Hip Hop Discussion/Album Review Thread.

[Stringer Bell]

Meh, that post above was a bit off, but I'll leave it anyway.

Lyrics definitely weren't as big of a part back then.. Rakim and others started to make them a focal point. Before Ra, the vast majority of hip-hop contained VERY simple lyrics (we're talking cat/bat/hat kinda shit here, it was that bad at times...)

Then Ra came and people started taking notice of lyrics. It wasn't just what you were saying but the way you crafted your rhyme, Ra really brought a lot of that intricate and complex shit to the table in that aspect.

This isn't at all a jab at the other coasts, but I definitely think of the east/NY as the home of lyrical hip-hop, all through the years. That's not to say the south and west haven't produced incredible lyricists, guys like Outkast may even crack my top 10. I just think the east, especially NY, is where it's at. From Rakim, to G Rap, to Nas, to BIG and so on.. the east just takes their lyrics more seriously it seems.

Now I'm just rambling because I'm tired as hell.. basically my point is I don't agree at all with Deka's statement, it's simply not true at all. Rapping like shit (Paw Waw, holla!) has become more accepted is because hip-hop is more popular than ever, which means more shitty fans, most of which don't know the first thing about hip-hop. Pretty much the beginning of the end for mainstream hip-hop, as it went from Puffy and Mase, to Cash Money, and now we're where we are..

There's that, and then there's the fact that the south is running shit right now. As I touched on earlier, they've never been anywhere near as lyrical as the east/NY, so obviously it shows. And I'm not hating on any of these guys at all, I'm simply saying they aren't lyrical in the way guys like Nas and Rakim are, which just can't really be argued...

Blah. Lots of rambling, all over the place.. enjoy :)

[Raw Is Jonathan]

QS, been off here far too long, recommend me some good recent shit, I need to mix up my music again.

[Raw Is Jonathan]

Also, someone tell me how I can go about downloading shit instead of forking out for new albums...

[Stringer Bell]

My favorite albums so far this year are Ghostface, Army of the Pharoahs, Apathy, Murs/9th Wonder, Madlib, J Dilla, and Soul Position probably..

[Raw Is Jonathan]

Expansion will be required. I feel like I've not been a sold a thing there, no effort whatsoever.

P.S I already have Ghostface and Murs/9th...

[Stringer Bell]

Army of the Pharoahs is a one-off (I believe) supergroup fronted by Vinnie Paz from JMT. Also in the group are Celph Titled, Apathy, Outerspace, Esoteric, and others. It's basically what you'd expect -- violent, hardcore lyrics over dramatic, intense production..

Apathy's album was really good, I thought. Hiphopsite gave it 4.5/5, which might be a little too high, but it's definitely a hell of an album. Just a good all-around listen that pays tribute to early 90's east coast hip-hop.

Madlib and J Dilla's albums are both instrumentals from Stones Throw Records, but they are both incredible and two of my absolute favorites of the year. Hack can back this one up..

Soul Position is Blueprint and RJD2. It's just a fun ass album, filled with dope, funky production and Blueprint coming as entertaining as ever. Don't expect any hardcore lyrics here, this is just fun hip-hop with down-to-earth and at times humorous lyrics, similar to someone like Murs.

Slow Suicide Stimulus (Tame One's group) had a hell of a debut if you're into that style of rap.. Tame One's album was good too.

J-Zone and Celph Titled have a really fun album under the moniker Boss Hog Barbarians. It's basically a comedy album, but it's a dope listen and will keep you entertained throughout if you're a fan of either's work. J-Zone does the majority of the production, while Celph does 3 or 4 beats and the Beatminerz (!) handle one.

Hope that helped... there's definitely more good stuff from 06, some of which I forgot, but those are my favorites.

[Raw Is Jonathan]

Someone tell me what happened to Immortal Techniques album.

[Stringer Bell]

It's still supposed to be on the way, The Middle Passage I believe it's being titled...

Thanks for ignoring that post I just typed up for you :)

[Hack]

Tell me what to get, tell me what to get, wah, wah, wah.

Man, this Gnarls Barkley is fun as hell. "Smiley Faces" is the song that is standing out the most ... not really very hip-hop at all, but its a lot of fun.

About the old school stuff, I agree with Buck. And my favorite old school rap song is "I Can't Live Without My Radio" by LL Cool J. To me, its just sort of the definitive old school rap song.

Oh, and one more thing: I can certainly back up the love for the newest Madlib and J Dilla discs. I'm still listening to both constantly.

[QuietStorm]

QS, been off here far too long, recommend me some good recent shit, I need to mix up my music again.
Just get the Lupe Fiasco album when it comes out, plus something from Buck's list. That should work.

[Adamy]

I liked the way Gnarls covered the Violent Femmes. That was classy.

[Hack]

I liked the way Gnarls covered the Violent Femmes. That was classy.

I guess its cute or whatever, a nice little surprise, but it isn't one of the album's best tracks or anything.

I listened to the album while driving for the first time today and I'm digging it more with each listen ... those two are most certainly card-carrying beasts.

[Fro]

Anyone get that new Alchemist mixtape album? I haven't heard it, but it's got a lot of Mobb Deep which normally I wouldn't like but they're usually great over his beats. Plus I wanna hear the AZ, B-Real and Obie Trice tracks.



Song of the day: A Tribe Called Quest - Stressed Out

[Stringer Bell]

Nah I haven't heard that Alchemist, sure it's pretty good stuff.

I think it's safe to say I made the greatest used CD purchase ever today... for $20 I got the following CLASSICS...

Ice Cube - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (Re-Issue w/ Kill at Will EP) ($9)
Digable Planets - Reachin' ($5)
Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet ($6)


They had some other good looking stuff too, like RUN DMC's Raising Hell for like $8. But yeah, GREAT stuff... you gotta wonder what idiots sell this stuff.

Reachin' is even better than I remember.. I can't believe I've never owned this album.

[Morrison]

Listened to A Tribute to Christina Ricci by Felt(Murs and Slug) last night. Really fun album. Reccomend it to anybody here who hasn't heard it yet.

[Flow (Ice Cold) 3000]

I drive to Marcy in a Murcielago - probably my favourite line off that Mobb Deep album, and it's a Yayo line :\



Song of the day: A Tribe Called Quest - Stressed Out

Dead Prez - Hell Yeah

Don't think I'll ever get tired of this song.

[Hack]

I'm probably the last person to hear it, but this Ghostface/Doom song sounds pretty fucking good. Laid back, nice beats ... I assume Doom produced it? Can't wait for a whole album of this to come out. If anybody hasn't heard it, its on the Nature Sounds myspace page. It is called "Angels." Like I said, this is probably old news, but fuck you.

[Raw Is Jonathan]

Army of the Pharoahs is a one-off (I believe) supergroup fronted by Vinnie Paz from JMT. Also in the group are Celph Titled, Apathy, Outerspace, Esoteric, and others. It's basically what you'd expect -- violent, hardcore lyrics over dramatic, intense production..

Apathy's album was really good, I thought. Hiphopsite gave it 4.5/5, which might be a little too high, but it's definitely a hell of an album. Just a good all-around listen that pays tribute to early 90's east coast hip-hop.

Madlib and J Dilla's albums are both instrumentals from Stones Throw Records, but they are both incredible and two of my absolute favorites of the year. Hack can back this one up..

Soul Position is Blueprint and RJD2. It's just a fun ass album, filled with dope, funky production and Blueprint coming as entertaining as ever. Don't expect any hardcore lyrics here, this is just fun hip-hop with down-to-earth and at times humorous lyrics, similar to someone like Murs.

Slow Suicide Stimulus (Tame One's group) had a hell of a debut if you're into that style of rap.. Tame One's album was good too.

J-Zone and Celph Titled have a really fun album under the moniker Boss Hog Barbarians. It's basically a comedy album, but it's a dope listen and will keep you entertained throughout if you're a fan of either's work. J-Zone does the majority of the production, while Celph does 3 or 4 beats and the Beatminerz (!) handle one.

Hope that helped... there's definitely more good stuff from 06, some of which I forgot, but those are my favorites.

Nice one.

Certainly going to check out Soul Position and the two instrumentals, big fan of madlib, and heard good things about J Dilla. A lot can be said for instrumental albums, especially when you find yourself if only such and such was on this track and then you think... ahh, that was probably the aim in the first place.

:yes:

Apathy interests me too...

Cheers BMarley.

Hmm. I'm a massive fan of Cee-Lo, but not been on this Gnarls Barkley badnwagon, almost puts me off when there's so much mainstream attention (I know, rather silly of me). But, being a massive fan of Cee-Lo, is it worth checking out? As in, is there a nice blend of him rapping and singing?

[Stringer Bell]

Glad I could help.

If you like Cee-Lo, you should definitely give it a shot. At first listen I was disappointed just because I was expected some sort of masterpiece coming from those two, and I felt some of the songs could've been left off altogether in place of something more interesting. That said, I think I've been to harsh on it, and honestly haven't given it a fair chance. From what I remember, there wasn't any rapping whatsoever.. and some of the singing is flat-out weird, even for Cee's standards.

Still, I need to give it a few more shots. In a couple of months, I could very well be kicking myself for these comments (very possible, seeing as some tracks ARE outstanding). It's not even that it's poor music -- I just expected something entirely different, from Cee-Lo and from DM.

[Fro]

I'm definitely diggin this Gnarls Barkley album. Only my first listen though, so I'll have more specific comments later.

[Hack]

It is certainly a fun listen. I've had a copy for weeks now, but I think I'll buy it the day it comes out.

[TRO]

I think I'm a couple years late here, but Haiku D'etat - Coup de Theatre is pretty dope... Aceyalone, Mikah 9, and Abstract Rude... Never heard of Rude before, but he has a great delivery...

