Hip-hop

Probably Blooge would be able to help me out here. The closest thing to hip-hop I have at the moment is a Gym Class Heroes album. I want some decent hip-hop to try out to see if I can get into it at all. Recommendations anyone?

Gym Class Heroes is as close to hip-hop as Carcass or Immortal are.

I doubt you'd like "decent" hip-hop, or rather, rap music. You'd probably only like the shitty stuff, like Gym Class Heroes.

I know that GCH is pretty far from it. I hear some songs on the radio and tv at times and I don't mind them but I never catch the artist. I just want to give the genre a go. I've always avoided it due to hating anything not related to metal back when I was younger but I've expanded my tastes in recent years and I think its time to give hip hop, rap etc a go.

Me expanding my tastes is what made me constrict my input of rap, and I feel better for it. You may be better off continuing to avoid it, only because you'll feel teased at hearing some increasingly incredible stuff to only be letdown to realize that you are in fact watching/listening to the devolution and death of the genre rather than the advancement of it. Most the only rap I listen to nowadays is what I call the "Golden Era" of rap, which is basically the early to mid/late nineties stuff. The supposed underground stuff I used to swear by is increasingly uninteresting and vapid, and seems to simultaneously aim at the wrong thing as well as miss the mark. Of the underground stuff I liked when it was first being exposed as I was a teenager, at least half is excruciating to listen to now, and the other half is mostly artists that I still like their old records of, but can't stand them nowadays. All that being said, you should probably just familiarize yourself with the classics, because they will then be better at leading you to more stuff that still remains to be actually good.

OutKast (specifically the first three albums, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, ATLiens and Aquemini especially). Sample:



Goodie Mob - Real emotion and unique flows and voices, and brilliant production from the same team working with OutKast. Again, first three albums, especially their debut Soul Food. Sample:



Wu-Tang - First two albums are absolute classics, and every one since is at least decent. Members have gone on to make their own equally-classic redords, namely Gza, Ghostface and Raekwon. Samples:





Notorious B.I.G. - My favorite rapper ever. Period. First two albums are classic upon classic. Don't know what to really say. Sample:



KMD - Probably my favorite of the truly truly, old old school (probably because they were at the absolute tail end of that era, lol). Features the now-more-famous-than-ever-but-never-recognized-from-his-heyday, MF Doom. I can't stand his shit nowadays, but can't get enough of this old shit:



Listen to my homie's homie Alexander Spit too. He just made a new album. He has a classic feel, but cleaned up and with a club bounce to it.



Tons more classic stuff too to look into if you like any of this stuff, like Jeru the Damaja, The Geto Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, N.W.A., Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Eric B and Rakim, De La Soul, Boogie Down Productions, Dead Prez (first album only), Organized Konfusion, Kool Keith, Nas, The Pharcyde, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Big L, Gangstarr, 2Pac, Blackalicious, Aesop Rock, Kool Keith, Deltron/Del and Hieroglyphics, Brotha Lynch Hung, Mos Def (first album only), Talib Kweli (first album only)...and that's kind of getting more into the more modern stuff that doesn't have much beneath the surface, and the surface itself is deceiving. You'll figure out just from the videos above if you're capable of liking anything. If you like the newer poppier/clubbin stuff, or the backpacker whiteboy chessclub and megaphone stuff, I condemn you and also can't really help you to explore it either.

I liked OutKast, KMD and Alexander Spit. The others were good but I liked the others more. It'll take a fair bit of exploring before I make a dive into the genre and start buying stuff.

TTC - Bâtards Sensibles

And then I'll make a list later.

That was pretty cool but I never paid attention in my French classes so I understood nothing of what they were saying.

I'll try to divide these up uh in some way it makes sense.

More popluar

The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die, Life After Death (but RtD is much better)
Junior M.A.F.I.A. - Conspiracy
Jay-Z - The Black Album, Blueprint, Blueprint 3
Eminem - The Eminem Show, Encore (your milage may vary though)
Dr. Dre - The Chronic, 2001
Deltron 3030
Del the Funky Homosapien - Both Sides of the Brain
Common - Electric Circus
Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury
Cee-Lo - Cee-Lo Green is the Soul Machine
Black Star
Outkast - Aquemini, Speakerboxxx / The Love Below
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
Murs - Murs for President
Nas -Illmatic
Ol' Dirty Bastard - Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
The Roots - Do You Want More?!!??!, Phrenology, Things Fall Apart
Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle (This is really his only good album)
A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory, Midnigh Marauders
Kanye West - The College Dropout
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers
2Pac - All Eyez on Me



More underground

Sage Francis - Personal Journals
El-P -I'll Sleep When You're Dead
Dr. Octagon - Dr. Octagonecologyst
CunninLynguists - Will Rap for Food, Southernunderground
Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein
Cage - I Never Knew You <- Link to full album.
Atmosphere - God Loves Ugly, You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having
Aceyalone - Love & Hate
Jedi Mind Tricks - Violent By Design, Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell
Immortal Technique - Revolutionary Vol. 1 / Vol. 2
King Geedorah - Take Me To Your Leader
Kool Keith - Sex Style, Black Elvis / Lost in Space
Madlib - Shades of Blue
MF Doom - MM...Foood?
Doom - Born Like This
Madvillian - Madvilliany
Viktor Vaughn - Vaudeville Villain, Venomous Villian
Quasimoto - The Further Adventures Of Lord Quas
Slum Village - Fantastic, Vol 2
Saul Williams - The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!


