Im trying to increase my vareity in hip-hop songs and all, and Im wondering if y'all can show me a good amount of artists, and your favorite 3 songs from them. I listen to Hip-Hop only, but I don't like all the songs, especially not the radio stuff.
Download some old school rap. 2pac, Biggie, Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube etc. You'll like the late 80's, early-mid 90's rap.
I've listened to tons of Tupac songs, Biggie also, I downloaded the whole chronic album from Dr.Dre, A lot of Eazy-E especially since listening to NWA, and I loved Ice Cube since he made the song today was a good day, No Vaseline and Check yoself were good too.
Listen to the Cappadonna's "The Pillage." It's the CD I have in my car right now. In general listen to Wu-tang and the solo efforts of RZA, Method, Raekwon, Ghostface, etc. All solid rap.
Aesop Rock, Pharcyde, Check out the album wu-tang meets the indie culture it has some nice songs. MF doom, english rapper Kano, RJD2 is a DJ, um yeah. That's a broad array right there.
okay i'm bored at work - You are in good hands. I definitely know my stuff. Old school is good, but not all of it holds up that well. For example Slick Rick, Public Enemy and early EPMD are a bit dated. Classic but a bit dated. Here's a playlist for you of mostly 90s songs (the best era of hiphop). If you don't like these, well, I will pray for you. 1. Jay-Z: Dead Presidents II (it gets inside your head...and stays there...) 2. Noreaga: N.O.R.E. (this whole album is a masterpiece) 3. The Firm: Despearados (neglected album) 4. 2Pac: Ambitionz As a Ridah (wow....timeless, top 5 hottest beats alltime) 5. Outkast: Flip Flop Rock (cool beat and a Jay-Z appearance) 6. Mobb Deep feat. Nas: Eye For An Eye (Nas spits fire) 7. Notorious B.I.G.: Ten Crack Commandments (Dj Premier) 8. Roots: Concerto of the Desperado (from their best album) 9. Black Star: RE Definition (mos def and talib) 10. Scarface: F**k Faces - (ridiculous beat) 11. Gang Starr: Speak Ya Clout feat. Jeru (more Dj Premier) 12. Nas - Stillmatic (The Intro) - best track on the album i think 13. Ghostface Killah - Apollo Kids - unique style, unique production (RZA). If you like this RZA is probably the most prolific producer in the world 14. Talib Kweli: Rush - on the mic, he's "un-****-wit-able"
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">2. Noreaga: N.O.R.E. (this whole album is a masterpiece)</div> LMAO......that album was 3rd world garbage....stay faaaaaaaaaaar away from that album....lol......Nore was dope when he was with Capone, but now he's like one big goofy cartoon character............."you can catch me in L.A. with a Mexican midget" = WACK!!!!
I'll write up a list over the next few days (just add to it when I think of somthing) and i'll post it here once I'm done. I'm always keen to help out new hip-hop fans.
I'll give you some albums to check out and then my favorite songs on them. "Anthology" - A Tribe Called Quest [Check the Rhime, Award Tour, Oh My God, Stressed Out, Luck of Lucien, Keeping it Moving] Anthology is really a "greatest hits" album from the Tribe. It's my favorite hip hop album to listen to just because every song is amazing. If you like hip hop and rap I'd highly suggest getting down with the Tribe. 2. "Dangerous Connection" - 7l & Esoteric [Word Association, Watch Me, Stalker] Great album from a white Boston rap duo. Another song you might want to check out by them is "Rise of the Rebel" or "Protocol" from earlier albums. They just put out something new but I'm not a huge fan of it... the earlier stuff is amazing though. 3. "You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having" - Atmosphere [Angelface, Get Fly, Little Man, Musical Chairs] I struggled trying to decide which Atmosphere album to suggest you. However, this one (their most recent) is the most easily listened to by someone who isn't really too familiar with the collective style of Slug and Ant. But seriously check out some of their other songs like "Always Coming Back Home to You", "Say Shh", "Sound is Vibration", "Guns and Ciggarettes" and my jam of last summer "My Songs". 