And Soul Position was in town with One Be Lo this week, and I didn't even notice until the day after they performed... :irked:

[TapOut]

I just bought two CD's yesterday, and damn, I'm enjoying the hell out of both:

Barbershop 2 Soundtrack and Miri Ben Ari's album, Hip-Hop Violinist.

The track on Ari's album with Consequence and John Legend, "I've Been Waiting on You" is amazing: great song.

[Hack]

Earth people, New York and California
Earth people, I was born on Jupiter

[QuietStorm]

Aiiyo, Hip-Hop music needs a blood transfusion
I been trying to give it to 'em, they don't wanna use it
Sick with the ink, it's a sin to think
Canibus don't blink, he pretends to wink
Yo, anything more than what I need
Is called greed, that’s what I used to believe
But on the eve of my funeral, my body was recoupable
My musical policy was renewable
Details, my stem cell got that hemp smell
With a dark purple chemtrail, God bless hell
Cause Denzel's stem cell costs ten mill
One in every ten males could get it for themselves
It's deep, see niggas with rotten teeth, beat boxing a beat
Barefoot, kicking rocks in the streets
Staring at the clouds, looking for leaks
When it rains it pours, my metaphors got 'em looking for me
C to the A-N-I-B-U-S in the flesh
Nigga, my breath is the treasure in my chest
I been around the world and came back like return mail
Came back and cured world ills
Cold nights in the barracks, hot days in the desert
With every other available pressure, yes sir
I start to zone out, nobody knows how
A bald head for a gold crown, no doubt
Cannonball run, no cars, all guns
I keep a big satchel of five-star rum
I don't paper chase, I just spit the bars
Truth is I was in debt before I was born
I don't paper chase, I just spit the bars
Truth is I was in debt before I was born
Time keeps on slippin… I know that!

[Hack]

Holy shit, I just saw a commercial for the NBA playoffs with "3030" playing in the background ... excellent.

[Morrison]

Earth people, New York and California
Earth people, I was born on Jupiter
Keith's making a second Dr. Octagon album, don'tchaknow.

[QuietStorm]

DaVinci's production on the Kool Keith track with Sage Francis/Sole is nuts. It makes the track work beautifully. So spacey.

[Stringer Bell]

Isn't the new Kool Keith already out? Or is this the first Dr. Octagon that just came out? Sorry, not a big fan..

Hack - Stackhouse :(

[QuietStorm]

He had another compilation of unreleased material or whatever that just came out. I don't really remember exactly, but I think I read he isn't making any money off it.

[Morrison]

Yeah, it's alledged to be a bootleg, but it's shady.

He released Nogatco Rd. at the end of April. The first Dr. Octagon album was released back in 1996.

[Hack]

Stack carried that team for most of the game, so I can't be too upset with him.

And if Automator and Qbert aren't involved, it shouldn't be viewed as new Dr. Octagon.

[iLLu51on VII]

Can Someone tell me what happen to A Tribe Called Quest's Album. I heard they reunited and were suppose to come out with a new album like 2 years ago.

By far they are one of the greatest rap groups ever.

[Fro]

Haven't heard anything about it in a while, so my guess is its not close to fruition.


Songs of the week:
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
Redman - Da Goodness
Q-Tip - N.T.
Styles P - Nobody Believes Me

[Stringer Bell]

Yeah, I doubt we'll ever see a full-on ATCQ reunion. Some things are better left undone.. I'm not sure if they'd be able to capture the same magic they had in the 90's, and I wouldn't want them to release a "reunion" album just as a gimmick, it's gotta be that quality Tribe sound.

Songs that've been getting a lot of play from me...

Cage - Days
Mr Lif's Mo Mega album
Lupe Fiasco - Whole album pretty much
Rhymefest - Feva
Method Man f/ Lauryn Hill - Things They Say (Download it here (http://www.sumish.com))

That's pretty much it.. TOOL has been getting the majority of spins lately.

[.invurzion.]

I'm definitely diggin this Gnarls Barkley album. Only my first listen though, so I'll have more specific comments later.

Damn I was thinking the exact same thing. Pretty fun album really. It just seemed really short ... by the time I was truly into it, it was over. Good shit though. Can't believe that I slept on it this long.

[QuietStorm]

Curriculum 101 is better than 99 percent of rappers entire body of work.

[spanish announce table]

Curriculum 101 is better than 99 percent of rappers entire body of work.

I agree with you, but as a long time Bis fan, I'm seriously running out of patience with this guy. Can-I-Bus was ok, but he bounced back strong with 2000 BC. Then he baffled everyone with CTHS. He followed that with 2 of the best albums of the last 10 years.

Post RTJ has been strange to say the least. Mind Control was crap for the most part, and HH4S was better as the Vitruvian Man mixtape. He doesnt seem to know which direction he wants to go.

Bronze Nazareth's "The Great Migration" has been leaked...

[QuietStorm]

Yeah but he has been silent for a while, which bodes good things for the Caesar Germanicus album. I just don't like the crew he is working with at HTR.

[bizgivbiz]

Right now all I listen to mostly is new Joe Budden, Lil Wayne, and Papoose.

[Flow (Ice Cold) 3000]

Could you (or anyone else) recommend some Papoose tracks?

Thought he did the best male verse on the Touch It Remix.

[spanish announce table]

Canibus & Papoose - Freestyle over the Guerilla Monsoon Rap beat
Papoose & Busta - Address me as Mister
Papoose - Alphabetical Slaughter

[Stringer Bell]

Papoose "Chess".. he has a good song with Nas too, "Across The Tracks" I think...

He shreds his verse on that song with Paul Wall too.. "Ridin' Shotgun"

Not really a fan though, couldn't tell you outside of those and what SAT listed. He's got a good track with Kweli too I think..

[Fro]

Papoose - Born to Win

That's my favorite track of his, though I've only heard a handful.

My song of the day:
RZA - Build Strong

confused but yet wise, my problem surrounds me/
a lot of things upset me/
as my soul rejects me/
enemy of self, physically enslaved/
by the luxuries of this world, so I behave/
like a man inside the grave/
who's life is lost/
I want the promised gold but can't afford the cost/
or could I, I know the prescribed laws/
any effect is a result of the cause/
of lies and delusions to myself I have lied/
burning inside, wanting to open wide/
and scream/
the name of the supreme/
but I'm trapped in this world/
lusting for girls/
therefore I imagine a genie and a wish/
and searching for things that just does not exist...

Powerful verse by RZA, one of my all time favorites of his.

[Flow (Ice Cold) 3000]

Nice one boys

Got the Alphabet one and a freestyle over Jay-Z's Threat so far, gonna look for the rest now.

[QuietStorm]

Papoose is a nobody.

[Flow (Ice Cold) 3000]

I don't care.

:yes:

[Hack]

Saw Soul Position two nights ago. It fucking ruled.
RJD2 is nuts.

[Hack]

I'm QuietStorm, grrr, Canibus is better than every other rapper ever and I am going to post how great he is even when nobody asks, grrr, I'm Quietstorm, the rapper you guys are talking about sucks because I said so, grrr, I'm QuietStorm, grrr.

[TRO]

Canibus is a nobody.

[Flow (Ice Cold) 3000]

Concurred.

[Stringer Bell]

Haha, he's not that bad with it.. I was certainly worse months back.

I do think he's a bit harsh on Papoose. I think dude is insanely overrated, but I still think he's got a lot more talent than most popular emcees. His rumored album title was fucking horrible though, something like Thugology. Come on man.

And for the record, Canibus >>>>>>>>>> Pap

[QuietStorm]

Ahahahaha.... funny, cuz actually my only opinion of Papoose is from how bad he was on the Guerilla Monsoon freestyle with Canibus. I've maybe heard one or two other things from him, but I can't remember.

[Hack]

Speaking of RJD2, which i did earlier, I'm really glad I never picked up Magnificent Cities now that they've released an instrumental version.

[Stringer Bell]

2-1 brother :)

[Hack]

http://espn.go.com/photo/2006/0513/nba_g_dime_ginobili_395.jpg

:dx: :dx: :dx:

Take that, Spurs.

Oh, and let me say something hip-hop related: One Be Lo opened for Soul Position and I was definately impressed.

[Stringer Bell]

Hell yeah!

I hope One Be Lo opens my show, that'd be quite a treat.

[TRO]

One Be Lo is a nobody.

Jean Grae - Bootleg of the Bootleg is a pretty good deal. Only 6 tracks, but there's like half an hour of hidden tracks and some of them are dope. It's like two EPs for the price of one...

[QuietStorm]

Canibus is a nobody.
Which probably explains why he made an EP called My Name is Nobody.


One Be Lo is a nobody.
Yeah, but at least he is a nobody with skillz. Plus he is from Michigan, so he has that going for him.

[TRO]

One Be Lo is awesome, man. Canibus, I never got into, but I was just kidding around anyway. Binary Star is alright, can't argue with free albums.

So what's your take on Grae? I was expecting mere novelty, but she can actually flow...

[Stringer Bell]

Jean Grae is insane, she's easily the dopest female MC I know of right now, and has been for quite some time.

[QuietStorm]

^ agreed ^

[TRO]

She's one of the dopest MCs I've stumpled onto, period. I mean, a couple years ago I was strictly a rock listener, and I still haven't listened to nearly as much rap as I'd like to, so I'd never heard of her a month ago. But yeah, she's great. Nice beats too, but it doesn't say who produced the various hidden tracks.

