Help a middle-aged white guy find more hip-hop

[path12]

One of my big blind spots musically is rap and hip-hop. I've been trying to make up for that over the past few months and have found some artists that I really like -- but there is so much ground to cover and such a range of sounds out there that I'm tapping the collective mind of FOFC.

My favorites I've found so far are:
Shabazz Palaces
Deltron 3030
Prince Paul/Handsome Boy Modeling School
Kendrick Lamar

I guess what those have in common is a smoother flow and some interesting sampling.

An example of something I really didn't like at all was the last Eminem disc.

So......suggestions? Please assume that I haven't heard what might be obvious picks to you.

[Matthean]

The Roots. I would start with "Things Fall Apart." It was after that they started to go more towards samples and less beat boxing so depending if you have a preference you might know where to go from there. Some of their later expressive stuff doesn't click with me as much as I wished it did. Case in point, I love How I Got Over as where Undun fell flat. Their first album literally sounds like a band getting into a studio and just kind of freestyle recording an album, and I love it.

[stevew]

Kid CuDi is great. I like Drake. ASAP Rocky's "Fucking Problems" wad one of the best songs last year. Most of the Kanye records are great.

[TheOhioStateUniversity]

An assortment of goodies from a life long hip-hop fan.

A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
Common - BE and Like Water for Chocolate
Little Brother - The Minstrel Show
Pete Rock and CL Smooth - Mecca and the Soul Brother
Q-Tip - The Renaissance
Camp Lo - Uptown Saturday Night
Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt & The Blueprint
Nas - Illmatic & Stillmatic

I could go on and on....

[stevew]

Best of A Tribe Called Quest is a great CD too.

[Groundhog]

[Draft Dodger]

anything by Jurassic 5

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by path12

One of my big blind spots musically is rap and hip-hop. I've been trying to make up for that over the past few months and have found some artists that I really like -- but there is so much ground to cover and such a range of sounds out there that I'm tapping the collective mind of FOFC.

My favorites I've found so far are:
Shabazz Palaces
Deltron 3030
Prince Paul/Handsome Boy Modeling School
Kendrick Lamar

I guess what those have in common is a smoother flow and some interesting sampling.

An example of something I really didn't like at all was the last Eminem disc.

So......suggestions? Please assume that I haven't heard what might be obvious picks to you.

don't consider it a blind spot. Consider it a blessing.

[chinaski]

the new Big Boi is fantastic. That and Kendrick Lamar is on heavy at my place.

[path12]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

don't consider it a blind spot. Consider it a blessing.

Dude, always keep learning.

[korme]

Kid Cudi/Kanye/Big Sean/Lupe Fiasco usually hit the spot for me.

[Julio Riddols]

Cunninlynguists, Blu, Sandpeople, Apathy, Reflection Eternal, Looptroop, Blue Scholars, Aesop Rock, Cannibal Ox, Living Legends, Atmosphere, Tonedeff, Brother Ali, Dilated Peoples, El-P, Fat Jon, Cyne, Myka 9, Mr. Lif, Nujabes, RZA, The Grouch and Eligh, Zion I

Also seconding The Roots.

[Desnudo]

If you're a middle aged white guy some LL Cool J from the 90s might put you in the way back machine.

[Pyser]

Kanye and Lupe Fiasco for me. Check out Lasers from Lupe

[britrock88]

J5, as stated above.

[Critch]

The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy.

I'm a middle-aged white guy too, and it's the only hip-hop cd I've ever bought, and the only one I've ever needed.

[britrock88]

This seems responsive.

[thesloppy]

"Sorry to Bother You" The new one from The Coup, Oakland's finest radical communist crew, is awesome.

[BYU 14]

Gotta start old school and work your way up.....

[dawgfan]

For some old-school, gotta check out Eric B & Rakim. Rakim has killer flow to his delivery and Eric B. took the beats and samples in a really interesting direction - lot of jazzy stuff in their last couple of records:

[Izulde]

I also like Kid Cudi. Bell Biv DeVoe is more new jack swing than true hip-hop, but that old school flavs is always a fav.

[Matthean]

[Matthean]

Random song addition via a mashup. Actual mp3 should be found on the net.

[path12]

This is awesome. Keep it comin'.

[Apathetic Lurker]

This middle aged white guy says old school is better. NWA, Public Enemy, Eazy E, Kurtis Blow, Run DMC......

Of course, NWOBHM is what a middle aged white guy SHOULD be listening to.

[Izulde]

You're middle aged? I thought you fought dinosaurs with Bucc in days of old.

[stevew]

GZA-Liquid Swords had amazing sampling.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Pyser

Kanye and Lupe Fiasco for me. Check out Lasers from Lupe

Not Lasers first... go Food & Liquor or The Cool... Lasers wasn't terrible, but it was turned very pop/dance-ish by the label, and they didn't even release the best single (Shining Down) on the album.

Originally Posted by dawgfan

For some old-school, gotta check out Eric B & Rakim. Rakim has killer flow to his delivery and Eric B. took the beats and samples in a really interesting direction - lot of jazzy stuff in their last couple of records:

If you want things going in jazzy directions, Guru's Jazzmatazz mixtapes are pretty great Guru's Jazzmatazz Vol. 1 Full Album - YouTube

Weirdly, as much as I love almost every suggestion here, I think the current rappers that best fit your criterion are the Australians - Hilltop Hoods - The Nosebleed Section - YouTube

Hilltop Hoods - I Love It Feat. Sia - Official Music Video - YouTube

Drapht - Falling - YouTube

Originally Posted by stevew

Kid CuDi is great. I like Drake. ASAP Rocky's "Fucking Problems" wad one of the best songs last year. Most of the Kanye records are great.

