Good hip-hop/rap?

[DocBalance]

Hey Escapees,

I'm lookin' to expand my musical horizons a bit, and I was wanting to know if anyone had some good rap/hip-hop suggestions? My only caveats are these:
1. Minimal swearing. I'm sorry, but I don't like to listen to somebody rape the English language for 3 minutes. I don't mind a few swears, but if every third word would have to be censored in the presence of children, keep it to yourself.
2.Thought-provoking lyrics. Not everything has to be a zen riddle, but I'd prefer messages more complex than "I got drunk and beat my girlfriend", since I really have no interest in the faux-gangsta lifestyle some singers portray.
3. Keep it varied. This basically means if it sounds like "Single Ladies" or ANYTHING by Justin Bieber, then for the love of God, keep it away from me. As long as the same lyrics don't keep repeated over and over and over again, though, this shouldn't be a hard one to meet.
If it helps, current hip-hop and rap artists I like are Fort Minor, Flobots, Toby Mac, and John Reuben. Thanks in advance.

 

[madcap2112]

The classic old-school stuff; Run-DMC, Public Enemy, N.W.A., Tupac, etc. As far as current stuff, I'm not too well-versed, although I'm really into Mos Def at the moment.

 

[JimmerDunda]

I would maybe suggest Bliss N eso. "Sea is Rising" is one of their best pieces.

To be quit honest eminem has some alright pieces but he kills your first priority. I would maybe suggest "Toy soldiers."

Otherwise 2pac has some alright pieces as well.

 

[Snarky Username]

Music is like candy. It can be sweet, bitter, sour, spicy, and usually gets messy quickly. But the worst part is always the rapper.

But I keed, I keed.

I've always seen rap as poetry more than anything. Well, poetry when it's not about shooting hoes while you have sex with them. Speech in rapid succession is not music to me.

OP: Public Enemy is pretty good, in fact most of early stuff is good, as is the case with all genres of music

EDIT: People seemed to have misinterpreted me. I didn't say that rap was bad, I said that I've seen it as poetry more than music. Music to me has a tune and such. I've always seen rap as having its merits in poetry.

 

[JimmerDunda]

Music is like candy. It can be sweet, bitter, sour, spicy, and usually gets messy quickly. But the worst part is always the rapper.

I've always seen rap as poetry more than anything. Well, poetry when it's not about shooting hoes while you have sex with them. Speech in rapid succession is not music to me.

Nice contribution to the thread buddy. He asked "What is some good rap" not "Lets talk about rap and start a flamewar." If you have nothing to add to the conversation at hand than why post at all? To flaunt your "superior" taste in music?

 

[Hazy]

Spoiler: Aesop Rock/Nujabes

Spoiler: Beastie Boys

 

[Spaceman_Spiff]

May I suggest some Gorillaz seeing as it was De la Soul who got me into rap.

 

[Lord George]

I believe this to be the pinnacle of hip hop, its incredibly thought provoking, can you in fact touch him?

 

[Hutchy_Bear]

Go for some T-Pain, Nappy Boy, B.I.G, Kanye and Timberland. They don't all meet your three requirments (especially Timberland - Bounce!) but they are all very good (well most songs) and well worth a listen.

 

[Snarky Username]

Music is like candy. It can be sweet, bitter, sour, spicy, and usually gets messy quickly. But the worst part is always the rapper.

I've always seen rap as poetry more than anything. Well, poetry when it's not about shooting hoes while you have sex with them. Speech in rapid succession is not music to me.

Nice contribution to the thread buddy. He asked "What is some good rap" not "Lets talk about rap and start a flamewar." If you have nothing to add to the conversation at hand than why post at all? To flaunt your "superior" taste in music?

I simply said that rap has more merits as poetry than as music. The quote is just something that someone said that made me giggle for a bit.

 

[ethaninja]

Well as I hate this new shit, I would go with someone like M.C Hammer. Mind you, I'm pretty much everything old school.

 

[khaimera]

Look up Styles of Beyond. Or Atmosphere. Or Automato.

 

[DocBalance]

The classic old-school stuff; Run-DMC, Public Enemy, N.W.A., Tupac, etc. As far as current stuff, I'm not too well-versed, although I'm really into Mos Def at the moment.

Music is like candy. It can be sweet, bitter, sour, spicy, and usually gets messy quickly. But the worst part is always the rapper.

I've always seen rap as poetry more than anything. Well, poetry when it's not about shooting hoes while you have sex with them. Speech in rapid succession is not music to me.

