One iTunes Credit - Help me find one great, obscure rap song to buy

spool32

Inspired by yesterday's D&D [chat], I'd like your best recommendations for less-than-mainstream rap. I have only one iTunes credit to use, so make it good.

Criteria:
I don't like rhymes off the beat or rappers who ignore the time and pace of their own track (intentionally or otherwise).
Nothing before the era of The Chronic.
Social and Political commentary is OK, blatant misogynistic lyrics not so much. For example, "99 Problems" is acceptable, but "Bitches ain't shit" is not.
No Nerdcore please. I love it but it's not what I'm looking for. Likewise no Weird Al.
No Lonely Island - it would just be redundant.

OK, GO!

Esh

spool32 wrote:

Inspired by yesterday's D&D [chat], I'd like your best recommendations for less-than-mainstream rap. I have only one iTunes credit to use, so make it good.

Criteria:
I don't like rhymes off the beat or rappers who ignore the time and pace of their own track (intentionally or otherwise).
Nothing before the era of The Chronic.
Social and Political commentary is OK, blatant misogynistic lyrics not so much. For example, "99 Problems" is acceptable, but "Bitches ain't shit" is not.
No Nerdcore please. I love it but it's not what I'm looking for. Likewise no Weird Al.
No Lonely Island - it would just be redundant.

OK, GO!

You're missing out on some of the best hip-hop available by refusing to listen to anything pre-Chronic, but whatever.

Try "The Only One" by Jemini from his Ghetto Pop Life album. It's the first album that Danger Mouse ever produced.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghetto_Pop_Life

Video/Song under the spoiler...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge4-Kb3J-Eg

Rderdall

Esh wrote:

spool32 wrote:

Inspired by yesterday's D&D [chat], I'd like your best recommendations for less-than-mainstream rap. I have only one iTunes credit to use, so make it good.

Criteria:
I don't like rhymes off the beat or rappers who ignore the time and pace of their own track (intentionally or otherwise).
Nothing before the era of The Chronic.
Social and Political commentary is OK, blatant misogynistic lyrics not so much. For example, "99 Problems" is acceptable, but "Bitches ain't shit" is not.
No Nerdcore please. I love it but it's not what I'm looking for. Likewise no Weird Al.
No Lonely Island - it would just be redundant.

OK, GO!

You're missing out on some of the best hip-hop available by refusing to listen to anything pre-Chronic, but whatever.

Try "The Only One" by Jemini from his Ghetto Pop Life album. It's the first album that Danger Mouse ever produced.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghetto_Pop_Life

I agree with this. This is a great album, and the Ghetto Pop Life intro is totally badass.

I also will recommend these two songs in addition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfq-qcwo_78 and also http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNGyHQwYHO8

Both are on my list of favorite rap/hip-hop songs.

iMatt

Stutter Rap - Morris Minor and the Majors.

Jokerman

I like Tyler the creator but he's...yeah pretty terrible with the homophobia.

Esh

Jokerman wrote:

I like Tyler the creator but he's...yeah pretty terrible with the homophobia.

And misogyny, and rape, and everything offensive you can imagine. ; ) Also, raps off the beat, a lot.

Skilled though. Really skilled.

SatanIsMyMotor

Anything by Shad off his album TSOL. Rose Garden is a great tune.

Organichu

Have you heard Little Brother?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx5YJK4BocY

schuss

SA Smash - Illy
King Fantastic - Why Where What
Mr Lif - The Sun
Anything Dr. Octagon
Cage - Perfect World

No idea how obscure they are, but I like these songs.

LiroXIV

If you're into people rapping over NFL theme songs, why not "Rise to Glory"?

Esh

LiroXIV wrote:

If you're into people rapping over NFL theme songs, why not "Rise to Glory"?

That was...uh...something else.

SeñorAmor

My Projects by Coo Coo Cal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpaWZOI60-A

JustPlainPavek

I don't know if all of this qualifies as less than mainstream, but here's some options:

Aesop Rock — Battery
Bullfrog — Reverse Psychology
Common Market — Gol'Dust
Deltron 3030 — 3030
El-P — Stepfather Factory
Fort Minor — High Road
GZA — Liquid Swords
Handsome Boy Modeling School — The Truth
IAM — Le Côté Obscur (French)
Jurassic 5 — Concrete Schoolyard
K'Naan — Take a Minute
Latyrx — Storm Warning
Mars Ill — Planes and Trains
Nextmen — Fire Walking
Ozomatli — Vocal Artillery
Public Enemy — Terminator X to the Edge of Panic (preceded the Chronic, but I'm on an alphabetical roll here)
Quannum MCs — Blue Flames
Roots Manuva — Swords in the Dirt
Saul Williams — Om Nia Merican
Theory Hazit — Ghetto
Ugly Duckling — Opening Act
Various Artists — Poetry is for Fairies, Side A
Wugazi — Shame On Blue (whole album is downloadable free, here)

X, Y, and Z, you're own your own.

dbrock270

Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded
Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full

Esh

dbrock270 wrote:

Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded
Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full

So good, but the OP apparently dislikes anything before The Chronic.

dbrock270

Esh wrote:

dbrock270 wrote:

Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded
Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full

So good, but the OP apparently dislikes anything before The Chronic.

Didn't notice that part of OP.

Uhhh, Outkast - Ghetto Musik

Akilae729

"The F-Word" - Cannibal Ox

"Woman Tonight" - Felt

"La Revolución" - Ugly Duckling

"If I May" - Blackalicious (If I only had one credit I would probably go with this one)

EDIT: Also check out "San Fransisco Knights" - People Under the Stairs

mts

K'naan has much more rappier stuff than Take a Minute, but he is pretty awesome, though i don't know if I would classify it as rap.. its different but good. his latest albumn is a bit more songy than his older stuff

spool32

Good suggestions so far! I'm working through them, but if you've got one great track you think I should buy, please throw it up here.

Esh, I don't hate pre-Chronic... I just know it already. Trying to broaden my horizons a bit, as I fell out of the scene about that time... no real exposure to the lesser-knowns since that record came out. Give me a little credit, eh?

Wulf

Not super ancient, but I enjoy cranking this up on occasion
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/insane-in-the-brain/id203303423?i=203303701

JustPlainPavek

mts wrote:

K'naan has much more rappier stuff than Take a Minute, but he is pretty awesome, though i don't know if I would classify it as rap.. its different but good. his latest albumn is a bit more songy than his older stuff

Hmm, that's true. I love all his stuff, but I guess "ABCs (feat. Chubb Rock)" is probably the most rap-style bit on his newest album.

mr_mich

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aofoBrFNdg&ob=av2e

starmanbrand

My current rap obsession? Bambu. Haven't listened to anyone else, unless they appear on his track, in literal months. Filipino rapper, political, big on minority and female rights.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAIhcwKPr7w&feature=related

and for a quicker song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OZ3H5WvVEc

Mr Obersmith

Dangerdoom - Old School Rules
MF Doom with Talib Kweli produced by Danger Mouse soooo freakin good.

Hail Mary Mallon - Breakdance Beach old school vibe but pretty new.

Bluefoot

Brother Ali - The Puzzle

Clint Eastwood

Lil B - I'm God

yeah yeah i know, based god woop woop and all that, but this song is really good and has a gorgeous imogen heap rip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG6zsHUCum4

FirstComradeStalin

AZ - The Come Up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIhxgeki3BQ

Chases Street Demons

If you can only buy ONE rap song, it must be Erule ' Listen Up'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah1aHaPHfcM

edit for spellin'