The Hip Hop Thread

[Telemediocrity]

So I can't be the only one here who likes hip-hop in some form or another.  A lot of good new stuff has come across my plate lately that I feel like sharing; if anyone has anything good to share, please do put it up here.

First off, East Coast cock-hoppers Spank Rock have created an infectuous Baltimore club sound that combines everything from Miami bass to lo-fi 8-bit beep tracks and B-movie theremin music that sounds like something akin to Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, if they'd come out of eighties electronica instead of disco.  Two of their best tracks are there on their MySpace - "Rick Rubin" and "Blow".  If you're going to listen to the former, check out the music video a bit down the page.

Lady Sovereign's new song Love Me or Hate Me is probably the catchiest UK chav hip-hop song ever made.  Lady Sovereign is a pint-sized, trashy white female MC from Britain who also happens to be one of the most talented lyricists of the past few years.  Jay-Z just signed her for her American debut; she's going to be big, and with good reason.

Lastly, I have really high hopes for Outkast's new movie, Idlewild.  There's really no way this could be bad.

You guys heard anything good lately?

[stray]

Motion Man has a new album coming out. He's a bad MC, but his albums can be hit and miss sometimes. I'm not really recommending it until I hear it.

Not Hip Hop, but Mike Patton (Faith No More) has a new album out. Dan the Automator is in his band for now....If that counts. 

And for nostalgia's sake: Here's Keith. Screw Outkast. Not only did they steal his wacky shtick, but Outkast is not even hip hop. It's prom music.

[edit] Btw, the Mike Patton is called Peeping Tom.

[Strazos]

if they'd come out of eighties electronica instead of disco.

Not to quibble...but a lot of electronica came out of disco.

[Telemediocrity]

I am a huge, huge Mike Patton fan.  In addition to Peeping Tom, I hear a new Lovage album is coming out soon, which IMHO was Mike Patton's best side project.  Lovage, for those who've never heard, is almost like a trip-hoppy series of Frank Sinatra duets.  Kim from the Elysian Fields, Mike Patton, Dan the Automator.  Their biggest single was a creepily good cover of the Berlin song "Sex" that was less dancable but a more intimate exploration of the male id than the original.

The only Motion Man I've heard was his bit on the Kutmaster Kurt remix of Linkin Park's "In the End".  Seemed interesting enough, I'll try and check it out.

For anyone who's into fusions of soul, blues, and hip-hop, Restoring Poetry in Music is incredible.  Their video for Poetry Bum recently popped up on Google video, so if you think it might be your thing, give it a shot.  The entire CD is just as good.

[voodoolily]

Dan the Automator is in his band for now....If that counts. 

That DOES count! I'm currently in love with Deltron 3030, which I just picked up a week ago. Yes, yes, day late dollar short but whatevs. It's the shit. I'm also listening to my usual asston of Blackalicious and Jurassic 5, and still have a secret crush on MC Frontalot.

My mom's youngest sister (who is 36) went to high school with Mike PAtton. They're from Eureka, CA.

I also like Haiku d'Etat and Omega Watts, who's a Portland artist.

[Righ]

The realm of hip-hop that I tend to find the most entertaining is what has been termed "rapcore" - Body Count, Urban Dance Squad, Senser, etc. Good job Urban Dance Quad and Senser are gigging this summer. Lets hope they produce some new albums, because they won't tour USA, most likely. Related... if you happen to be near Hartford, CT, there's a rare chance tomorrow to see Tack>>Head, who were the musos behind the a lot of Sugerhill records.

[Telemediocrity]

Urban Dance Squad I found randomly a long while back while browsing Yahoo! Music, and fell in love.  Good stuff, I recommend it.

For those who've never seen, check out the Fast Lane video.


Dan The Automator has that weird nexus of people around him that always end up in projects that put out good music: Gorillaz, Lovage, Handsome Boy Modelling School (A concept supergroup based on an episode of an early-90's Chris Elliot show.  Doesn't that just make you feel God's love?), Deltron 3030, Peeping Tom, and probably some other stuff I'm forgetting.

[voodoolily]

Lady Sovereign's new song Love Me or Hate Me is probably the catchiest UK chav hip-hop song ever made. 

Is that why I can't stop listening to this?

[Righ]

Google has a pretty decent Senser vid:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2683553348343200567

Youtube has another:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAjgTQS3dSw

[Strazos]

I like the X-Ecutioners, but I guess that's more Breakbeat than hip-hop.

[voodoolily]

Google has a pretty decent Senser vid:

That reminded me a lot of Rage Against the Machine.

