Headucate me.

[Nighthawk 0]

By the way, I apologize Special K.

 

I recommend Mos Def: Black on Both Sides, Blackstar, Common: Like Water for Chocolate, Dead Prez or Geto Boys.

Those are ok, but Dead Prez sux.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Come on now, you can't hate on "They schools".

[Nighthawk 0]

Actually, their second album is violent enough that I can groove on it well enough, but I wouldn't really call it "good".

 

Let's Get Free was lame, save Hip Hop, which I'll admit is one of the best songs to come out in years.

[Giuseppe Zangara 0]

Dead Prez are pretty bad. "Mind Sex" would be hilarious if I didn't think they were serious.

[Guest Shoes Head]

Hip hop is on life support as a genre. It's a real testament to how shitty things have gotten when Kanye "Chipmunk Voice Sample" West's album is heralded as a groundbreaking masterpiece. Engineering for hip hop is so lo-fi and muddy in general nowadays. I can only name five or so albums in the past two years which are worth purchasing.

 

It's tough finding a happy medium, because I appreciate wordplay and lyricism - but not to the point where I have to strain my ears and translate 3 dialects of ebonics to understand what you're saying. That eliminates most of the Wake Up Show Scene/True School shit. On the other hand, if the lyrics are too simple and one-syllable-ish I will totally ignore such base rubbish. That rule alone eliminates the entire southern region.

 

Check out Above the Law's "Uncle Sam's Curse" from 1994 if you can find a used copy. Tupac's "Me Against The World" from 1995. Ice Cube's "Death Certificate" is a pre-historic with production but it's passable. Devin's "Jus Tryin To Live" too.

[B. Brian Brunzell 0]

But yeah, gangsta rap—or, as it was called pre-92/The Chronic—was born in '88 with Straight Outta Compton. N.W.A.'s defining moment birthed a popular genre that still exists/sells over 16 years later.

I would say that gangsta rap was born when Ice-t released "6:00 in tha Morning" back in, I think '86. But Straight Outta Compton took it to another level.

[Special K 0]

I often associate EPMD with Run DMC and the Beasties. Were they putting out albums about the same time? and in that vein of hip-hop, I think paul's Boutique pretty much reigns supreme. It's too bad the Beasties couldn't ever top their sophomore (non-punk) recording.

 

I like what I've beard from Mos Def, so i'll definitely check out black on both sides. Also, could someone recommend me some good Wu-Tang? I've actually not heard much from them, even though a couple of my friends are die-hards. I really like the RZA as Bobby digital album, and of course his stuff on Kill Bill was great.

 

EDIT: And guys, Run DMC is obviously a love 'em or hate 'em band. Let's quit with the angry posts. This is supposed to be a happy thread!

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

I really like the RZA as Bobby digital album, and of course his stuff on Kill Bill was great.

Whoa. My personal opinion is that that album sucks quite voraciously, but if you really like that, I can't imagine how much you'll love the rest of Wu-Tang. RZA is pretty much the worst rapper in the group, but his beats are fan-damn-tastic.

 

The debut album--Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), which I think Superstar posted a picture of earlier in the thread--is awesome. Top 3 rap albums for me, probably, and absolutely where you should start. "Da Mystery of Chessboxin," "Protect Ya Neck," "Cream," "Bring da Ruckus"...pretty much every song is a classic.

 

If you like that, look for a used copy of Wu-Tang Forever, or Ghostface's Ironman, GZA's Liquid Swords, and Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. Some fun tracks outside of the debut: "Triumph," "Hellz Wind Staff," "It's Yourz," "Gravel Pit," "Incarcerated Scarfaces," "Winterwarz," "Duel of the Iron Mic," "Rawhide," "Iron Maiden," "Ice Cream"...the list goes on. I love the Wu.

[Perfxion 0]

If you want I could go on a rant on how good Run DMC are but I still say pick it up for good rap music.

