I know I'm gonna get for this but...

For anybody that TRULY appeciates the genius, craftsmanship, and honesty of rap when it's executed properly (let alone it's kinship 2 funk)...which rappers do you think, if given an album full of prince produced "beats", would do the music justice as writers and vocalists [since most relish the idea after Tony tried].....

Here are a few that come to mind for me:

(no partic order)

De la Soul
Tupac (he already rapped over 777-9311...quite well if you ask me)
Lauryn Hill
Jay-Z (...like him or not...those who really listen 2 Jay know he is one of the best {and smartest-flowwise} writers we have...)
Andre (3000, that is)
Lil Wayne
Lupe Fiasco
Obie Trice (very underrated)


that's it 4 me sofar (...i think I would, by the way, but ya'll never heard me [check the page if your interested]... )

P.S.=>I feel alot of heat...excuse me HATE, coming this way...(I've seen all those "shit-hop" threads) and I know alot of people will hate on names that are well recognizable {Jay, & Wayne 2 be exact} whether they've truly listened 2 them or not. I do have faith, however, that there are a few here who know the truth. Also, I hope this doesn't become a debate on hip-hop vs rap, or whether hip-hop is or not. If you feel you can add 2 the list, or take away from it with valid reason please do...
[Edited 5/15/07 15:11pm]

put a E on the end of RAP and IT spells RAPE, ( stop stealing beats one can't MAKE)
[Edited 5/15/07 15:13pm]

BlueHaze said:

who said that

ummmmm didn't the TRUE FUNK mr clinton SUE rappers fro stealing his own works

Mos Def
Nas
The Roots
Talib Kweli

Oh and I forgot . . .

BlueHaze said:

yea... but i doubt that was about the purity of FUNK...that sounds like it was about $$$ 2 me...i pose this question...Y would true funk interrupt it's own groove?...IT WOULDN'T...CUZ THAT AIN'T FONKY

jess555ja said:

BlueHaze said:

You mean until he realised he was getting PAID? Ice cube for one, brought alot of attention George's way. I believe he later started to get paid royalties from many who sampled his work.
It is still a fact that, like it or not, hip hop gave a lot of people their first 'taste' of some of these great artists, through sampling. Many of which would have dissapeared decades ago, if it were not for hip-hop giving the music a new life.

I forgot about my man Common

jess555ja said:

yup...prince was featured on his elecric circus album (very underated and very elcetic album)

As far as the original question, I don't think this would work. Prince producing hip hop? NO, it really aint his thing.

Nick Cannon. WTF kinda thread is this? Although I would like to hear Nas rap over the Wasted Kisses track.

none, ever.

adorable2 said:

"Nick Cannon is hilarious!"

Michael Franti (of Spearhead)

Andre' 3000
me
[Edited 5/15/07 18:11pm]

good question

the ladies of floetry

would sprinkle plenty

of purple dust onto this project

also, dre 3000 could take it there

kpowers said:

Agreed

BlueHaze said:

and a ya!







[Edited 5/16/07 21:59pm]
[Edited 5/16/07 22:00pm]

Q-Tip

SirPsycho said:

..

bonedaddy said:

you mean.. an opinion .. George Clinton did not need the Hip Hop community to be known...and he wasnt being paid in the 70's cause of Hip Hop

....thought I might throw this in the mix.....

Tupac
If I could recollect before my hood days,
I'd sit and reminisce,
thinking in bliss of the good days.
I stop and stare at the younger.
My heart goes to 'em.
Their tested with stress that they under.
And nowadays, things changed.
Everyone's ashamed of the youth
Cuz the truth look strange.
And for me, it's reverse
We left them a world that's cursed, and it hurts.

Any day, they'll push the button
And all the good men, like Malcom X and Bobbie Hunton
died for nothing
Thought'd make me get teary, the world looks dreary
til you wipe your eyes
see it clearly
There's no need for you to fear me.
If you take your time to hear me,
Maybe you could learn to cheer me.
It ain't about black or white cuz we human.
I hope we see the light before it's ruined.

Tell me, do you see that old lady, ain't it sad?
Livin' outa bag but is glad for the little things she has.
And over there, there's a lady,
Crack got her crazy, yet she's givin' birth to her baby.
I don't trip and let it fade me.
From out of the frying pan, we jumped into another form of slavery.
But even now, I get discouraged.
Wonder if they take it all back, will I still keep the courage?
I refuse to be a role model.
I set goals, take control, drink out my own bottles.
I made mistakes but learned from everyone.
And when it's said and done, I bet this brother be a better one.
If I upset you, don't stress,
Never forget that God isn't finished with me yet.
I feel his hand on my brain
when I write rhymes
I go blind and let the Lord do his thing.
But am I less Holy?
Cos I choose to puff a blunt, and drink a beer with my homies?
Before we find world peace,
we gotta find peace 2 end the war in the streets
My ghetto gospel
-----
Jay-Z

