Yeah the wife loves Chris Brown so we went to his show at the Moda Center a couple months back. I was more interested in seeing Fabolous. Made me feel old when half the crowd was in their late teens and early 20's and had no idea who he was.
Yeah, '80s rap was fun. Eric B & Rakim, Slick Rick, Grandmaster Flash, Beastie Boys, Run DMC. I often see that era given short shrift. I really liked 2pac, Public Enemy, Snoop Dogg, Raekwon, Jay-Z, OutKast and Biggie during the '90s. I haven't really listened to as much hip-hop since then (and I was never deeply into the scene) but some artists I've liked since then are Mos Def, Common, Sage Francis, Kayne, Childish Gambino
First. It was Eric B. And Rakim, not the other way around. lol. BDP was good back then too. I forgot all about Slick Rick though. His album he did while in Prison was impressive. I never got into KidNPLay though. Did anyone else? I will admit(prepped for the hate) I was a big DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince fan.
Oh man, I'm gonna have to give this one some thought, and even then there's no way I'll actually be able to come up with a Top 5, but initial names that jump to mind are: Biggie Snoop Aceyalone Gift of Gab MF Doom Kool Keith See - I'm already over 5 names and haven't even gotten into groups like Wu, Tribe, Hiero, BDP, Living Legends, Native Tongues, etc. I've also already started to struggle with who I think is good versus who I like - Gift of Gab is a great rapper, but he wouldn't be in my Top 5 most liked rappers. But then if we're going off of being good, rather than being liked, I'd have to throw Eminem and Aesop Rock up there (but I won't). And then typing Aesop Rock just now made me remember El-P who I think is a great rapper but even better producer. And then there's Killer Mike...and Andre and Big Boi. Doom always brings to mind MF/GM Grimm. And I haven't mentioned any of the pioneers (other than Keith as a secondary pioneer) like Melle Mel or Run DMC - guys who might sound a little simplistic these days, but have to be given credit for the clarity and strength with which they rapped. I LOOOOOOVE Digable Planets, but I wouldn't say any of them are amongst the best rappers...but they could easily make my Top 5 favorite. And spinning off that I love the more unique path Ish is going with Shabazz Palaces. And that brings to mind Camu Tao as one of the more cutting edge, genre-expanding rappers. Whew, I think I'm tapped out for the moment - I gotta go work on some stuff. Pretty sure Biggie and Snoop will remain on my Top 5, but there are just too many people to fill the last 3 spots. And if I decide to go with who I like rather than who is best, Snoop might have to come down.
Lyrics more relevant today than when they first came out. Chuck D! [Intro: Flava Flav] Yo Chuck, bust a move man I was on my way up here to the studio Ya know what I'm sayin'? And this brother stopped me and asked me "Yo, wassup with that brother Chuckie D? He swear he nice" I said "Yo the brother don't swear he's nice, he knows he's nice" Ya know what I'm sayin'? So Chuck, I got a feelin you turning him into a Public Enemy, man Now remember that line you was kicking to me On the way out to LA Laurelton Queens While we was in the car on our way to the Shop Well yo, right now kick the bass for them brothers And let 'em know [Verse 1: Chuck D] WHAT, GOES, ON! Rolling Stones of the rap game, not bragging Lips bigger than Jagger, not saggin' Spell it backwards, I'ma leave it at that That ain't got nothing to do with rap Check the facts, expose those cats Who pose as heroes and take advantage of blacks Your government's gangster, so cut the crap A war going on so where y'all at? "Fight the Power" comes great responsibility 'F the Police' but who's stopping you from killing me? Disaster, fiascos over a loop by P.E If it's an I instead of we believing TV Spitting riches, bitches, and this new thing about snitches Watch them asses move as the masses switches System dissed them but barely missed her My sole intention to save my brothers and sisters [Hook ] Hard... (Get up!) JUST, LIKE, DAT Hard... (Get up!) JUST, LIKE, DAT Hard... (Get up!) JUST, LIKE, DAT Hard... (Get up!) JUST, LIKE, DAT [Interlude: Flavor Flav] Yeah, that's right Chuck, man That's what you gotta do You got to tell 'em JUST, LIKE, DAT, ya know what I'm sayin? Cause yo, lemme tell you a lil something man These brothers runnin around, hard-headed! They get a lil jealous, you know what I'm sayin? Just like that! You know, they try to bring you down wit 'em But yo, Chuck, you got to tell 'em JUST, LIKE, DAT! [Verse 2: Chuck D] Screamin gangsta twenty years later Of course endorsed while consciousness faded New generation believin them fables "Gangster Boogie" on two turntables Show no love so it's easy to hate it Desecrated while the coroner waited Any given Sunday, so where y'all rate it? Wit slavery, lynchin, and them drugs infiltrated I'm like that doll Chucky, baby Keep comin back to live, love life like I'm crazy Keep it movin Rising to the Top Doug Fresh clean livin you don't stop Revolution means change, don't look at me strange So I can't repeat what other rappers be sayin You don't stand for something, you fall for anything Harder than you think, it's a beautiful thing [Hook] Hard... (Get up!) JUST, LIKE, DAT Hard... (Get up!) JUST, LIKE, DAT Hard... (Get up!) JUST, LIKE, DAT Hard... (Get up!) JUST, LIKE, DAT [Interlude 2: Flavor Flav] Yeah, that's right Chuck, man That's what you gotta do You got to tell 'em JUST, LIKE, DAT, ya know what I'm sayin? Cause yo, lemme tell you a lil something man These brothers runnin around, hard-headed! They get a lil jealous, you know what I'm sayin? Just like that! You know, they try to bring you down wit 'em But yo, Chuck, you got to tell 'em JUST, LIKE, DAT! [Verse 3: Chuck D] So it's time to leave you a preview So you too can review what we do 20 years in this business, How You Sell Soul? G-Wiz, people bear witness Thank you for lettin us be ourselves So don't mind me if I repeat myself These simple lines be good for your health To keep them crime rhymes on the shelf Live love life like you just don't care Five thousand leaders never scared "Bring the Noise," it's 'the moment they feared' Get up! Still a beautiful idea [Hook] [Overlaps Hook: Chuck D] Get up! - Throw yo hands in the air Get up and show no fear! Get up if y'all really care! P.E. 20 years, now get up!! [Outro: Flavor Flav] Yeah, that's right, we Public Enemy #1 in New York Public Enemy #1 in Philly, Public Enemy #1 in D.C Public Enemy #1 in Cleveland, Ohio (we're harder than you think) Also we're Public Enemy #1 in St. Louis (It's a beautiful thing) Public Enemy #1 in New Jersey And bust it, we also Public Enemy #1 in Cincinnati, (we're harder than you think) And Atlanta, even Public Enemy #1 in Chicago, Public Enemy #1 in Detroit (It's a beautiful thing) Public Enemy #1 in Oakland (We're harder than you think) Public Enemy #1 in Baltimore Public Enemy #1 in Miami, Public Enemy #1 in Indiana Also Public Enemy #1 in L.A. (it's a beautiful thing... indeed) Also Public Enemy #1 in Alabama, y'all (we're harder, than you think!) Public Enemy #1 in Tennesee, Public Enemy #1 in Mississippi The Carolinas [ JUST, LIKE, DAT JUST, LIKE, DAT JUST, LIKE, DAT]
One, two, three and to the four Sly Doggy Dogg and Dr. Dre is at the door Ready to make an entrance, so back on up (‘Cause you know we're about to rip shit up)