4. "Shadows of the Sun" - Brother Ali [Forest Whitiker, Champion, Missing Teeth] Bro Ali is on Rhymesayers (same label as Atmosphere) and is a genius rapper out of Minneapolis. Forest Whitiker makes this album, it is a great song that I can listen to over and over. Check out some of his other stuff on the Champion EP and the song "Rain Water" is very good too. 5. "A Long Hot Summer" - Masta Ace [Good OL Love, Da Grind, Beautiful, Soda and Soap] This whole CD is sensational, every track is equally listenable and there's even a small storyline that goes down. Check out the wordplay in Soda and Soap and the emotion in the other songs. His other recent album "Disposable Arts" I have as well. Check out the songs on that called "Alphabet Soup", "Take a Walk", and "Hold U". All of a Long Hot Summer deserves to be checked out by you though, I love it and think you might. 6. "Murray's Revenge" - Murs & 9th Wonder [L.A., Silly Girl, Murray's Revenge] This is a great rapper/producer hookup from Murs and 9th Wonder. It's pretty short as far as the number of tracks but its a great CD to just put on and let it go all the way through. I listed my favorite songs, but those aren't necessarily the "singles", as it isn't mainstream rap. But nevertheless check this out. That's all I can handle for now but it should get you started. I tried to give you albums that you can honestly just snag the whole CD, throw it in, and chill for a couple hours without even thinking about changing the song. Enjoy! -H.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting H.ayes:</div><div class="quote_post">I'll give you some albums to check out and then my favorite songs on them. "Anthology" - A Tribe Called Quest [Check the Rhime, Award Tour, Oh My God, Stressed Out, Luck of Lucien, Keeping it Moving] Anthology is really a "greatest hits" album from the Tribe. It's my favorite hip hop album to listen to just because every song is amazing. If you like hip hop and rap I'd highly suggest getting down with the Tribe. 2. "Dangerous Connection" - 7l & Esoteric [Word Association, Watch Me, Stalker] Great album from a white Boston rap duo. Another song you might want to check out by them is "Rise of the Rebel" or "Protocol" from earlier albums. They just put out something new but I'm not a huge fan of it... the earlier stuff is amazing though. 3. "You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having" - Atmosphere [Angelface, Get Fly, Little Man, Musical Chairs] I struggled trying to decide which Atmosphere album to suggest you. However, this one (their most recent) is the most easily listened to by someone who isn't really too familiar with the collective style of Slug and Ant. But seriously check out some of their other songs like "Always Coming Back Home to You", "Say Shh", "Sound is Vibration", "Guns and Ciggarettes" and my jam of last summer "My Songs". 4. "Shadows of the Sun" - Brother Ali [Forest Whitiker, Champion, Missing Teeth] Bro Ali is on Rhymesayers (same label as Atmosphere) and is a genius rapper out of Minneapolis. Forest Whitiker makes this album, it is a great song that I can listen to over and over. Check out some of his other stuff on the Champion EP and the song "Rain Water" is very good too. 5. "A Long Hot Summer" - Masta Ace [Good OL Love, Da Grind, Beautiful, Soda and Soap] This whole CD is sensational, every track is equally listenable and there's even a small storyline that goes down. Check out the wordplay in Soda and Soap and the emotion in the other songs. His other recent album "Disposable Arts" I have as well. Check out the songs on that called "Alphabet Soup", "Take a Walk", and "Hold U". All of a Long Hot Summer deserves to be checked out by you though, I love it and think you might. 6. "Murray's Revenge" - Murs & 9th Wonder [L.A., Silly Girl, Murray's Revenge] This is a great rapper/producer hookup from Murs and 9th Wonder. It's pretty short as far as the number of tracks but its a great CD to just put on and let it go all the way through. I listed my favorite songs, but those aren't necessarily the "singles", as it isn't mainstream rap. But nevertheless check this out. That's all I can handle for now but it should get you started. I tried to give you albums that you can honestly just snag the whole CD, throw it in, and chill for a couple hours without even thinking about changing the song. Enjoy! -H.</div> damn hayes, i dont know 99% of the people on that list. lol. here are just a couple that havent already been mentioned. Nas - New York State of Mind, One Love, The World is Yours, It Aint Hard to Tell (basically the whole Illmatic album), Street Dreams, I Can Jay-Z - Dead Presidents 2, Cant Not the Hustle, Hova Hova, Moment of Clarity Mobb Deep - Eye for an Eye, Survival of the Fittest Eminem - The Way I Am, Stan GZA - (the whole Liquid Swords album)