Motherfuckers -say that I'm foolish
I only talk about jewels
Do you fools listen to music or do you just skim through it?
See I'm influenced by the ghetto you ruined
That same dude you gave nothin',
I made somethin doin-
what I do through and through
I give you the news - with a twist
as just "his ghetto point-of-view"
The renegade; you been afraid
I penetrate pop culture,
bring 'em a lot closer to the block
where they
pop toasters, and they live with they moms
Got dropped roasters,
from botched robberies
niggaz crotched over
Mommy's knocked up cause she wasn't watched over
Knocked down by some clown
when child support knocked
No he's not around -
now how that sound to ya,
jot it down
I bring it through the ghetto without ridin 'round
hidin down
duckin strays
from frustrated youths stuck in they ways
Just read a magazine that fucked up my day
How you rate music that thugs with nothin relate to it?
I help them see they way through it - not you
Can't step in my pants,
can't walk in my shoes
Bet everything your worth you'd lose your tie and your shirt

I had to hustle,
my back to the wall,
ashy knuckles
Pockets filled with a lot of lint,
not a cent
Gotta vent,
lot of innocent of lives lost on the project bench
What u hollerin'?
Gotta pay rent,
bring dollars in
By the bodega,
iron under my coat, feelin braver
Doo-rag wrappin my waves up,
pockets full of hope
Do not step to me -
I'm awkward, I box lefty
an orphan
My pops left me
and often
my momma wasn't home
Could not stress to me I wasn't grown;
'specially on nights I brought somethin home to quiet my stomach rumblings
My demeanor -
thirty years my senior
My childhood didn't mean much,
only raisin green up
Raisin' my fingers to critics;
raisin' my head to the sky
B.I.G. I did it - multi before I die
No lie,
just know I chose my own fate
I drove by the fork in the road
and went straight
-----
Obie Trice

Such a beautiful thing,
being embraced by a woman that's a queen
With big dreams for the younger sibling
O couldn't do no wrong
According to report cards Obie brought home
They say good in spelling
Spelling bee's always excelling
Which was so overwhelming that Momma took him shopping
Copped him the new Jay's
Swear to God homie
thess was Obie's cool days
BMX'ing up the block with the tennant living next to him
Shooting hoopes,
who got hops? Worthy,
when he pop a jump shot
No worries,
just a pocket full of sugar or whatnot
Hit the candy house on the block
It was pickle 'n them spot
Then things turn around when Obie'll lay down
Hear the sounds of fire rounds surrounded em
Astounded him,
the volume of the blast had me so interested
Momma falling with cash,
she can't get a nigga in this bitch
They wanna hit the ass,
nigga started ditching class
Dad ain't around,
he left a nigga Sagging in them Superman drawers that one Saturday
Is it my fault?
shit got dark.
Mom and I fall apart,
relationship taunts,
bad talk
"Can't stand you, looking like ya Daddy with that same walk"

Now a niggas out in the streets
Two nickle plated thirty-eights on me
Can't stay away from beef
Scrapping with them niggas from the other side
Sipping Saint Ives rocking old school flannels
Old school niggas see that I'm an animal
Front me at 16,
see how my roll handle
Now I'm up the O's but wait on the -
Cuz here come my muthafuckin baby, cool
Had to slow my role
Plus my P.O. got a nigga pissing in a bowl
Hold my temperment cuz I see such innocence
When I'm looking in Kobe's pupils
Despite all the dope I sold I had to change my road
I just might be able to grow old
Older brother said, "Yo O I'mma quit my job so we can chase our goals
I'll be manager-a-go, you can rap I suppose"
That's what we did,
I still flipped a little bit
Saved up my chips and put it into music
"Well Known Asshole" a underground hit
Still scrambling, looking like shit
Baby momma think I'm smoking more then a spliff
Think a blessing came from the man who invented my gift
When Eminem said "let me hear you spit"
Wrote my signature, now Shady- Obie represents
Hit em with the D12 skit
Can exhale now
I see my Mom's ain't pissed
She hit em with a smile cuz Obie became focused
From independent out the trunk like them dope kids
To platinum plaques, world tours, getting noticed
An inappropriate soldier became so ferocious
In this Hip-Hop culture that I long for
The roller coaster O was on so young
Took a turn right into his song
That's right,
from after school fights To pushing white,
to pursuing his career heights
One mic's,
all I need is involved with beats
I'mma be 2 the streets
Jesus,
cars on me
And that'll be the day you applaud and see
The underdog gets his eventually
Gotta end it though
I'm all in it,
there's no limits
And it's so splendid
Real names,
no gimmics
No image,
just a soldier who spoke what he lived
From the ribs with it,
the flows vintage
[Edited 5/17/07 8:10am]

...if u ask me, these men are more akin 2 preachers than pick-pockets...