 

As for the original thread title's help:

chopped together a few tracks for my last three mix CDs:

 

Ja Rule f/ Fat Joe and Jadakiss - New York New York

Jay Z/Linkin Park - Numb/Encore

Jay Z/Linkin Park - Big Pimpin/Papercut

Lloyd Banks f/ Eminem, 50 Cent, and Nate Dogg - Warrior pt 2

LL Cool J - Hush

LL Cool J - Headsprung

Snoop Dogg f/ Pharrell - Drop it like its Hot

Fabolous - Breathe

Lil Flip - Sunshine

Lil Flip f/ Ludacris - I came to bring the pain

Ludacris f/ 50 Cent - Blow It out your ass remix

Jadakiss f/ Styles P, Common, and Nas- Why remix

Nas f/Ludacris and Jadakiss - They Shooting Remix

Terror Squad f/ Mase Eminem, and Lil Jon - Lean Back Remix

Terror Squad - Take Me Home

Wycelf f/ Kenny Rogers - The Gambler

Fabolous f/ Joe Buddens - That Nigga

Kanye West f/ Jay Z- Never Let Me Down

Kanye West f/ Mos Def and Freeway - Two Words

Em - Ass Like That

Nas - Bridging the gap

 

Must get rap albums to add to the list:

Bigge - Ready to Die AND Life After Death

Jay Z - Vol 2 Hard Knock Life, Reasonable Doubt, Blueprint, Black Album

Nas - Illmatic, Stillmatic, God's Son

Fresh Prince - Greatest Hit

Kanye West - College Dropout

Lil Flip - U Gotta Feel Me

Public Emeny - any CD by this group

Lost Boys - Legal Drug Money

Big Pun - Yeeeeah Baby

[rising up out of the back seat-nuh 0]

Hip hop is on life support as a genre. It's a real testament to how shitty things have gotten when Kanye "Chipmunk Voice Sample" West's album is heralded as a groundbreaking masterpiece. Engineering for hip hop is so lo-fi and muddy in general nowadays. I can only name five or so albums in the past two years which are worth purchasing.

 

It's tough finding a happy medium, because I appreciate wordplay and lyricism - but not to the point where I have to strain my ears and translate 3 dialects of ebonics to understand what you're saying. That eliminates most of the Wake Up Show Scene/True School shit. On the other hand, if the lyrics are too simple and one-syllable-ish I will totally ignore such base rubbish. That rule alone eliminates the entire southern region.

 

Check out Above the Law's "Uncle Sam's Curse" from 1994 if you can find a used copy. Tupac's "Me Against The World" from 1995. Ice Cube's "Death Certificate" is a pre-historic with production but it's passable. Devin's "Jus Tryin To Live" too.

Get Madvillainy.

[B. Brian Brunzell 0]

Some fun tracks outside of the debut: "Triumph," "Hellz Wind Staff," "It's Yourz," "Gravel Pit," "Incarcerated Scarfaces," "Winterwarz," "Duel of the Iron Mic," "Rawhide," "Iron Maiden," "Ice Cream"...the list goes on. I love the Wu.

No mention of "Dog Shit?" I'm surprised.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

I was going between that and "Rawhide" for some ODB-obscenity. In the end, the brilliance of "Came out my momma's pussy - I'm on welfare/26 years old - still on welfare" won out. "Dog Shit" is still hilariously good, though.

[ant_7000 0]

I would recommend:

 

Dead Prez

Little Brother

Mos Def

Kweli

Nas

Scarface or Geto Boys

Earlier Outkast and Goodie Mob

Jay-z (Reasonable Doubt, Blueprint)

Royce Da 5'9

Immortal Technique

Early No Limit stuff

Early Cash Money stuff

The Roots

Pac

BIG

Pharroh Monch

Earlier 50 Cent and 50/G-Unit Mixtapes

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

I wish I caught this thread earlier. Here's some recommendations for ya.....