[QuietStorm]

http://myspace-894.vo.llnwd.net/00727/49/88/727628894_l.jpg

"A thousand years old in dog years, on a lawn chair, I belong here...."


http://myspace-811.vo.llnwd.net/00727/11/86/727636811_l.jpg

St. Germaine


http://myspace-571.vo.llnwd.net/00727/17/52/727642571_l.jpg


Caesar Germanicus coming SOON. :scared:

[Hack]

Yeah, there he is, on a chair. That is some amazing shit right there. Here is MF Doom in a coat!http://www.sfist.com/archives/images/mfdoom.jpg

[QuietStorm]

Dude.... Hack, other than my posts last week about Curriculum 101 and his new verse I have hardly mentioned his name this year. So what gives?

Now I'll just continue do it to be an asshole, like with the last post. Since it gets to you so much.


This is a Nazi thread, by the way. Krispy started that.

[TRO]

:lol: Of all the people who might mention Nazis... I wonder if SideburnZ still has those pics...

That's a spectacular coat, btw.

[QuietStorm]

Hehehe.


One more thing to mention before I stop gaying up this thread.... Pumpkinhead's album is something special. Dunno how it slipped by me for about seven months.

Edit: Jean Grae is on the album, btw. :)

[Hack]

Nothing gives, I'm just busting your balls. The pictures of Canibus were funny.

[Hack]

New Danger Doom!

[Dan The Man]

New Danger Doom!

True news (http://i.adultswim.com/adultswim/promos/dangerdoom/corndogs/tracks/korndogs.mp3).

[Fro]

Disastrous Mobb Deep sales:

They went to G-Unit to get that money and it this rate they may not even recoup. After a disappointed opening week of barely selling 100,000 albums, the M-o-b-b only moved 38,000 in week number two. Blood money or no money?

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
They sold out and sacrificed their musical integrity but are still gonna end up broke. Yay for G-Unit failings!!


http://hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.4146

[Hack]

True news (http://i.adultswim.com/adultswim/promos/dangerdoom/corndogs/tracks/korndogs.mp3).


Would I lie to you, Dan? Would I?

Madlib fans should check out the new iTunes podcast he did where its just him playing a ton of 45s ... its great stuff.

[QuietStorm]

Been listening to a lot of the Sandpeople this weekend. Straight out of PORTLAND, OREGON.


They are sick with it.

[TRO]

True: http://cdbaby.com/cd/sandpeople And Jon the Baptist is great live. If I had to choose one area crew though, it would still be Lifesavas.

[Hack]

RJD2's Magnificent Instrumentals came in the mail and it is fucking awesome. I though it might be a little boring because it was all written for someone to rap over it, but I was completely wrong.
Any RJD2 fan should check this out.

[Stringer Bell]

New Kanye/Pharrel track courtesy of www.sumish.com http://rapidshare.de/files/20809406/pharell__kanye_-_number_1.mp3.html

Check the site for a lot of other exclusives

Track is pretty disappointing.. horrible beat.

[TRO]

RJD2 is a god. Hack, do you have In Rare Form? If not, I highly recommend it. I think that might be my favorite RJ release thus far.

Dunno if I want to pay money for an instrumental of Magnificent City, which kind of sucked. What the hell happened to Aceyalone, anyway. He's usually pretty ok on the mic...

[Dan The Man]

Would I lie to you, Dan? Would I?

Maybe if you just tell me a lie
Maybe then we'll never say goodbye

PS: Sofa King Remix (http://i.adultswim.com/adultswim/promos/dangerdoom/sofaking/tracks/SofaKing.mp3).

[Hack]

RJD2 is a god. Hack, do you have In Rare Form? If not, I highly recommend it. I think that might be my favorite RJ release thus far.

Dunno if I want to pay money for an instrumental of Magnificent City, which kind of sucked. What the hell happened to Aceyalone, anyway. He's usually pretty ok on the mic...



No, I don't have that. Isn't it just a bootleg?

And, yes, you DO want to pay money for an instrumental of this album. Trust me, dude. Its just RJD2, how would you not love it?

WORTH EVERY PENNY.

[Hack]

Both new DangerDoom songs are excellent.

[TRO]

I don't think it's a bootleg. I've seen two used copies at two different record stores. But if it is, the fine print on the jewel case that says "c 2004 Bustown Pride Records. Unauthorized duplication a violation of all types of shit" is hilarious. At any rate, it's just 20 tracks of brilliance, with instrumentals of old MF Doom, Diverse, and Aceyalone tracks, as well as some beats that I know I've heard, but can't place:

1. Uprock
2. Under the Hammer
3. Big Game
4. Saliva
5. Fuck Soundcheck
6. Seven Light Years
7. Incorporate Anthem
8. The Takeoff
9. Up to No Good Again
10. Unlimited
11. Mic Control
12. Weatherpeople
13. One Day
14. Inhale remix
15. The Bachelors remix
16. Kill 'em All remix
17. Explosive
18. Rocket Science

Definitely worth buying, if you can find a copy. :yes:


edit-- A brief google search shows that RJD2's 2001 debut album was also released by "Bustown Pride", but I have no clue why he didn't just use Def Jux for this one...

[QuietStorm]

True: http://cdbaby.com/cd/sandpeople And Jon the Baptist is great live. If I had to choose one area crew though, it would still be Lifesavas.
Mo-b might be my new favorite rapper. Though it's probably just a mood I am in.


Thanks for the heads up on the RJD2, Hackster. Was gonna eventually check it out anyways, but you sped up the process.

[Hack]

Thanks for the heads up on the RJD2, Hackster. Was gonna eventually check it out anyways, but you sped up the process.


No problem. I wrote a quick review for another site and I'll go ahead and post it here:

After paying his dues for a few years, producer RJD2 finally got the attention he deserved in 2002 with the release of his Definitive Jux debut, Deadringer. In the four years since, he has remained remarkably busy, releasing a follow-up to Deadringer, the criminally underrated Since We Last Spoke, in 2004 and working on a number of side projects.

These side projects have included producing single songs for his peers (“Saliva” from MF Doom’s Viktor Vaughn album, for instance), recording as one half of the hip-hop duo Soul Position and 2006’s Magnificent City, a disc he made with underground veteran Aceyalone.

While almost all of his guest appearances are smashing successes and Soul Position is largely considered one of underground hip-hop’s most promising acts, Magnificent City … well … it sort of sucked.

The problem? Aceyalone, usually as consistent an emcee as you can find, completely dropped the ball. His rhymes were unexpectedly simple, he sounded bored and the hooks to most of the songs featured him just saying the name of the song over and over.

When one man is making the beats and another is writing the rhymes, there isn’t much room for either party to mess things up, but Aceyalone didn’t bring his best game and the entire album suffered.

The beats, though, weren’t too bad at all, and hip-hop fans have been blessed with Magnificent City Instrumentals, which is (obviously!) nothing but RJD2’s beats.

And how do they sound on their own? Surprise, surprise, folks, Magnificent City Instrumentals is good. Real good.

Now, is it Deadringer good? No, and it isn’t Since We Last Spoke good, either. But give the man a break; these tracks were written with an emcee in mind, Aceyalone just didn’t deliver.

Overall, Magnificent City Instrumentals is relaxed, fun and full of energy. RJD2’s style has often been called “cut-and-paste hip-hop” because he throws so many different sounds together and the album, particularly the latter half, is a perfect example of this. “Junior,” for instance, features sleigh bells, heavy distortion, a high-pitched woman’s voice and wind instruments. The next track, “Heaven,” blends electric guitar with a fun piano part, and the next track, “Here & Now,” revolves around a sample of someone playing a harp.

Another highlight is "Disconnected," which features a great horn section that was once ruined by Aceyalone shouting the word "disconnected" over and over. Now, you can focus on the track's laid back sound and the quick vocal samples RJ mixed into the background.

Other strong tracks include the funky “All for U,” which was also a highlight on the original Magnificent City album, and “A Sunday Mystery,” which is 90 seconds of piano, guitar and suspense.

Of course, since these are instrumental versions of an album that once featured rhymes, some of the songs seem a bit boring. During the parts where Aceyalone was originally spitting a verse, the songs will occasionally bore and frustrate you. “The beat is good, RJ,” you’ll think, “but you keep playing that horn part over and over!”

This is a minor problem, though, and it’s one that fans of the genre will likely forgive rather quickly. After all, if the horn part he keeps repeating is great, who cares, right?

Fans of producers such as DJ Shadow and Diplo, be warned: These aren't slow, epic pieces that build and build until they reach a dramatic climax. These are average-length tracks that will make you want to get up and dance or at least nod your head. It would be ideal music to play at a party as background music right after, say, the Avalanches' Since I Left You. If you want to lay back, get stoned and watch your ceiling fan while the music makes you debate the meaning of life, stick with Endtroducing. RJD2 doesn't want to change your life, he just wants to improve it.

I suppose that’s really all I have to say about this disc … it’s fun, relaxed and perfect for listening to in your car with your windows down and the volume cranked way up.

[Stringer Bell]

Damn, that's a hell of a review. I've GOT to check that thing out now...

[TRO]

I know I am stronger, faster, and better at writing... But you left out one thing.. I'm not a man anymore, I'm a freak.

[Stringer Bell]

Still loving that review. Shows you've got a true passion for music, which is something I really admire. I can only dream about writing reviews that well...

How'd you like the most recent stuff I sent over Hack? BDP and the others.. can't remember exactly what it was.

One Be Lo is indeed opening the Soul Position show here on Memorial Day :D My only problem right now is getting someone to go with me, but if no one comes through I might just say fuck it and go alone. I've never been to a show alone as I imagine it wouldn't be much fun, but I'm trying to catch all the dope hip-hop that comes my way, can't let that shit pass by.

The Coup are coming through on June 14th too.. I was never heavily into him, but everything I have heard is dope and I'm sure it'll be a fun show if nothing else.

