Official Rap and Hip Hop Topic

[Flesh-n-Bone]

Del, King Tee, Alkaholiks, J5, MC Eiht, Kam etc... There's so much dope underground west coast, it's unbelievable. Both gangsta and 'abstract'/conscious.

 

Admittedly, I'm yet to check out J5 but I will do so very soon.

[Kippers]

J5 kept coming up on shuffle when I was playing Basketball earlier. The perfect tunes whilst shooting some hoops.

 

Bad Meets Evil - Hell: The Sequel album trailer:

 

 

 

 

I think people with a knowledge of their older tracks will know exactly where that dialogue comes from

[Cheat]

Admittedly, I'm yet to check out J5 but I will do so very soon.

I can suggest for you to, with all my heart

 

The list you posted is on point, I'd like to add Styles of Beyond though, at least there has been a time when they were really underground, they're a bit more popular nowadays - most likely aided by being an important part of Mike Shinoda's Fort Minor, which is still one of my favorite groups/artists to date.

 

Earlier today, I was reading posts from the spring of '10 and the fall of '09 (don't ask me how I got there), it was, like, page 300 or so, and the topic was definetly at it's "best" back then, or at least it was way more lively, unfortunately partly because of the death of Guru. There were days when the topic grew with two, or three pages and days where each page contained a mixtape or two, and the discussion was at it's best. I know, there of course are no guidelines to the discussion but we have started to slip towards the "lol I digz this track" - posts, and I cannot say that I have personally been the most intelligent discusser neither.

 

I guess I just miss the days when the forums were new to me

 

@Butters funny you should mention about how a soundtrack presented you to the group, game soundtracks have helped me build my musical taste, for real. I went from Guns N' Roses and Stevie Ray Vaughan - the stuff my old man always played - into rap through Need For Speed: Most Wanted, GTA: San Andreas, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, without the popular culture's influence I'd be writing in another topic now.

 

Which brings me into another topic - don't you just hate it when a song, that is featured in a TV Show/Game/Movie gets uploaded on YouTube and the Top Rated Comments are always "thumbs up if <insert game here> brought you here" and "thumbs up if <above-mentioned game> did NOT bring you here, and you're a true fan!"? I mean, focus on the latter one, what's so bad about soundtracks bringing up artists? It's a major way for an artist to reach new fans and to grow their fanbase, plus that a lot of the games with a lot of emphasis on the soundtrack are, 9 times out of 10, made for younger players (not to generalize) which means that the artists can easily get younger, life-long fans that are going to play the tracks to their friends, and ultimately, their children. Common sense, people.

 

Back to replying to Butters' post and to Jurassic 5, Butters, I couldn't help noticing that a majority of the tracks you posted are from the '06 album Feedback. Despite Cut Chemist's absence, the album is a great one, plus Nu-Mark has always had the required skills to be a great DJ. Personally, I don't think he's as good as Cut Chemist, but his absence definetly doesn't ruin the album.

 

 

 

Despite the beat being a bit "akward", Get It Together must be my favorite track from the album. I also love the sultry Brown Girl, but these are just off the top of my head, seeing as I don't have the album on my iTunes anymore.

 

 

Bringing up Cut Chemist's name immediately had me thinking about DJ Shadow, and this track has been stuck in my head whole day. Not really that rap-ish, but the mixing is awesome, like it always is with Shadow. The Private Press is one of the best albums on Earth.

[Kippers]

HOLD EVERYTHING!

 

 

Bad Meets Evil - Fast Lane

 

 

 

 

I haven't watched it yet, but fingers crossed it doesn't suck.

 

It doesn't suck, that video is hilarious. That's the humour Recovery was totally missing. Royce and Em make the perfect team.

Edited June 8, 2011 by kippers.

[T.Rez]

Royce is serious, he doesn't get enough props. He'll get overshadowed by Eminem though no matter what

[Kippers]

Very true. Royce is definitely spitting some of his best verses these days. He's already admitted (somewhere) about being ok with second place...It could be the 'Lighters' track. But think it could have been worse if this came out 10/11 years ago right as Eminem literally blew up in everyones faces. Royce would have been long forgotten, in my opinion.

 

But serious props to Royce.