 

Ultramagnetic MC's - Critical Beatdown

KMD - Black Bastards

Public Enemy - It takes a Nation of Millions to hold us back.....

Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded

De La Soul - De La Soul is Dead

Ice Cube - Amerikkka's Most Wanted

Nas - Illmatic

NWA - Straight Outta Compton

Eric B & Rakim - Paid in Full

Eric B. & Rakim - Follow the Leader

Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory

Tribe Called Quest - People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

GZA - Liquid Swords

Mobb Deep - Infamous

EPMD - Strictly Business

Del the Funky homosapian - No need for alarm

Roots - Do you want more?

Gangstarr - Hard to Earn

Wu Tang Clan - Return to the 36 Chambers

Common - Resurrection

Redman - Whut the Album

Geto Boys - Geto Boys

 

If you are into De La, I would definately recommend their newest CD....The Grind Date.

[B. Brian Brunzell 0]

Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory

Tribe Called Quest - People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

Don't forget about Midnight Marauders either.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

If you like that, look for a used copy of Wu-Tang Forever, or Ghostface's Ironman, GZA's Liquid Swords, and Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...

Ol' Dirty Bastard. Not sure of his other works, but his first album was great.

 

And EPMD's Business Never Personal was my favorite of the lot. Their other albums were good/great, but there were some slow spots. Business Never Personal didn't seem to have that, imo...

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory

Tribe Called Quest - People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

Don't forget about Midnight Marauders either.

Although I do like that album, I wouldn't consider it a necessity either.

[Perfxion 0]

Get the EPMD greatest hits because some of the last few albums well sucked with a lot of slow spots but the good tracks are fucking great.

 

If you are going EPMD, go straight Def Squad.

[Guest theanswer1824]

good thing i found this thread!

 

off the top of my head, my two cents:

 

eric b. rakim- he was doing shit nas and jay-z do now in '86. respect that.

 

big daddy kane- part of the famous juice crew all stars. Tupac would bump his tapes. get his shit and tell me that early tupac material (esp the lost tapes album)doesn't have influence from bdk.

 

tupac (EARLY MATERIAL) - the lost tapes (album he made before signing with digital underground), Digital Underground's 'Same Song', and 2pacalypse Now, Strictly for my NIGGAZ, and Me Against the World. these albums are important because it's all before signing with deathrow. once he signed, the lyrics were more aggressive and taunted instead of educated like his first two commercial releases.

 

Freestyle Fellowship- many artists have bit off this group so bad and have passed it off as the latest raps trends we see in songs and videos today. everything in the west isn't gangsta. check out To Whom It May Concern and the Haiku De Tat album.

 

Sage Francis- the first artist to do a song about 9/11. he recorded it a month after and uses actual samples of people in ground zero cheering. the lyrics to this song have offended many that i have played it to but it speaks the truth. eminem's mosh and all political songs that have been released sound like shit compared to sage's song. check out his Sick Of series and Personal Journals.

 

Ice Cube- buy his first three albums. it'll shock you that the angry man from the 90's is the same person that acts in barber shop.

 

Ghostface Killa: All his albums except Bullet Proof Wallets is the truth. Just Blaze and Kanye used to listen to Ghostface albums and jock the shit out of it. They used to make beats similar to to Ghost's production in hopes of one day meeting Ghost and doing a colab. BUT THOSE BEATS WENT TO JAY-Z. Kinda makes you think if Ghost is up on the same caliber as Hov.

 

Nas- illmatic, stillmatic, god's son, and sd. those are the ones to get to see the gritty shit. pick up the rest of his catalogue if you like that wanna be jiggy pink suit shit.

 

A Tribe Called Quest - lyrics, jazz, positive, golden era hip hop at it's finest. an essential.

 

kool g rap - early material. no nas or raekwon without kool g rap

 

odb- first album is the best ever.

 

snoop dogg- doggystyle is the truth. Tha Shiznit was all freestyle by the way kiddies. he was doing jay-z shit before jay-z.