I swear my town has some of the biggest idiots as far as music fans go... I've picked up the following used CLASSICS lately, at pretty incredible prices I think. I'm sure if you live in a big town it's easy to find loads of good used stuff, but there's really only one record store here that sells used discs, and every now and then I come across some GEMS!

Public Enemy - Yo! Bum Rush The Show (5.99)
Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back (6.99)
Luniz - Operation Stackola (okay, some of these aren't CLASSICS, but still a hell of a bargain) (3.99)
Naughty By Nature - S/T (3.99)
Run-DMC - S/T (5.99)
Run-DMC - Raising Hell (7.99)
Funkdoobiest - Which Doobie U B? (7.99)

So yeah.. some awesome deals. I was especially pleased to find the PE and Run-DMC joints, what kind of clown sells that shit? The PE albums are original pressings, too..

[Morrison]

Clowns that are hard pressed for money more then good music.

Clowns that put their music on an MP3 player or store it on their computer, then sell the CD's for some easy money.

[Stringer Bell]

Well yeah, those are easy answers... but how the fuck do you give up classics like that? Whenever I was hard pressed for cash, it was usually stuff I was totally fine parting with. If those PE albums were only $6 for me, I'm willing to bet that person got about $2 each. That's nuts.

[TRO]

There's nothing better than junkies with good taste in music and not enough cash. :yes:

[TapOut]

Still loving that review. Shows you've got a true passion for music, which is something I really admire. I can only dream about writing reviews that well...

How'd you like the most recent stuff I sent over Hack? BDP and the others.. can't remember exactly what it was.

One Be Lo is indeed opening the Soul Position show here on Memorial Day :D My only problem right now is getting someone to go with me, but if no one comes through I might just say fuck it and go alone. I've never been to a show alone as I imagine it wouldn't be much fun, but I'm trying to catch all the dope hip-hop that comes my way, can't let that shit pass by.

The Coup are coming through on June 14th too.. I was never heavily into him, but everything I have heard is dope and I'm sure it'll be a fun show if nothing else.

I swear my town has some of the biggest idiots as far as music fans go... I've picked up the following used CLASSICS lately, at pretty incredible prices I think. I'm sure if you live in a big town it's easy to find loads of good used stuff, but there's really only one record store here that sells used discs, and every now and then I come across some GEMS!

Public Enemy - Yo! Bum Rush The Show (5.99)
Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back (6.99)
Luniz - Operation Stackola (okay, some of these aren't CLASSICS, but still a hell of a bargain) (3.99)
Naughty By Nature - S/T (3.99)
Run-DMC - S/T (5.99)
Run-DMC - Raising Hell (7.99)
Funkdoobiest - Which Doobie U B? (7.99)

So yeah.. some awesome deals. I was especially pleased to find the PE and Run-DMC joints, what kind of clown sells that shit? The PE albums are original pressings, too..


Well yeah, those are easy answers... but how the fuck do you give up classics like that? Whenever I was hard pressed for cash, it was usually stuff I was totally fine parting with. If those PE albums were only $6 for me, I'm willing to bet that person got about $2 each. That's nuts.

All the used CDs at my local ma and pa shop go for 4 bucks, sometimes 2. I've picked up more stuff than I can think of. Some people aren't idiots though, they just aren't into music that much. They just scavenge the house for whatever they can sell and go out and do it. I do the same thing with my DVD collection. Piracy is probably involved in some cases, but not all. People need money, they sell shit.

I mean, you're assuming everyone loves music as much as you. If someone hardly ever buys music, and just has shit sitting around their house to sell, maybe they do it.

The old phrase "one man's trash is another man's treasure" is the best way to put it.

[Hack]

Thanks for that detailed essay on why people sell CDs. You know, I don't think he actually had a problem understanding the whole concept, he was just shocked at some of the great buys he found.

[Stringer Bell]

Exactly.. I might've made it sound otherwise, but that's exactly what I was getting at..

[TRO]

Well as long as we're bragging, last week I got:

Felt - A Tribute to Lisa Bonet -6.00
Jean Grae - Attack of the Attacking Things -6.00
Jurassic 5 - LP -4.25

ASTOUNDING. The J5 one is out of print, I think.

[TapOut]

Some news for Buckmarley...

http://www.rapgodfathers.com/content/view/755/30/

:lol:

I've got no problem with Dre or even Em, but no G-Unit, please. And this coming from someone who is just a casual fan of the Wu.

[Hack]

That album will probably suck, which makes me very sad.

[TapOut]

I can't see it being okay. It's probably going to surprise people and be great, or it's going to be shit.

Watch the opening track start off with...

"Uh... yeah... it's Reakwon...

G-g-g-g-g G-U-NIT!"

[spanish announce table]

An album with joint production from RZA and Dre will be awesome. Hopefully Cuban Linx 2 doesnt get the 'Oh My God' treatment.

As far as I know, Busta's album doesnt have any G-Unit influence on it (other than Banks). This bodes well for the Chef.

[Stringer Bell]

Yeah, Aftermath doesn't necessarily mean G-Unit

I really have doubts that it's going to live up to the Cuban Linx name (that album is in my top 5 of all time), but it seems to be shaping up to be a solid album. I really doubt it'll be the classic it should be, but I don't think it'll be too big of a letdown.

Some other interesting news...

Royce Da 5'9" is putting out an album entirely produced by DJ Premier. That's pretty much confirmed. Also, the big rumor is that Mos Def has an album on the way being entirely produced by Madlib. Only one word for both of those collabs - WOW.

[TRO]

If there are some Dre-produced tracks, it won't be a total loss.

Mos Def + Madlib = :drool:

btw, One Be Lo's S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M. is awesome.

[Flow (Ice Cold) 3000]

Yeah, Aftermath doesn't necessarily mean G-Unit

Agreed, the fact that they refer to them simply as Aftermath, and not Shady/Aftermath/G-Unit suggests as much.

[Stringer Bell]

I'm pleasantly suprised with the new Busta Rhymes album. It's far from a classic or anything, but it's got a lot of dope production. Definitely a fun album, a lot better than I was expecting. Much better than Killa Season and whatever other nonsense is getting a lot of attention right now.

[Flow (Ice Cold) 3000]

Link? :$

[Stringer Bell]

My links are rarely appreciated, but here ya go :p

http://rapidshare.de/files/21660129/Busta_Rhymes-The_Big_Bang-2006-RNS.rar.html

[Flow (Ice Cold) 3000]

I always appreciate your links :yes:

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to BuckMarley again.

[Hack]

So, will it just be a Mos Def album produced by Madlib? Or will they call it Moslib? Mad Def? Quasimosdef?

[TRO]

Gnarls Oakley?

[Hack]

if the Madlib/Mos Def project isn't called Gnarls Oakley, I'm going to go ahead and make it my new name.

[Hack]

The entire EP is up now on adult swim's site. I would have spent money on this, but I'll take it for free.

[Dan The Man]

Woopwoopwoop.

PS: Madblack Jacklib.

[Hack]

They should just call it Penis Party 2000 or something completely random, that would show us all.

[Raw Is Jonathan]

Just going through my iPod and didn't realise how many Ghostface tracks I'm into...

What's everyone listening to at the moment? I'm talking about individual songs like.

Looking to put a cd together for listening to when in other people's cars, it's getting dominated by Ghostface, J Dilla, CunninLynguists and Blackalicious at the moment.

Hmm, favourite albums of the year so far?

Donuts, You Can't Imagine How Much We're Having, A Piece of Strange, Fishscale and The Craft.

Surprises me how many older songs I have in my playlists, Gang Starr just doesn't get old to me!

[Stringer Bell]

Not to be critical, cause they're great albums, but YCIHMWH and The Craft were 2005 releases... so was Piece of Strange, technically. Still great albums thought.

My favorites this year...

Donuts, Fishscale, Beat Konducta, Eastern Philosophy, Murray's Revenge, Trek Life's "The Price I've Paid", Things Go Better with RJ and Al... probably some others I can't think of right now, just woke up.

I fucking missed Soul Position and One Be Lo when they came through... :blah:

[Raw Is Jonathan]

I'm talking about albums I've picked up this year... not necessarily this years releases.

Must check out Soul Position, was in the process of downloading... but dammit, I just don't download music!

[Hack]

I didn't really enjoy a single second of Murray's Revenge. I loved their debut together, I guess one album of those two is just enough for me.

Favorite hip-hop album that came out this year is Donuts. Favorite hip-hop album I discovered this year is DJ Shadow's Preemptive Strike, I had just had his two studio albums until like January when I finally picked it up.

[Hack]

eMusic is doing a free trial thing. I only bring this up because it is the only way (legally) you can get MF Doom's debut without spending like 70 dollars on ebay or Amazon.com. So, I joined for the free trial, picked up the entire debut, picked up a few other Doom songs from compilations and an Antony and the Johnsons b-side ... go me!

Just thought I would post this because someone else might want Doomsday ...

[Stringer Bell]

So I went and saw this local underground show tonight... The Beetnix who I've linked here before, www.myspace.com/thebeetnix

But what really impressed me was this 16 year old kid, Ghetti, who you can find on their top 8. The kid is no slouch at ALL on the mic, he produces almost all of his shit... I had talked to him before the show and had no idea he was about to go tear it up. I was floored, basically. Give the dude a listen.

[TapOut]

Snoop Dogg's new album, 'Without Hoes, Life Would Be Fucked Up' is actually pretty damn decent.

I think it's one of his better albums in years. Not exactly what I'd call old-school, but moreso than his last few albums over the decade. 'No More Games' with Nate Dogg is dope, and 'New York New York' is an old-school sounding funky track.

I like it...

[Fro]

'Without Hoes, Life Would Be Fucked Up'
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Love the title, but I haven't heard about this. Is it a mixtape or a legit album?