Other (?)

Antipop Consortium - Arrhythmia
Airborn Audio - Good Fortune
Prefuse 73 - Surrounded by Silence
Cyne - Evolution Fight
Handsome Boy Modeling School - White People
Peeping Tom
General Patton vs. The X-Ecutioners
M.I.A. - Arular, Kala
Shadow Huntaz - Corrupt Data
cLOUDDEAD - Ten

So I'll probably link to songs later, yeah.

So I'll link in order as I posted them up there instead of editing because I'm cool.

The Notorious B.I.G. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVl-XcBRMHk
Junior M.A.F.I.A. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFC081OvKXM
Jay-Z - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QePjIIBI-sI / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vD7cWVDfV8
Eminem - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmI1GvpHkP8 / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjDLH02JQqw
Dr. Dre - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfkDnsxc-zE / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pC2vtTvJvQ
Deltron 3030 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oCXwl7XBiQ
Del the Funky Homosapien - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q9Dn2gIq2c
Common - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv7ft9NKh7g
Clipse - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZi_cW0bZJk / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm_vSnOsb5A
Cee-Lo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Mda2-AELOQ
Black Star - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx5aVI2zsFE
Outkast - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCwHfGdt4Ig
Lil Wayne - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhr_-FM8yRo
Murs - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fYvpe6gysg / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UFbhSV2230
Nas - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCnqDvvZrcM / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUGlf6lDU0A
Ol' Dirty Bastard - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9LmDG4ZJIE / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzHC6dxhVOc
The Roots - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLKXMj8J_-Y / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e97EwCF-Y14 / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2wP6edFEzM
Snoop Dogg - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6TUhx2wX0M
A Tribe Called Quest - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaIDj6vBEoU / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFZLq6R-ZtM
Kanye West - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTLhfRGCZq0 / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRDDo2_uoHo
Wu-Tang Clan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrsfJHLx5YA / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0BpCWLRHf8
2Pac - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpntYM4wcAo / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqjHA5OtDls / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzoF1ZmisTs
Sage Francis - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmTo_UjQ5ZI / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4vVH3hBfs4 / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2i8tmnl39o
El-P - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWNA-jJNhos (Maybe even lox would like this one if only for Trent Reznor) / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjlbCM-2t4c
Dr. Octagon - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9VYzNUXGDA
CunninLynguists - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_NQji7J1Rs
Cannibal Ox - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1Fn3RPSZtI
Atmosphere - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcAO6D2LwvI / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbEwHJX95QE / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--WsoQt6U4o
Aceyalone - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVn8kflWpRo
Jedi Mind Tricks - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upROYYL-GvU / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXz95fH62I4
Immortal Technique - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T22-lHISxOY / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qggxTtnKTMo / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7Vl0peys90
King Geedorah - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUnfqzTt-RQ
Kool Keith - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp6m4MRiNIc /
Madlib - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apN0AXjJxQE
MF Doom - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNGnCLod-qg / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiYDJ432b0U
Doom - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBT2mFY75FI
Madvillian - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61cUmatAG30 / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIuE99FLTXc
Viktor Vaughn - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex7QpLrhgvw / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlgw0W5FHrs (skip to about a minute in to get to the song)
Quasimoto - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFNO1m0ryTU / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEjNMjwAF5s
Slum Village - (I'll add later)
Saul Williams - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2K0SbxnHeE (Don't know if you can still get this album for free or not, you probably can.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJep-kNitUU
Antipop Consortium - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GezxUKc_Bx4 / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCAh1T5cBO8 /
Airborn Audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjqB2B5B_Do
Prefuse 73 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W50QWOO4gXA / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t429x4QxHTI / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq6tPfGtzVk
Cyne - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZROFPUlfqY
Handsome Boy Modeling School - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X7Hoqzr9CI / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZKVGt5TnPQ /
Peeping Tom - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pcvBFFflEc / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7b-U5wSEfk
General Patton vs. The X-Ecutioners - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV8Pr61qFW8
M.I.A. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcT69Bfpbto / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVX0sVMGCAo
cLOUDDEAD - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHvkgskQqwY / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuDHR2OY5h8
Beans - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3ugvOkn5Mg (Bonus track I didn't mention earlier)

Now I'm sure I don't have to mention these sound a lot better when they aren't on youtube. I might change some of these or add to them later. Who knows. I think I've done too much as it is.

