ClyFk

[ickyvicky]

https://youtu.be/-IdnRv04IZc

[OoopiDoop]

I've been listening to Jpeg Mafia lately. I really love his Veteran album. I did'nt even know that he was on tour with Vince Staples until like a week after they had done a show that was nearby me. And coachella is waaaay too expensive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO3mri47s7M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTuk6KdJVQk

[Helpmeiaminhell (is now in hell)]

Ice Cube is pushing 50 and still putting out bangers. Dude truly is the G.O.A.T.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCkblLhs0-4

[bobbie solo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hJ8lLNWrM4&ab_channel=MustardVEVO

Migos are trash but man this Mustard beat is so good.

[renton44]

Seeing the Wu-Tang Clan tonight and cannot describe how excited I am. These guys were my heroes back in freshman year of College.

[bobbie solo]

Seeing the Wu-Tang Clan tonight and cannot describe how excited I am. These guys were my heroes back in freshman year of College.

Been playing random favorites when I can after watch the Showtime doc:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWnPDY_rTuw


https://youtu.be/PUaJUGyJ1ho


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJk0p-98Xzc


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTauSjGsci8


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faR0NoRerQU


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjNN81SLt04

[r_z]

Ok, top 5 WU-albums. Go!

1. Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
2. Only Built For Cuban Linx (Raekwon solo)
3. Liquid Swords (Genius/GZA solo)
4. Ironman (Ghostface solo)
5. Ghost Dog Soundtrack (produces by The RZA)

https://www.cineprog.de/images/filmfotos/15402/Foto_2.jpg

[Krazy]

I miss rap groups. It’s mostly all solo stuff now with half-assed collaborations , and everyone and their great grandmother is a “producer”.

[imail724]

Ok, top 5 WU-albums. Go!

1. Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
2. Only Built For Cuban Linx (Raekwon solo)
3. Liquid Swords (Genius/GZA solo)
4. Ironman (Ghostface solo)
5. Ghost Dog Soundtrack (produces by The RZA)

https://www.cineprog.de/images/filmfotos/15402/Foto_2.jpg

1. Enter The Wu
2. Ironman
3. Return to the 36 Chambers - The Dirty Version
4. Supreme Clientele
5. Fishscale

Also all the Czarface albums and the first Gravediggaz album.

[mfte]

Ok, top 5 WU-albums. Go!



1. 36 Chambers
2. Cuban Linx
3. Liquid Swords
4. Supreme Clientele
5. Wu Tang Forever

[renton44]

Ok, top 5 WU-albums. Go!

1. Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
2. Only Built For Cuban Linx (Raekwon solo)
3. Liquid Swords (Genius/GZA solo)
4. Ironman (Ghostface solo)
5. Ghost Dog Soundtrack (produces by The RZA)

https://www.cineprog.de/images/filmfotos/15402/Foto_2.jpg

1. Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
2. Liquid Swords - (Genius/GA)
3. Only Built for Cuban Linx (Raekwon)
4. Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version (Ol' Dirty Bastard)
5. Iron Man (Ghostface)

They were fucking awesome last night but Method Man was a no show for reasons unknown. So, that part was disappointing but if you get 8 out of 9/10 members of the Clan, its a good night. If you are going and want the limited city specific shirts in Large or XL, you should probably get there early as the Boston shirts sold out pretty quickly. They went on around 9:15ish. All of 36 Chambers and some of the usual solo stuff. ODB's son was a highlight (Brooklyn Zoo). Such a great night.

[bobbie solo]

1. 36 Chambers
2. Cuban Linx
3. Gravediggaz
4. Return to the 36 Chambers The Dirty Version
5. Liquid Swords

This is so hard. Wu-Tang Forever, Tical, Ironman, Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars, Supreme Clientele, Bulletproof Wallets, Heavy Mental & The Swarm are all riiiiiiight there for me after #5.

[MrLobster]

I've recently picked up most* of that Soul Jazz "Boombox (https://www.discogs.com/label/1250256-Boombox-4)" series (subtitled: "Early Independent Hip Hop, Electro and Disco Rap 1979-82/3"), anyone else explore this at all?

* - missing the first Boombox compilation

[Archive_Reports]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9zLIS6sb8M

[renton44]

I saw Snoop Dogg and Ice-T last night (with a guest appearance of Warren G) and all I can say is if the Snoop Dogg & Friends tour is coming anywhere near you, GO. Easily one of the most fun shows I have ever gone to.

[Krazy]

I saw Snoop Dogg and Ice-T last night (with a guest appearance of Warren G) and all I can say is if the Snoop Dogg & Friends tour is coming anywhere near you, GO. Easily one of the most fun shows I have ever gone to.

It’s been 10 years- Lollapalooza 2009- since I saw Snoop my first and only time and agreed. Dude knows how to throw a party. Was awesome, and I never saw a bigger crowd than him before (The Killers were the headliner that night). Can’t even imagine how empty the north end of Grant Park was that day, don’t remember who was playing at the time.

[bobbie solo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsNyO6y7oB8&list=PLnL5pKCGYELKpb54Rk7U4-3jtT482VvLp&ab_channel=A.J.Munson-Topic


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ilc-Bsmtck&list=PLnL5pKCGYELKpb54Rk7U4-3jtT482VvLp&index=2&ab_channel=A.J.Munson-Topic


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg1Eg7_yyKk&list=PLnL5pKCGYELKpb54Rk7U4-3jtT482VvLp&index=3&ab_channel=Tuckdragon


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzqrFlOvMCQ&ab_channel=EpicBeardMen-Topic


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxkn0-UoH4Q&ab_channel=GhostfaceMusic


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqSjZEnSVTM&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=Br onxSlang-Topic

[bobbie solo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGUiH87kLPI&ab_channel=DocLJ

[bobbie solo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1vKOchATXs

[imail724]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1okqvhq7ZaI

[MrLobster]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsPS0lN-ulY

This is a throw down, a showdown... hell no I can't slow down, it's gonna go...

[imail724]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1okqvhq7ZaI


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcloEzJU27E

No Danny Brown fans round here?

[bobbie solo]

Both these new songs do absolutely nothing for me. Like his older stuff.

Been going through GDP's stuff again this week...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7bvCePKUUk&ab_channel=GNARVILLE


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-aaPN7z_nI&ab_channel=IamnotGDP


https://youtu.be/q2A0QACc5Q8


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmddwIHz75M&ab_channel=pistol%2Fslangcorp


https://youtu.be/qtji5KUkBuY


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pECLjpu5ZOk&ab_channel=TheSuperMediocre

[MrLobster]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiusDE0KND8

[mfte]

Looking forward to the new Danny Brown. The 2 singles he has out are good. QTip produced a lot of it from what I understand.

The new Conway is out but I havent listened to it yet. Those Griselda guys are seriously saturating the market.