[TapOut]

Sounds legit. Sound and production quality is way too good for a mixtape, though I haven't seen any listings on Amazon.

Not sure how he plans on putting that on the shelf or advertising it... it ought to be interesting. I expected shit out of it. I was surprised after a quick listen. I'm going to try to give it a full listen in the next day or two.

[Hack]

Bought copies of Soul Position's first album and Danger Mouse & Jemini's album. Both used, bitches!

Oh, and a question: Has anybody picked up any of those Tommy Boy compilations of old school hip-hop? There are a ton of them and they all actually look good, I was shocked. I have a lot of the songs already, but like 3/5 of them would be new to me, so I was thinking of picking some up.

[spanish announce table]

New Boot Camp track "Trading Places" is insane. Sean P kills it.

[Stringer Bell]

Hack, you should go for those Tommy Boy collections if you haven't heard a lot of them. I actually have an ad for those up on my wall, lots of classics!

As for the Snoop album, I think it's being released by some no-name label, similar to those Game - Untold Story and other albums. I think it's a lot of the songs from his Welcome to the Church mixtapes (there were like 10+ of them). I could be wrong, but that's what I gathered... haven't actually downloaded it though.

I need that DM/Jemini! My buddy is supposed to be sending it to me on AIM, but he always bullshits around drunk and billigerent.

I still say Busta's album is insane.. that, the Royce single, the new Cage tracks, and various other songs have been getting a lot of play from me.

Hit up www.sumish.com for news and exclusive mp3's!

[TRO]

I got Diverse - One AM the other day, and I'm really digging it. Production by RJD2, Madlib, Prefuse 73, and guest spots from Mos Def, Lyrics Born, Jean Grae, and Tortoise... Diverse and One Be Lo/Binary Stars have me really optimistic about underground hip-hop that isn't from the west coast. For a while there it seemed like everything I bought was from Oregon, Washington or Cali, but the (turn)tables have turned.

FYI, you can download the Binary Star albums for free (because their distributer screwed them out of the profits):

http://www.subterraneousrecords.com/ww.html

http://www.subterraneousrecords.com/motu.html

To be fair, it's basically one album and a remixed version, but they're both so tight and One Be Lo AKA OneManArmy is so PIMP, I highly recommend them. Plus they free.

[Stringer Bell]

No doubt

:heart: Underground hip-hop, and what beats free legal music? Not much..

Water World was dope from what I heard, I should probably re-visit it.

[Stringer Bell]

Canibus is apparently working with the one and only DJ PREMIER :eek:


MAVS baby!!!!!!!!

[QuietStorm]

I could have posted that, but I chose not to. I mean, it's only Canibus.

[Fro]

Source?

[Morrison]

QS isn't a good enough source on Canibus news?

[TRO]

An anonymous White House official confirms it.

[Stringer Bell]

Source: www.sumish.com

[spanish announce table]

God damn, new Masta Killa track with Ghost and Rae is up on www.xxlmag.com

[Seanny One Ball]

I was on the radioooooooooooooo yesterday, Seanny Fontaine!


:$ Sorry

[Hack]

Anybody get the new Dabrye album? I'm definately considering it.

[Deka]

I still can't stop bumpin' that T.I. - "What You Know".

Love that shit.

Every single car I pass on the road is playing that fucking "It's Goin' Down" song. I'm so sick of that song, never really liked it to begin with.

What's the infactuation with that shit? It's really not all that great.

[Mr. Boombastic]

I just bought, Redman- Whut? thee Album

I have always been a Redman fan, but this one is by far his best effort, imo. Not a classic, but it is a very well done album.

[Stringer Bell]

:yes: I'd even go as far as to call it a classic... somehting like 4.5/5. Hell of a fucking album, his next 2 LP's were quality too (Dare Iz a Darkside and Muddy Waters), but then everything was downhill from there, to the point where I'm not expecting much at all from his next effort. He RIPPED that Beanie Sigel song last year, though... he's still got good verses in him from time to time.

[Mr. Boombastic]

My only problem with the album is that it has waaaay too many skits.

[Fro]

Muddy Waters = An undeniable hip hop classic.

Whut? is good but I think he improved with both his second and third albums. Then started falling off, like Buck said.

[Deka]

Every single car I pass on the road is playing that fucking "It's Goin' Down" song. I'm so sick of that song, never really liked it to begin with.

What's the infactuation with that shit? It's really not all that great.
And now look what the song is doing to our youth..

Click (http://youtube.com/watch?v=y-eBqpamsmg&search=BeBe%27s%20Kids)

[Stringer Bell]

Yeah, it's a horrible song. Luckily I've only heard it in bits and pieces, I try to stay away from shit like that. The lyrics are downright awful.. "Meet me at the trap.. it's goin' down.. meet me at the mall"... Wow..

[spanish announce table]

Havent seen anyone mention it here, but the Bronze Nazareth album is dope as hell. The beats are awesome the whole way through, and you can tell he puts a lot of time into his lyrics. 'Rare Breed' is one of the sickest beats I've ever heard.

[Stringer Bell]

Yeah, the Bronze Nazareth album was dope, especially on the production tip.. the only thing that annoyed me about the album was all the weed smoking references. If you've gotta be infatuated with the shit, at least go about it in a clever manner. But other than that, really hot album..

[Deka]

:panic: White Boy Rap! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3NeYOEyAL4&search=106%20and%20Park):panic:

[Stringer Bell]

Bronze Nazareth? Uhh...

[TRO]

Maybe he was referring to the link where he linked to the white boy rap link? It was a link.

[Stringer Bell]

Ah, didn't catch that.. that's what I get for posting at 8AM.

[N.E.R.F.]

JIGGA WHAT

:hyper:

24/09. Cannot wait.

[Stringer Bell]

Huh?

Speaking of Jigga, it's pretty cool that he performed the entire Reasonable Doubt album last night in celebration of the anniversary of its release. I can only imagine it came off incredible, Questlove was overseeing the production of it. One of those concerts I'd kill to see.. once in a lifetime shit, for sure.

[Stringer Bell]

The more I listen to the Bronze Nazareth LP, the more I love it. Some amazing beats... the lyrics aren't as bad as I thought either, some are really good. Great album.

Boot Camp is back as a whole! This thread is so dead, no mention of one of hip-hop's best crews ever reuniting...

[TRO]

Yeah, the Bronze Nazareth album is great. And the tracks he produced on the Wu-Tang Meets Indie album were pretty dope too. Good stuff.

[Ricky]

Anyone have any know any sites for someone getting into undeground stuff?

[TRO]

Off the top of my head, there's a podcast called "indiefeed: hip hop / rap" that's a good resource. It's free on the itunes music store in the podcast section. They have a nice selection of underground tunes available.

[Ricky]

No iPod. Can I just get iTunes and listen to it?

[TRO]

I would assume so.

[Ricky]

It's been really good so far, but I've been watching other podcasts, too, so I haven't had time to listen much.

[Deka]

I just picked up T.I.'s latest album, "King".

I've heard alot of people saying that this was one of those albums where you could play it through without having the urge to press the fast forward button and change songs. But, that's a damn lie. There are some good songs on there, but it's certainly not a masterpiece, by any means. Do I regret buying it? Hell no. I love T.I.

My favorite songs are "What You Know", "Ride Wit Me", "Why You Wanna", "Top Back", "Stand Up Guy", "You Know Who", "Hello", and "Bankhead".

"King Back", "Front Back", "Undertaker", and "Goodlife" are pretty good.

"I'm Talkin' To You", "Live In The Sky", "Get It", "I'm Straight", and "Told You So" are all garbage.

[Stringer Bell]

"I'm Talkin To You" was one of the better songs on there, I thought. Just Blaze definitely crafted the biggest bangers on that album.

Speaking of TI, Ludacris just recently SMASHED him with "War With God". Didn't even say his name once, didn't need to to be honest. It'll be interesting to see where that one goes, I don't think TI can put out anything close to as dope as that song.. and can Luda follow it up?

[Stringer Bell]

You can download "War With God" from www.sumish.com by the way

QS, you seen the Cage DVD yet? I'm downloading it now :D:D

[Flow (Ice Cold) 3000]

lol you love that website.

I got it off Frostwire... it's no Ether, but it's alright.

[Sheik Mohammed al-Dub]

Sup homies. What's the haps?

I have a request. I'd like for all y'all dudes who know about this rap game to PM me the titles of some hot songs (and the names of the artists) so I can build up a pimp playlist for my hot parties. The hottest hip-hop singles, the best deep cuts from albums, the hottest shit out there, from all the way back to the beginning to what just got leaked on the Internet.

I'd have you post it here, but that's going to be difficult for me to keep track of, but PMs should be simple.

Thanking you in advance for your prompt attention in this matter,

Jacob

[Ricky]

:wtf:

Are you joking?

[Simon]

Let him have his moment. I'm sure he's basking in whatever glory he's created for himself in his head, it'll pass.

[Hack]

So angry.

[Stringer Bell]

Good god, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is without a doubt top 5 material for me. which means Wu would have 2 out of the 5 spots locked... crazy.

Been listening to that Camp Lo album tonight, Uptown Saturday Night. Absolutely classic material, I hope I can find it used sometime.

[Sheik Mohammed al-Dub]

Let him have his moment. I'm sure he's basking in whatever glory he's created for himself in his head, it'll pass.
Yeah, that's it exactly, you fucking genius.

[Sheik Mohammed al-Dub]

And furthermore, I don't even see the point of your post. You're just trying to be a smug prick. I'd figure by now you'd be past trying to get over on me, but whatever. I like rap singles, but I don't know anything about them. Why not ask the people who listen to them.

[Dan The Man]

Because you're... uh... basking in... some sort of glory?... the glory of... uh... some moment?