[lamaros]

I love the hip-hop.

[Telemediocrity]

I love the Mike Patton.  Which reminds me...

[UD_Delt]

Does this count?

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/071897/071897_01_01_full_100.asx

[HaemishM]

Hip hop died when Eminem got big, it only took a few years for anyone to notice. Now it's just one more piece of the corporate rock music stock report puzzle, with the occasional shooting to get it back in the mainstream news.

[Sky]

No music really dies, it's just not Clear Channel™ approved any more.

There is a great local band that plays disco, they totally rock. Or disco. Whatever, they bring the booty-shakin'. There's still great hip-hop, it's just not anywhere you can tune a dial to.

That said, I dislike most hip-hop and rap. I saw that Kanye character on SNL doing Goldigger, what a pathetic joke he is. People like that shit? When the sample is the most talented thing on stage, there's a problem imo.

[voodoolily]

Late Registration is a very good album. Don't hate.

[Righ]

When the sample is the most talented thing on stage, there's a problem imo.

Ice ice baby.

[Telemediocrity]

No music really dies, it's just not Clear Channel™ approved any more.

Exactly.

Haemish, what would you say to K-Os?  Dude's probably the most talented act in years - sings, raps, produces, plays piano and guitar... incorporates every genre of music imaginable, from flamenco to gospel to eighties rap to New Orleans blues to indie rock.

Crabbuckit

Superstarr Pt. Zero

Love Song

Man I Used to Be

Get Yourself High (feat. the Chemical Brothers)

Those are the ones I can find easily.  Listed in rough order of what I like most.

[lamaros]

You don't really like music do you, Haemish? Sometimes the listening and enjoying of things comes before the commentary, and - surprise surprise - helps make it better!

Anyway, I'm enjoying this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CR8RPG/sr=1-1/qid=1155007180/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-2987608-8506414?ie=UTF8&s=music

[Jobu]

A coworker sent me this guy awhile ago. I liked him... good lyrics. *shrug*

Black Stacey
Coded Language
List of Demands

And someone has to mention the Roots. Great "jam band" style of hip-hop. They're great.

[stray]

Hip hop is definitely not dead. There's good stuff coming from everywhere these days. The Bay scene is alive and well, just by telling from the links on this thread. There's always great stuff coming out of New York as well, whether it be ghetto, geeky, white, or black. There's even cool stuff coming out of....France!

Just stay away from MTV or the radio, dig a little deeper, and you'll see that not everything is throwback jerseys and Escalades.

[Sky]

I like the Roots. I saw some thing they did on HDNet, Q lays down the funk. But they had a ton of guest rappers that totally killed the show imo. The guy fronting the Roots isn't too bad, but I don't like 99% of rappers, I like singers. Kanye and Jay-Z, Fitty, they're all hacks making money on an image. James Brown shit more talent than those hacks ever had, Muddy Waters was an OG.

[UD_Delt]

I like the Roots. I saw some thing they did on HDNet, Q lays down the funk.

I've seen then twice in concert at various festivals. They are definately an awesome live band but I've never actually listened to any of their cd's. I'm usually disappointed with jam bands after seeing them live and hearing one of their cd's. The songs just seem too truncated and simplified on cd. Is Q the bass player? That guy was just sick what he could do with a bass.

Spearhead/Michael Franti is also pretty good live but again I haven't heard much of his recorded stuff. He's probably a bit more funk than straight hip hop.

Robert Randolph and the Family Band would be the other closest thing I can think of. Again an awesome live show and his recorded stuff is also pretty good, then again Live at the Wetlands is probably the best since it's a live show. He's more gospel/blues than he is hip hop though.

Edit: Hell as long as I'm going down that path I may as well throw G. Love and Special Sause into the mix. Their older stuff (Philadelphonic & Coast to Coast) is better than the new but the new stuff isn't too bad either. Their first cd is good but also can be a bit rough around the edges.

[HaemishM]

I love music, I just don't think most of rap music these days that can be found without unearthing the holy tablets is formualistic crap. K-Os sounded ok, but I'd never heard of him until linked in this thread. I tend to find most music these days total shit, and thanks to the RIAA, don't buy CD's unless I know the artist, and then I just usually buy used. I'm becoming the crotchety old man on the front porch telling kids to take that newfangled rock music and shove it.

That said, I'm currently listening to Mattafix's CD Signs of a Struggle.

[Telemediocrity]

I just don't think most of rap music these days that can be found without unearthing the holy tablets is formualistic crap. K-Os sounded ok, but I'd never heard of him until linked in this thread.

