The Hip Hop Thread

[phonics]

Trying to see Gangsta Gibbs next week :cool:

[SincereTheRebel]

Ive just been put on to Kaytranada. The whiole album called 99.9% is good. Different sound, to what im used too. My ipod is still full of 90s and early 00s rap and r&b. I dont know much at all in todays music.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaWesK-nWts

[phonics]

It's okay, I didn't like it as much as a few of my friends I have to admit.

[phonics]

When I do go for that Dancey stuff I prefer the slightly weirder stuff


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAU5jvX6z98

[phonics]

Cheers mates.

I was going to make a playlist of Complex's Top 50 rap songs by women (http://uk.complex.com/music/2013/04/the-50-best-rap-songs-by-women/) but I question it's seriousness from #50 being Kreayshawn.

Gucci Gucci was a banger.

[Baz]

Gucci Gucci was a banger.Was it though? :D To be fair I bought her album off the strength of it, but after two plays it was put in my glove box and will never be seen again.

[phonics]

I can still do the hook. Certified banger.

[Bernanke]

Yep, Gucci Gucci is certified.

Gibbs is in Stockholm this week, but I got zero money and the person I was going to go with bailed on me. Meh.

[phonics]

Yep, Gucci Gucci is certified.

Gibbs is in Stockholm this week, but I got zero money and the person I was going to go with bailed on me. Meh.

I'll give you an update ;)

I've seen a few clips of his shows already though so I'm hoping it's not some rehearsed routine shit. Like if he says his DJ fucked up and has to chug a bottle of henny, I'm out. I hate that shit.

[phonics]

It's also got Jay Elec's obligatory, annual "hey everyone, I'm just here to remind you all how brilliant I am at rapping, I'm still never going to release an album though, see you next year" verse on it.

I wasn't feeling it at first but every other listen makes you realise it's fucking ridiculous the guys never had an album.

I was lost in the jungle like Simba after the death of Mufasa
No hog, no meerkat, hakuna matata by day
But I spent my night time fighting tears back (http://genius.com/Chance-the-rapper-how-great-lyrics#note-9143924)
I prayed and prayed and left messages but never got no hear back, or so it seemed
A mustard seed was all I needed to sow a dream (http://genius.com/Chance-the-rapper-how-great-lyrics#note-9143644)
I build the ark to gently, gently, row my boat down Noah's stream (http://genius.com/Chance-the-rapper-how-great-lyrics#note-9144048)
Sometimes the path I took to reach my petty goals was so extreme
I was so far down in the mud couldn't even let my light shine
But you was always there when I needed to phone a friend or use a life line (http://genius.com/Chance-the-rapper-how-great-lyrics#note-9143506)

[phonics]

Gone back to Pinata after listening to the Gibbs interview on RapRadar

It's such a solid album.

[Spoonsky]

Ive just been put on to Kaytranada. The whiole album called 99.9% is good. Different sound, to what im used too. My ipod is still full of 90s and early 00s rap and r&b. I dont know much at all in todays music.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaWesK-nWts

I was fucked up being driven home at 3:00AM last weekend and someone in the car was playing this, it was seriously blowing my mind. I hope it holds up while sober.

Kaytranada and Anderson.Paak are both coming to the festival series in Salt Lake but I'll be in Europe. :\

[phonics]

Cam'Ron :cool:

733624450743144448

[Baz]

736395423410163713

:d

[Baz]

http://i.imgur.com/Vgahib4.jpg

[CJay]

Cruel Winter confirmed. :drool:

Posse cut as the first single: https://soundcloud.com/nightsinoctober/champions-good-music

[Baz]

Who has the best verse?

[Waffdon]

G Eazy is the fucking man.

[Baz]

Do you know who really isn't the fucking man? ILoveMakonnen. His freestyle for Tim Westwood is atrocious. I'm not even sure if you can even class it as rapping.

[Bob Sacamano]

So Gibbs has been arrested for rape ......:face:

[CJay]

Trying to make a new hip hop playlist on Spotify. Probably 80% of it is Chance. :drool:

[Baz]

New Logic:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2NIMHVmGwk

It's all a bit Kanye, except he can still rap. :rosebud:

Dickhead still cancels dates with about 10 seconds notice though.

[Baz]

The XXL Freshman 16 list is out:
Lil Yachty (who?)
Desiigner
Dave East
Denzel Curry (who?)
G Herbo (who?)
Lil Uzi Vert (who?)
Lil Dicky
Anderson .Paak
21 Savage (who?)
Kodak Black

Nice to see [future] GOAT Lil Dicky on there.

[Manc]

Too High to Riot is such a good album

[Baz]

Joe Budden made a Drake diss track and nobody's mentioned it? :nono:

RIP TTH.

http://genius.com/Joe-budden-making-a-murderer-part-1-lyrics

[Spoonsky]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwGtxcFvrgg

[SincereTheRebel]

The first drake diss by budden was weak. But this second one is good.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gTpg09ptnU

Some other new sounds ive recently been put onto that i like


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COCpn1W13Kw


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22GRDNbWz98


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIHR7rUeGTc

[Alex]

What do people think of Blank Face LP? I'm liking it quite a bit after a few spins. Could have trimmed the fat off it in a few places but on the whole it seems a pretty good record.

YG's new one of quite good as well. Although not as good as his debut, it's missing the DJ Mustard beats. I guess they fell out or something.

[SincereTheRebel]

I havent really checked for kanye since graduation but i like the sound of this.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIdL3GvBty_/?hl=en

That bar about corny b-bombs. The way he is regulating his women. His pimp hand is strong in this video.

[Alex]

To revisit our "female emcees" conversation a bit further up this page, I'm really liking Noname's (formerly Noname Gypsy, featured with Chance a couple of times) new project. It's called Telefone, and it's pretty cool. You can download it off her Soundcloud page. It's nice and short, just over half an hour, but she covers a lot of ground on it. Well worth worth listening to, I would say.

https://soundcloud.com/noname/sets/telefone

[Bernanke]

Things I like right now:

Kembe X - Talk Back
Denmark Vessey - Whole Food
Kemba - Negus

[Baz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V26Ykyqjsk

:rave:

[Baz]

Going on holiday. Downloaded some songs to listen to while sunbathing. It's mostly new songs, with a few duds thrown in for good measure. Alright to stick on shuffle if you fancy it though. All tagged and stuff.

A Boogie - My Shit (Prod. by D Stacks).mp3
Afrojack - Gone (feat. Ty Dolla $ign).mp3
Ayo Jay - Your Number (Remix) [Ft. Fetty Wap].mp3
Blondie - Rapture.mp3
Britney Spears - Clumsy.mp3
Chance The Rapper - Angels (Ft. Saba).mp3
Chance the Rapper - Living Single (feat. Big Sean, Jeremih & Smino).mp3
Chance The Rapper - No Problem (Ft. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz).mp3
Clams Casino - All Nite (feat. Vince Staples).mp3
D.R.A.M. - Broccoli (feat. Lil Yachty).mp3
Desiigner - Tiimmy Turner.mp3
DJ Khaled - Do You Mind (feat. Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, August Alsina, Jeremih, Future & Rick Ross).mp3
DJ Luke Nasty - O.T.W. (On The Way).mp3
DJ Snake - Let Me Love You (feat. Justin Bieber).mp3
Drake - One Dance (Culture Clash Dub Plate).mp3
Earl Sweatshirt - Wind In My Sails.mp3
Fergie - M.I.L.F. $.mp3
G-Eazy - Drifting (feat. Chris Brown & Tory Lanez).mp3
Janelle Monáe - Hum Along & Dance (Gotta Get Down).mp3
Jidenna - Little Bit More.mp3
Joey Bada$$ - Devastated.mp3
JoJo - F-ck Apologies. (feat. Wiz Khalifa).mp3
Juicy J - No English (feat. Travis Scott).mp3
Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa & Imagine Dragons - Sucker For Pain (with Logic, Ty Dolla $ign & X Ambassadors).mp3
MAC MILLER - Dang! (feat. Anderson .Paak).mp3
Major Lazer - Cold Water (feat. Justin Bieber & MØ).mp3
Rich Chigga - Dat $tick.mp3
Rich Chigga - Who That Be.mp3
Rick Ross - Purple Lamborghini [ft. Skrillex].mp3
Sean Price - Rap Professor.mp3
T.I. - We Will Not.mp3
Usher - No Limit (feat. Young Thug).mp3
Viola Beach - Swings and Waterslides.mp3
Wale - My P.Y.T.mp3
Wiz Khalifa - Bad Influence.mp3
Wiz Khalifa - Pull Up (feat. Lil Uzi Vert).mp3
YG - FDT (feat. G-Eazy & Macklemore), Pt. 2.mp3

You can download them here:
https://mega.nz/#!6BdiEA5Z!Kqoxi7fb6qEeRmA1UrJmXGcPwdYN1cH9yW7I7gN LvYY

Let me know what you think. :baz:

[Bernanke]

Good stuff coming up in Isaiah Rashad, Danny Brown, Ka.