[gamesguru]

Funnily enough I was making a Royce signature for myself as this was released. Really cool video. Great humour and chemistry between the two of them throughout, especially at the end. A new Royce track from Success Is Certain was released the other day called Second Place (Prod by DJ Premier). Really dope track.

 

Also, the guys over at thisizgame must be fiending for The R.E.D. Album as much as I am. Some of the members there are getting smart and getting snippets from the album off leakers/hackers. There is a snippet of the Drake track (Good Girl, Bad Girl), a Gucci track, and a bunch of untitled tracks. The snippets are very poor quality/short so there is no point posting them. Mars (of 1500 or Nothin') was acting like a complete jackass and was screwing the fans over; but long story short we eventually got a snippet of a track (probably a leftover) - Game ft Mars - I'm On.

Edited June 8, 2011 by gamesguru

[KilnerLUFC]

 

@Butters funny you should mention about how a soundtrack presented you to the group, game soundtracks have helped me build my musical taste, for real. I went from Guns N' Roses and Stevie Ray Vaughan - the stuff my old man always played - into rap through Need For Speed: Most Wanted, GTA: San Andreas, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, without the popular culture's influence I'd be writing in another topic now.

 

Quite a few artists I listen to are from Game Soundtracks, such as my first time ever hearing Jaylib - The Red on TH, and instantly had to have it.

 

 

Which brings me into another topic - don't you just hate it when a song, that is featured in a TV Show/Game/Movie gets uploaded on YouTube and the Top Rated Comments are always "thumbs up if <insert game here> brought you here" and "thumbs up if <above-mentioned game> did NOT bring you here, and you're a true fan!"? I mean, focus on the latter one, what's so bad about soundtracks bringing up artists? It's a major way for an artist to reach new fans and to grow their fanbase, plus that a lot of the games with a lot of emphasis on the soundtrack are, 9 times out of 10, made for younger players (not to generalize) which means that the artists can easily get younger, life-long fans that are going to play the tracks to their friends, and ultimately, their children. Common sense, people.

 

Has to be one of my biggest gripes, seeing kids argue on YT about not been a fan of [insert artists/group] because they heard it on a game and that's the only reason they like it. As you stated, without games, I wouldn't be listening to half of the great music I do these days.

 

 

Back to replying to Butters' post and to Jurassic 5, Butters, I couldn't help noticing that a majority of the tracks you posted are from the '06 album Feedback. Despite Cut Chemist's absence, the album is a great one, plus Nu-Mark has always had the required skills to be a great DJ. Personally, I don't think he's as good as Cut Chemist, but his absence definetly doesn't ruin the album.

 

Feedback is the only J5 album I've properly listened to over and over, so most tracks are from that. Concrete Schoolyard is one I heard on YT first.

 

Been looking for some good underground recently, but the main stuff I listen to is Atmosphere, RJD2 and Cunninlynguists. Something I love about the way they blend great lyrics with a great beat.

[OH NO]

 

 

 

 

 

parcel force..call me dis batch

 

 

 

 

"and I give it to the worker to sell it in pieces

i move food with no hands, telekenesis"

 

UK stand up

 

 

 

 

 

 

[LuisBellic]

Here's my songs. Like or not, I don't really care. Im inspired by Tyler The Creator to make a concept mixtape. The green creature on the cover is the demon that possesses me. On the songs that are about killing, drowning people in a creek, and sh*t is when I turn into the demon. The songs without is where im just me. There will be a sequel album too.

 

 

 

 

[Tommy Corelli]

easily ONE of the worst rap songs I have ever heard

 

 

[gamesguru]

 

Skyzoo - The Great Debater
01. Complicated Rhythm [prod. Best Kept Secret] 02. Rap Like Me [prod. Eric G.] 03. Written in the Drums [prod. Swiff D.] 04. Designer Drugs [prod. 9th Wonder] 05. Parade Me [prod. Fatin] 06. We Here [prod. Best Kept Secret] 07. Atypical [prod. !llmind] 08. Expensive Habits (ft. Jesse Boykins III) [prod. 14KT] 09. Until It All Goes (ft. Manhattan) [prod. C-Sick] 10. Test Drive [prod. !llmind] 11. Inheritance [prod. E. Jones] 12. Get Him to the Greek [prod. 9th Wonder] 13. Could’ve Struck the Lotto 14. For the Awake (ft. King Mez) [prod. Oh No] 15. For the Sleepers [Reinterpreted by E. Jones] 16. The Definitive Prayer [prod. David Axelrod]
Download

 

I downloaded it the other day and the mixtape is really dope. Consistent and quality production throughout. Atypical is my favourite track from the tape, the beat is crazy. I wouldn't expect anything less from !llmind. I'd advise you guys give it a listen when you can; especially those already familiar with Skyzoo's catalogue.