I've got my work cut out for me tomorrow. I'll check them all out and note down the ones I like.

Murs is high in the running for worst rapper ever. Mr. Lif and Blueprint are both close on his tail. If you're gonna listen to cats from that same kind of camp instead go with Illogic, Mars Ill and Aesop Rock.

Nah Tech n9ne is the worst. I can't stand him.

The Notorious B.I.G. - I enjoyed it
Junior M.A.F.I.A. - I liked the song a fair bit.
Jay- Z - Pretty much what I'm after right there.
Eminem - I'm always fussy with his stuff. Some of it I don't mind and some of it I can't stand.
Dr. Dre - Pretty good. I've always heard about Dr. Dre but I've never given him a listen.
Deltron 3030 - Not really sure how I feel about that song. Sitting on the fence with this one.
Del the Funky Homosapien - Liking it.
Common - A yes to this one.
Clipse - Another yes.
Cee-lo - Not really feeling it. The video was weird.
Black Star - Don't like is voice.
Outkast - Its been ages since I've heard that song. I enjoy their stuff a fair bit.
Lil Wayne - I don't mind it. I'll listen to more of his stuff soon.

I'll listen to the rest when I've got some more time.

Black Star is actually Mos Def and Talib Kweli. That album actually had to grow on me so don't dismiss it after that one song.

I didn't read any of this... but...

Big L
Grafh
Z-Ro

Whoever sings first in that Blackstar song takes a bit of getting used to. I like the song at the minute mark

Murs - Really liking it
Nas - A yes to this. I've been meaning to look into his stuff after I heard him sing on that Korn song.
Ol' Dirty Bastard - I liked the first song a lot more than the second one.
The Roots - Didn't care for the first song and the second song was ok.
Snoop Dogg - Definitely need more stuff like this. Loving it
A Tribe Called Quest - I didn't mind it. The first song was pretty good
Kayne West - I liked his stuff more than I thought I would.
Wu-Tang Clan - I'm slowly starting to take a liking to their work. At first I didn't think much of it but after a few songs I'm starting to get into it.

Here are some I forgot to mention. :p

Princess Superstar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqNgAlMLjhk / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeuwuMUB0TA / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6DOhIZI17Y

Spank Rock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rMC2VBuwrI / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tISa2Mk_JTs / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18gp_NBg43c

Lady Sovereign: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQoc7925Aw0#t=10s

Uffie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1v2PtoxwNo

Though offically she is electro but raps enough for me to throw her in here. :p

As for your Eminem comment enjoyment depends on how up your are on pop culture. One might not understand much of the song Rain Man if they hadn't seen the movie or caught the Reeves references which is also a motif that shows up in his other songs.

Here's an expansion of previous artists I linked to:

A Tribe called quest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERQzl4xDpXk / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NThtPB-nEQc

Dr. Octagon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocNTsy3iVug

The Roots: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaF-ub5u114 / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCP25VLGBlE

SLum Villiage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FQLgD_8wcs / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lshtGR_Qyo8

Ol' Dirty Bastard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmQf6_XYeH4

Eminem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3hJqsgjtII / (You probably won't like this one it's pretty brutal ) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3tlPgLPdV8

I'm liking that Princess Superstar.

The Streets: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD-y9RgWugI / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veAIHDGghP4

Ice Cube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4UqMyldS7Q / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKJsSPATDLY / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8jO3KcMlWE

GZA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEkcIOlF25Y / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCpRm0-tvKA

Public Enemy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4azhxMWmu48 / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PmsBpBKGIY / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PaoLy7PHwk

Some more. (Anyone paying attention to these still?)

DMX - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNWXUKvAv1U / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBU1cT0FY7M / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3nJo2iw3cI

Method Man & Redman - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb8fILuqJJM / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLcRMqKOzqM / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTDOeyh5g_w

Ghostface Killah - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk44L0XnqZE / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmSebP_e1TU / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETEnXCnXWOo

Raekwon - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSOI4Z5BOyw / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR7kVnh3PlI / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk8SMperwS8 / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq8sMW_qcXY

Juvenile - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpmzVsJd-Ng / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvzemQPAIIo / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3xZRbgD1j4 / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuLlh9A80eY

The best song DMX ever made, by far, was the intro song on It's Dark and Hell is Hot. That whole album is stupid crazy dope, but that first song is so bananas it's insane.

I need to get more DMX. Look forward to when he gets out of jail along with Mystikal.

Still a few more artists I need to check out in this thread. I've gotten around to listening to a lot of them. Here's hoping I score a decent amount of cash at Christmas to go shopping early next year.

Download this http://elzhi.com