Category: Jam Session
A lot of people here (and everywhere for that matter) say they like hip hop, refering to such acts as The Diplomats (dipset), Jay-Z, 50 cent, MIMS, and the rest. While that type of electronic club-bangin' slurred lazy-flowing music has it's place, to be honest I'm more of a fan of "golden age" rap groups from the early 90s. Examples include Eric B. and Rakim, A Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde (more specifically their first album which is one of my absolute favorites) and Public Enemy. Most of the time I end up yawning frustratedly at most new hip hop releases simply because a) the rappers don't sound like they want anything ("oh yeah I got the money I got the bitches I'm so great yawn why bother actually even following the beat?") and b) the beats are lame and derivitive, mainly focusing on the bass (to keep those sweet rides with the 20" rims bouncin'). even so-called "underground" artists all sound pissed off in a generic kind of way, and while that definitely has it's place it gets old hearing about how hip hop is corporate and they're the illest mc because they spit the truth for the thirtieth time. Groups like The Pharcyde and Black Sheep didn't have to be serious all the time to sell records, plus their records came out when samples either cost not very much or nothing at all. What I really want to know is how many of you are tired with the face of hip hop these days, or enjoy some of the groups I listed here (or those in the same sample-heavy b-boying genre)? I'm curious to see how many really know what hip hop once was.
o god! the Pharcyde! That's one of my favorite groups. I'm also a fan of talib kweli, and various underground groups (E.G. Substantial.) I also like hard core stuff like M.O.P.
I've some questions I'd like to toss into the mix here.
These are questions discussed on Oprah, CNN, and so forth
What about the perceived double-standard in that Hip Hop has lyrics
That if repeated by others in other areas of the world of entertainment, etc.
Like for example, Don Imus,
They loose their employment by being fired?
Has anyone reading here
thought that this firing of Imus might be the impetus
to bring about change in the lyrical style of Hip Hop?
(as far as racial/sexist commenting)
Should Hip Hop Artists who use the same language that
cost Don Imus his job be allowed to perform in say only private clubs?
(as opposed to being televised to the masses of people)
~*Thunderous MidNight*~
Good question, but I'd appreciate it if you created a separate topic for others to discuss it rather than change the topic here.
Didn't consider in any way I was changing your topic,
only adding to it as it is all concerned with the evolving
of the musical industry of Hip Hop
When Hip Hop seems to be all about how much Bling Bling you got
Along with all the h*s, b*tches, and so forth,
Then Yes, in answer to your question,
I am all in favor of Hip Hop having a new face.
2Pac goes back a ways in time.
Now it seems to me he was into more so
the political aspects of life.
The life hard of the ghettos
~*Thunderous MidNight*~
I agree that very little of what comes out of the hip-hop world touches most of the acts you mentioned above from the late 80s/early 90s. In terms of lyrics, both mainstream and underground hip-hop are lacking in that department. There are artists putting out fun, goofy or substantive material but they are few and far between. When it comes to the actual tracks, I'm slowly but surely warming up to the bombastic synth/bass-heavy beats of today. Those synth lines are just irresistable at times. Re: hip-hop of today that is decent to great all around, check out the UK Garage/Grime scenes. Dizee Rascal, Wiley, The Streets and Kano just to name a few all use very unique sounding beats and most of the time, have something interesting to talk about. The Streets' Original Pirate Material is one of the best hip-hop albums of this decade IMO. For something more goofy/tongue-in-cheak, I really like Spank Rock's YoYoYoYoYo and most of Aesop Rock's material (which you're probably already familiar with). From an instrumental standpoint, I think it's just a short matter of time before more MC's start experimenting with dubstep tracks. So much of that stuff is just begging for a sick MC to rhyme over it. Producers like Distance, Burial, Scream and Kode9 have been putting out some of the most progressive albums electronic music has seen in a while.
OK, here's a question from somebody who just doesn't follow the music at all. Do most people who appreciate hip-hop actually care about the lyrics, or is the beat and the groove the most important thing?
You'll definitely find people in both camps and some that are into the whole package.
Well me I don't care for todays crap. it is a lode of garbage! the shit from the 80's and some of the stuff from 90's kick ass! my old time favorit, is NWA.
well, i'm more of a beat person. but there's an occasional song that I like the lyrics to.