The Intelligent Hip Hop/ Rap Discussion Thread

[Imako]

Unfortunately, my musical tastes in this department are sorely lacking. I'm not sure if Tyler the Creator and OFWGKTA count as "intelligent" hip hop.

I did love Tech N9ne's collab with Chino Moreno and Stephen Carpenter though. Blew me away.

YouTube

https://youtu.be/oqLlVxhUYQE

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

EDIT: I totally forgot Saul Williams. He basically blends slam poetry with hip hop and is one of the most well-versed rappers I know.

YouTube

https://youtu.be/h_8oAPYWR34

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

[sa547]

Originally Posted by LifeILL

My recent favorite Japanese Hip-Hop songs (in no particular order)

Thanks for bringing them up -- I want something very different from the usual tripe that's been being played too much on MTV and radio in my country.

In my mother tongue (Tagalog), Gloc-9 is the exception for me, however, as he's currently the top dog in the neighborhood (since the demise of hip-hop pioneer Francis Magalona).

Hinahanap ng Puso (What the Heart Seeks):

Bagsakan (Showdown, Gloc-9 in glasses, with Chito Miranda (Parokya ni Edgar) and the late Francis M.):

[blakstealth]

Just downloaded BIG K.R.I.T's 4Eva N A Day mixtape.

[Dilla]

Originally Posted by blakstealth

Just downloaded BIG K.R.I.T's 4Eva N A Day mixtape.

[LifeILL]

Originally Posted by sa547

Thanks for bringing them up -- I want something very different from the usual tripe that's been being played too much on MTV and radio in my country.


Bagsakan (Showdown, Gloc-9 in glasses, with Chito Miranda (Parokya ni Edgar) and the late Francis M.):

Yeah since this is a Japanese anime website it's kind of weird no one talks about Japanese Hip-Hop since they always have good beats and good rhymes.


Anyways, that song is tight, you can tell those guys know Hip-Hop.

[Elo the Blue]

Originally Posted by blakstealth

Just downloaded BIG K.R.I.T's 4Eva N A Day mixtape.

Amazing, ain't it?

[blakstealth]

I like it; it's pretty decent.

[Elo the Blue]

Originally Posted by blakstealth

I like it; it's pretty decent.

I loved it.

On other side of the hip hop spectrum, Odd Future's second collaborative album came out today. As part of it, they came out with this supposedly spur-of-the-moment music video for the final track of the album (featuring Earl):

[SilentKnight]

Originally Posted by Imako

Unfortunately, my musical tastes in this department are sorely lacking. I'm not sure if Tyler the Creator and OFWGKTA count as "intelligent" hip hop.

I did love Tech N9ne's collab with Chino Moreno and Stephen Carpenter though. Blew me away.

YouTube

https://youtu.be/oqLlVxhUYQE

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

EDIT: I totally forgot Saul Williams. He basically blends slam poetry with hip hop and is one of the most well-versed rappers I know.

YouTube

https://youtu.be/h_8oAPYWR34

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

Yes Odd Future technically counts as "intelligent" hip hop. Darker and more towards the horrorcore side of things, but noticeable effort is place in lyricism and various other aspects.

I used the term "intelligent" very loosely when creating this thread because hip-hop and rap were not looked upon very fondly by the anime community at the time. But as with all things, share some quality content and let the listeners decide for themselves and perspectives will change over time.

[sa547]

Of late, am a bit curious about Mos Def (because last time I heard there were some positive reviews about his work), and I'll want some recommended tracks from him to listen on. Will be happy if there are any.

[blakstealth]

Any Based God listeners in here? :P

[Dilla]

Lil' B is the greatest troll in music ever. If you don't take him seriously, he's the best thing since ODB.

HAHAHAHAHAHAH. . .

[Dilla]

Originally Posted by sa547

Of late, am a bit curious about Mos Def (because last time I heard there were some positive reviews about his work), and I'll want some recommended tracks from him to listen on. Will be happy if there are any.

Try his first album (Black on Both Sides) and his last album (The Estatic). Personally, I prefer his tag team partner Talib Kweli.

[sa547]

Thanks, bro. Will pick them up. Got pretty curious about him ever since hearing his track on the Tokyo Drift soundtrack.

[Elo the Blue]

Originally Posted by sa547

Thanks, bro. Will pick them up. Got pretty curious about him ever since hearing his track on the Tokyo Drift soundtrack.

Like Dilla said, BOBS and The Ecstatic are probably the best two albums to start with. His collaborative debut album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star is also amazing. "The New Danger" and "True Magic" don't measure up to his other albums, but there are quite a few gems on both of them.

Outside of tracks on the five aforementioned albums, my favorite songs of his include:

"Travellin' Man"
"Life Is Good"
"Next Universe"
"Summertime"
"Jam On It"
"Brooklyn (Original)"


He's done a lot in his career, so I'd advise checking out his discography. As you can probably tell, Mos is my favorite artist.

[sa547]

@Dilla @Elo: again, thanks for the recommends; the tracks will make my tomorrow's ride to the beach pleasurable (about three to six hours on the road with an old friend and his family).

[Kizoku Keenan]

any del the funky homosapien fans out there? If so whats your favourite track by the funky one?

[Dilla]

Originally Posted by Kizoku Keenan

any del the funky homosapien fans out there? If so whats your favourite track by the funky one?

Sometimes I Gotta Get Stupid and Proto Culture

[Kizoku Keenan]

Originally Posted by Dilla

Sometimes I Gotta Get Stupid and Proto Culture

great choice. I'm a big fan of the track time is to expensive in fact I just love that whole friggin album - both sides of the brain is easily his best album in my album also a notable track is if you must. Both songs are linked below.

Del the funky homosapien - Time is to expensive

Del the funky homosapien - If you must

[Elo the Blue]

"Proto Culture" is one of my favorite hip hop songs.

On another note, how underrated is Pharoahe Monch? Outside of his verse on "Oh No" with Mos and Nate Dogg and the two tracks he was in on "Soundbombing II", I hadn't really listened to him for the longest time. I finally listened his debut solo album, "Internal Affairs", a few weeks ago, and I loved it.