 

Also does anybody else agree that Eminem's Relapse is significantly better than Recovery? As with most Eminem releases, I can't really make a consistent judgement on initial release due to: hype, fanboyism and public response. But I've had time to evaluate both, and Relapse for me is just a lot better. It's underrated to be quite honest. The production is brilliant and the album possesses some of the best technical rapping I've ever heard (which I've said from the beginning, but the hate for it wasn't making me confident enough to fully back my own judgement). The major flaw is that it lacks direction. If he could have mastered that flow whilst having more mature and meaningful records like Beautiful (that had direction and significance), it could have been a classic in the making. The accent isn't even that bad now and is hardly noticeable at times.

 

Of course again, it would have been better without. But his flow and the production on that album is impeccable. I don't like Recovery all too much to be honest. I believe I had issues with it to begin with (I mentioned the singing and the 'mish-mash' production). There are some very nice lines here and there, some very 'controversial' and honest ones at that. He is a lot more confident, and the album has more of a focused direction than Relapse. But it lacks any replay value whatsoever for me. Other than Almost Famous (which was originally a beat for Game info junkies) I don't play any tracks from the album anymore. Cold Wind Blows sounds as if it was straight from Relapse thanks to the beat, but I don't like that track either. Recovery and his recent appearances are showing that he is becoming more punchline/metaphor based, of which are getting more corny each time. We are all too familiar with the 'screaming' issue, but he seems to be toning that down. I just miss the crazy wordplay and flows of yesteryear. He can still go crazy on a track, but there's always a few dodgy punchlines/metaphors here and there.

 

 

This is the sh*t:

 

 

EDIT: Game stays frustrating the fans. It seems Game is still recording for the album, as I hinted as being a possibility. Because not only has he got that track with Tyler, but the next single coming soon is produced by Lex Luger and features DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Busta Rhymes and Teyana. Its called Bottles & Rockin J's. This is becoming beyond a joke now, I'm not interested in a Khaled-clone album. The

fighting superheros, and Lil Wayne has one line on it. So far we have Wayne on the album 3 times!? Just finish recording, sequence the tracks you've got with Dr. Dre's help (which he said already happened...) and then get him to mix and master it. He is just adding more and more and more stuff that isn't going to fit.

 

Leaks like Monsters In My Head is what The R.E.D. Album was going to be, and it seems these new tracks are what it is going to be. I know we haven't really heard much musically, but Game's track record and behavior speaks for itself. Trust Game to ruin what could possibly be his greatest album yet (if all the talk is to be believed). I swear if tracks like Born In Da Trap, L.O.V.E., It Must Be Tough, InfaR.E.D and Good Bad Ugly are not on it and the album turns out to be nothing special, well I dunno what my reaction will be. I know Game is known for having a lot of features too, but this is ridiculous. I know I keep rambling on about this album, but it's like a rollercoaster ride waiting for this thing to release. God knows what it feels like to be a huge Dr. Dre fan nowadays.

Edited June 10, 2011 by gamesguru

[OH NO]

wu tang in the studio on 1xtra

[LuisBellic]

My favorite Hodgy Beats track.

 

 

[Vanillainy]

^oh sh*t, hadn't heard that before. On a Flying Lotus beat too, sick. I'm probably preferring Hodgy on the Mic over Tyler now, MellowHype - Blackendwhite is a fantastic album. MellowHype are releasing a video for "64" on June 13th so looking forward to that, the track itself is pretty dope and I'm wondering what video comes with it. New Numbers album is guaranteed to crazy. He's also stopped smoking for his kid, props.

 

 

 

Still makes me laugh with the dancing and Left brain in a f*cking trenchcoat. Good performance though.

 

Also Tech N9nes - 6's and 7's is a solid release, enjoying it right now.

