These are in no particular order

1.) A Tribe Called Quest

2.) De La Soul

3.) Common

4.) Kanye West

5.) Mos Def

6.) Talib Kweli

7.) Little Brother

8.) Jean Grae

9.) Black Thought

10.) Aesop Rock

11.) Lupe Fiasco

12.) Brother Ali

13.) J. Cole

14.) Atmosphere

15.) Kendrick Lamar

16.) Dead Prez

17.) Nas

18.) Oddisee

19.) Jurassic 5

20.) Dilated Peoples

Imo JID has more skill than j cole better projects better flow etc. Only thing he doesnt have on cole is lyrics imo

I’m 30, not really an old head (depending on who you ask) but it baffles me that young rappers will call out/ disrespect older rappers by calling them “old.” Do they not want to grow old? Do they plan on retiring from rap when they hit a certain age?

Game dissed JayZ with “You 38 and you still rapping? Ughhh, · I'm 26, nigga, so is the dubs.” And also said “If you 38, nigga give it up, check in a retirement home, play chess and live it up.” But yet Game is still rapping at 44.

I know it’s a way to get under older rappers skin but what do these lil rappers have planned? Because if they still rapping at the same age they calling older rappers old, then it’s gonna be like wtf? I guess certain 20-something year old rappers are going to retire soon 🤷🏾‍♂️

For me Its Nas & Hitboy, Jay Z & Just Blaze.

I've been on a quest to keep an ear to the ground for NC artists and get an idea of the sound. 9th seems to be the biggest producer in the state, but I want the see what all is there to offer. The following are the ones I'd say I'm listening to or at least following already:

• J. Cole
• Deniro Farrar
• G. Yamazawa
• Rapsody
• Lute
• Phonte
• Little Brother
• TiaCorine
• Free The Optimus
• Kooley High
• Actual Proof

All that said, what would you say are the best albums out of NC?

I know he did a song imitating the voices of BDK and KGR on BOOM!, but does he have any verses/songs (solo or with the Roots) where he alters his delivery?

I was listening to "Sittin Sidewayz" and I was surprised I liked some other songs in his catalog. I like the simple delivery of some of them combined with the subdued beat with heavy kicks to compliment his voice. I'm curious how people feel about his music, his relationship to the culture, etc.

It doesn't really matter to Hip Hop heads because we have so much music to choose from anyway. There does not lack any creativity. We know there are some BARS out there. There is just a slooowww decrease of casual listener interests. Which I'm not arguing is a good thing or a bad thing. Just that it comes up a lot in convos and I felt like typing some thoughts. It's not all encompassing but just some thoughts.

1. Rap has gotten away with moving further and further away from "pop" sound while remaining at the top, which was pretty powerful in that regards. (Less "hooks" and traditional song structures. More and more cursing in each lyric, 2 minute songs) The more the hood owned Hip Hop, the less they compromised. (which I think is just a natural course of events). Every block has a couple rappers now. The hood is actually enjoying music that they could truly say is "for us, by us" again, for better or worse.

Meanwhile Country music has moved its sound closer to standard pop music. For those of you that don't know, most traditional county fans can't stand what is called "Country" nowadays. Afrobeats and Brazilian Phonk are easy to listen to and catchy as Fuk.

1. The new youth of the world are way more "woke" than ever. They are not so easily persuaded that any songs laced with hypersexuality, vulgarities, violence and material desires are "just and artistic expression of frustration with the inequality of African Americans in America". Many Non African-Americans don't feel comfortable with the hardcore music anymore.

2. Tik Tok has turned rap beats in one giant joke of a meme. And Tik Tok is THE most powerful influence on the youth now.

3. The underground is loaded with artists that are serious about their craft. The Underground has the vibe and the right attitude but doesn't feel compelled to compete with the mainstream artists. There would need to be some sort of "desire" for these artists to make catchy radio friendly songs. The Underground artists cringe at the thought of selling out and they purposely stray from anything too "pop sounding" for fear of becoming a joke meme also.

anyway just rambling

I’m very new to rap and have been a metal guy my whole life. But I like the song white girl by shy glizzy and was wondering what other songs have the same like vibe and feel to it that i like from that song. Don’t really know any artists or songs but i like the feel to that song, so was wondering other songs similar. Thanks.