[phonics]

I couldn't give less of a shit about his music but Young Thug renaming himself 'No My Name Is Jeffrey' is enough for me to start listening.

[Bernanke]

Seriously guys get on Kembe X.

[phonics]

https://vimeo.com/179422088

It's really depressing

[Bernanke]

Both Isaiah and Danny dropping soon. This new Isaiah-tune goes.

https://soundcloud.com/topdawgent/isaiah-rashad-i-mean

[Spoonsky]

Anyone like Pusha T? Saw him last night, along with a cool group called Digable Planets who sound like A Tribe Called Quest.

[mugbull]

Digable Planets are fuckin dope. Didn't know they still tour

[Spoonsky]

We only caught the second half of them, if I'd known about them before I'd have shown up earlier.

[Baz]

I also only got on the Coloring Book late. I'm not a fan of Chance at all but hearing some of the singles I decided to give it a listen. It's really really good.

Kent Jones' verse on Don't Ever Play Yourself is not only the standout feature on DJ Khaled's new album, it's the greatest verse of 2016. Seek it out and listen to it if you haven't already. So so good. Hard to believe it's the dude behind that radio hit, Don't Mind. He's a badass.

[Alex]

The new De La Soul album has been in heavy rotation since it came out, it's great. So good to have them back. This little documentary they put out about the making of it is also very good and well worth a watch.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmpGJ7P_xsw

[bruhnaldo]

Highlight of life when Damon Albarn brought out De La Soul at Bonnaroo a few years back :drool:

[CJay]

No love for Blond? It's kinda awesome. I really wish the beat in last 20 seconds of Nikes was a full track. :drool:

[Spoonsky]

For fans of Chance the Rapper:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSX7LmESZQ4

[bruhnaldo]

No love for Blond? It's kinda awesome. I really wish the beat in last 20 seconds of Nikes was a full track. :drool:

Mentioned this in the other "10 songs" or whatever it's called thread too

Love it, still bumping it.

the new Young Thug is pretty good but IIRC none of you are into that kinda rap so.... i'll be quiet :)

[Alex]

I like Young Thug. He can be a bit hit and miss, but when he gets it right he's really entertaining. Barter 6 was great. I'll definitely check the new one out at some point.

I'm liking Isaiah Rashad's new album at the minute. Nice vibes for this last little bit of the summer that's hanging on. I think he's built on Cilvia Demo pretty nicely. It's just a little bit unfocussed in places, and maybe a little bit too long. He comes off as trying to sound like Kendrick too much at times as well. But on the whole it's a really good project.

[Bernanke]

Really enjoying Isaiahs effort as well.

[Spoonsky]

http://pitchfork.com/news/66216-kaytranada-shares-0001-mixtape-listen/?mbid=social_facebook

Get in here

[Baz]

9clacks has overtaken hiphopearly and genius as my #1 most browsed site. :drool:

Anyway, the best songs on the radio at the moment are the following:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPR0ZcFtSZQ


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8m9zhNAgKs

Do any of you listen to Radio 1Xtra? Trevor Nelson (10:00-13:00) hosts a game called Five Seconds To Name where he plays a five second mashup of a single artists songs. It's solid. Like literally the hardest game in the world. I managed to get two right this week though (Destiny's Child and Stylo G) so felt like a bit of a boss.

[Spoonsky]

Girls @ is quality.

Isaiah Rashad came to the uni here but I was delivering pizza. :moop:

[Alex]

I've been listening to a lot of old Rocafella stuff over the past week or so. I think it was seeing Beanie Sigel reemerge in that Meek Mill and Game beef that prompted it. So I threw on his first couple of albums, then moved on to the State Property soundtrack, Cam's "Come Home With Me" (I always forget what a great record that is, "Purple Haze" seems to get all the retrospective shine), Freeway's first album. Stuff like that. It's crazy the in-house talent they had back then. Especially when it came to producers. Just Blaze and (to a lesser extent) a young Kanye just steadily supplying everyone with great beats. Just Blaze especially though, he was a machine back then.

They seemed to have such a winning formula in place. Reminds me a little bit of how you see Black Hippy operate now. Really close, talented roster with great in-house producers who don't really have to go outside for any help. It kind of makes me sad thinking about how the whole thing collapsed and can't ever really be put back together. There would be no market for it at all nowadays though, so it's probably for the best.

[Alex]

Also, at some point during all of this I came across this awesome video of ODB in the studio with Pharrell, I would guess not long after he got out of jail and signed with the Roc. They're recording "Pop Shit" from that first Neptunes album.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuzDwP55dYo

You can tell how he's obviously a bit insecure about doing his thing (I would guess because he's cleaned up post jail, he seems pretty sober) but once he goes for it everyone just loses it. So good, you can't teach what that guy had.

[Bernanke]

Danny Brown just dropped his album. I'm a third in and it's a trip.

[wullie]

You can tell how he's obviously a bit insecure about doing his thing (I would guess because he's cleaned up post jail, he seems pretty sober) but once he goes for it everyone just loses it. So good, you can't teach what that guy had.

I'd love him to have recorded a straight soul album, Good Morning Heartache is ace.

[Alex]

I'd love him to have recorded a straight soul album, Good Morning Heartache is ace.

Definitely. I listened to his second album last night after posting that, in fact. I'm not sure if I would say it's better than his debut, but I've definitely listened to it more. Such an interesting record. He could have made a great soul record.

I suppose if you think about it, his sometimes incoherent, half sung/half rapped style is a bit of a blueprint for what a lot of the new guys are doing today, just minus the autotune!

[Spammer]

I just started listening to Midnight Marauders about 20 years too late.

Fucking quality album, it is. The whole thing just flows beautifully.

[phonics]

I haven't really kept up with releases recently as Discover Weekly seems to throw up constant bangers these days but this just came up on it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ojxTU-tXF8

Nize.

[Max Power]

Played this new Danny Brown three times already. Incredible album.

[Alex]

Yeah, I had a day off work today and pretty much all I did was listen to it. I feel like it's really good, on first impression. Better than "Old" I would say, which in itself was a strong album, but probably my least favourite full-length he's put out so far. This one feels way more cohesive, and he seems (at least to me) to have dialled down his cartoon voice to an extent. It was getting a bit unbearable in places on the last album. This just feels like a smarter, better put together record.

[Baz]

Yeah, I had a day off work today and pretty much all I did was listen to it. I feel like it's really good, on first impression. Better than "Old" I would say, which in itself was a strong album, but probably my least favourite full-length he's put out so far. This one feels way more cohesive, and he seems (at least to me) to have dialled down his cartoon voice to an extent. It was getting a bit unbearable in places on the last album. This just feels like a smarter, better put together record.

Better than/as good as XXX?

[Bernanke]

Better than/as good as XXX?

Difficult to say this early. I feel like it is way more consistent and well-produced overall, but slightly lacking the highs that XXX reached.

Ain't It Funny is SOTY though. I got dizzy the first time I listened to it.

[Alex]

Better than/as good as XXX?

I wouldn't say it's as good as XXX, no. It's early days though. The Hybrid is still his best record if you ask me.

[Baz]

Had two Drake tickets in my basket earlier, £144 each. Couldn't justify it. :(

Should've bought them to sell cos they were gone ten seconds later.

[Bernanke]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lPD5PtqMiE&feature=youtu.be

Long but good.