Seriously, I don't think I could understand Simon's post less.

[Sheik Mohammed al-Dub]

Well, because I'm M-Dub. No doubt I was making fun of people because I was bored. And because I'm so cute, I was banging my balled up fists on the keyboard because all these people on here just remind me of the people in my real life, upon whom I cannot vent my frustrations, because I'm not as hard as I act here. Naturally.

Regardless of the fact that for the last two years I haven't done anything remotely like the M-Dub of old. But Simon never liked that guy, always bitched about his attitude, and always took pleasure in the bannings he took. Probably because he's cute, and acts hard on a message board to make up for the fact that no one in his real life takes him seriously.

[Dan The Man]

Well I understand all that. It's just that Simon's post doesn't seem to relate to yours in any way. I mean, I make as many blatant attack posts as anyone, but you have to tie them in to what was posted. Or else it just comes across as unintelligible and stupid. Like Simon's post.

[Ricky]

Enough of that.

Anyone tell me what the Kanye/Paul Wall song is?

[TRO]

If you want, Dub, I can send you some rap via yousendit on Monday... I have a few tracks I was going to send Hack anyways; one more download couldn't hurt... Probably more like "deep cuts from albums" than hot singles, but whatever...

[Stringer Bell]

Ricky, it's "Drive Slow" from Kanye's Late Registration

[Raw Is Jonathan]

this thread is too slow!!! before it kept me up to date with all info I needed, now I'm a poor man for info!!!

Check me out with the shitty posting style.

Anyway, seen there is new Roots and Masta Killa coming out soon. :yes: :yes: I've fallen off majorly in getting new music lately and am just listening to the same iPod shit day after day...

I'm keen to know, in the year 2006, who you all really rate and personally listen to.

Ignorance is me when it comes to hip hop, but I still love it, and always appreciate suggestions, recommendations, etc.

:heart:

[Stringer Bell]

Yeah, this thread has died down a lot...

Fucking right, Roots and Masta Killa are two of my most anticipated albums of the rest of the year.

Trust me, if you're looking out for those two albums, you're far from ignorant when it comes to hip-hop... those are both two of the most promising albums this year.

I'm also anticipating Saigon's debut, executive produced by Just Blaze. Also, Lupe Fiasco's final LP should be promising. A lot of people are excited about the new MF Grimm album, which is the first triple-album ever in rap.

J Dilla's The Shining is coming in August. I feel almost guilty for downloading the advance copy, but it's really smooth, incredible stuff. :heart: Dilla

As for stuff that's already dropped, I listed some stuff last time you asked, but just to expand... Mr. Lif's album has been getting a lot of plays from me. It's quality stuff, beginning to end.

Busta's album is good stuff and has gotten very impressive reviews from just about everyone (mainstream and underground heads alike), but I'm honestly becoming a little tired of most of it. The J Dilla song is amazing, though.

[Raw Is Jonathan]

:yes: liking your enthusiasm.

Lupe is not being overhyped then? Will have to pick that up and check it out.

Really liked Donuts so will be checking Shining out for sure!

[Stringer Bell]

Nah, Lupe's talented as hell. Apparently the final version of the album is going to be pretty different from the leaked version, but it's gonna be a dope ass album regardless. He's probably the most talented out of any well known emcee to debut this year... he spits some really impressive stuff.

[Hack]

Buck, check out Dabrye's Two/Three. I love it. It is Aphex Twin meets Madlib and includes guest work from MF Doom, Dilla, Wildchild, Beans and some other great emcees.

[rAbId-RaBiD]

Dabrye's Two/Three is real good. I heard that from a friend, and I definitely need to pick it up.

[Stringer Bell]

Will do.. Big R over at sumish was praising it so I've been meaning to give it a listen. Is it out in stores? Sounds like really good stuff.

[TRO]

I've been listening to Mr. Lif, Sandpeople, One Be Lo, MF Doom, and Abstract Rude. I might get the new MF Grimm and Raekwon. Looking forward to Gutterfly from Lifesavas and Feedback from J-5.

[skulldice]

Anyone listen to Necro & PL Records or Cormega?

[Stringer Bell]

Not a big Necro fan... he's pretty one dimensional and boring to me. Apparently, he backs up a lot of the shit he talks though. But yeah, he's a dope producer.. not big into his rapping though.

Cormega's great.

[skulldice]

Not a big Necro fan... he's pretty one dimensional and boring to me. Apparently, he backs up a lot of the shit he talks though. But yeah, he's a dope producer.. not big into his rapping though.

Cormega's great.

I agree on Necro being one-dimensional when it comes to albums like Sexorcist and Gory Days. But Pre-Fix, imo, is his his true rap album. He's crazy on some of the songs on there. One of the only rappers I can't mimic to perfection.

Glad to see someone enjoys my 2 favorite rappers. What's your fav Mega and Necro album?

[Stringer Bell]

Definitely The Realness and True Meaning for Cormega. He's one guy who you can't ever accuse of switching his style for sales, he always brings it raw, trying to make quality music. Way too many people sleep on him, for as consistent as he is... he doesn't have one bad, or even mediocre LP.

As for Necro, it just seems like he has the same agenda on every single song. Even on some concept shit like The Sexorcist, it's still the all-too familiar style we've all heard 100 times before. But anyway, my favorite album would either be Gory Days or Pre-Fix For Death, mainly because of the production. His beats on the Non Phixion album are dope too.

You should check out Cage, who in my opinion is a much better white rapper than Necro. He started off on some Necro shit, the whole crazy/psycho whiteboy shit, but now he's matured and sobered up, and developed his style into something to be reckoned with in the underground. He's got a lot to say...

For all I know you might already be familiar with Cage, but since you dig Necro definitely check out his Movies For the Blind album. In my opinion he does everything Necro tries to do, but better, on that CD.

[skulldice]

good lookin out..I will check out Cage

[skulldice]

I listened to a few songs from that album you mentioned.. I still like Necro a lot more.

Cage kinda just sounds like a slightly more rugged Eminem. It's alright though, but I like Necros grittiness.

Also sorry about double post, it's not letting me edit.

[Stringer Bell]

Which songs you download? "Escape To 88", "Too Much", and "Agent Orange" are essential.. get "Ballad of Worms" too. And those are just from that album, minus the last one. His latest, Hell's Winter, is on some whole other shit.

[skulldice]

Too much is my favorite so far yeah.. Gonna look for those other 3.

--Damn you're right man, haha, these are off the hook.

[Stringer Bell]

:yes: Glad you liked em... since you like Necro, you'll probably like "A Suicidal Faliure" and "The Soundtrack" from Movies For the Blind as well.

[Stringer Bell]

I've been sticking to the ol' classics lately...

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000000ZT1.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpghttp://ec3.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000000ZSY.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpghttp://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000007NZV.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpghttp://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000000OV7.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpghttp://ec3.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00000JG2X.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpghttp://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002B0S.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_V65929355_.jpghttp ://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002HFU.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpghttp://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000003R65.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpghttp://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0000024K3.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

What you guys been listening to?

[Deka]

Still alot of Big Daddy Kane, Rob Base, Run DMC, and Afrika Bambaataa.

Still listening to the T.I. album, too. Can't get enough of that.

Not really relevant I guess, but I've been listening to alot of Daddy Yankee and Don Omar, as well.

[spanish announce table]

My Top 10 (1996-2006)

1. Outkast - Aquemini (1998)
2. Canibus - Rip the Jacker (2003)
3. Wu-Tang - Forever (1997)
4. Ghostface - Supreme Clientele (2000)
5. Canibus - Mic Club (2002)
6. Killah Priest - Heavy Mental (1998)
7. Outkast - ATLiens (1996)
8. Ghostface - Ironman (1996)
9. Big Punisher - Capital Punishment (1998)
10. Scarface - The Fix (2002)

Honorable mention:
DMX - Its Dark & Hell is Hot (1998)
Masta Killa - No Said Date (2004)
The Roots - Things Fall Apart (2000)
Immortal Technique - Revolutionary Vol. 2 (2003)
Jedi Mind Tricks - Violent by Design (2001)

[Stringer Bell]

Working on a list now..

[Stringer Bell]

No order..

Ghostface - Supreme Clientele (2000)
Nas - It Was Written (96)
Outkast - Aquemini (98)
Outkast - ATLiens (96)
The Fugees - The Score (96)
De La Soul - Stakes Is High (96)
Gang Starr - Moment of Truth (98)
Mobb Deep - Hell on Earth (96)
Wu-Tang - Wu-Tang Forever (97)
The Roots - Illadelph Halflife (96)

Honorable Mentions

Masta Ace - Disposable Arts (2001)
Common - One Day It'll All Make Sense (97)
Common - Like Water For Chocolate (2000)
2pac - Makaveli: The 7 Day Theory (96)
2pac - All Eyez On Me (96)
Ghostface - Ironman (96)
Big Pun - Capital Punishment (98)
DJ Shadow - Entroducing (96)
Cage - Hell's Winter (2005)
Madvillain - Madvillainy (2004)
Pharoahe Monch - Internal Affairs (99)
Mos Def and Talib Kweli - Black Star (98)
Jay-Z - The Blueprint (2001)


Shit, Camp Lo's Uptown Saturday Night would be in there also.

[QuietStorm]

I own Uptown Saturday Night. It's good shit.

[Fro]

My Top 10 (1996-2006)
6. Killah Priest - Heavy Mental (1998)

I'm a big Wu fan but I've never checked this one out. Guess I should cop it.