You can't go wrong with some wu-tang. The other people in this thread have most of the good stuff covered already
Very nice list Hayes, you cant go wrong with any of those. I'll recommend some albums of my own, help keep you busy I'll just follow the same format as Hayes. "Midnight Marauders" - A Tribe Called Quest ['Electric Relaxation', 'Award Tour', 'Sucka *****', 'We Can Get Down', 'Midnight', 'Oh My God'] <font face=""Tahoma""><font size=""1"">This was ATCQ's second album, very mellow sound, as usual Q-Tip is the standout on this album, providing smooth lyrics mixed with intriquite wordplay and even a bit of humour thrown in amongst it all. Definatley one of my most favourite albums, great album to just sit back and chill to.</font></font> "Sun Rises In The East" - Jeru The Damaja ['My Mind Spray', 'Come Clean', 'Brooklyn Took It', 'Cant Stop The Prophet'] <font face=""Tahoma""><font size=""1"">DJ Premier did the production on this album, which is probally what it is known best for, but dont let that overshadow the skill Jeru possess's, this album is a bit more more political, more hard hitting, considered a classic among many hip hop enthusiasts. Again, another one of my most favourite albums, you'll struggle to find a bad song on this one.</font></font> "Moment Of Truth" - Gang Starr ['Moment Of Truth', 'It'z A Setup', 'Betrayal', 'She Knows What She Wants', 'The Militia', 'Royalty', 'Work'] <font face=""Tahoma""><font size=""1"">Definatley one of the best hip hop albums ever created, its amazing how well Guru & Premo complement each other, they do it perfectly. I HIGHLY suggest you pick this one up, its very very deep, it'll definatley get you thinking. Also features alot of quality guests, like Scarface, Big Shug, Freddie Foxx, K-Ci & Jo Jo etc. This is my favourite album of all time, from what I believe to be the greatest hip hop act of all time. This album is a must have.</font></font> "Livin' Proof" - Group Home ['Livin' Proof', 'Inna Citi Life', 'Suspended In Time', 'Up Against The Wall', 'Supa Star', 'Tha Realness'] <font face=""Tahoma""><font size=""1"">Largely unknown, Group Home was a project of Gang Starr, and consisted of members Lil' Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker. Premo did the production on this album, and thats what its best known for, he does a bang up job as usual. But again, Dap & Melachi do a great job on the lyrical content. Group Home followed up this album with "A Tear For The Ghetto" in 1999. Great all round album, great production, great lyricism. Another winner.</font></font> It's getting late here, so I'll add some more for you tomorrow.
///What I've been listening to Recently.(Albums)/// Blackstar - Talib Kweli and Mos Def This album is great has a track for whatever mood your in. Look for the track where common features easily one of the best tracks. Reflection Eternal - Talib Kweli I love chilling out to this album great the whole way through. Jehst - Falling Down The only English rapper I will listen to if you ain't heard this album don't sleep on it any longer. Give it a while I didn't like it at first it's an aquired taste this guy can rap. GZA & DJ Muggz - Grandmasters Great Album, makes me wanna play chess. Gza - Liquid Swords /// /// other artists Anything Wu-Tang, especially their early 90 stuff. Wu-Tang: Enter the 36 chambers, Only Built 4 cuban linx... - Raekwon ft. Ghostface, Supreme Clientele - Ghostface, Iron Man - Ghost Face, Pretty Tony LP - Ghost Face, Fish Scale -Ghostface, No Said Date - Masta Killah, and wait you can't go wrong with Killah Priest this guy is something else, I don't like his second album, Priesthood as much as his first, Heavy Mental but it's still good. Go cop, Heavy Mental - Killah Priest Yet again I have to say if you've never listened to some of the listed artists and don't like them at first give it some time I didn't like them at first but came around now their my favourite. Some greats already listed too, also go for Masta Ace, MF Doom, Made Men, Nas and don't 4get Rakim damn he's good. Man I could go on for hours