[Kippers]

I've learnt to appreciate Relapse a lot more since Recovery came put. Relapse I can listen to from 3am to Underground and not have any real problem with most of the songs (Insane annoys the sh*t out of me) It was definitely written to be ultra controversial, but it's a little too uncomfortable for multiple replays, and slightly pointless. As for Recovery, I love the album up to and including Space Bound. Cold Wind Blows, Talkin' 2 Myself, On Fire etc are amazing. That half of the album I could play all day long and not get too sick with it, but the second half seems to change slightly. Maybe it's the flows or the choice of production, but it's just not satisfying me as much.

 

There's lots of underrated classic songs on Relapse. As you mentioned, the word play on Stay Wide Awake has made it one of my favourites on the album. It's to Relapse what Soldier is for me to Eminem Show. I WISH so much that it had become a single. (The feelings displayed in Soldier are so genuine it astounds me) Just seeing a visual for his word play in those songs would have made my day. Underground is just balls to the floor pure fun to listen to, My Mum is an interesting, maybe slightly twisted look on his mum's drug influence, and i've always seen it as a 'sequel' song to 'Cleanin' Out My Closet' and the hark back to the line 'Make a record about doing drugs and name it after her' from My Name Is makes me like it a lil bit more. In fact, it's those small reference back to old material which gives his career some continuity between records, as he acknowledges previous work his career flows as one big listening frenzy.

 

Constantly dissing Relapse also gets annoying because it isn't a bad album. I'd rather his slight accent over his new shouting thing any day. He always came over a lot more menacing and sinister when he could deliver the controversial, twisted, misogynistic lines with a calmer voice. You could hear his pain, disappointment and whatnot in his regular voice without having to scream it at you. The more successful Em's become (Ignore that he could have retired before he was 30 for a second) especially ever since Recovery, the less affective his anger has become. Everyone knows he's rich as f*ck and as materialistic as we and he knows money is, it doesn't work so well.

 

He's rich and lonely. Get rid of the screaming voice, learn to respect the previous albums more, and dedicate the majority of the next album to the 'I'm lonely' theme. He only really hints at it atm in songs. but there's potential for more heartfelt Eminem in there. That's where he can bring back some more authentic feeling anger for the fans.

 

 

 

That's my 'brief' 2 cents on Relapse, Recovery and beyond

Edited June 11, 2011 by kippers.

[Noob_Noobersson]

One of my all-time favorites....

 

great freestyle gangster: Big L

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also really like Despot

 

 

 

 

 

I also listen to Aesop Rock and El-P....

 

I can't say Tyler the Creator has done anything impressive. Its all F this, F that. Its new.......but doesn't strike me as anything ground-breaking.

 

Lil Wayne is a joke....

 

And Eminem's best days are behind him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lialls]

Remus at ten

 

 

 

Been listening to M.F.T.C two & three heavily again recently.

 

 

 

[gamesguru]

Guys you have to check this out, a user over at KanyeToThe forums found a Hip-Hop forum dating back to 1991. It's pretty interesting and humorous. Check the KanyeToThe topic for some interesting finds. You have to have a Google account and be logged in to view it though.

 

EDIT: Oh sh*t, there is a topic with a dude saying illmatic isn't a classic here, and a dude hating on Eminem back in 02 saying MMLP and TES were pop; also implying that he sold out, that topic is here. Just goes to show you how critical we all are, and how our opinions change over time. God knows what that guy hating on MMLP thinks of Recovery. This made my day, this sh*t is comedy gold. I'm going to waste hours looking through this.

Edited June 11, 2011 by gamesguru

[OH NO]

 

 

 

mosied off gracefully

 

 

 

[BGModder]

This is Big L's illest freestyle imo.

 

 

 

This is also an ill freestyle by the D.I.T.C. crew.

 

 

 

 

Also, check out D.I.T.C.'s tribute song.

 

 

[El Zilcho]

Big L has got to be one of the best, he's the definition of ill.

[BGModder]

My personal favorite Hip-Hop artist is Tragedy Khadafi. It's a shame he didn't get his due credit for The War Report and then got into a bunch of legal trouble. Here are some of my favorite tracks by him:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TheGTARanger]

A track off of Bad Meets Evil EP, "Hell: the Sequel,"

 

 

 

It's a very controversial song because of lines where Eminem was making fun of Lady Gaga. The monsters were going bat-sh*t crazy on the Web. Everyone thinks its a diss when it really isn't.

