Any rap/hip hop fans? HELP!

[Marco Esquandolas]

I am soooo out of the loop and need help. What do you listen to these days and what do you like? For frame of reference, I used to listen to a lot of rap when it was called rap back in the 80's and did the whole breakdancing dealio too, rofl. I liked the "great white hope" aka Beastie Boys (still do), so I'm covered there. I really enjoyed a lot of it, even the really vulgar stuff, up until it got to be the early "nino brown" era with all the hardcore gangsta rap. I did sample and liked much of all the dre, doug e fresh, will smith, houdini, luke skywalker, slick rick, ice cube and ice tea, and a bit of nwa before it was just too raw for me, and some others whom I'm forgetting now. I think nwa was the beginning of the end for me. I was like whew, dre and crew...too raw for me! Somewhere around then it seemed to change names (and hats) to hip hop. So very recently dh and I have been spinning some old school stuff and it got me wondering who and what is good nowadays. I never got into snoop dog or method man but I've heard to try them both out. Also, never got into that eminem kid, but I have enjoyed some of his songs. I still enjoy some good R&B too and actually just picked up Usher's latest album. It's alright. There are a few songs I really like it but nothing to make me backtrack to check out his earlier stuff. So then I was wondering if ludacris (sp?) was any good b/c he's on that Yeah song. Who else? Jay-z? fifty cent (sp?)????? HELP!

[anothermama]

I'm a big fan of west coast rap (Tupac, Snoop, Dre) but they are all 5-10 years old in their stuff. It's still really awesome though.

I'm a HUGE fan of Outkast..........Aquemini and Stankonia are AMAZING albums. Amazing.

I don't like the new guys, Chingy, 50 cent.......etc........their lyrics are really hollow to me. I don't like how so much of the newer kids like them are really all about rapping about the bling or stuff they haven't been through. I know that sounds weird........

I like Jay Z alright but to me all his stuff sounds really really the same.

[Joi]

I am currently digging Kanye West. Seems to me that he brings his brain to the game.

[mooliette]

I think the new D12 disc rocks!! Well worth the $$. I pretty much like all rap/hip hop. Right now we're big fans of Eminem, Outkast, Ludacris, Lil' Kim, Missy Elliot, Nelly, Ja Rule, 50 cent, Snoop and P. Diddy always rocks!!

I guess it all depends on you and your style of music. Some things I like, some things I don't. I think I can groove to any style of music that is out there.

[QueenSheba'sMom]

check out okayplayer.com

I love the roots, common, talib kweli, outkast, black star, dead prez, .....

[anothermama]

Originally Posted by .me.

check out okayplayer.com

I love the roots, common, talib kweli, outkast, black star, dead prez, .....

OOOOO yes! I forgot about The Roots and Common.......sooooo good!

[Marco Esquandolas]

Ohhhh, thankyouthankyouthankyou to each of you for your suggestions and the link! This is very helpful.

Anothermama-must be the hormones but I nearly peed my pants laughing over your comments...b/c you know, it IS all about the bling, lmao!!

[menudo]

My fave Kanye West lyric is "I need Jesus like Kathi Lee need Regis" From Jesus walks...makes me laugh everytime...

Anyway-what they all said!

[LavenderMae]

Atmosphere is great and so is OMD. I pretty much hate any popular, radio/MTV hip hop though. I like Busdriver's lyrics a lot and he is hot but his voice doesn't do it for me though.

[Avonlea]

Another group you might enjoy is Jurassic 5. I love them, although I rarely hear them on the radio..or see them much on tv.

I agree about Outkast. Very good stuff. Creative and intelligent and fun as well.

[plum]

ITA with all of the suggestions here. i pee my pants over atmosphere. i slug! we've seen jurassic 5 and i like old black eyed peas. i also really like redman. he is so freaking cute.

in addition, check out deltron 3030.

[mamameg]

Lots of good suggestions here, espeically Talib Kweli, Outkast, The Roots, Missy Elliot, Kanye West.

Other not-to-be-missed artists are...

Mos Def - he's a lyrical genius! "Black on Both Sides" is still one of my all time favortie albums. He's also put out this four-disc set of remixes called "We Are Hip Hop - Me - You - Everybody" and it's SO great! It features tons of other artists and some amazingly original remixes.

Slum Village - very positive messages!

De La Soul - yes, they're still around and still making FUN, positive music

A great resource for info on positive hip-hop/soul is http://www.okayplayer.com/

Enjoy!
Megan

[Evergreen]

I'm not sure if I have the spelling correct, but a friend of Gr8fldad's listens to a guy named Sage Francis, and I really enjoy it

[plum]

sage francis is really good, too! i meant to add someone else, too: aesop rock. i also aesop rock.

[NadiaSJ]

woo hoo

Wow...other Natural Living Hip Hop Mamas...How cool.
BTW, can't forget the Kris along with the bling : : :

[annakiss]

Can I add Wyclef Jean? I am in love with The Preacher's Son right now. But I loved The Carnival (unfortunately, my dad stole it from me).

[Joi]

I forgot Tricky............ I think he qualifies........... and Lauryn Hill.

[annakiss]

I Tricky!

[Marco Esquandolas]

Bling Bling!!

I am sooo happy I asked!! This is like eye and ear candy to me! I have never even heard of some of these folks, and others, once I started sampling them I realized I had heard some of their stuff. Outkast , diggin them. I have heard quite a bit of Jay-z and didn't realize it, and I've even heard some D12 (ok, like maybe 2 songs, lol...so they are eminem's band?!!), same with Kanye West (ok, I saw a video of his the other night, tee hee hee). It's gonna take some time, but I'm gonna check out ALL of these suggestions. Thanks again so much from my cd player and me!


Mamameg: De la soul-whoa, blast from the past there indeed, lol! I didn't know they were still around...........

[mamaroni]

Originally Posted by phishmama

and I've even heard some D12 (ok, like maybe 2 songs, lol...so they are eminem's band?!!),

Yep.

great thread. We are lovin' eminem up here in D-town, but I haven't listened to much of the other mentioned here. . . but plan to!