What is this, just top ten since 96? Well, I'm too lazy to check when albums were released, so here's my loose top ten of all time:

Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt
Jay-Z - The Blueprint
Ghostface Killah - Ironman
Dr. Dre - 2001
Nas - Illmatic
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu
Outkast - ATLiens
Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die
A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
Redman - Muddy Waters

Should be on the list too:

Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
GZA - Liquid Swords
NWA - Straight Outta Compton
Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death
Black Star - Black Star
Cypress Hill - Temples of Boom
A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory

[Stringer Bell]

Nice list Fro.. you can bet that Enter The 36, Cuban Linx, Liquid Swords, Illmatic, Reasonable Doubt, the ATCQ albums, and others would've made my all-time list.

Dope question though SAT... it's interesting looking back and trying to pick my favorites. Takes me right back to my first days as a hip-hop fan..

[Hack]

When I try to come up with a top 10, it's hard for me to trim the list down to 10. I have a definate top 6, though, so I'll post that ...

My Top 6:

http://g-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/b9/a6/0438225b9da0b6ebdbbcb010._AA240_.L.jpg

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http://g-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/9a/f6/e808b340dca06f4f34276010.L.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000063Y38.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

The other albums up there are Madvillainy, Forever, Liquid Swords, Deltron 3030, College Dropout, The Blueprint and a few others.

[Hack]

On a different note, if any hip-hop heads haven't heard Since I Left You by the Avalanches, give it a listen. It's the album you always wanted the Dust Brothers to make.

[Stringer Bell]

Sounds interesting.. I always liked the Dust Brothers work, especially on Paul's Botique.

Congrats on almost 3,000... your posting habits are the epitome of quality over quantity, which is mighty rare on message boards.

[Hack]

Wow. Thanks, dude. I didn't even notice the post total. You would likely enjoy Since I Left You. You can hear the Avalances by watching their videos on YouTube if nothing else.

[TRO]

Sending those signals, sending those signals, sending those signals, those two digital signals...


My favorite album by far is Blazing Arrow by Blackalicious; something about the tone of the music just speaks to me in a way that other hip hop doesn't. Xcel switches from funk beats to Harry Nilsson samples to live instruments, and the arrangements produced by Cut Chemist, DJ Shadow, Ben Harper, ?uestlove, etc. fit seamlessly into the larger sound. Charlie 2na, Babu and Rakaa-Iriscience, and every Quannum MC are also featured, but Gift of Gab is basically unstoppable on this one, switching up styles for each track. And his lyrics are all positive, uplifting, self-deprecating, and everything that Clearchannel rap is not.

After that, Liquid Swords, Endtroducing, The Chronic, and some of the other usual suspects. But for me, Blazing Arrow is somehow greater than the sum of its parts, or something.

[Hack]

Endtroducing is on the top of my list if we're counting trip-hop, but that seems different enough to be in its own conversation. Endtroducing and The Private Press are both classics.

I won't be listening to much hip-hop next week ... Thom Yorke's solo album, bitches!

[Stringer Bell]

I was talking strictly 1996-2006 for my list just to clarify.. it'd be much different if it were an all-time list.

[MervKlitschko]

Which songs you download? "Escape To 88", "Too Much", and "Agent Orange" are essential.. get "Ballad of Worms" too. And those are just from that album, minus the last one. His latest, Hell's Winter, is on some whole other shit.

The Best song off of Hell's Winter is The Death of Chris Palko, the second half is just craaaazy.

[skulldice]

Here's my top 10 in no order:

Necro - Pre-Fix For Death
Cormega - The Realness
2pac - All Eyez on Me
Dr. Dre - The Chronic
Snoop Dogg - Doggy Style
Wu Tang - Wu Tang Forever
2pac - Makaveli Tapes
Notorious BIG - Life After Death
Necro - Gory Days
Eminem - Slim Shady LP

[MervKlitschko]

My Top 13 of the last 10-15 years in no order:

Book of Human Languages - Aceyalone
All Balls Don't Bounce- Aceyalone
Revolutionary Volume 2 - Immortal
Rip The Jacker - Canibus
Like Water for Chocolate - Common
Southernunderground - Cunninlynguists
muddy waters - Redman
Violent By Design - Jedi Mind Tricks
Funcrusher Plus - Company Flow
Tical - Method Man
To Whom it May Concern - Freestyle Fellowship
Ready to Die - Biggie
ELE - Busta Rhymes

[TRO]

I forgot Three Feet High and Rising on my list, although I guess we were talking about more recent releases, huh. Anyone else prefer Three Feet to De La Soul is Dead? I mean, they're both great albums, I just like the first De La better; it's more daisier.

[Fro]

I like Stakes is High.

[Stringer Bell]

MervKlitschko, nice list... but Tical instead of Liquid Swords, Cuban Linx, or 36 Chambers? That's criminal :p Also, I'd personally have to give it to Innercity Griots from the Freestyle Fellowship... but that's just me. EDIT: Downloading To Whom It May Concern now. I haven't heard this in forever, and honestly don't know if I've ever heard it in full.

Definitely TRO.. they're both fantastic albums, but 3 Feet broke SO much ground in hip-hop (from sampling to the very first skits), so it gets the nod. It's a perfect album, I would say. Stakes is High is dope too Fro.

Ashamed to admit it, but I've only heard bits and pieces of Buhloone Mindstate. How does it rank up to the first 2? I almost bought it new over the weekend, but opted for a cheaper, used copy of Digable Planets' Blowout Comb.

Anyway, I'll try to throw together a Top 20 or so of all time list this week. You guys know how seriously I take my rap music, so I wanna come up with a thorough, as-close-to-definitive-as-possible list.

[Flow (Ice Cold) 3000]

I don't listen to that much rap, most of the ones I would have listed have been

See:

Jigga - Blueprint
Biggie - Ready to Die
Biggie - Life After Death
Pac - 7 Day Theory
Pac - All Eyez On Me
Fugees - The Score
Common - Like Water For Chocolate
Scarface - The Fix
GZA - Liquid Swords
Dre - The Chronic
Snoop - Doggystyle
Nas - Illmatic
Nas - It Was Written

I think I'd probably throw in

The Streets - Original Pirate Material - probably not considered "hip-hop/rap", though.
Dead Prez - Let's Get Free
2Pac - Me Against the World
LL Cool J - Radio

I considered Stillmatic just for One Mic, Ether and Got Yourself a Gun... but maybe not on an 'all time' list.

[Stringer Bell]

That's a pretty fine list for not being a big rap fan. I can't live without my radio!

[virms]

I don't listen to that much rap, most of the ones I would have listed have been

See:

Jigga - Blueprint
Biggie - Ready to Die
Biggie - Life After Death
Pac - 7 Day Theory
Pac - All Eyez On Me
Fugees - The Score
Common - Like Water For Chocolate
Scarface - The Fix
GZA - Liquid Swords
Dre - The Chronic
Snoop - Doggystyle
Nas - Illmatic
Nas - It Was Written

I think I'd probably throw in

The Streets - Original Pirate Material - probably not considered "hip-hop/rap", though.
Dead Prez - Let's Get Free
2Pac - Me Against the World
LL Cool J - Radio

I considered Stillmatic just for One Mic, Ether and Got Yourself a Gun... but maybe not on an 'all time' list.

Seriously...you gotta throw Dre 2001 in there. It is one of the best rap albums ever!

[Flow (Ice Cold) 3000]

I loved 2001.

The difference with 2001 and all the albums I listed is that I still skip a few tracks on it, even though I love it I think it just misses out for that reason :shrug:

Great album though.

[Tainted Eclipse]

Endtroducing is probably my favorite album ever.

[Stringer Bell]

2001 is insanely overrated in my eyes. It's a good album.. nah, it's a great album, but it's far from perfect, and wasn't nearly as groundbreaking as the first.

[Fro]

Disregarding when they were released, I'd have to say 2001 > The Chronic. Don't get me wrong, I'm comparing two 10/10 classics, but I think both the beats and rhymes were slightly tighter on the second go round. The groundbreaking aspect is definitely one to consider, and no one can deny that The Chronic was one of the (if not the) most groundbreaking and influential hip hop albums of all time, but just from the musical side, 2001 is higher up on my list.

Overrated? To each his own, but to me that's a perfect album. Every beat is so perfectly crafted that it still blows my mind they're all on one disc.

[Stringer Bell]

I can't agree there. I'd give 2001 something like 8.5, maybe 9 out of 10.

I absolutely loved it when it first came out, but I don't think it's aged very well over time. I'd feel dirty giving it a 10/10 next to other albums that I consider to be perfect..

[Suno]

2001 is a perfectly produced hip-hop album, beat for beat its possibly the best hip hop album ever, dont see how you can say it hasnt aged well, shits on anything that will be realeased this year.

[Stringer Bell]

It shits on anything that will be released this year? That's certainly a matter of opinion...

I enjoy J Dilla's beats on Donuts more than those on 2001, and that came out this year. 2001 had some really nice beats, but I'd hardly say it's the best ever. And some of the lyrics are downright mediocre.

I don't think it has aged well, at all. When I first heard that album, I used to go crazy over it. I thought it was incredible. Looking back now, it's not nearly as impactful as the original, and some of the stuff on there flat-out bores me.

That said, it's still a fantastic album.

[skulldice]

I agree, looking back it's a very overrated album. I liked the original Chronic better, and I'd even argue the Marshall Mathers LP had better production and lyrics. I also prefer Doggy Style to 2001 as far as those categories go.

[skulldice]

Here's my top 10 in no order:

Necro - Pre-Fix For Death
Cormega - The Realness
2pac - All Eyez on Me
Dr. Dre - The Chronic
Snoop Dogg - Doggy Style
Wu Tang - Wu Tang Forever
2pac - Makaveli Tapes
Notorious BIG - Life After Death
Necro - Gory Days
Eminem - Slim Shady LP

I just remembered RZA - Birth of a Prince. Love that album. I'd replace Gory Days with that.

