Too many haters just want to look at the quote, unquote mainstream ignorant ass rappers out there. There are several artists such as Jurassic 5 , Dilated Peoples, Mos Def, K - Os, The Roots, Livin Legends, Brother Ali, J - Live, Blackalicious, Aceyalone, and many more that I can name that are talented, artistic, eloquent wordsmiths and beatmakers. You just have to look

and of course my ex-husband

I don't expect anyone to agree
but Killa Cam & DipSet is bringin
that feel of what I liked about hiphop back

I never was into that dirty backpack
type of hiphop, until Common dropped Be

It sure isn't because i don't even like the mainstream junk that's out right now. I still listen to my alternative rap...outkast, common, the roots, de la soul, mos def and a few others.

Even if you listen to guys like LUPE Fiasco, they are cool too!

ok, this is a genre I know very little about other than the fact that I loved Outkast during their Rosa park days.

Anyone have any suggestions on the top 10 hip hop albums to get?

I prefer stuff that's relatively recent please. No Sugar Hill Gang or Hoodini(sp?)

Imago said:

---HIP HOP IS DEAD IS WHAT THEY SAID AS THEY SAT AROUND CHEATING AT POOL----

karmatornado said:

all those listed are good for sure.but i wish people would kick back sometimes lol acting like they couldnt possibly like anything released in recent times(i.e. that isnt roots,common,mos def,etc).

karmatornado said:

I also say guys like Nicolay and Foreign Exchange

Hip hop is an old, crusty skank w/ her gut hangin' down & her ass hangin' out that nobody should wanna fuck but mf's end up doin' the bitch anyway 'cause it's late & she's there selling it for cheap so why not buy?...







or something...

Personally most of my favorite AND least favorite music of recent years has been hip-hop. Blackalicious, Jurassic 5, Lyrics Born and The Roots have delivered some of my favorite albums, while most of the hip-hop I hear in clubs or an the radio has made me gag.

Hip-Hop is not dead. Its likeness and name are being misappropriated. I'll list some of the albums of the last five years that disprove that theory:

Madvillain -- Madvillainy (2004). IMHO, this is the best hip-hop album in at least a decade. Those who claim hip-hop is dead have not heard this album.

MF Doom -- MM...Food (2004). From MF Doom, one-half of Madvillain and formerly known as Zev Love X of KMD.

De La Soul -- The Grind Date (2004). This is De La's finest album since Stakes Is High, and again, those who claim hip-hop is dead haven't heard Kelvin Mercer's ill verse from the banger "Much More," from this album.

Talib Kweli -- Quality (2002). Kweli came into his own with an album every bit as good as Mos Def's hailed Black On Both Sides from beginning to end.

Common -- Be (2005). It might be his best album since his Resurrection.

Jay-Z -- The Black Album (2003). Say what you want about Jigga, the album was filled with bangers.

J Dilla -- Donuts and The Shining (2006). His untimely death of natural causes is a massive loss for hip-hop.

Gang Starr -- The Ownerz (2003). The master technicians produce another quality album.

Notice something about these artists? Most are over or nearing 30. Hip-hop ain't just a young man's game anymore.

CalhounSq said:

Check out the albums I recommended and see if your opinion is any different.

Christopher said:

Of course. I dig the following albums and tracks . . .

Kanye West -- Late Registration

E-40 -- "Tell Me Where To Go"

Lupe Fiasco -- "Kick, Push" and "I Gotcha"


But why exclude those artists you named?

DirtyChris said:

DipSet makes hot beats. The rhymes are nothing new. I see'em as an updated version of Black Moon.

namepeace said:

U named a hand full of cd's out of thousands released in that time span. The % is very low of quality material vs THRASH. If it isn't DEAD, it's on life support.

Graycap23 said:

If we judged every genre by that standard, we'd judge music, film and television to be dead as well.

Plus, I only named a few. There are others.

I don't know how many times I have to tell people on the org to check out J Dilla.

I saw Pete Rock DJ a set last night in Calgary, Alberta.

Pete Rock started off by announcing he would be playing a bunch of hip-hop "from the 90s when rap was good" (as in past tense). His whole set was heat (it wasn't ALL 90s).

But the only new songs he played were produced by J Dilla, "MY favorite producer" Pete Rock commented.

I don't know how many times I have to tell people on the org to check out J Dilla.

CinisterCee said:

Not I, says the fly. Unfortunately, J Dilla, AKA Jay Dee of Slum Village and the Ummah braintrust, HAS left us.

namepeace said:

ok then hip-hop IS dead

you know it's not like Graycap doesn't like any rap.

but this is sort of like people who won't admit funk is dead..

personally i feel we're at a crossroads. before j dilla left he gave us the bridge to cross for hip-hop music to progress. if hip-hop doesn't progress, well sorry, then it's just as dead as rock, funk, classical, jazz, etc

No,
but like Fiddy Cent,
it's gotten shot at alot.

CinisterCee said:

I know G-cap is a hip-hop "head," and I understand the points. Hip-hop isn't nearly as vibrant as it was in its creative heydays. And yes, the quality is increasinglu dwarfed by quantity, because the more successful lesser MCs become, the easier it is for more people to try the game. Criminal history? Love Scarface? Sing-songy hook? Come aboard.

J Dilla is not the only cat showing the way. Madlib and Danger Mouse, as well as MF Doom, and yes, Kanye West and Timbaland, innovate to various degrees.

namepeace said:

What is Shock G up 2?

all things that were before are now dead , what we're left with is imitations.

J-DILLA
GHOSTFACE KILLAH
REDMAN
PETE ROCK & CL SMOOTH
COMMON
THE ROOTS

HIP-HOP IS A STATE OF MIND. AND IF YOUR STATE OF MIND IS RADIO-FRIENDLY HIT SINGLES, THEN GET YO' MIND RIGHT!!!!!

Graycap23 said:

Good question. I have no idea.

namepeace said:

I bet they're up to no good.
[Edited 3/12/07 14:59pm]

Illustrator said:

woogiebear said:

woogiebear said:

I guess that's my point.

I really miss Redman, who was the best MC of his time, IMHO. You can hear some of his work in Cee-Lo Green, Ludacris, Redman, Lupe, Kanye, etc.

Even if it sold millions, it would still be "dead". Hell, even a boring symphony has more life in the music.