[Baz]

Terrible name aside, the NO PANTY album, Westside Highway Story, is currently AOTY for me. I'm a massive Joell Ortiz and Nitty Scott MC fan anway, and it's those two along with Bodega Bamz, for a whole album. I was worried Ortiz would bury the other two with his far-superior rapping, but it works well. Bamz is noticeably the weakpoint (from my fanboi point of view, admittedly) but it's well-rounded and some of the beats are ace.


Three of New York’s prominent rappers – Bodega Bamz, Joell Ortiz, Nitty Scott and also along with producer Salaam Remi – have teamed up to form the aspiring super-group NO PANTY. The trio have unveiled their debut project, Westside Highway Story. Produced in its entirety by Salaam Remi, the project is a unique blend of vintage Latin sonics backed by hard-hitting boom bap.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twEMnjF41Aw


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6im1vapsGQ


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPmS_zkDjHc


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itVIenQ2V_4

:dust:

[Spoonsky]

Offy posted this on fb: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/06/arts/music/a-tribe-called-quest-new-album-interview.html?_r=0

I really hope it's great.

[Amigo]

Apparently I have to log in to see that. What the fuck?

[Alex]

Offy posted this on fb: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/06/arts/music/a-tribe-called-quest-new-album-interview.html?_r=0

I really hope it's great.

Me too. I really hope the majority of it was worked on and recorded collaboratively when Phife was still alive too.

[Offshore Toon]

I think it's almost certainly going to be great. That NY Times article is quality. It really sounds like they did it for the right reasons, so even if its not up there with their best work, just hearing them have fun will be great. Dunno if you guys listened to the new Phife song but its really good. Nothing groundbreaking, but has that classic Phife and Dilla sound which is always a winner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cujUZvwqVjA

[Alex]

Offshore. :wub:

Yeah, I'm sure it will be good. And even if it's not particularly great at least it's gotten Q-Tip to emerge from his hole again, which can only be a good thing.

[Offshore Toon]

Y'arite, mate. :dance:

Listened to Saba - Bucket List Project today. Reminds me of early chance, which is nice given how much of a let down Coloring Book was.

[Alex]

Y'arite, mate. :dance:

Listened to Saba - Bucket List Project today. Reminds me of early chance, which is nice given how much of a let down Coloring Book was.

:dance:

I've been listening to the Saba album as well, definitely a strong effort. You didn't like Coloring Book though? I thought it was great. Maybe his best work.

I don't think it's been the greatest year for Hip-Hop in general, but Chicago has been absolutely killing it. Kanye, Chance, Noname, Mick Jenkins, Saba and then, to top it all off, Common just dropped the best album album he's made in years. He sounds so reinvigorated on it, it's a beautiful thing to hear.

I was never one of these people who thought he totally fell off, but he's definitely been a lack of general effort for the last few years. It felt like the acting was his new main gig and he was just throwing out the occasional album to keep his name out there. This though? Very possibly the best thing he's done since Be. I certainly haven't heard him sound this energised or purposeful since then.

[Offshore Toon]

I felt that Coloring Book moved too far away from what I liked about Chance. Angels is a great song, but the trap and autotune vibes just didn't fit for me. I only listened through once, though. I can't help but feel Kanye may have taken some of his best ideas as well, since that's what he does. The Life of Pablo was a bit all over the place, but it had some of his best work to date imo. 30 Hours, Wolves, Real Friends are all incredible, plus Facts and Fade are bangers. The rest of the album varies from meh to very good.

Was anybody else really let down with Blonde? Chance and Frank disappointing wasn't something I thought possible.

It definitely hasn't been the best year, although Atrocity Exhibition was amazing and is Danny's best album imo. So fucking weird. Catching him next week in London, then probably again in Brighton the week after. Then with Tribe, Pusha T and RTJ3 still to come, it'll be a strong finish. Also saw Death Grips a couple of weeks ago and it was fucking insane. Up there with the best gigs I've been to.

I haven't really been listening to hip hop as much, though. Maybe that's because it hasn't been a great year. People like Anderson.Paak, Denzel Curry and so many new guys just don't impress me. Then with an album like M.I.A.'s which is really good but just doesn't bring anything new to the table.

I will say that Swet Shop Boys (Heems & Rizwan Ahmed (bloke from Four Lions)) - Cashmere was really good, though. The beats were great and Rizwan surprised me with how many great punchlines he had. Definitely one of the hip hop albums of the year.

I had no idea Common was releasing anything so I'll definitely check that out.

[Alex]

I felt that Coloring Book moved too far away from what I liked about Chance. Angels is a great song, but the trap and autotune vibes just didn't fit for me. I only listened through once, though. I can't help but feel Kanye may have taken some of his best ideas as well, since that's what he does. The Life of Pablo was a bit all over the place, but it had some of his best work to date imo. 30 Hours, Wolves, Real Friends are all incredible, plus Facts and Fade are bangers. The rest of the album varies from meh to very good.

Was anybody else really let down with Blonde? Chance and Frank disappointing wasn't something I thought possible.

It definitely hasn't been the best year, although Atrocity Exhibition was amazing and is Danny's best album imo. So fucking weird. Catching him next week in London, then probably again in Brighton the week after. Then with Tribe, Pusha T and RTJ3 still to come, it'll be a strong finish. Also saw Death Grips a couple of weeks ago and it was fucking insane. Up there with the best gigs I've been to.

I haven't really been listening to hip hop as much, though. Maybe that's because it hasn't been a great year. People like Anderson.Paak, Denzel Curry and so many new guys just don't impress me. Then with an album like M.I.A.'s which is really good but just doesn't bring anything new to the table.

I will say that Swet Shop Boys (Heems & Rizwan Ahmed (bloke from Four Lions)) - Cashmere was really good, though. The beats were great and Rizwan surprised me with how many great punchlines he had. Definitely one of the hip hop albums of the year.

I had no idea Common was releasing anything so I'll definitely check that out.

He does do that. :D

TLOP definitely was all over the place. It felt more like a mishmash of "these are the various things Kanye has been working on in the last couple of years" rather than an actual, cohesive album. It still had it's fair share of moments of absolute greatness though. Ultralight Beam is probably still the best track of the year for me, and one of the single best things he's ever done.

Atrocity Exhibition is very good. I would say either his second or third best album, I'm not sure. Better than Old though. I've played it a lot.

I'd forgotten that Heems (or Das Racist for that matter) existed. I remember liking a mixtape or two of his after they split. That guy could be genuinely, laugh out loud hilarious with his rhymes sometimes.

[Alex]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK5ddkTMmec

:D

I really need to re-listen to that whole tape.

[Offshore Toon]

I loved that album. "Yo, bad business a hundred million/Wait, wait, Mike says this should be a song about women." I'd go as far to say he was outshone on the Swet Shop Boys album, though. Either way they've pretty much gone out and made the most Indian hip hop album they could and it worked so well.

[Baz]

Actual hip-hop discussion. :drool:

[Offshore Toon]

I ended up writing a little something about hip hop and the presidential debate which escalated into 1,000 words somehow.

https://www.facebook.com/sussexhiphopsociety/posts/1090925684358510

[Alex]

Nicely done that, Offshore. I definitely agree with the prevailing idea that Hilary is the Hip-Hop choice by default, just because she isn't Trump. There's no real love for her, but you get the impression that people like Jay-Z and Beyonce are mobilising for her this late in the campaign just so they can't be said to have done nothing if Trump does get in.

Bernier Sanders would have been the Hip-Hop choice I guess, he would have gotten a lot of support from the rap community if he got the nomination I think. I know Killer Mike was a big supporter of his. Speaking of which, I saw the other day that he basically told people to stay home and not vote because he didn't feel like either side would work for the black community. I love Killer Mike and I think he's a really smart guy, but I found that a little short-sighted and it worried me a bit.

[Alex]

Also, your mention of Trump references in Hip-Hop tracks immediately made me think of this, which was such a weird and random skit:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL93YUWBObQ

All the way back in '98. :D

[Offshore Toon]

Nicely done that, Offshore. I definitely agree with the prevailing idea that Hilary is the Hip-Hop choice by default, just because she isn't Trump. There's no real love for her, but you get the impression that people like Jay-Z and Beyonce are mobilising for her this late in the campaign just so they can't be said to have done nothing if Trump does get in.