 

beastie boys- they was doing weird shit before andre and big boi.

 

 

 

 

i'll add more in a bit.

[Guest M. Harry Smilac]

Check out Above the Law's "Uncle Sam's Curse" from 1994 if you can find a used copy. 

That's a classic and I can't think of one bad song on there although I have grown tired of Black Superman but only because I had a friend back then who played it over and over non-stop.

 

 

If you like eclectic rap like Mos Def I would recommend checking out K-OS specifically his album "Joyfull Rebellion"

One of, if not thee best hip-hop album i've ever heard and miles better then the new Mos Def cd which although I think is good seems a bit messy at times.

 

Jedi Mind Tricks is also pretty tight although Vinnie Paz tends to get on my nerves after a bit.The album "Visions of Ghandi" is my personal favorite.

Vinnie is great for all the wrestling references he tosses out though like "Vinnie pass out more Hoes then Jim Duggan"

 

eric b. rakim- he was doing shit nas and jay-z do now in '86. respect that.

 

I never liked the former so I guess that's why I despise the latter.

[Zack Malibu 0]

I was just about to make mention of Jedi Mind Tricks when I saw this thread. Nice to see someone else has discovered them.

[Guest theanswer1824]

incase you want something different:

 

atmosphere - his best stuff is 'headshots' and 'se7en'. slug is getting more play ever since 'god loves ugly'. he's on mtv2 now. check out his 'lucy ford ep' or his cd with murs (dedicated to christina ricci) 'felt'. you might also like eydea's albums as well. he was the cat that one the blaze battle on hbo a few years back.

 

mf doom- anything by him is awesome. check out his instrumental albums too.

 

anticon: get these cds - music for the advancement of hiphop, the gigasingle, sole- 'bottle of humans' & 'selling live water', clouddead, and the original 'them' cd from dose1 and jel

 

stonesthrow - anything from peanut butter wolf is classic. pick up the 'stonesthrow 101' cd/dvd combo for good cali hiphop from the golden era til the present.

 

handsome boy modeling school - the first cd was dope. haven't heard the second one but shit, put this in and you're lady will love you.

 

kool keith- of course, get his material in ultramagnetic mcs but get 'dr. octogon'.

 

aesop rock - 'float' was awesome. a lot of people like his newest release but i haven't heard it yet. i think it's called 'bazooka tooth'.

 

the coup - 'steal this album' is a classic. i saw them once in 95 and they really asked me if i stole the album. i of course bought it but they told me they were serious about the title.

 

bored here at work so hopefully these have helped. shit, it helped me pass the time.

[Nighthawk 0]

Truly nothing is more different than repetition.

[Giuseppe Zangara 0]

I bet theanswer1824 likes MC Paul Barman but forgot to mention him.

[Guest Brian]

Go search out Nekro.

 

I love Jedi Mind Tricks. I was first exposed watching skate videos in my youth.

[justsoyouknow 0]

MC900.

 

Taking elements from jazz and fusing it with hip-hop, he creates twisted, unique characters and pulls you into their darkly odd and sometimes comical little worlds. I wouldn't call his vocal stylings rap, but more spoken word that reminds me of the beat poets of the 50's. A surrealist you can relate to and music experimental enough to keep it interesting.

[DangerousDamon 0]

Vinnie is great for all the wrestling references he tosses out though like "Vinnie pass out more Hoes then Jim Duggan"

Rappers make wrestler references all the time.

 

 

Big Pun-"Iced out Like Dibiase, Somebody Stop me!"

[Guest theanswer1824]

no, i don't really like emcee paul barman. i don't really feel that poetry shit. i'm more into that boom bap hiphop if i had to make a choice.

 

forgot to mention the quannum aka solesides crew. 'soleside's greatest bumps' is two cds with latyrx, blackalicious, dj shadow, cheif excel, and others collecting their best material. i saw this at best buy's last night for cheap. good pick up if you like dj shadow production.