I saw A$AP last spring... if he ever stops trying to co-sign everyone and everything/bring his A$AP crew up, and just does him, he will blow up. Goldie/Celebration/(if you want samples) his Bittersweet Symphony cover are all radio-worthy songs imo.

[Young Drachma]

A sampler. This stuff isn't necessarily "soft" but if you enjoyed Kendrick Lamar, this stuff fits well in line with Good Kid, Maad City and pretty much rocks (or bangs, as it were.)

Ab-Soul (feat. Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, et. al.) - Black Lip Bastard


Action Bronson is from Queens. Albanian jew who used to be a chef. So basically he's an artisanal wordsmith who sometimes sounds like Ghostface Killah, except the material is totally different. But he's quite good.






Not sure how anyone has not already mentioned Talib Kweli. Who surely spent a good part of the past decade as one of the most introspective, lyrical dudes in hip-hop.





Curren$y is out of New Orleans. Not exactly a first-rate rhymer by any stretch, but nice samples, decent production and an extremely laid back flow which I appreciate.



The Alchemist is another white dude in the upper echelons of the rap game. He's a top producer and his albums always have the best cameos to boot and his beats are first-class. He also raps.



Evidence is another lyrically inclined white dude, with good cameos and in this track, he's got a beat from The Alchemist.



Schoolboy Q is a member of TDE & Black Hippy, but he's pretty good on his own. He has lots of indie samples in his tracks. Not exactly the introspective lyrical content or mellow, but worth adding to your list anyway.



Murs is a decidedly indie dude who has planted firmly in the underground. He's hit or miss, but I like some of his stuff. His best work is usually paired up with 9th Wonder, who is another awesome producer but his stuff is way more "mellow" if you will and has more of a soul-feel feel on the samples.



I realize this list is too man-heavy. Jean Grae is the best female emcee no one has heard of.





This will get you started. You need to obviously listen to Mos Def, Blackstar (a supergroup of Mos Def + Talib Kweli), Wu-Tang Clan and fire up Nas's first album "Illmatic" which he made when he was 19. But cool thread and I'm all for branching out musically.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Apathetic Lurker

Of course, NWOBHM is what a middle aged white guy SHOULD be listening to.

Testify.

\m/

[JonInMiddleGA]

Although I believe it's completely wrong musically for the original request, this seems like the right thread for me to mention what a kick I've gotten out of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis this week.

Yeah, 48 million hits & I heard it for the first time earlier this week {shrug}
Sue me.

[Passacaglia]

You also missed it earlier in this thread.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

You also missed it earlier in this thread.

Sonofa ... I skimmed through the suggestions & saw all this relatively mellow stuff, figured no chance in hell anyone would dare to mention this song here.

{hangs head}

I'm so ashamed.

[Fidatelo]

The entire Macklemore & Ryan Lewis CD (The Heist) is quite good.

[sovereignstar v2]

Astronautalis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia







He does some awesome free-styling at live shows:

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

The entire Macklemore & Ryan Lewis CD (The Heist) is quite good.

Best album in years IMO. And i'm developing a healthy hatred of Thrift Shop because I hear it 10 times a day but the rest of the album is excellent.

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by stevew

Best of A Tribe Called Quest is a great CD too.

Native Tongues-style is the only rap I can handle. Maybe I'm just old and stuck in 1990 though.

[Julio Riddols]

Originally Posted by Young Drachma

Not sure how anyone has not already mentioned Talib Kweli.

I think his stuff as part of Reflection Eternal is way better than his solo stuff, thats why I didn't mention him solo, but yeah - definitely very introspective and a good lyricist. He is among my favorite lyricists along with Apathy and Immortal Technique.

[britrock88]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Sonofa ... I skimmed through the suggestions & saw all this relatively mellow stuff, figured no chance in hell anyone would dare to mention this song here.

{hangs head}

I'm so ashamed.

S'okay, JiMGA!

[path12]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Testify.

\m/

It's funny, but that never worked for me. I was more Pink Floyd than Maiden in high school and from there went in more of a Kinks/Squeeze/Madness/Costello direction during the early 80's and then R.E.M/Replacements/Camper Van Beethoven. Then it was time for grunge.

It's interesting to think of the curves we all take in our listening history.

EDIT: I'm working my way through the links everyone is kindly providing. Fun to see what works and what doesn't.

[Super Ugly]

Anything produced by Madlib. The guy is a genius.

[Super Ugly]

And the late J Dilla.

[Julio Riddols]

J Dilla was awesome.

[Kodos]

I'm very white, and very middle aged.

[weegeebored]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

don't consider it a blind spot. Consider it a blessing.

40+ posts and this is still the best answer.

[Young Drachma]

Thank you unenlightened asshats for showing up in a rap thread to express your displeasure.

[stevew]

Finally picked up Kendrick Lamar and I'm a pretty big fan. Sick flow. He was great on SNL.

I want to pick up the Asap Rocky but there's no way I'm paying 11.99 for a download. Also t he reason I've never picked up that Odd Future CD ($14.99!)

[nol]

Stevew, I wouldn't sweat not having ASAP Rocky's latest if you have his earlier mixtape LiveLoveA$AP; it's better in my opinion (and free).

I can't believe we've been talking about hip-hop with a smooth flow and haven't mentioned Outkast yet. Aquemini, ATLiens, and Stankonia is as near-flawless a run of three albums as you'll find in hip-hop.






Common is another rapper with a more subdued sound. He's kind of inconsistent, but I enjoyed his album Be. Kanye West produced most of the tracks, so the sampling is assuredly top-notch.

[EagleFan]

[stevew]

Am wondering who actually likes all that Rick Ross/MM stuff. I don't understand the appeal there. Reminds me of all that No Limit garbage, dudes renting lambos, gold and obsessed with scarface (still)