Bernier Sanders would have been the Hip-Hop choice I guess, he would have gotten a lot of support from the rap community if he got the nomination I think. I know Killer Mike was a big supporter of his. Speaking of which, I saw the other day that he basically told people to stay home and not vote because he didn't feel like either side would work for the black community. I love Killer Mike and I think he's a really smart guy, but I found that a little short-sighted and it worried me a bit.
Cheers, mate.

I kinda feel like Jay Z is doing it because he loves the idea of being important - as an American gangster or otherwise. Jay and Beyoncé clearly love this idea of hanging around politicians, so I'm not sure how politically motivated that concert was.

Yeah, I think once Run The Jewels endorsed Bernie it had a huge effect. I didn't expect to see Rae Sremmurd of all the groups to be endorsing Bernie. :D Americans do seem to be slightly brainwashed into thinking there are only two parties worth voting for. If the independents start to get votes year on year things will eventually change.

I've never seen that Method Man skit. :D Hip Hop is so incredibly weird sometimes.

[CJay]

I thought Coloring Book and Blonde were awesome. Did anyone hear Chance showing Zane Lowe his early cuts of Waves and Nina Chop (Famous)? Kanye missed a trick with both of them.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2PaDCwIYLA

[Offshore Toon]

Yeah, they suit Chance so well. Definitely his ideas to begin with. :D

CyHi's 'lost' FMSH pt. 2 verse is really, really good as well.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJQzQQDTls8

[Offshore Toon]

Had to be done.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLa9YxV1Xps

This paves the way quite nicely for YEEZY 2020 as well.

[Baz]

Have you listened to the NOPANTY album, Offy?

Also:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l161Qqc5lUk

Impressive, even if it wasn't strictly a freestyle.

[Alex]

This paves the way quite nicely for YEEZY 2020 as well.

Excellent point.

Can you imagine what the debates would be like? :D

[Alex]

Baz, I watched that earlier. He's really good! Especially when the "Kick in the Door" beat drops, he kicks it up a notch then. Even squeezes a couple of pretty good disses to actual emcees in there. :D

I like Shia LeBeouf, he always seems like a really interesting, very genuine bloke. Obviously a massive rap head as well.

[Alex]

Also, all really I've done since finishing work today is listen to the new Tribe album on loop. It's really cool. It's hard to say exactly how good it is in the grand scheme of things because I'm still a bit lost in the novelty of it actually existing. But I reckon it's safe to say that it's at least as good as The Love Movement, which in itself is a very underrated album, and therefore a totally worthwhile effort.

Obviously it's a little bit light on Phife and that's understandable, and they build around what they do have from him really well. Q-Tip sounds great. Bringing Jarobi back and getting him to rhyme (he's very good!) was an excellent decision.

[Max Power]

I wonder if Shia is any closer to getting his Cage biopic off the ground? :D

On Tribe, gave it a spin after work. Really good on first listen. Sounds like they've never been away and the guests are well chosen and seamless.

[Baz]

Baz, I watched that earlier. He's really good! Especially when the "Kick in the Door" beat drops, he kicks it up a notch then. Even squeezes a couple of pretty good disses to actual emcees in there. :D

I like Shia LeBeouf, he always seems like a really interesting, very genuine bloke. Obviously a massive rap head as well.Yeah he's boss. Seen the X-Files with him in yet? :sst:

[Spoonsky]

Also, all really I've done since finishing work today is listen to the new Tribe album on loop. It's really cool. It's hard to say exactly how good it is in the grand scheme of things because I'm still a bit lost in the novelty of it actually existing. But I reckon it's safe to say that it's at least as good as The Love Movement, which in itself is a very underrated album, and therefore a totally worthwhile effort.

Obviously it's a little bit light on Phife and that's understandable, and they build around what they do have from him really well. Q-Tip sounds great. Bringing Jarobi back and getting him to rhyme (he's very good!) was an excellent decision.

Agreed, no clue how it will age but I think there are some pretty great songs (Dis Generation for one). I think they succeeded in that it sounds very much like Tribe, but it still sounds pretty current with hip hop.

Their voices have changed in some odd ways though.

[Alex]

Yeah he's boss. Seen the X-Files with him in yet? :sst:

No, I don't think I'm that far yet. Season 7 apparently? I'm still in season 6. It's weird how many future famous people show up in the X-Files though.

[Alex]

Agreed, no clue how it will age but I think there are some pretty great songs (Dis Generation for one). I think they succeeded in that it sounds very much like Tribe, but it still sounds pretty current with hip hop.

Their voices have changed in some odd ways though.

Agreed. They've updated the sound but it's still very quintessentially Tribe. Everything has got that same bounce to it. As soon as the beat dropped on The Space Program (which is a GREAT opener) it was totally evident they were back. Q-Tip is still an excellent producer, I hope he doesn't hibernate again after this.

They've done an excellent job on fleshing it out with the right kind of collaborators too. Just the right amount of Busta Rhymes, for example. Weirdly, the Andre 3000 guest spot it probably the most underwhelming thing on the whole record for me. He usually kills it on guest verses but I think it's a rare swing and miss from him here, that's probably my least favourite track on the whole LP at the minute.

[Offshore Toon]

Have you listened to the NOPANTY album, Offy?

Haven't heard of it. Any good?

Excellent point.

Can you imagine what the debates would be like? :D
It'd be absolute chaos if he went up against Trump. Definitely realistic in this climate, though.

[Spammer]

My favourite hip hop album is Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypocrisy_Is_the_Greatest_Luxury), by Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. Can anyone recommend some other stuff that I might like?

[Offshore Toon]

I've never heard of that, but with hip hop its quite easy to find similar music by looking at the producers and features.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Franti#Discography

I'd just take a look at all of the albums in the collaborations bit if you're looking for something a bit different.

[Reg]

I haven't heard that Hammer, but I like Michael Franti. "Yell Fire" and "Everyone Deserves Music" are good albums.

I can't really think of anything similar. Try Atmosphere if you haven't, you might like them.

[phonics]

Listening to it, it's basically an underground Public Enemy. The closest thing that came after it was probably Bay Area rap from 90s onwards.

If you want the more modern era (but way less political) try Ugly Duckling.

[bruhnaldo]

the new Tribe is amazing.

[Baz]

Haven't heard of it. Any good?Album of the year. http://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/images/smilies/nodd.gif (https://clicknupload.link/cd0gaithrhgb)

[Spammer]

Cheers guys, I'll look into the suggestions.

'Tribe' is a A Tribe Called Quest, yeah? Got into Midnight Marauders in the last few months, fucking quality album. Probably second favourite rap album behind the one I linked to above.

[Spoonsky]

One thing about the new Tribe album is that it's much more political than previous ones. I like that, though. Given the times it would feel a little weird if it were otherwise.

[Max Power]

Kanye hospitalised 'for his own safety' after he'd cancelled his tour :|

Doesn't seem a well man right now, hope he comes through it.

[Alex]

I really hope he's OK and this ends up being a big, positive step for him. I'm almost glad somebody has finally stepped in and made the call because from my own (admittedly uninformed) point of view he hasn't seemed, mentally, like a well man in quite some time.

[wullie]

All the stuff I assumed was him just fucking about with his public persona for a reaction seems a bit less funny now.

[Bernanke]

Pray for Ye.

Nah, but good on him for finally getting help.

[Baz]

Regardless of his mental state, cursing Beyoncé and Jay-Z was just idiotic.

Chance The Rapper did a live lounge on 1xtra today (covered Drake, zomg) and said a little prayer for his "big brother," d'awww. :wub:

[Offshore Toon]

I think what he said about Beyoncé and Jay was totally in line. Beyoncé shouldn't be blackmailing to get an award, and Jay as his good friend should definitely have called him. Ultimately, I think the reason he goes on these rants is because he can't trust the media to get his point across, so he addresses fans face to face when he can. His points about Facebook and Google and censorship were all valid, too. We already know that Kanye struggles to communicate. His style of public speaking is so erratic and he does come across as a little crazy, but everything I know about him indicates he has a very good heart when push comes to shove. I think he wants to help people, but not only are they not listening, they're calling him crazy.

[Bernanke]

Anyone who agrees to do the voice for Kenny West on The Cleveland Show is a fundamentally good person.

Anyway, six years since MBDTF today.

