ThePumpkins.net

So we talk about alot of music on this site but rarely do I see alot of hip hop and rap discussion going on. So I decided to make a thread for that specific reason! I know Don likes Public Enemy but what about the rest of you? Do you guys dig any hip hop or rap? What are some of your favorite artists/albums/songs in the genres?

Let's discuss and appreciate a genre that doesn't get enough of either on this site!

Some of my all time favorite albums in the genres are:

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (this one almost puts every other hip hop album to shame)
Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions to Hold Us Back/Fear of a Black Planet
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers)
Nas - Illmatic
Lauryn Hill - Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (sort of neo-soul but has rap elements)
Eminem - Marshall Mathers LP (his first 3 albums are all very solid really)

Of course I'm a big fan of the genre staples but hey, they're staples for a reason!

Concerning this year, a few hip hop albums have impressed me and they are:

El-P - Cancer 4 Cure: The story told within this one is awesome but gritty and violent at the same time. The beats are futuristic and kickass in typical El P fashion. A few of the hooks are iffy but overall a great listen!


Death Grips - The Money Store: If you haven't heard this one, you gotta ASAP. It's a one of a kind sound and deserves all the hype it got. The lyrics may be a little TOO gruesome for some.


Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music: This is probably my favorite hip hop album this year. El-P produced this one so the beats kick ass and their chemistry together is impecable. Killer Mike's rapping style is very aggressive and straightforward. Has alot of tough guy bravado and funny stories in this album. Sad ones in there as well. This is the one I keep coming back to. Just a kickass album!

KJ, youreally impress me sometimes with how much different music yhou keep up with, The only person I can compare you to is, well, me.

I couldn't get into the Death Grips album. Kanye's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"is my favorite hip-hop album of al time.

Old-school for DON.
There's a big German project called "Die Fantastischen Vier" and all of their albums from the 90s are great.
I also dig the pioneers (Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five) and gen-x era gangster rap (Ice-T; Public Enemy).
But I don't feel like recent rap music is any good...but maybe that's just me.

ryon wrote:
Haha, thanks Ryon. Probably has alot to do with the fact that I've been obsessively listening to music since I was 14. (Since I discovered MCIS really. That album taught me what music could be and what it could achieve)

Death Grips took awhile to click, but man that album is addicting.
So how does Kanye's debut album (College Dropout) compare to MBDTF for you? I personally prefer the debut from the few times I've heard the albums.

@Don: I'll have to check out that German project. Gen-X rap is great stuff though.
You should check out some of the albums from this year I mentioned to see if you like them. I could see you possibly digging El-P's stuff. Fairly experimental and always interesting.

So are any of you guys Beastie Boys fans?
They've made some of my favorite songs and albums period.

Here's an exampel for Die Fantastischen Vier, this actually is one of my favourites with great lyrics about how the world's going downhill these days.



and this is a more uplifiting, older tune about getting stoned on the beach

DON wrote:
Ha, those weren't half bad for stuff I couldn't understand.

I caught a few words here and there though. I especially like the second one, the video was awesome!
Someone should make an electronic & trip-hop appreciation thread, there's a lot of great stuff in those genres too.

The only Hip-Hop group I have been able to get into is "Doomtree".

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is a great album.

Dorovo wrote:
Yes! Too bad she has only come out with one solo album, but she didn't like the way fame/record label treated her, (so instead of killing herself) she dropped out of the public eye and did things her way. I respect her alot for that. I have heard she may be planning on another album sometime soon though.

Anyone know the Fugees rendition of "Killing Me Softly"? Man, I hate that song it makes me nauseous and sad

Here's some of my favorite hip hop

venison wrote:
^Haha, that's ace Venison! (or should I say, "ass" ) I mean, who doesn't love good, wholesome, classy hip-hop like that?

Here's probably my favorite Kanye West song. It just kicks ass.

I was checking out samples from this band/album the other day - sounded pretty good. I liked it more than I like most rap stuff and the lyrics seemed more interesting than the majority.

I picked this track at random, as I don't really know any of them




EDIT-
I just realised someone already mentioned it, so never mind. I wasn't really paying attention

epitome wrote:
Not only did I mention it, I mentioned it in the first post! Pay attention silly Epitome!
(That is one of the best songs on the album though, supposedly Death Grips are releasing another album this year, I can't wait!)

kjrain12 wrote:
I thought it would be you - the 2nd best taste in music, behind my goodself!

But yet neither of us have won a MTC. The games must be rigged I say!

Clearly those with inferior taste don't recognise our greatness!!

SUBSTANCE ABUSE FEAT. TASH OF THA LIKS "DON'T GET US WRONG"

^That song was just meh. If it had a better beat and lyrics it would've helped it. It felt a little too repetetive to me.

One of the best old-school rap collectives. Damn, Ice Cube can deliver the rhymes!

I know the lyrics are in German but I want to share this relaxing yet dark piece of rap with you anyway.
It's off my favourite rap album "Lektionen In Demut" by "Thomas D"

I enjoyed that Don, I liked the chilled vibe and low key beat it has. It reminds me alot of Karmacoma by Massive Attack.



I think it's the slightly monotone vocals and chilled beats that does it.