The Official Destructoid Hip-Hop/Rap catalog thread

[Shinryu]

I think it all goes back to battle rappers having a hard time on full-length albums; he has some fantastic one-liners and hilarious stuff here and there, but he's always had trouble keeping a coherent album structure, IMO. He managed that in Slim Shady and Marshall Mathers to some extent but after that he's either been rehashing his trademark shock tactics (which got old quick, like you said) without much underlying content, or delve into new topics (such as politics) where he really doesn't have much of interest to say.

[Kraid]

I agree , that's the problem with most rappers however. Their first albums are so freaking good that it can only go downhill from there. There's some few exceptions but even Wu-Tang suffers from this. Mobb Deep had the same exact thing happen to them when the 2000 cap popped off. The Infamous had a great aggressive soundtrack that delivered on the beats and the rhymes. As "gangster" as they might have been , Mobb Deep was still good.

Oh well, at least we have the underground.

[Shinryu]

that's why groups like gangstarr and quest are so amazing, there was a time when it seemed they could drop nothing that was less than stellar.

[Changston]

Can we nominate people for the most awkward rhyme schemes ever? If so, I think Kanye would win hands down. He should have stayed a producer and kept his damn mouth shut.

Also, there's a guy I like where he has incredible rhyming skills, but also very mediocre beats. I wish someone would hook him up.



And now for something completely different:



Fatal Bazooka makes me giggle. If you want something more, look up J'aime Trop Ton Boule.

[Shinryu]

I like technique, I think I've only heard his first two albums but he's definitely legit. beats ain't bad either, for the most part. nothing stellar but a lot of solid head boppers, plus he can really carry a beat with his style. if anything, his obsession with socialist revolution themes can get tired.

[ZombiePlatypus]

Anybody else listen to Mel Gibson and the Pants? They haven't had anything new in quite a while, but I really like 'em.

[Kraid]

@Changston : We can always manage to get a "funneh" section for the lulz. I think we can work something out , I have a few gems up my sleeves.

@Zombie : I've listened to some of their songs ; pretty cool so far!

Ok party people in da house! You're about to witness something that you never witness BEEEEFFooRrrrrE!

[low tech]

I fuckin' love the Madvillainy album; it got me into Madlib's stuff and I've been on a spending spree ever since. Wish I shelled out on the special edition of Madvillainy that was released in 2008. The price was high, but now it's hard to fucking get a copy.

[.youtube]ewc1hixzYPY[/youtube]

[.youtube]SmmjIjpw3Ro[/youtube]

Fret not Mr. Ali! DOOM and Madlib are working on an actual sequel to Madvillainy which will hopefully see the light of day this year. I'm not so sure though since Madlib has delivered an album every month this year in his Medicine series >.< This year'll be a busy one for him.

@Changston: There's a BRAND NEW Reflection Eternal album coming next month. XD Can't wait!

Lupe Fiasco - Fahrenheit 1st and 15th pt. 1: The Truth is Among Us (<-- mixtape)
Lupe Fiasco - Fahrenheit 1st and 15th pt. 2: Revenge of the Nerds (<-- mixtape)
Lupe Fiasco - Fahrenheit 1st and 15th pt. 3: A Rhyming Ape (<-- mixtape over Gorillaz beats. It's just as great as it sounds.)


From the first:

"I get big like Toadstool/ Then I jump into a coupe and it's right back to being small"

From the second:

I maintain that this is one of the most lyrically complex songs in the entire genre. Look up a dissection if you must.

From the third:


If you haven't heard of Lupe by now shame on you. But now is a pretty good time to get into him.

[Changston]

@LowTech AAAAGGGHHH HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT. Thank you for that news.

Edit: Yes. I'm such a sucker for choir parts in hip hop songs.

[pendelton21]

So...hi.

I'd like to throw a little something in here. I've got my own hip-hop show on my campus' radio station. Hip-hop is a love of mine I discovered a few years ago, with my first listen of the oft-discussed MF Doom and his work as DANGERDOOM in The Mask and The Mouse. Since then I like to get my hands on any and all underground hip-hop. My main focus is lyrical content; I appreciate wordplay more than anything. If you can spit a damn-complicated verse, more power to you. I'd like to show you a bit of music I've found that you might've not heard of:

Alaskan Fisherman

My main reason for mentioning this band is because it's home to the amazing Godforbid. Most might know him from his work as the frontman of the incredible That Handsome Devil. This is his hip-hop project that he worked on for a few years before forming That Handsome Devil.