[Reg]

I think what he said about Beyoncé and Jay was totally in line. Beyoncé shouldn't be blackmailing to get an award, and Jay as his good friend should definitely have called him. Ultimately, I think the reason he goes on these rants is because he can't trust the media to get his point across, so he addresses fans face to face when he can. His points about Facebook and Google and censorship were all valid, too. We already know that Kanye struggles to communicate. His style of public speaking is so erratic and he does come across as a little crazy, but everything I know about him indicates he has a very good heart when push comes to shove. I think he wants to help people, but not only are they not listening, they're calling him crazy.
I think you have a point. It may be partly due to the fact that we're so used to celebrities being unwilling to say anything interesting that may cause controversy, that when somebody does dare to it's treated with such surprise.

[Baz]

The Weeknd's done a [video] interview with Zane Lowe, in the run-up to his new album: https://itunes.apple.com/ru/post/idsa.116956b0-b1b2-11e6-b7fd-a2c4af185072?l=en :drool:

[Offshore Toon]

Starboy is so, so, so shit. I can't believe how low Daft Punk's standards have got. I don't get the hype about The Weeknd, either. It's incredibly dull.

[Alex]

Hell Hath No Fury is ten years old. :serious:

http://www.gq.com/story/clipse-hell-hath-no-fury-10th-anniversary

[wullie]

The question then, is whether Pusha and No Malice, seven years removed from their last album together, are willing to make another Clipse record today. “Beyond a shadow of a doubt, I know we can do it,” No Malice says. When I tell Pusha several weeks later, he agrees, adding it would be up to his brother. “It would be an amazing album,” Pusha says. “We could totally conquer the world.”

Don't toy with me!

[Alex]

I know, right. I always though it was completely off the cards because (No) Malice didn't want to make that kind of music anymore. Evidently not the case.

[Offshore Toon]

I saw somebody on Reddit post an idea that sounded awesome. An album where basically Pusha was the devil on one shoulder, and No Malice was the angel on the other. I suppose it would work a bit like Guilty Conscience. Thing is, No Malice's Christian rap is actually banging, it just doesn't get pushed out there as much.

[Mr. Malik]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wADfXOlZH4I

[Spammer]

Might go and see De La Soul in Leeds in February.

[Offshore Toon]

They put on a banging show. I don't know too much of their work, but it honestly didn't matter. Great stage presence.

[Alex]

I saw somebody on Reddit post an idea that sounded awesome. An album where basically Pusha was the devil on one shoulder, and No Malice was the angel on the other. I suppose it would work a bit like Guilty Conscience. Thing is, No Malice's Christian rap is actually banging, it just doesn't get pushed out there as much.

That would definitely work. They had sort of already developed that dynamic anyway. Especially on Til' the Casket Drops, if you go back and listen to that Pusha is the brash, arrogant one, whereas in a lot of Malice's rhymes he's playing the remorseful, repentant older brother. He's already referencing religion fairly frequently at that point as well. And that's a great fucking album.

[Offshore Toon]

Yeah, that is a banging album. Clipse are really underrated on this side of the Atlantic.

[Offshore Toon]

Might as well share this here. My first effort at spitting. Its grime, but I'm gonna carry on writing cause its a lot of fun. Went out on the student radio show I'm on.

https://soundcloud.com/alexander-cameron/acam-wheres-your-farda-prod-sir-spyro

[Baz]

Nice one. :thbup:

[phonics]

What's the beat that this new J Cole diss track is over? I'm sure I've heard it somewhere.

[Max Power]

Joey Badas$$ - Waves.

Really find J. Cole unbelievably boring. Even when he's randomly dissing mentally ill people.

[Offshore Toon]

J. Cole is so shit. What is it with him and reusing old beats? He basically used a Tribe and an Outkast song on his last album, didn't he? That False Prophets song is actually alright by his standards. He comes across as a pretentious mong with the "old kanye sooooooo much better x" angle, but ultimately he's just saying what he thinks. I don't think he's attacking Kanye for being mentally ill. This was no doubt written before that stuff unfolded.

[Alex]

https://vimeo.com/151073854

Pretty good documentary I watched today called "Adult Rappers". It basically interviews a load of rappers about the day to grind of being a working emcee, guys who are thirty plus and aren't megastars, where Hip-Hop is basically an ongoing job for them. So you've got people on there like Slug, J-Zone, RA the Rugged Man, Masta Ace. It's worth a watch, pretty insightful.

I also watched that Organized Noize documentary on Netflix recently too, which is great.

[Alex]

http://www.spin.com/2016/12/ab-soul-dwtw-new-album-release-this-friday/

New Ab-Soul on Friday. Never a bad thing. That guy has got an undisputed classic in him, I guarantee it. Whether or not this will be it I'm not sure, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

[Spoonsky]

Might as well share this here. My first effort at spitting. Its grime, but I'm gonna carry on writing cause its a lot of fun. Went out on the student radio show I'm on.

https://soundcloud.com/alexander-cameron/acam-wheres-your-farda-prod-sir-spyro

'Offshore Toon' would probably be a better rap name.

[phonics]

Wasn't the guy who remixed the Pokerap over a Flosstradamus beat called Alex Cameron?

[phonics]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a07dDvHqsNw

Adam Cameron even

[Offshore Toon]

There's a bloke called Alex Cameron popping up on the music scene at the moment. Bit annoying.

'Offshore Toon' would probably be a better rap name.
I just went with what people call me in Jersey. I'm not a big fan of the name, but wevs.

[Baz]

http://i.imgur.com/7aGsceFh.jpg

[Offshore Toon]

:D

Surprisingly that's never come up before.

[phonics]

Knowing this crowd, I probably don't have to tell anyone but if you were slightly reticent of a Donald Glover/Childish Gambino drama as I was. Don't be. It's probably one of the best pieces of truely black television that I've seen. Genuinely felt like being around my friends in the game.

[Alex]

Atlanta? Yeah, it's fantastic. It's so sharply written. The episode where Paperboi goes on the TV talk show especially was amazing.

[phonics]

The above post was sponsored by that very episode. So good.

http://i.giphy.com/3oz8xYnzl23JHZmpcQ.gif

The club episode is equally brilliant.

[Baz]

Why do I like that "How Does It Feel" song by Kamaiyah (or however it's spelt) so much? I think it's cos it's way catchy. It's so corny though.

Also spent at least 20 minutes googling Stefflon Don earlier. I'd legitimately marry that girl tomorrow if she was up for it. I'm properly in love with her. :drool:

[Alex]

The above post was sponsored by that very episode. So good.

http://i.giphy.com/3oz8xYnzl23JHZmpcQ.gif

The club episode is equally brilliant.

Yeah, the club episode was another standout. I loved the juxtaposition between Earn getting fobbed off and not being able to get paid and Paperboi unleashing his ghetto side and running up on the promoter for the money.

The invisible car joke that comes to fruition right at the end of that episode is the hardest I've laughed in ages too. :D

I've never paid much attention to Glover musically but apparently he's new one is meant to be really good. Have you heard it?

[Baz]

I don't understand why Redbone gets so much radio play. It doesn't even have his vocals on. Or is the whole album like that? Camp is still one of my favourite ever records.

Downloading season one of Atlanta now.

[phonics]

Never really given Remy Ma much of a chance but this is straight fire

807209331267670017

[Offshore Toon]

I wonder if she'll get shit for rapping off her phone.

[phonics]

They all do these days, the freestyle is dead.

[wullie]

Really like the Childish Gambino album, although it's really not what I was expecting. It's what I've been waiting 15 years for Andre 3000 to do.

[Offshore Toon]

They all do these days, the freestyle is dead.
I don't really have a problem with it. Some people are going to be able to memorise lyrics better. Freestyles can be pre-written, so if a freestyle is written, I don't really care if they've fully memorised it or not. Then again, if somebody is a rapper they should be able to go off the top for a good few minutes minimum, otherwise you're just not writing enough.

[Offshore Toon]

New J Cole is predictably shit. You can figure out the message of the album by just looking at the title of the songs. There's nothing more to it, except for a weird Tupac link he's trying to weave in.

Ab-Soul's new album is meant to be out too but it isn't on Spotify yet.

[Offshore Toon]

J Cole isn't all bad because he does well on Just Begun and he produced HiiiPower, and his production in general is good. He just whines and raps utter mince too often.

