The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Statutory [Rap]
aquabat
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Im itching for some new hip hop (and none of that smooth R&B stuff Cel likes to push on me either). I've been devouring a lot of Roots Manuva lately. I heard the new Jurassic 5 album which I dont like. I think i must be one of the few people in the world not to like J5. Whatevs.
aquabat on
0
Posts
De La Soul never gets old.
Oh, good. They just lack a lot of spark in their music. The samples are good and the rapping is adequate, but it doesnt come together to create anything that grabs my attention
This is entirely true. I saw them a few years ago. I was all boozed up on beer and love. The crowd was so into it, it was fucking fantastic
But specifically new? I got nothing.
https://medium.com/@alascii
Dizee Rascal is like the Streets, but even more awesome.
I loves me some Dizee Rascal.
Better than The Streets? Holy fuck, I gotta get this.
Check out the following Albums:
CunninLynguists - Will rap for food
CunninLynguists - Southern Underground
Aesop Rock - Labor Days
The Streets - Original Pirate Material
MF Doom - Vaudeville Villian
https://medium.com/@alascii
I didnt see the part where Mike Skinner professes himself to actually be a rapper.
People Under the Stairs - Incredibly mellow Hip-Hop. Perfect for driving, kicking back, falling asleep to, or (if you're so inclined) drinking and smoking to. Excellent beats, insightful lyrics with rhymes that are often complex and come out of left field.
MC Supernatural - I saw him perform once a few years ago, and was absolutely blown away, and hooked from then on. The man is a walking whirlwind of homonyms, and can match the style of any MC you yell out. He also did this thing where he has everyone in the crowd hold up a random object and he does what he calls the Hip-Hop Obstacle Course, grabbing whatever is in front of him and incorporating it flawlessly into an ongoing rhyme. Fucking amazing performer.
Ill Al the Anglo Saxon - A local guy, a white rapper who simply doesn't care what color his skin is, and doesn't use it as street cred like certain other white rappers. The guy has an honest, genuine love for hip-hop and it shines through in every beat and rhyme he puts together. Amazing performer, and an all-around laid back cat.
Drunken Immortals - Instrumental Hip-Hop. Very ethnic, urban sound - rough, but not unrefined. Very spiritual and prolific. Brad B's solo stuff is just as good, and it's worth checking out as well.
Living Legends - The name pretty much says it all. They've been around for a really long time, and they're a very big part of the Los Angeles Hip-Hop scene.
The Perceptionists (and subsequently Mr Lif and Akrobatik) - Really fun to see perform. Political and socially charged, but they're out to have a good time, as well. Sort of old-school style rhymes and beats, but they're definitely on top of their game. They really get the crowd going, and it's the type of Hip-Hop that you can dance to, or just kick back and nod your head.
RU-SKI - I'm just starting to get into his stuff, but I once saw him perform a while back, and it was straight up one MC, one DJ type stuff and a lot of spoken word. Really fast lyricist, very insightful and has a powerful stage presence. He did a little bit of breaking while rhyming, and I was really impressed. Really solid stuff, and I'm eager to hear more and more of it.
I know that, I was just pointing it out.
What's the opinion of Hardest Way? I was really buying the hype but the few songs I've heard on the radio get a pretty big 'meh' from me.
https://medium.com/@alascii
I'd dare say if you like the eclectic style of Roots Manuva then theoretically you should probably like The Streets
It's enjoyable, but it's not nearly as good as Original Pirate Material or A Grand Don't Come for Free.
I think the last hip hop release that got me even remotely excited was Beauty and the Beat by Edan. It's like a lo-fi, super reverby, sort of trippy hip hop with strong roots in old school rap. All the stuff by Edan is pretty cool, although Beauty and the Beat is definitely the most interesting of all his stuff.
I did like the CunninLynguists a lot when I just found them. The album A Piece of Strange is a full-length concept piece that tries to trace the breakdown of modern man, and if I understand it correctly they resume by saying more or less we fucked up by losing our way with the Lord, although this is open for interpretation. It's completely not obvious that the album is telling a full story at first, but after you realize that's what's going on and you begin to listen more closely, you see the flow between song and song and concept and concept. "Brain Cell" is this brilliant song that goes on about how the individual is trapped and the lyrics repeated references to metaphors of cages or squares or boxes. It's pretty stunning when you really wrap your head around it. Anyway, I think there's other boards where other people have discussed this whole topic more in-depth (that's where I first realized the album was even doing something bigger). Aside from that it's really listenable, too. I'd recommend it to everyone.
Otherwise the other most interesting thing that seems to be going on is Madlib and MF DOOM. Madvillainy was incredible and the follow-up to that is easily one of my most anticipated albums of this year.
Also, it should be noted, Illmatic was in 1994, so let's not get too premature here.
Man, I fucking hated A Piece of Strange. CunninLynguists first two albums appealed to me because of their extremely funny and catchy songs as well as their more serious songs. I didn't find any catchy beats on A Piece of Strange. I didn't love CunninLynguists first two albums a lot the first times I heard them, though they quickly grew on me. A Piece of Strange never grew on me. Should I give it another chance?
Edit: Dodgeblan, are you sure Dizee is the right name? I'm not finding anything on him.
Edit 2: Dizzee Rascal?
CunninLynguists earlier albums had tons of clever shit, that jumped right out at me as being clever.
I R boring.
thats it. Give Boy In Da Corner a listen. From what you've listed, I can pretty much guarantee you will like it.
And if you want to try specific tracks,
Fix up look sharp
Jezebel
Showtime
https://medium.com/@alascii
They're the only hip hop I've heard that I've liked, like ever.
No clue, I'm more excited about Doom/Ghostface though. Too bad it's still a ways off.
Jurassic 5's having their new album release party type dealie here in Seattle at the EMP followed by a show at the Showbox.
I already got tickets to the EMP dealie, and will probably go buy advance tickets for the show after it.
Anyone else here dig Macklemore? Probably my favorite right now (give his song, "White Priviledge" a listen), though I'm not sure if he's well known outside of the NW.
Together on "the Mask" they were great. Fishscale was a pretty solid record too. Had a spot on NPR for some reason.
Laaaame
I personally really like 50 Cent's debut. Oh, and I love Marshall Mathers, his whole catalogue. I think Eminem is really really talented actually.
My second favorite Wu-Tang release to Enter the 36 Chambers.
I was just about to say, the GZA's opening verse on Clan in Da Front is just about as tight.
Dizzee is very different though.
Any suggestions?
See above, Mos Def and Talib Kweli- BlackStar
I recommend Lupe Fiasco if you havent already heard him. Hes underground here in Chicago. Im not a big fan, but hes supossed to be good.
The man makes being pissed off incredibly compelling listening.
Speaking of misogyny, whats the opinion on The Mighty O?
I'm really looking forward to Idlewild, and although alot of people aren't too fussed about Mighty O i think it sounds great. Both Andre and BB are on top of their game.
https://medium.com/@alascii
aqua...have you checked out Common? I think you'd dig him.