Dual Core

Nerdcore might be my favorite genre of music. It was bound to happen when you mix two things near and dear to me (geek culture and phenomenal rhyming skills), and no one does it better than Dual Core. Though the song might not be his best, it's a fantastic tune that features him and seven of the biggest nerdcore artists around, including MC Lars, MC Frontalot, Schaffer the Darklord and others.

Saul Williams

Two summers ago I joined a friend of mine on a trip to Michigan to see this guy Saul Williams. The name I'd only known from a few songs played for me by said friend, and a Nike commercial I saw. So i went to the show not expecting much. That night fucking changed my life, as I was able to fall in love with Niggy Tardust himself. What this man does with words completely mystifies me. I've linked to a spoken word version of my favorite song of his, Telegram. More than anyone else, I'd advise finding more of his work, especially the work he does with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.

I'd love to talk more about this phenomenal genre, but I am on someone else's computer, and felt like sharing with you fine folks.

[Changston]

@Pendleton, I like Saul Williams, but I think he's clearly a poet first an emcee second. His structure is a little too rigid when he rhymes. That said, I really like it when he's got the cocky swagger sing-song style. Grippo and Black Stacey are very good songs.





Also, there was a period of time where I memorized the telegram half. It's got some fantastic lines in there.

[theredpepperofdoom]

Beauty and the Beat by Edan is a great hip-hop album.

Also, does Gorillaz count as hip-hop? I could recommend Demon Days, Plastic Beach and Gorillaz.

[Diverse]

Beauty and the Beat by Edan is a great hip-hop album.

Also, does Gorillaz count as hip-hop? I could recommend Demon Days, Plastic Beach and Gorillaz.

Was I the one who got you into Edan? If so, I'm glad, because he's probably my favorite.

Also, Gorillaz isn't strictly hip-hop, and I would only label a few of their songs as hip-hop. If anything, they're experimental.

[ClownBaby]

(I'm gonna throw up a couple of tracks here so bear with)
I would like to nominate Brother Ali for Hall of Fame status

Brother Ali - Forest Whitaker


P.O.S. - Purexed


Childish Gambino - The Awesome (ft. mc chris)

I'm not throwing this up there as a joke track.
Childish Gambino is Donald Glover from Community, mc chris is the shit and he KILLS his verse on this. It's over Three 6 Mafia beat.

on that note...
mc chris - Geek

(also not a joke, I think he's really talented)

Jon Lajoie - Everyday Normal Guy

(this one IS a "funneh" song, though he is actually pretty damn talented)


I like this thread.

[The Thir13n of Spades]

Nominating Bone Thugs-N-Harmony for hall of fame.



Also, Gravediggaz - Unexplained:

[Ali D]

Fret not Mr. Ali! DOOM and Madlib are working on an actual sequel to Madvillainy which will hopefully see the light of day this year. I'm not so sure though since Madlib has delivered an album every month this year in his Medicine series >.< This year'll be a busy one for him.

Fuckin' sweet.

The Hilltop Hoods are probably the biggest Australian hip-hop group right now. I know that sounds weird, Australia and hip hop, but they're a good listen. They've gone massively mainstream I think on their latest album, it's got the kind of tunes you hear during tv promos and shit like that.

[Poopface Morty]

As Changston and Pendelton mentioned, Saul Williams. I can thank Reznor for putting his name out there, and helping produce Rise and Liberation.





I know this doesn't really classify within the thread, but some of the stuff he does with Reznor is damn awesome...love this fucking insane Can't Hide Love cover (what the fuck Last.FM? Limited free plays? Suck my nuts, I own this song).

I like me some Public Enemy as well.



I listen to this a lot.



Otherwise, I got some catching up to do. This is a genre where I know there's some good stuff, I've just been too jaded from the mainstream garbage. MF Doom has been on my download list for some time.

Also...

[Shinryu]

the MadWorld soundtrack has some quality cuts, as far as soundtrack fare goes. I've been trying to get my hands on it for a while.

[ZombiePlatypus]

Brother Ali - Forest Whitaker

P.O.S. - Purexed

The Twin Cities has a lot of talent in rap/hip-hop, well music in general actually. I already mentioned Mel Gibson and the Pants, but I also listen to a lot of Atmosphere. I'd probably be listening to a lot less rap if I hadn't moved to Minnesota, one of the few good things to come out of living here.

As Changston and Pendelton mentioned, Saul Williams. I can thank Reznor for putting his name out there, and helping produce Rise and Liberation.

I first heard of him thanks to Buckethead:

[ClownBaby]

My favorite Saul Williams track from The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust
Saul Williams - No One Ever Does


Atmosphere rocks, Slug and Ant are amazing.