Woo-Ha!!! :cool: Check out Leaders Of The New School, AD.

[phonics]

The first 3-4 tracks of Born Sinner are incredible then it drops off a cliff. Villuminati might be one of my favourite beats of all time. Just gives me so much energy.

[Reg]

I echo the Busta :cool: thoughts.

His and ODB's styles seem very much linked.

What's Happenin' from Method Man's Tical 0 is so good.

[Offshore Toon]

ODB is in his own lane imo. Busta's voice sounds a little similar, but nobody else does what ODB does.

[Reg]

It's only Busta's early stuff. His recent releases you'd never make the connection. But very early on they sounded similar in my opinion.

Agree for sure that ODB is still unique though.

[Offshore Toon]

Listening to A Future WIthout A Past at the moment, ta for the reccomendation. Can't go wrong when amongst the apparent associated acts are Tribe and De La Soul. :cool:
Also when you consider Scenario is a Tribe and Leaders Of The New School collaboration. :cool:

[Shindig]

36 Chambers gets another runout because I've went a couple of months without. That's the benchmark.

[Offshore Toon]

I've played it quite a bit recently. Ridiculously good. When the Chinese are chatting in the kitchen I can't help but say things like "Shaolin shadowboxing, and the Wu-Tang sword style."

[Shindig]

It's kinda terrifying. Previously I looked at A Nation of Millions ... as the peak we'll never recapture but now that feels very of it's time. I turned my nose up at so much shit because I can't be fucked with gangsta bullshit but, man, that shit will fucking stand the test of time.

[Offshore Toon]

Its not forced in the same way so much 'gangster' stuff is. If anything, they're trying to be kung-fu masters and comic book heroes.

[Reg]

36 Chambers is probably my favourite hip-hop album. It was quite a shock hearing it as a kid, it being completely different in every way from anything I'd heard.

[phonics]

I preferred the solo stuff to Wu-Tang personally.

[Max Power]

There's so many Clan features, particularly on the early albums, they almost feel like Wu-Tang albums anyway. My top five in order:

1. Liquid Swords
2. Supreme Clientele
3. Only Built For Cuban Linx
4. 36 Chambers
5. Ironman

[wullie]

36 Chambers
Tical
Fishscale
The W
Liquid Swords

[phonics]

TBF, having just listened to Bobby Digital for the first time in a decade, maybe I'm wrong. That is no bueno.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVWKPy7xugs

This though. This still BANGS.

[Offshore Toon]

Theodore Unit was quality, but its definitely not for everybody.

[Alex]

I preferred the solo stuff to Wu-Tang personally.

Yeah, I would agree. Obviously the group stuff is (mostly) fantastic but it was the solo stuff that did it for me. That's what I come back to mostly these days.

When I first got into them, once I disappeared down that rabbit hole there was no coming back. I think I spent the next sixth months or so of my life obsessively tracking down all the solo work. And then, on top of that, you have all the extended, Wu-Tang affiliated groups. It's never ending really. The scope of the movement they spawned is ridiculous.

[Alex]

Saw this on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/HamptonInnSandy/status/807276705672937472

:D

Poor Jermaine.

[Bernanke]

It really is a 40 minute snooze fest. I enjoyed a couple of tracks on FHD. Thisis nowhere near that.

[Alex]

I haven't actually heard it yet. I will do though. I've got nothing against the guy, and he has made some decent music. He is, unfortunately, undeniably lacking in charisma of any kind though.

[Reg]

I'm glad there's Liquid Swords fans here. 4th Chamber and Shadowboxin'. :nodd:

I was playing BIBLE a lot the other month too. Anyone know of any other good Killah Priest tracks/albums?

[Alex]

Killah Priest actually has a pretty decent discography on the whole. I would go for his debut though, "Heavy Mental". It's a bit long, but it's good. Very much in the Wu-Tang mould as well.

[Reg]

Thanks Alex. That'll go on this evening.

[Bernanke]

Liquid Swords is probably my favourite hip-hop album of all time.

[phonics]

There's new Cool Kids :drool: Ripped off by the whole of modern rap music and zero credit.

[Waffdon]

Post Malone's album is *insert fire emoji*.

[Greg]

Had this on replay the last few days.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNqz2WAG7bs

[Spoonsky]

Saw this on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/HamptonInnSandy/status/807276705672937472

:D

Poor Jermaine.

That's in a Mormon suburb of Salt Lake City. :D

[Offshore Toon]

Listening to ODB's Return To The 36 Chambers. That intro. :drool: / :D

[Manc]

I think More Life may be the best thing Drake's ever done.

[Baz]

Late contender for song of the year:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5KgsubkMCA

:dance:

[Chris]

Chance & Jeremih Christmas Mixtape

https://soundcloud.com/chancetherapper/sets/merry-christmas-lil-mama-jeremih-chance

[Offshore Toon]

I do really like Surfin'. Hoping for Cudi to return to form.

Song of the year will be 30 Hours for me, I reckon.

[Alex]

You can stick your email address in in advance for a free download of Run the Jewels 3 when it drops. January 13th.

http://runthejewels.com

I pre-ordered the CD with the T-shirt too, because I'm a complete nerd. Then I bumped the first two back to back straight after. The second one seemed to get way more attention and acclaim, and really be the one that put them over, but the first is comfortably the better of the two of you ask me.

[Baz]

http://runthejewels.com:tbhup:

Troy Ave's got a sextape out. Clearly intentionally "leaked." :D

[Alex]

Oh God.


The extremely X-rated footage, which depicts Troy and a woman getting down to the sounds of Kanye West and Twista's "Slow Jamz," is professionally shot.

:rolleyes:

"Slow Jamz" as well. :D

What a twat he is.

[Baz]

Martin Shkreli trolling saying he bought The Carter V and played a snippet.
Birdman replies saying he only has one song but doesn't know how.
Lil Wayne's too busy being young, black and rich to care, no doubt.

What a Christmas present that could be. :drool:

[Offshore Toon]

Didn't he live stream the Wu album he has after Trump won? Didn't nobody record it?

[phonics]

Oh God.



:rolleyes:

"Slow Jamz" as well. :D

What a twat he is.

Hen just got shot twice. Busy week for Troy Abe.

[Max Power]

World would probably be a better place without Troy Ave tbh.

RTJ3 sounds typically good on first listen.

[Baz]

World would probably be a better place without Troy Ave C'mon now. :thbdn: She Belongs To The Game is a tune.

Got Hopsin tickets for Christmas. :cool: Ever seen him live, ACam?

[Alex]

Run the Jewels 3 sounds (predictably) pretty fucking great after a few listens.

[Alex]

Didn't he live stream the Wu album he has after Trump won? Didn't nobody record it?

He streamed a few songs or something. I assume it was recorded, I just don't think anyone cared that much. Like that album is anything more than a collection of offcuts and leftovers stitched together over new production anyway.

I think RZA might have succeeded in killing Wu-Tang Clan as a viable, collective venture with that little stunt.

[Shindig]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWzXwoBkaC8

I'm truly sorry for all of this. Hopefully 2016 takes her out. She's gotta be 60-ish, right?

[Offshore Toon]

Better or worse than Iggy Azalea?

[Offshore Toon]

C'mon now. :thbdn: She Belongs To The Game is a tune.

Got Hopsin tickets for Christmas. :cool: Ever seen him live, ACam?
Afraid not. Hopsin has never really been my thing, so I imagine it'll be quite a bit like an Odd Future/Tyler gig - loads of shouting and mosh pits.

[Baz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB-Z21THbDA

JAY-Z is unreal. :D

[Offshore Toon]

Listening to Big Boi atm. Really hope we get a new album from him soon. I still maintain Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty is as flawless as any album. Big Grams was good last year, but it wasn't out-and-out Big Boi, although Drum Machine will always bang.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM5x7lFSw4w

[Offshore Toon]

Oh yeah, and RTJ 3 is really good, but it confirms they're just sticking to a formula at this point. Its fine because they're intelligent guys who are enjoyable to listen to, and the production is still amazing, but I just can't see myself coming back to it after rinsing it last night.

[Shindig]

It'll pop back up on shuffle during work hours and that'll be that. I have pondered whether Mike and El-P will ever do a proper commercial album again.