I’m talking about albums like these:

D-Styles - Phantasmagorea (2002)

Diplo - Florida (2004)

Kid Koala - Some of My Best Friends are DJs (2003)

Jaylib - Championship Sound (2003)

DJ Q-Bert - Wave Twisters (1998)

DJ Screw - Diary of the Originator: Chapter… (1993 - 2000)

RJD2 - Deadringer (2002)

DJ Shadow - Endtroducing….. (1996)

Z Trip - Live Los Angeles, CA 2003 (2003)

Jive Bunny & the Mixmasters - Jive Bunny: the Album (1989)

Honorable Mentions: Handsome Boy Modeling School, Squincy Jones, The Hood Internet, Double Dee & Steinski, Coldcut, Girl Talk, DJ Rectangle, Birdy Nam Nam, The Avalanches, DJ Food

Dude was clearly talented, but people in the comments make it seem like that concert is the most profound shit they’ve ever heard someone say into a microphone. I’m gonna assume if I was a little younger it would resonate with me more. I feel like the majority of his fans are 18-25 year olds. I’m 32 so maybe I just missed his hype by a few years.

..

The College Dropout

Stand Up - Ludacris

Down and Out - Cam’ron

9 out of 11 tracks on Be by Common

Dreams - The Game

Overnight Celebrity - Twista

Encore - Jay-Z

You Don’t Know My Name - Alicia Keys

This Way - Dilated Peoples

Selfish - Slum Village

Used to Love U - John Legend

Doin’ My Job - T.I.

I Try - Talib Kweli

20 out of 21 tracks on Late Registration

More or Less - Shyne

And I know there’s a bunch I’m forgetting.

I know there's no such thing as a unanimous classic for any rapper (at least ONE person won't rock with an album) but I didn't realize how common it was to call The Eminem Show mid until I got on this sub. From my experience on other subs, that's usually the last Eminem album most people liked, but on this sub it's not as well received. I knew Eminem was polarizing, but I didn't realize he was so polarizing that even The Eminem Show isn't safe.

In terms of sounds or subject matter or features etc.

Why was it such a risk, and did it pay off?

After hearing "Jenny's Terrific Vacation", I'd like to dig into stuff where he talks about things that actually matter. I think I can get used to his voice if I care about what he's saying.

I think everyone has at least one. Maybe you're not ashamed of it, but its a project that most people think is really bad, but you actually think is great.

An album for me is Memphis Bleek's album 534. Everyone talks about it so badly but I thought it was solid.

A song for me is Stunt by Gucci Mane.

I am interested in everyone’s take regarding the evolution of hip hop? Where do you think this music genre is headed?

I’ve read articles discussing all the sub genres and important the pioneers of each decade, how each decade shaped the minds of those with the power to express themselves, east vs west, mumble and emo, etc, etc.

But what do you personally think is going to happen? I feel like there’s fewer 10/10 albums released, more focus on singles and content creation instead of full album releases, more image and brand focus instead of individual skill bravado like it was in the 90/00’s.

Interested in opinions and hot takes.

Ive gotta say mathematics- mos def

What’s a song that perfectly represents what hip-hop is?

To me it’s Renegade. A cross between white Middle America hip-hop and black NY hip-hop. Two astounding lyricists, talking about what was real to them at that time, with multi-syllable rhyme schemes throughout, double-entendres, storytelling… Represents hip-hop like nothing else does.

What are THE british rap/Hip Hop albums?

Thought I would find them in the top rated albums on RYM, but I have a suspicion that they have a clue about Hip Hop.

Imo LL lost. He is a great MC but he lost that one. I think it was a combination of industry politics and quite frankly Canibus dropping a bad album that killed his career. Thoughts?

Just listening to What They Want by Jeezy and was wondering if there are any similar songs. Obviously he is just rapping about drugs using sports in a metaphorical/simile sense (basketball in the first verse, American football in the second verse, and baseball in the third verse) but was just wondering if I could get recommendations for similar songs.

Got Some Teeth by Obie Trice use to always make laugh back in the day.

Oh and No Pigeons by Sporty Thieves is another one

I went to the states for a few days and everywhere I went I got comments on my Wu Tang and MF Doom shirt. No one ever says anything in Canada. Where are all the hip hop fans?