What ever happened to GOOD rap?

[dogfish]

I did mention that album. I just shortened it to Apocolypse 91.


I do like the Roots and BEP, although I am not sure I consider the latter rap. Hip hop, yes, rap no. Not hardcore anyway. Heck of a lot of fun though.

apocalypse '91; the enemy strikes black and fear of a black planet are actually two different albums. . . . .


and if it's specifically hardcore rap we're talking about, i agree that i haven't heard any that i like in quite some time. . . . . doesn't mean there isn't any good stuff out there, but if there is i'm not familiar with it. . . .

[Fins4Life]

You know, everyone gives rap such a bad rep. Well, it's well deserved with the rappers that have come out later. Everyone has "Young" in front of their name anymore, Young Joc, Young Jeezy, Young Dro. I mean what the hell? Whatever happened to orginal names like Method Man, Redman, Raekwon, Ghostface, I know all these names are from the Wu-Tang Clan, but man, their music is so great.

All we have anymore is Bow Wow blabbin off about spinners
Fabolous telling people how to breathe
Rick Ross telling how everyday he hustles. 4902094393 times over again.

Whatever happened to the greatest era of rap? Is it just me, or has rap declined a great amount since the early-mid 90s?

Why does everyone seem to be hooked on rappers promoting smoking doobies, having sex, and driving on 24" rims. What is so attractive in a song about that? You know what? It's NOT attractive, people get hooked onto the beats, don't listen or think about what the rappers are saying. And that's why rap isn't considered inspirational, and that's why young kids that actually listen to the words think acting "gangsta" is cool.

There are no rappers coming up that could even compete with the Wu-Tang Clan, Tu Pac, Biggie, hell even WILL SMITH. There's no such thing as a rapper that rhymes about his actual life. 50 Cent was on his way to changing rap forever, but he sold out. He would be the #1 rapper right now if he wouldn't of been such a retard.

Whatever happened to songs like this:

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDfToFcJ2J4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDnrmma8hSE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg_8HIwRyrE

I mean, what ever happened to songs like that? Whatever happened to the times when you could say that you loved rap, and could be proud of it?

Why do rappers think that having diamonds in your mouth, and having a rim that never stops spinning so cool? It's so messed up.

I mean, don't get me wrong, I love rap. But damn, we need to go back

I think you need to subscribe to Emusic and start listening to some underground hip-hop/rap. I agree with what you say about mainstream rap. Here are some artists you might appreciate. There is so much music thats 10x better than anything you will ever hear on the radio.

Copperpot
Mr Complex
Soul Position
Babbletron

[Spyder]

I think Eminem is probably one of the worst rappers thats still in the game. When he was on his serious side, he was nice, don't get me wrong. But all the "Two trailer park girls go round the outside, round the outside, round the outside", all the "This looks like a job for me, so everybody just follow me, because we need a little controversey, and it feels so empty, without me." I mean, that stuff isn't respectful at all. It makes me want to spit at the rap game.

I mean, Eminem had his moments, but he was nothing compared to what some old school rappers were.

At one point in time Eminem could have competed lyrically with a good amount of the "greatest" rappers to ever rhyme a bar. His biggest problem was that he got into the game during its ending days. No one cared about rap anymore when he busted onto the scene. So basically he had to do anything in his power to bring it up, even if it resulted in totally degrading himself. Ironically, being white helped him quite a bit.

I agree that rap has taken a backseat nowdays compared to what is used to be. One of the many things people forget though, is that during its "golden years," there was about two or three rap artists that will go down as some of the best ever.

NWA, Tupac, Biggie, etc. You don't have those kind of artists anymore. Who's the biggest names in the game now? G-Unit, 3-6 Mafia, Kanye West, etc. None of those guys have established themselves with the credibility that NWA, 'Pac or Biggie had.

Nowdays Kanye is considered the big man to work with when he isn't even very good. But by the standards of today, I guess he's a clear cut top three. If you were to take him back into the early 90's, he would have had nothing to the flow of Dre or Yella and nothing lyrically to compete with Cube. Then again, if you bring those guys and their style of rap into the scene now, it wouldn't get very much attention.

Spittin' bars about rims, cars and your throwbacks seems to be quite the trend nowdays. But then again, whatever makes you money. That's what it's all about.

I don't front too many new artists myself. I'm a true old school person. I usually listen to cats like: NWA, Tupac, Biggie, Arabian Prince, Rakim, Compton's Most Wanted, Bone Thugs N' Harmony, Dresta & BG Knoccout, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Montell Jordan.

Nowdays I only listen to Cam'ron, Jim Jones, Game, Common, Papoose and some Trey Songs, I guess.

[Skywalker]

RTB, while most of the commercial stuff is just total crap, like most pop music that's aimed at attracting 13 year olds to spend mommy and daddy's money, there IS still good stuff out there. . . . if you want to hear some deep, soulful, intelligent lyrics, check out the album blazing arrow by blackalicious-- it's one of the best albums ever made imo!

also check out anything by jurassic five, the roots, the black-eyed peas, or my new favorite, talib kweli (i really hope he comes out with something new sometime soon). . . . .