I would maybe suggest Bliss N eso. "Sea is Rising" is one of their best pieces.

To be quit honest eminem has some alright pieces but he kills your first priority. I would maybe suggest "Toy soldiers."

Otherwise 2pac has some alright pieces as well.

Madcap: Thanks, classic has always been where I've leaned as well.

JimmerDunda: Haha, yeah, I've tried to get Eminem a couple times, but I just can't stand that level of swearing. Just a personal thing, I don't hold it against him or the people that like him, it just doesn't work for me though. Bliss N. eso is pretty cool, though.

Stranger:....let's not get into that, okay? I used to think the same way, believe me, but Mike Shinoda really opened my eyes to how it could be, that and to a degree DoseOne as well, though I consider him so much more than a musical artist, which is why he isn't on the list.

 

[Space Spoons]

J-Live - You might recognize some of his stuff from the Tony Hawk games. Definitely well deserved attention.

Spoiler: Braggin' Writes

Arrested Development - Classic stuff. Enjoying a comeback recently.

Spoiler: Miracles

MF Doom - Kind of at the other end of the spectrum regarding lyrics. Doom's got a great sense of humor about what he does, and it shows.

Spoiler: Old School (feat. Talib Kwali)

 

[Gladion]

Music is like candy. It can be sweet, bitter, sour, spicy, and usually gets messy quickly. But the worst part is always the rapper.

I've always seen rap as poetry more than anything. Well, poetry when it's not about shooting hoes while you have sex with them. Speech in rapid succession is not music to me.

Nice contribution to the thread buddy. He asked "What is some good rap" not "Lets talk about rap and start a flamewar." If you have nothing to add to the conversation at hand than why post at all? To flaunt your "superior" taste in music?

Maybe you should get your head out of your ass. Seriously, discussions expand in everyday life, why should that be prohibited on forums? It's not like he talked about how his old teddy bear looks (like I do).
There was also nothing at all that would even remotely be considered a "flame war" argument in there - at least by rationally thinking people.

Why do I even waste my time responding to you?

OT: I'm not very much into rap music myself, so I cannot help you, but I'd like to see some more suggestions here. I know you don't even need to try looking into the main stream stuff, but that's about it...

 

[fix-the-spade]

Spoilered for the sake of user's bandwidth:<spoiler=Style of beyond : The story begins> <youtube=Yqy-TyqAE9A>
<spoiler=Hilltop Hoods: Nosebleed Section><youtube=k8jVw0VFK1Q>
<spoiler=DJ SHadow : Six Days><youtube=_JYMMRrmWpc>
<spoiler= Eric B ft Rakim : Follow the leader><youtube=NLokvR5UsQQ>
<spoiler= Kanye West : Jesus Walks><youtube=X-3gXet-ljs>
<spoiler= Kanye West (again!): Spaceship><youtube=1uhb7iaIECc>
Unfortunately hip hop is no different to other genres (not to me at least), just because one act's track is amazing doesn't mean their next one will be too, so judge it all on a song by song basis.

Although I recommend the albums Follow the Leader (Eric B & Rakim) and College Drop out (Kanye West) whole heartedly, even to people who don't like rap.

 

[Shifter.Unit]

Really like Mos Def. Also Clipse, Afu-Ra, Cool kids, Gang Starr, Hieroglyphics, lupe fiasco, Jurassic 5, NAS, Mobb Deep, People Under the Stairs, Dead Prez.... to name a few.

 

[photog212]

Aesop Rock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXAKOfk7_ho

Sage Francis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtNMly0aDUk


I'm not a huge fan of hip hop but I absolutely adore these guys' music, definitely worth a listen.

I would embed a video if I knew how.

 

[SturmDolch]

Spoiler: The Streets

I love his stuff. He has some hilarious lyrics and some deep ones.

I'd also recommend the Beastie Boys, Run-DMC, and if you don't mind lyrics in different languages:

Spoiler: Stress

Sure, he's a "gangsta" rapper, but he raps in French and that's pretty cool.

Spoiler: Gimma

Swiss-German this time, Graubuntner-dialect. This guy doesn't seem to take himself too seriously. He does the whole "gangsta" thing but in an almost ironic way.

Spoiler: Fatal Bazooka

Again, French. These guys are from France, though. They're hilarious, and make fun of the gangsta-rap phenomenon.

 

[mambo4dude]

MF Doom all the way, a crazy rapper with a metal face and music withan experimental tinge