Hip-Hop, the art form

[Tempest]

Yeah, controversial topic and all that.. I'd just like to make it clear that this topic is not about RAP.. The ghetto grillz, money and hoes music that you see on BET all the time.. This thread is about hip-hop, the truer and almost forgotten form of music. For those not in the know, hip-hop is what rap used to be, before everyone decided that cars and clothes sell more than truth and interesting stories. While I will admit that I do listen to quite a bit of what I classify as rap, I am also a very big fan of old hip-hop.. I'm talking things like KRS-One (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KRS-One), Chuck D (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_D), and even Nas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nas) to a point.

While these artists are all amazing, there are is one artist that I hold high above all of them, as one of the greatest lyricists I've ever heard. That is Immortal Technique (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immortal_Technique), a Peruvian political hip-hop artist who is very well educated, and it shines through in his lyrics. Through his record label, I've also become acquainted with Akir (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akir), another up-and-comer with a very good album out, Legacy.

Now I know that half the world dislikes anything to do with rap, or anything that doesn't involve heavy guitar and screaming into a microphone.. But if there are any other hip-hop aficionados out there, I'd like to hear your opinions on the whole subject, or suggestions for good artists/songs.

[Jiggz]

Immortal Technique - Dance with the Devil, is probably one of the most amazing, yet disturbing songs I have ever heard.

I'm a huge fan of underground stuff, the sad thing is a lot of them don't necessarily stay there.

Some of my favourites include:

Cannibal Ox. Eerie backing tracks laced with poignant lyrics about inner city decay.

Aesop Rock, with his pseudo-philosophical ramblings that still some how make you ponder, even if just momentarily.

Jurassic 5. I love how jazzy their earlier stuff was. Very funky, with a humorous cynical twist.

Jedi Mind Tricks. Vinnie Paz, a muslim convert. Angry, and more than willing to spread his hatred for christianity and the west in general.

Necro. Purely for his clear intention to always remain underground. A lover of porn and violence. The best way to envoke shock and awe at a party or other social gathering.

[I_Smell]

I think the phrase you were looking for was moneh hoes, cars an cloze, that's how all mah nigguz rowz. Blowin droze on twenny foez, dat's how all mah nigguz rollz.
+I think hip hop was great while it lasted, but it's a shame I can't see it making a comeback. Downloading these choons right now, dawg.

[Android]

The origin and evolution of Hip Hop was what I wrote my Senior History Thesis on in college.

If you want some good Hip Hop, check out:
Lyrics Born
Blackalicous
Lifesavas
Jurassic 5
Lateef The Truthspeaker
Latyrx

Those are just a few, but if you look hard enough you can find good Hip Hop.

[snap1o5]

I'm listening to Immortal Technique right now, it's pretty much the only rap I like pretty much. I like all genres of rap only if they actually carry a message or mean something. Another artist you guys might like Atmosphere.

[Random_Hero]

I'm tryign to find soem good hip-hop artists I like, and it is surprisingly difficult.

K-os from Canada is really good.

and The Roots are a neat concept in the hip-hop form.

[~KoMoDo~]

Finally! I was seriously getting worried that this forum was buried knee-deep in hip-hop haters. I personally hate anything and everything from this current "Blingy Era". The whole "I got gunz, hoez and whipz" makes me sick. I actually lose a bit of respect everytime I find out one of my friends listens to 50. However, it's not all bad, there are a lot of good new artists, they just aren't mainstream. immortal Technique is definitely a standout, and in terms of the past (back in the REAL age of Hip-Hop): Wu-Tang, Ice Cube, N.W.A., Dre, 2pac, Snoop Dogg and Geto Boys just to name a few. But there are of course ones who are real favourites to me, such as Nas and The Late Great Notorious B.I.G.

Too much of this music has been killed by people not knowing when to stop, over-marketing, turning mainstream, and a lot of other things that have just ruined good music. But of course there is hope with the current underground scene and even people like Papoose, Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, because these mainstream artists actually have a lot more hope of taking it somewhere than 50.

Just my two cents, cheers.