Good hip-hop/rap?

[Fightgarr]

snip

I am a lover of hip-hop and would love to point you to the Escapist Mic Club, a user group for hip-hop fans: Right here [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Mic-Club-The-Escapist-Hip-Hop-Group].

If you would like to know my personal favorites I would check out:
Blackalicious - Their album Blazing Arrow is a great place to start.

Nujabes - Nujabes is a DJ who was responsible for producing all the music for the anime Samurai Champloo, he also produces a lot of quality hip-hop. Check him out. His album Metaphorical Music is a good place to start.

De La Soul - You may know them as the rappers featured on Feel Good Inc. by the Gorillaz, but they have many albums to their name. The Art Official Intelligence albums would be a good place to start.

Jurassic 5 - One of my favorite hip-hop groups of all time. Their album Power in Numbers is of a high degree of quality, check it out.

P.O.S. - An angry, but very well-spoken and thoughtful rapper. His album Ipecac Neat is fantastic, but if you can find Audition and Never Better they are also great. His group Doom Tree are also very good if you feel like checking them out.

That's just the short list. Look around, there's a lot of great hip-hop out there.

 

[Blue Musician]

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.

As a musician, I consider rap, hip hop and reggae some VERY bad music genres, and some other musicians don't even consider them to be music at all, just rubbish. I think Eminem could be something interesting for you, but unfortunately I don't even know any other, and as I said, I consider them the lowest music genre.

 

[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?

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...

The thread clearly stated "what is some good rap" not "come in here and talk about our distaste for rap. It's his opinion and yes he can hold it, but coming in this thread just to spout how much you hate rap is pointless and kinda stupid. Its like butting in on a conversation to state your distaste for the topic at hand. Its rude and shows you have a bit of insecurity that it bothers you that much that you have to state your dislike for it other than... Oh I don't know... AVOID THE TOPIC TO BEGIN WITH?

Than again why do I why waste my time with a moron who makes redundant assumptions?

 

[DarkBlueDarZ]

Lupe Fiasco, only one song was more popular and made the charts but hes other stuff in his album ( The Cool ) its quite addictive after you hear it

Streets On Fire is amazing song.. you might not like it, but it takes skill to rap to that song.

Im not really much of a rap fan but Lupe Fiasco is quality

 

[DocGame]

THe most story telling or thought provoking rapper in my opinion is Immortal Technique

 

[Daveman]

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.

I disapprove of people disapproving of swearing.

Anyway, on topic, Eminem is awesome. Try Stan, Without Me and Deja Vu.

 

[JimmerDunda]

Gorillaz or Tupac are my suggestions. I don't listen to this genre of music that often, besides the aforementioned bands/artists. So I can't give a super, informed opinion. But I do love Gorillaz, they opened me up to a lot of the other pop/rap and r&b artists out there.

Gorillaz are rap? I always thought they were alternative?

 

[Spaghetti]

How about a new "Sub-Genre"? Chap-Hop! It kind of fits what you want. It's certainly got origional lyrics and no swearing.

I must admit that apart from one or two Eminem's sillier "songs", I do actually prefer "Chap-Hop" over Hip-Hop

 

[DocBalance]

As a musician, I consider rap, hip hop and reggae some VERY bad music genres, and some other musicians don't even consider them to be music at all, just rubbish. I think Eminem could be something interesting for you, but unfortunately I don't even know any other, and as I said, I consider them the lowest music genre.

That's cool, you are entitled to your opinion. Like I said, I used to think that way as well. But every rough has a few diamonds in it, and I like to keep an open mind.

snip

I am a lover of hip-hop and would love to point you to the Escapist Mic Club, a user group for hip-hop fans: Right here [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Mic-Club-The-Escapist-Hip-Hop-Group].

If you would like to know my personal favorites I would check out:
Blackalicious - Their album Blazing Arrow is a great place to start.

Nujabes - Nujabes is a DJ who was responsible for producing all the music for the anime Samurai Champloo, he also produces a lot of quality hip-hop. Check him out. His album Metaphorical Music is a good place to start.

De La Soul - You may know them as the rappers featured on Feel Good Inc. by the Gorillaz, but they have many albums to their name. The Art Official Intelligence albums would be a good place to start.

Jurassic 5 - One of my favorite hip-hop groups of all time. Their album Power in Numbers is of a high degree of quality, check it out.

P.O.S. - An angry, but very well-spoken and thoughtful rapper. His album Ipecac Neat is fantastic, but if you can find Audition and Never Better they are also great. His group Doom Tree are also very good if you feel like checking them out.

That's just the short list. Look around, there's a lot of great hip-hop out there.

Excellent, I should have thought of De La Soul, go go short attention span!

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<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.

I've been working my way through this list, and so far it's pretty awesome. Excellent suggestions, thanks dude.

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.

I disapprove of people disapproving of swearing.

Anyway, on topic, Eminem is awesome. Try Stan, Without Me and Deja Vu.

You misunderstand me, sir. I don't disapprove of swearing. That's a personal decision. I just feel like if it's every third word, it takes me out of the music too much. That and I like to be able to share music with my little brother, and eventually (WAAAAAAAY down the road)my children if I'm lucky enough, so I judge it by the idea that if I wouldn't want younger children listening to it with me, then I probably shouldn't be listening to it.

 

[Shock and Awe]

Tupac, Eminem, and Gorrillaz, are not half bad.

 

[JohnDoey]

rappers delight

 

[fix-the-spade]

Gorillaz are rap? I always thought they were alternative?

There is no such genre as Alternative. Nothing, there is no alternative option! In fact if you think it's alternative, you need to consider the alternative the word you had just chosen, because it wasn't alternative...

Gorrilaz are definately hip hop, except when they're not.

 

[VinnyKings]

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

Dont forget the Vanilla Ice.

Ice Ice baby.

 

[DocBalance]

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.

I disapprove of people disapproving of swearing.

Anyway, on topic, Eminem is awesome. Try Stan, Without Me and Deja Vu.

You misunderstand me, sir. I don't disapprove of swearing. That's a personal decision. I just feel like if it's every third word, it takes me out of the music too much. That and I like to be able to share music with my little brother, and eventually (WAAAAAAAY down the road)my children if I'm lucky enough, so I judge it by the idea that if I wouldn't want younger children listening to it with me, then I probably shouldn't be listening to it.

 

[Ham_authority95]

While I don't listen to much rap/hip-hop, I would highly suggest A Tribe Called Quest.
<spoiler=A Tribe Called Quest-Award Tour><youtube=NKXMZlw_efM>




Its almost jazz-like and puts me in a good mood whenever I listen to them.

Not much swearing either.

 

[Hollock]

The escapist helped me with this earlier, so I will share what I learned. There is a sub genre of Rap known as alternative rap/hip hop. This is where you're going to find the thought provoking, funny, and enjoyable rap. I suggest looking up a group known as doomtree, especially Dessa, they're pretty good.

 

[Shoto Koto]

You might like Flobots? Try their 'Fight With Tools' album.