[Offshore Toon]

They'll be making huge money from touring. It pays more to have a smaller fanbase that will come out to your gigs no matter what than to have a huge fanbase that just doesn't do live music.

[Bernanke]

Man, re-discovering Christian Dior Denim Flow is such a blast. :drool:

MBDTF-era Kanye. :drool:

[Max Power]

G.O.O.D Fridays was a special time.

[Offshore Toon]

Was listening to Kanye on shuffle the other day and The Joy came on. G.O.O.D. Fridays really was the best time. As an unapologetic Kanye fanboy (more-so at the time) defending him after the Taylor Swift debacle, it felt so good as each week passed and Kanye just slowly elevated to God status, peaking once MBDTF came out. It truly was a special time.

[Reg]

Glad to see there've been mentions of Isaiah Rashad in here. :nodd: I only got to his album recently. I like the breezy/content/half-assed vibe but it might be better if that was one of a few different moods rather than the whole thing. Rope is a good track.

On a different note, has anyone tried to predict what Kendrick's next album will be like? I keep wondering, and would guess he'll hang around the same musicians and keep the jazz thing going, but have no idea beyond that.

[Bernanke]

Not sure if this was posted but Kendrick talked a bit about what he wanted to do going forward in his sit-down with Rick Rubin:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lPD5PtqMiE

It's long but worth it.

[Offshore Toon]

The best thing about RTJ3 is its made me go back to R.A.P. Music. Better than any RTJ album.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrdLwxbk0Rg

[Alex]

That really was a great album. On paper the two of them seemed like such an odd paring at the time, but as soon as I heard it I had this weird, crystallising moment where it just seemed really obvious that they should always have worked together. One of those instances that made me really appreciate the collaborative nature of Hip-Hop.

El-P's Cancer 4 Cure was excellent that same year (I think?) as well. As much as I really love Run the Jewels I hope they do separate, solo stuff again in the future. I'm not sure they will though. They seem pretty inseparable nowadays, like they've got a genuine best friend's forever thing going on. Which I'm obviously not knocking.

[Alex]

Not sure if this was posted but Kendrick talked a bit about what he wanted to do going forward in his sit-down with Rick Rubin:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lPD5PtqMiE

It's long but worth it.

That interview is great. If I remember right, at some point Rubin asks him if he could ever see himself releasing an album of him out-and-out singing, which he says he could. Not that I think that's what he'll do next, but I definitely think he's the kind of artist who has that in the locker.

One of my thoughts after watching that was that they should really give Rick his own series, where he interviews other artists. He obviously knows a shit load about the craft so he asks really great and relevant questions, but he's laid back and enough of a music lover himself that he doesn't drown the interviewee out, he just asks exactly the right things and then let's them speak on it.

[Offshore Toon]

Yeah, Cancer 4 Cure was great too, but I think Killer Mike is the better MC and it feels like he was able to be more creative doing his own thing. Plus, R.A.P. has El-P all over it, but C4C doesn't have Killer Mike all over it so I see R.A.P. as pretty much a RTJ album.

[Alex]

Yeah, I agree with you on that. I definitely think they finished R.A.P. Music and though "we should really just work together all the time".

Mike probably is the better emcee. Although I think El-P had a better catalogue as a rapper, prior to the town of them collaborating, than Mike. Probably anyway. El is very underrated on the mic, I always think. He's just very different. Back in the Company Flow days and his early solo stuff his flow was so dense and packed with weird, nerdy references, it was ace.

[Offshore Toon]

He definitely has a great personality and I do really like him on the mic. I think his voice lets him down a bit and general flow, but its not a big deal. Mike just has it all. These lines on Panther Like A Panther are fucking incredible:

And I refuse to play humble as though my dick itty bitty
I got banana dick, your bitch go apeshit if she hit it

But yeah, like I said when it came out, it feels like RTJ has been overdone. I personally want my musicians to progress more than they have. Its still great music, but we all knew that already.

[Alex]

Agreed. The third one is still really good, but I've come away from it a lot quicker than I did the previous two. That might have had something to do with the time it dropped as well though. Music that drops right at the end of the year always sort bothers me, for some reason. Just wait a month.

But yeah, they could always come away from it and do something else and then get back together later. I feel like they're getting more crossover buzz as RTJ than ever before though, so they'll probably just stick with it.

[Offshore Toon]

Yeah, they had a much bigger crowd than you'd expect at Glastonbury. Anybody that's into their music knows who they are. Even people that generally don't like hip hop, and they're pretty well liked by that demographic too. Pitchfork have given them great ratings, so I guess that's had an effect. I won't hold it against them if they carry on, and I'll always check out what they put out. They're great musicians and deserve to get paid.

[Alex]

Yeah, they had a much bigger crowd than you'd expect at Glastonbury. Anybody that's into their music knows who they are. Even people that generally don't like hip hop, and they're pretty well liked by that demographic too. Pitchfork have given them great ratings, so I guess that's had an effect. I won't hold it against them if they carry on, and I'll always check out what they put out. They're great musicians and deserve to get paid.

Yeah, this is always a big thing. If you can make it with that "I don't normally like Hip-Hop, but......" crowd then there's money to be had.

I don't know about you, but those people always piss me off a little bit. The supposed "serious" music people who think they're being all eclectic and shit by giving their stamp of approval to a couple of rap acts but probably couldn't hold more than a 30 second conversation with you about the genre as a whole. This is partly (or perhaps largely) just my own rap snobbishness coming through though, to be fair. :D

Anyway, I may be imagining this, but did I see you mention the new Wiley album somewhere else on the board? I haven't checked out anything by him in quite a long time but I'm really liking his new one.

[phonics]

The interesting thing about Rubin doing interviews is that the artists he interviews clearly want to please him so they'll continue to elaborate until Rick nods his head and says "Yeah cool" a few times. It's like a very chill job interview.

From the moment I heard of the guy I thought I'd hate him but I'm really enjoying D.R.A.M's stuff. It's just so joyous.

[phonics]

I actually got turned onto D.R.A.M. over Christmas after listening to the A Waste of Time with ItsTheReal end of year awards. It was pretty fun, forgot to link to it at the time as I was abroad.

https://soundcloud.com/awasteoftime/episode-83-the-2016-year-in-music-episode

[Offshore Toon]

Yeah, this is always a big thing. If you can make it with that "I don't normally like Hip-Hop, but......" crowd then there's money to be had.

I don't know about you, but those people always piss me off a little bit. The supposed "serious" music people who think they're being all eclectic and shit by giving their stamp of approval to a couple of rap acts but probably couldn't hold more than a 30 second conversation with you about the genre as a whole. This is partly (or perhaps largely) just my own rap snobbishness coming through though, to be fair. :D

Anyway, I may be imagining this, but did I see you mention the new Wiley album somewhere else on the board? I haven't checked out anything by him in quite a long time but I'm really liking his new one.
I totally understand the hip hop snobbishness. It annoys me a bit too. To quote DMX "its not a fucking game!" Personally, when I like a genre I won't stop digging until I know it inside out. Bit like with grime over the last two/three years. I used to dislike it as all I heard was the trash pop side due to the surprising lack of a grime scene in Jersey, but now I realise that was a necessary graft for artists like Wiley because the scene wasn't big enough to get by on instrumental tapes. Now I hear people say they like grime, but have Section Boys as their favourite grime act. As if everything with a London/UK accent is grime.

Anyway, yeah, Wiley's new album is amazing. This is the album new fans should be listening to so they understand what the genre is about, not Konnichiwa. That song with Skepta and Belly is terrible, though. Sounds like it's meant to be deep, but it's just shit. That Ghetts feature on Bang is mad, too, and the Flowdan track. Newham Gens and Prez T also great. So many great features.

[Bernanke]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9L3j-lVLwk

VOTY.

[Offshore Toon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16vplqOP20I

Ghost's verse in this is something else. I don't know why but I love that little voice clip at the start so much.

[Alex]

:D

Things always seem to get weird whenever Ghost decides to rap about about sex.

I haven't listened to Wu-Tang Forever in, well, forever. That album is the correct answer to any and all "best Hip-Hop double disc" debates. In my opinion, anyway.

