I agree with the majority in here, but if you tried to include CURRENT rappers that release good music, your list would be smaller. I keep seeing the timeless greats like Tribe, Celly, Pac, Pharcyde, Andre, etc... Let's focus on recent guys. I wouldn't mind expanding my hip hop "head". Also, whichever poster said Ross was putting in work...No. His beats are nice, his style is unique, but the guy HAS NOTHING TO SAY. If you listen to rap simply for the beats, just admit it. If you listen simply for the delivery or "street cred", admit it. The only exception to that, in my opinion, is a guy like Jeezy. His lyrics are weak, but he is a movement in himself. His following in the south is unheard of. TI has sold more, Young Jeezy represents the hustle in the south. Not Luda. The voice is everything there. I still stick claiming Slaughterhouse as a group, or as individual rappers, are the best currently. I don't know who can compete lyrically with any guy in that powerhouse, other than Eminem and Nas. Don't counter it with some underground dude who rhymes words and phrases either. I want substance.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6ujXr4kDYho" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uql3rb4oOHY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Spoiler <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rmjfkEXNyDc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3W-BHTJsfAg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qh9wndCiROo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Nine was lost in the shuffle, but he is a genius.
You realize Tupac was directly influenced by Nas right? Tupac was inspired to make "Me and My Girlfriend" after hearing "I Gave You Power" by Nas. Both are great songs. Both are great artists. But it should be known who was influencing who, to suggest Nas can't touch Tupac is silly.
He got a bigger fanbase...and it was the last of his Atlantic deal so he was kinda forced into making it mainstream now lets see what he does on F&L2
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2T1jdreS6ko" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Love 3000's verse on this song. Also Devin the Dude is a fantastic Houston rapper, one of the most underrated.
I say the same thing every "hip hop" thread it seems. Biggie and Tupac were the best AND the WORST of hip hop. If you consider the critiques of 10-15 years ago about rap, WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING TODAY WHAT WE ASKED FOR "THEN". Everyone said: -- Hip hop is too violent , too much gun play. (see Biggie and Tupac) Its about HAVING FUN, not fighting. What that did was of course SOFTEN rap away from the gun play and thuggery, into general "feel good" music like with Houston rap talking about cars and candy paints and "lean" and all that. -- The MAINSTREAM is too "watered down", its UNDERGROUND where its at. Also it FRAGMENTED rap to were everything is too "splintered" now. To get attention some random dudes have to make some Dougie dance. Say what you want about MTV and BET, but they CENTRALIZED the sound more. (Of course there was the whole East vs West thing cuz of that, but thats were you got the Nas and Rakim and Tribe Called Quest types)
There were cries of "commercialism" back then for SURE. MC Hammer & Vanilla Ice the biggest offenders. Then the Young MC "Bust a Move" types... Overall though I dont remember watching these vids on MTV and thinking THATS mainstream GARBAGE. .
Glad someone made this thread. The only thing I've listened to in the past few years that have been decent "hip hop": Slaughterhouse (even any of the dudes on their individually) Joe Budden (I almost have to give him credit individually outside of the group, the guy has been underrated for SO long) Kendrick Lamar Freddie Gibbs Lupe (not including Lasers) J. Cole (not including any new stuff, but i enjoyed the presigning mixtapes) Andre 3000 Nas Roots I like Gambino but i think more so because of his comedy career that i've followed from the youtube comedy troop "Derrick Comedy" to the NBC show to the success he has now. Starting to slowly pick up on the following guys: XV - barely catching some of his stuff now K'Naan Looking for others
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Not sure if he's been mentioned in this thread yet, but KRIT is probably my favorite current rapper. <object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sqYgfX6dfxc?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sqYgfX6dfxc?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> <object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CvY1WrsSr-Y?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CvY1WrsSr-Y?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> NSFW Spoiler <object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2tXcyHGt_94?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2tXcyHGt_94?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