To be fair, you wouldn't have to work hard if you're Canadian.  The dude is huge up there, and he did win a Source Award for best international album.

Crabbuckit doesn't make you want to dance?  That song, along with "Smiley Faces" by Gnarls Barkley, is one of the few that I can't make it through for 30 seconds without the urge.

[Moaner]

Sage Francis.  His Fuck Clear Channel tour ruled.  He also has dominated my CD player for about the last 4 years.

I like 99 rappers but Jay Z ain't one!

[lamaros]

I love Sage. I still think personal journals is better than the non-prophets album.

And I like Jay-Z, Kanye, Nas, MF Doom (the King Geedorah album rocks), Cee-lo, Cannibal Ox, El-P, old Public Enemy, Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Roots (how many times have I listened to Things Fall Apart?), Ghostface Killer, etc. I love just beats too, like the Quannum cd, RZA's tracks for Ghost Dog, etc.

Listening to Sway, Ghostface Killer and Rhymefest recently and enjoying it.

Can't stand The Streets

EDIT: Lady Sovereign's new track, Love Me or Hate Me, is shit. She's capable of much better.

[Telemediocrity]

I was never much into El-P... and then I heard the song "T.O.J." at just the right point in my life.  I became a fan for life.

Things Fall Apart is the best Roots album, IMHO.  Phrenology had a couple interesting tracks, but meh.

EDIT: Lady Sovereign's new track, Love Me or Hate Me, is shit. She's capable of much better.

The other tracks of hers I heard (only a few) weren't terribly catchy, sort of a cut-rate Dizzee Rascal.  What of hers is better that I should listen to?

[Tale]

I still listen to a lot of De La Soul.

But may I introduce you to New Zealand hip-hop (with a Samoan influence)? Best example:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lkuK6UNsX70

And some Aussie hip-hop:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lqCyTM1bF6Q
http://youtube.com/watch?v=D5wdFR-xEng

[lamaros]

I was never much into El-P... and then I heard the song "T.O.J." at just the right point in my life.  I became a fan for life.

Things Fall Apart is the best Roots album, IMHO.  Phrenology had a couple interesting tracks, but meh.

EDIT: Lady Sovereign's new track, Love Me or Hate Me, is shit. She's capable of much better.

The other tracks of hers I heard (only a few) weren't terribly catchy, sort of a cut-rate Dizzee Rascal.  What of hers is better that I should listen to?

I havn't heard any other recent tracks, I'm just going off her general ability and some apperances she's made with other artists. It might be that she has no good ones. Though good hip-hop doesn't always have to be catchy...

Oh and I guess I should mention some aussie hip-hop. I've never really loved it that much, but while o/s recently I found I missed it more than I used to:

Hilltop Hoods (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00020H48E/sr=1-1/qid=1155374825/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-2987608-8506414?ie=UTF8&s=music) are the biggest name, and you can see a bit about them and others here: http://groups.myspace.com/realaustralianhiphop

[stray]

Don't really like El-P, except for the beats. Can't get into a lot of MC's he works with either. Except Aesop.

That NZ link isn't my kind of thing, Tale....But I wouldn't mess with those dudes. Samoans are hardcore :D

The first Hilltop vid was cool. Didn't like the track in the Naruto vid though.

[lamaros]

We had a good running joke for a year or so with the "not many, if any" line. Shit music I'm sorry to say. 1200 techniques sucks too.

IMO the only good good aussie/nz hip-hop works on a very white boy indie level, the stuff that sounds more 'american' always comes out lame. But there are some good fun songs from the hoods, the herd, butterfingers and the like. Nothing i'd really call an awesome album though.

[Tale]

We had a good running joke for a year or so with the "not many, if any" line. Shit music I'm sorry to say. 1200 techniques sucks too.

I don't like the original Scribe "Not Many" track, but I like the humour in the remix video I linked. I'm not a big fan of Aussie hip-hop outside the Hilltop Hoods either, but I happened to see an Aussie-accented MC upstairs at a pub a few weeks ago (not even sure who he was) and really got into it. I don't like 1200 Techniques either, and I'm glad you edited The Herd out of your post because I think they're crap too :) I like their attitude though, which is often the best thing about Aussie hip-hop. There's some kind of documentary coming up.

[Telemediocrity]

For anyone who hasn't heard it yet, I give you Ben Folds' cover of the NWA classic, "Bitches Ain't Shit": Linky

Edit:  Oh, and if you've never heard Busdriver... The dude is one of a very few MCs of his generation who are simultaneously literate and talented. Imaginary Places has him racing a flute.