*cough*






pop sucks

[DevilSpawn]

It can be summed up in one sentence: They are no longer rappers, they are entertainers.

Here's why rap sucks today. Back in the days of yore, I say pre-1995, a rap video was put out to sell the album. Today, a rap video is put out to market the image. Screw the album, just buy it and get our "gear". I think rappers make a couple of songs that sell sell sell their image as Gangsta #1 and then they build album fillers around it. In the days of yore, the rappers made the album, THEN decided what was the hottest song lyrically on the album, and as such put it out to sell the album, not the image. Why? Because back then, rappers had names, not images. While rap has excelled musically, it has suffered lyrically.

Look at all the videos up to the P. Diddy Era with the exception of the 2 Live Crew. You'll notice your typical rap video is the rapper in the latest gear that he does not own, waving his arms in a "hip hop gesture", standing in the middle of the projects or simply walking "down the ave" with his posse, just talking. A cute girl will be splattered here and there, respectively covered, with those huge square earrings damn near dragging her head down, maybe sucking on a lollipop. His posse is always behind him, nodding their heads in a B-boy stance. Gangstarr & KRS-One are perfect examples. Or as with Big daddy Kane, a few dancers accompany him in a few simple steps that, if you know, can impress your schoolmates at the talent show. Even The Beastie Boys. Their videos brought a little extra, but they didn't sell the album as much as the songs did. Some exceptions were Salt N Peppa and MC Hammer.

Today, here's the comparison, and I'm going to quote myself.

You'll notice your typical rap video is the rapper in the latest gear that he does not own...

Now it's Roccawear, G-Unit, Sean John, Charles Woodson Raider jersey or the jersey of whatever hometown you represent... or won the Superbow. Perfect example, Fat Joe featuring R. Kelly (forgot the song, We Clubbin', We Thuggin', something like that) R. Kelly is sporting a Charles Woodson jersey like he's the biggest Raider fan on the planet. Why? Because wearing Woodson jerseys back then was the "cool thing to do." A kid sees Lloyd Banks draped in Roccawear gear, now that kid's parents are out $200 bucks so he can emulate his idol.

A cute girl will be splattered here and there, respectively covered, with those huge square earrings damn near dragging her head down, maybe sucking on a lollipop.

Now she's sucking on everything else. I'll pull a Jeff Foxworthy: "If you have at least 200 scantily clad women in yer video, ya might be a rapper."

Today's rapper no longer brags about his or her mic skills. Now they brag about their rims, their yacht, their gold, their hoes, ect. Bah! Give me A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Queen Latifah. Give me Kane, Lyte, Kool G. Rap. Give me a group that actually had something to say, Public Enemy. Give my Biggie & Tupac. even though Tupac sold his image to a certain extent, he was one of the greatests as that transitional period was being made.

Plus, hip-hop was a culture that was not defined by singing. Lauren Hill's album, which has as much singing as a Kenny Rogers album, is considered a hip-hop album and is lumped with all her Fugee efforts. Plus, how many non hip-hop songs have a rap verse in it? Christina Aguillera & Redman. Christina Milian & Joe Budden. R. Kelly & everybody. Hip hip has blown up.

Rappers are a rare breed now and they are never coming back. At the same time, I must also congradulate the 50 Cents and the P Diddys and the Masta Ps of the world. They are making a buttload of money in a genre that is either totally respected or disrespected and is not favored by the majority. They are businessmen. You can't fault a man who came from nothing to use his words to market himself and his image and thus make millions. It's just a shame that the art of the game has to be sacrificed for the love of money.

[DevilSpawn]

I think you need to subscribe to Emusic and start listening to some underground hip-hop/rap. I agree with what you say about mainstream rap. Here are some artists you might appreciate. There is so much music thats 10x better than anything you will ever hear on the radio.

Copperpot
Mr Complex
Soul Position
Babbletron

That's why underground rap is lyrically superior? They are only tring to sell their words, not their t-shirts, so they give a damn. But statistics show that 1 out of these 4 will go platinum and kick their lyrical skills to the curb for, an example, a Babbeltron action figure.

[dogfish]

*cough*






pop sucks

lol, i didn't mean you TD-- you're the exception, not the rule. . . . . .

[Jared]

apocalypse '91; the enemy strikes black and fear of a black planet are actually two different albums. . . . .


and if it's specifically hardcore rap we're talking about, i agree that i haven't heard any that i like in quite some time. . . . . doesn't mean there isn't any good stuff out there, but if there is i'm not familiar with it. . . .

Bah. No coffee.

Easily confused,


All 3 of those P.E. albums are phenomenal. And should be required listening for anyone who claims ot liek rap or hip-hop. Hell, they should be required listening period.

[dogfish]

Bah. No coffee.

Easily confused,


All 3 of those P.E. albums are phenomenal. And should be required listening for anyone who claims ot liek rap or hip-hop. Hell, they should be required listening period.

yea, i couldn't agree more. . . . .


stuff like PE and KRS/BDP was what really got me into the genre in the first place, and it's still some of the best that's ever been made. . . .

[Skywalker]

lol, i didn't mean you TD-- you're the exception, not the rule. . . . . .

I know