[Offshore Toon]

I decided to filter in iTunes on Wu-Tang and all Wu-Tang members and its been great. I flick between that and Spotify, but its mad how many lines from songs I still know. Just all floods back in a rush of beautiful nostalgia. It is a great double disc, though I'm against double discs. Just too much.

[Max Power]

Diplomatic Immunity a gun double disc. I'm sure there is filler on there but I don't care. One of my favourite albums.

[Offshore Toon]

Was chatting to my mate about which hip hop artist would be best to show to somebody that doesn't think they'd like any sort of hip hop. I reckon Brother Ali, who as time goes on I come to appreciate more and more. My mum started listening to the hip hop radio show I had and she picked out a Brother Ali track as one she really liked, then listened to loads of his tracks on YouTube and interviews with him about Islam. :D


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ScPoBEFl1Y

[Baz]

Where do you lot stand on "the N word"? I realised before while I was in the car chunnering out YG's verse on "Want Her" (https://genius.com/Dj-mustard-want-her-lyrics) that I'd said nigga a lot in the past few minutes, which I probably shouldn't do. I guess in the car on my own it's okay?

What about at live shows?

[CJay]

Chance says unless you're black you shouldn't say it. I can't imagine most black rappers genuinely feel all that strongly about it considering it's been downgraded to no more than a filler word in most tracks.

[Offshore Toon]

Over many, many gigs I said it (not proudly or anything), and quite a few times I'd end up rapping along with a black guy, then in between songs I'd ask them if they mind me saying it. They'd say no, most likely 'cause they know its not hate-filled and we're having a good time. I was with a group of black people at YG at Wireless in 2012(?) and they were more than happy for me to sing My Nigga, which was quite an experience looking back.

Anyway, at Lovebox 2015 everything changed. I met a group of black guys at Skepta who were cool, then the next day saw them again and they invited us to a party. I was chatting to one guy about this topic and he said its never acceptable, from white people or black people. To him, having heard stories from his mother about being chased down the street being called the n word and other things, the word just brought back those memories. I obviously haven't adopted his stance, but it did open my eyes to the situation. As a naive white boy in Jersey I'd never heard anybody talk about it like that, so now I wouldn't say it in public or around anybody I don't know well. Although, that guy said he wouldn't go to a Kendrick gig 'cause Kenny was too liberal with the N word, so not sure anybody totally against it would even be in attendance.

I also find it quite cringe-worthy. My mate was shouting it at Kendrick during m.A.A.d city at Hyde Park and I had to ask him to stop. Pretty sure he was one of the only ones, in an almost all white crowd.

[Mazuuurk]

:D

Things always seem to get weird whenever Ghost decides to rap about about sex.

I haven't listened to Wu-Tang Forever in, well, forever. That album is the correct answer to any and all "best Hip-Hop double disc" debates. In my opinion, anyway.

Respectfully disagree. That's All eyez on me, for me.

[phonics]

I remember a white drug dealer once asked me to refer to him only as 'my n word' from then on. I stopped buying from him.

[Alex]

I've always considered the n-word firmly off limits as a white guy. I don't buy the "but rappers say it all the time!" argument, either. In your own home or the car or whatever, if you really want to, then I guess go for it. But never in public. If a white person was yelling it out at a rap show and another audience member took issue and kicked the shit out of them, I wouldn't have any sympathy.

It's a pretty clear-cut issue of context. Obviously in a lot of the black community it's developed into almost a term of endearment between friends, which I think is fine because it's essentially taking ownership of a word that's been used against those people in such a negative fashion for so long and essentially removing the sting from it completely. Basically a "fuck you" to the people who would use it in a derogatory fashion.

It can't come out of a white person's mouth without being weighed down by a few centuries worth of pretty appalling history though, and there's no way to avoid that and the reaction it might provoke. Even if it's just because we've listened to a lot of rap music and totally embrace that culture. I know it's not technically "fair" (because you'll always get idiots who will make the ridiculous "if they can say it then we should be able to say it too! Equal opportunities and all that!" argument), but unfortunately slavery happened. Which was was obviously several millions times more unfair than it not being cool for white people to say the n-word.

[phonics]

A tweet I enjoyed back before El-P blocked me

http://www.guns.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Screenshot-302.jpg

[Alex]

Why did El-P block you phonics? :D

[phonics]

I started following him just after Def Jux shut down. He was pretty awesome back on the day, constantly calling out other rappers bullshit, the game itself etc.

One of the things he would always go on about was rappers retweeting compliments and good reviews etc. when people were there to find out about what you thought, not what sycophants thought of you.

Then RTJ blew the fuck up and my timeline became a retweet chain of pitchfork articles calling RTJ the greatest revolution in rap music etc.

I sent something like "I thought you were gone of the good ones with the no RT praise bs =(" and attached an image of him saying this.

He replied back saying "I thought you were blocked you frowny bitch" and I was never allowed to read his tweets again.

I laughed tbf, it's a pretty good reply. Frowny bitch became a catchphrase of mine.

[Alex]

:D

You obviously struck a nerve.

[Baz]

At least he replied to let you know.

[Offshore Toon]

Dunno if I've mentioned it, but my history tutor has really encouraged me to go down a hip hop route for my dissertation on my module looking at reforming Islam.

Anyway, obviously Mos Def/Yasiin Bey is a rather interesting figure, so just listening to Black On Both Sides as 'research' and rediscovering this ridiculous banger:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10WgCJKSJhI

Why did you turn into a preaching twat, Mos? Why? One of the most disappointing gigs. I won't be paying £25 again.

[Baz]

Anyone else think Remy Ma is killing it lately?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR0JkeEdkdE

I've not listened to her album with Fat Joe in full but the singles have been fire. That sample. :drool:

She's a tick ting too, aged 36.

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/807373924497584132/HZ-nnNol.jpg

[Offshore Toon]

https://vid.me/itgM

Tribe grammy performance. :cool: I really need to get a job so I can see them as much as possible this summer. Hopefully they do more than Parklife and Bestival.

[Bernanke]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n7toRFqURk

This is funky as hell.

[Reg]

Yes it is. :cool: Repped, Bernanke. :thbup:

The beat is kinda Knxwledge-y.

[Offshore Toon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjDka4fx1js

[Alex]

Interesting, I'll give that a listen. Coincidentally I've been listening to Murs quite a bit this week for the first time in a while (I have "Murs for President" on right now!) after the first album with 9th randomly popped up on shuffle a few days ago.

[Offshore Toon]

I've never listened to him that much. The odd album here and there and the album with Bad Man on it quite a bit.

[Alex]

I've never listened to him that much. The odd album here and there and the album with Bad Man on it quite a bit.

Yeah, that's the first one with 9th Wonder. It's his best album I would say, it caught them both at the peak of their powers. He was very consistent for a few years around that time though.

[CJay]

This Murs' track always makes me laugh. Some nice Apollo Brown production behind it:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mGl1nhR0CY

[Alex]

I've never heard that track before CJay, it's nice. :thbup:

I bet it turned up on one of those Mello Music compilations. I would absolutely go in for a full album collaboration between those two, they fit well together.

[Alex]

Anyway gentlemen, a trio of interesting Hip-Hop releases seem to have appeared all at once. New Future, Jonwayne and (mostly importantly) Roc Marci albums have all dropped this weekend and I've no real plans to leave the house again until Monday morning, so I'm all set.

[Baz]

Went to see Hopsin last night. He was ace. Only performed the first half of most of his songs though, which was really annoying. He barely did any of Nollie Tre Flip, which is the song I was most looking forward to.

Token is A LOT better live but he literally has no good songs. He's clearly spent a lot of time mastering his style though and it is impressive. To carry it on while crowd surfing was great too.

[Bernanke]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIqJfixrJu8


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfS0-zDJztM

Who is this girl?! :drool:

[phonics]

Bad Man, what an absolute banger. I'm going to put it on right now.

[Bernanke]

Only a tangent to hip-hop, but the song of the summer just dropped.

https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p240x240/16649064_10154400856011169_2655914941492602894_n.j pg?oh=9d39c2adbcf0111c3a5130340733e317&oe=5928A87C

:cool:

[Alex]

Jonwayne's "Rap Album Two" is really good. It's a really personal, mature piece of work. It's a nice direction to see him go on, and far better than I expected it would be. I would definitely recommend it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03vd0GyET-g