[Stringer Bell]

I'm still not understanding the absence of 36 Chambers, Liquid Swords, and Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, but I will just assume you have not heard those albums :)

[skulldice]

Honestly I didn't like 36 Chambers as much as Wu Forever. I guess it's just personal taste, but it's definitely top 25. Like I said before I hate doing top 10 but I need to get my post count up somehow :)

Liquid Swords I have heard, but probably not enough. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx I will have to check out. My top 10 is stuff I've listened to over and over and grown accustomed to.

[Restiform]

I've been wanting to check out Donuts, been hearing good things about it.

So far this year, some of my favorites have been:

Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
MF Doom - Special Herbs: The Boxset, Vol. 0-9


The new Ghostface is nice. Jellyfish and Be Easy are probably my two favorite tracks. It seems like theres too many skits involved, but overall they werent bad at all. My favorite Ghost album is still Pretty Toney, but this isn't too far behind.

Special Herbs is fantastic. Doom is one of my favorite producers. I don't own any of the other Special Herbs volumes, so I was glad to hear the King Geedorah (which, imo, is Doom's best effort) beats. Only bad thing about the boxset really is that the tracklist on the inside is all fucked up. Not that big a deal though.

[Flow (Ice Cold) 3000]

I listened to a few albums while cruising around til 3:30am and I love 2001 more than ever, didn't realise how much I loved some of the songs on it, and obviously the production is fucking amazing.

One thing Chronic has over it for me is classic songs... don't get me wrong Still D.R.E is fantastic but I don't think I'd call any individual song on the album a classic song, whereas Chronic had Nuthin' but a G Thang and Fuck Wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin').

For the number of quality songs to bump though there probably are more on 2001. There's something really oldschool and it doesn't feel as samey as 2001 does in places, for me anyway.

It's weird... I'd rather listen to 2001 but the Chronic is better :\

[Stringer Bell]

I've been wanting to check out Donuts, been hearing good things about it.

So far this year, some of my favorites have been:

Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
MF Doom - Special Herbs: The Boxset, Vol. 0-9


The new Ghostface is nice. Jellyfish and Be Easy are probably my two favorite tracks. It seems like theres too many skits involved, but overall they werent bad at all. My favorite Ghost album is still Pretty Toney, but this isn't too far behind.

Special Herbs is fantastic. Doom is one of my favorite producers. I don't own any of the other Special Herbs volumes, so I was glad to hear the King Geedorah (which, imo, is Doom's best effort) beats. Only bad thing about the boxset really is that the tracklist on the inside is all fucked up. Not that big a deal though.

Welcome to the boards, you seem to have a nice taste in hip-hop.

Pretty Toney over Supreme Clientele and Ironman? Whatever floats your boat, bro...

I like Special Herbs a lot too. The tracklist is missed up, huh? I thought it was a little off, I had one or two of the seperate Special Herbs mixes and things seemed a little different.

I just downloaded King Geedorah over the weekend, heard so much good stuff about it. Haven't listened to it very thoroughly, though.

[Hack]

:heart: :headbang: King Geedorah :headbang: :heart:

[Restiform]

Welcome to the boards, you seem to have a nice taste in hip-hop.

Pretty Toney over Supreme Clientele and Ironman? Whatever floats your boat, bro...

I like Special Herbs a lot too. The tracklist is missed up, huh? I thought it was a little off, I had one or two of the seperate Special Herbs mixes and things seemed a little different.

I just downloaded King Geedorah over the weekend, heard so much good stuff about it. Haven't listened to it very thoroughly, though.

Thanks man.

Haha, yeah, Pretty Toney's my favorite Ghost album. Supreme Clientele was great, but for some reason PTA just does more for me I guess, I dunno. Haven't heard Ironman yet, though.

[virms]

Lots of good points on 2001. I myself love The Chronic and 2001 almost equally. I think I just give the nudge to 2001 cause it is really the first rap album I seen where even people who hated rap was like...ok I like this album. I am talking about people who said they would rather die than admitting to liking rap. It had that much impact. That and for me the album is pretty well non-stop. Some of the skits are hit an miss, but meh...

Hell my dad even liked "Let's Get High" and he is a 50 year old redneck that doesn't think music exists outside Skynard, Cash, and Willie.


On a random note...my interest is peaked on Donut. Any track suggestions Buck?

[Fro]

Ironman = Ghost's best album hands down. I even prefer it to Cuban Linx, though most would disagree.

[Stringer Bell]

On a random note...my interest is peaked on Donut. Any track suggestions Buck?


Well, first of all, it's an entirely instrumental album, so keep that in mind. Lots of the beats are very short and weren't necessarily crafted to be rapped over (though Ghostface, The Roots, and others have done so). Still, it's a fantastic album, and one of the best showcases of Jay Dee's immesurable talent as a producer. Some of the stuff he does on that album still blows my mind, and I've been listening to it since February.

Go for "Workinonit", "The Diff'rence", "Time: The Donut of the Heart", "Don't Cry", "Dilla Says Go"... hell, every single track on the album is outstanding. I'd say just grab a couple and if you enjoy those, chances are you'll enjoy the album.

He's got another project coming out in August, The Shining, which he raps on as well as MC's like Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch, and Common. Definitely keep an eye out for that one if it sounds interesting.


Hell my dad even liked "Let's Get High" and he is a 50 year old redneck that doesn't think music exists outside Skynard, Cash, and Willie.

I got a chuckle out of that..

[Hack]

Tracks from Donuts to download?

"Workinonit," "The Time: Donuts of the Heart," "Glazed" and "Lightworks."

And I agree about Ironman. Ghostface and Raekwon did the whole gangster Wu-Tang thing to death pretty quick. Everything after Ironman seems a tad lame to me. And I own Supreme, so it isn't like I haven't heard Ghost's other stuff.

After the solo debuts by all of those guys, there is a definate drop in quality. I think so, at least.

[Hack]

I'll talk MF Doom, J-Dilla and Wu-Tang with you bitches all night.

[Stringer Bell]

After the solo debuts by all of those guys, there is a definate drop in quality. I think so, at least.


Most definitely, for everyone but Ghost in my opinion. Supreme Clientele was damn near perfect, and did huge amounts for the NY hip-hop sound. Kanye's admitted to molding his production style after that album. I absolutely love it, and I don't think anything better has come from the Wu-Tang camp since.

[Hack]

I don't think anything better has come from the Wu-Tang camp since.


That is probably true. Not a ton of legit competition, though.

Anyone else remember that song "I'll Hit 'Em High" from Space Jam? Meth's verse is definately one of Wu-Tang's greatest moments.

[Stringer Bell]

Yeah, who else was on there? Coolio, LL Cool J... B-Real? That song was the shit.

[Hack]

That song seriously wasn't that bad for, y'know, being what it was. That song , Charles Barkley and Bill Murray make Space Jam pretty much the best thing ever.

[Fro]

I don't think anything better has come from the Wu-Tang camp since.
Agreed, with the one possible exception of GZA's Grandmasters. Both are on the same level in my book, but if I had to choose I would indeed go with Supreme Clientele just cuz Ghost can switch up his flows so well and do some crazy shit on the mic. But yea, I'm a big fan of Grandmasters.

[Hack]

Thinking about all those Wu-Tang releases that aren't just 100% fucking awesome makes you realize how incredible those guys were for a few years there.

[Stringer Bell]

Definitely, that's why I love them.

36 Chambers, Cuban Linx, Liquid Swords, Return to the 36 Chambers, Ironman, and Supreme Clientele are some of my favorite albums ever, especially the first three.

Then you've got the Gravediggaz debut if you count that... so much classic material.

[Hack]

Definitely, that's why I love them.

36 Chambers, Cuban Linx, Liquid Swords, Return to the 36 Chambers, Ironman, and Supreme Clientele are some of my favorite albums ever, especially the first three.

Then you've got the Gravediggaz debut if you count that... so much classic material.


I know Meth got lame pretty quick, but Tical belongs in that group. It's top-heavy, but really solid.

[skulldice]

I listened to a few albums while cruising around til 3:30am and I love 2001 more than ever, didn't realise how much I loved some of the songs on it, and obviously the production is fucking amazing.

Agree.. Still DRE is the ULTIMATE cruising around song

[Stringer Bell]

It probably should.. if there's one other album that does belong, that's the one.

Hopefully Method's 4:21 is a breath of fresh air. The single with Lauryn Hill is a nice little track, and he comes through with a lot of meaningful lyrics. It's not going to take a whole lot to top his last album, though.

[Hack]

I'm done with Meth. I'll always love the old stuff, but I don't think I could take anything he does now very seriously.

[Morrison]

Yeah, who else was on there? Coolio, LL Cool J... B-Real? That song was the shit.
Also had Busta Rhymes. Got that shit on my iPod.

Just listened to Return to the 36 Chambers while driving around today. Christ, I miss ODB.

[Fro]

I'm done with Meth. I'll always love the old stuff, but I don't think I could take anything he does now very seriously.


Tical: 2000 wasn't half bad. In fact, I remember a time when I was bumpin that for a while. But yea, that last album was laughably terrible. What's my point? I guess that in my book he's 2/3 in terms of making quality albums, so despite how much he embarassed himself last time around, I still believe he can put out another solid disc.

[Restiform]

On the topic of Wu-Tang, I also really enjoyed Masta Killa's No Said Date. A good, solid hip-hop album. Seems a bit underrated, around where I'm from at least.

[Stringer Bell]

Yeah, No Said Date was a really good album. I'm looking forward to his next one coming in August, Bronze Nazareth has been cooking up all sorts of hot beats.

Return to the 36 is certainly something of beauty...

"I wanna see blood... I don't care if it's period blood, or bustin your fuckin' head.. I want bloooood!!!!!"

:D