Edited June 12, 2011 by TheGTARanger

[gamesguru]

So J. Cole's Lost Ones finally leaked here. Apparently it stems from KanyeToThe, as I believe I mentioned previously, quite a few people have had the track for sometime. The guys over there are pretty p*ssed that it got out (J. Cole thread is going nuts). I'd say hold off on listening to it until the final product arrives. A really dope, deep track too. The beat needs work though (although J. Cole said he made additions since this version).

 

EDIT: It was apparently by a user named "ill" who was getting trigger happy sending PMs around to people who wanted the song in the topic. That's how the song got out. Crazy.

Edited June 13, 2011 by gamesguru

[Kippers]

Well Birdman just lost 2 Million Dollars (original report)

 

f*cking loser. Teach him for blowing so much cash on something that doesn't benefit those in need.

 

On an aside: Brilliant final game. I was rooting Mavericks all conference as well. Could have made a mint or 2 off that.

Edited June 13, 2011 by kippers.

[BGModder]

Well Birdman just lost 2 Million Dollars

 

f*cking loser. Teach him for blowing so much cash on something that doesn't benefit those in need.

 

On an aside: Brilliant final game. I was rooting Mavericks all conference as well. Could have made a mint or 2 off that.

He bet on the Heat? lol He should have known better than to f*** with J.J. Barea.

 

OT:

 

 

[gamesguru]

So I got the Bad Meets Evil EP this morning and I just finished listening to it. It's pretty nice for an EP, but a let down (for me) was the production and hooks, as with Recovery. That is just my initial judgement though. Some of the beats are pretty nice though. I'll have to listen to it a few times to really soak it in. Royce and Em's flow and lyrics are what make the album, obviously. But at points, I feel like it saves the album. Anyone else and I probably wouldn't enjoy it nearly as much. For instance the drums on Lighters are terrible in my eyes, and A Kiss is a weak song overall. Highlights for me are Welcome To Hell, Fast Lane, Above The Law, Loud Noises and Echo. The horns and keys (that come in when Budden raps) on Loud Noises are the best thing on the album production wise, the beat is dope as f*ck. The early portion of the album is really dope though. I just feel some of the production is weak in places, and a few of the hooks are annoying too. I know I'm going to have the latter tracks on repeat though.

 

Also I'm slightly getting a bit more hyped for The R.E.D. Album (yes again). As a few details coming from the recent RapUp interviews are promising. Mother Knows ft Nelly Furtado is still on the album (which was one of the early anticipated tracks). So that gives hope that most of the other early records will still make the album. It is also hinted that Good Girl, Bad Girl ft Drake is still on there. Khalil still has two tracks on the album (Ricky and something else). Game also

the whereabouts of the Lupe track which is title Skate On. Finally, he confirmed the Kendrick Lamar track (still the intro?). I just want a tracklist so we know where we stand on tracks. But we won't get that for a while yet. Hoping for that deep introspective 90's Compton feel Game promised. Edited June 13, 2011 by gamesguru

[Vanillainy]

Agreeing with what you said about Bad Meets Evil gamesguru. Welcome to Hell might be favourite so far, closely followed by Loud Noises. Production really doesn't stand out too much for me. I cant stand Lighters mainly because its just so obviously created just for radio play, I guess that has it good and bad points, I'm happy for Royce getting exposure but I don't feel it fits. I'm listening to Bad Meets Evil, I'm not at a f*cking Coldplay concert swaying my lighter around like a vagina.

 

Also, KNOCK KNOCK, DELIVERY:

 

 

[Kippers]

f*ck, I thought the EP came out tomorrow Baaah. And i've done so well not hearing most of it only to miss release day. Typical I'm go Tesco later or something.*** Lighters irritates me beyond belief. I always skip Bruno at the start and move on to another song (usually back to Fast Lane as thats the other song i've heard) before Bruno gets his small bit after Royce. I'll get ya'll know my opinion on the rest of the EP when I get it.

 

 

*** Well that was ambitious. I'll download it now coz it's release day and i'll grab a copy tomorrow from HMV.

Edited June 13, 2011 by kippers.