Lyrical hip-hop heads unite

[Dirt_Wizard]

I wanted to start another music thread specifically for those of us who love hip-hop and rap music and culture. Personally, I am a 90s/00s Northeastern head myself, with plenty of love for the Dirty South and West Coast, along with the Upper Midwest scene especially Minneapolis, Detroit, Chicago. I also love international hip-hop in different languages, I only understand Spanish but they’re all fun with subtitles nowadays and flow is flow. Drop your track and album recommendations here, with links if you can, and any particular thoughts or memories you want to share about the music.
My tastes are pretty eclectic, after saying that. I like exploring proto-hip-hop, like West Indian toasting and the sound system culture, and I like modern glitch-hop.

My main requirements are:

1. A dope lyrical flow is a must (quoting KRS-ONE)
2. Beats need to either be slamming or get out of the way of the rapping
3. I like gangster and horrorcore but I don’t like stupid shit, there’s a line between an image and being a dumbass
4. Unusual time signatures in the beat and/or flow will always get my attention, whether it’s an unconventional ride on a weird beat or managing to smoothly cross back and forth over something swerving too hard to follow straight on.
   I’ll start off with a very random list of what I’ve been listening to in the last day or two:

Aesop Rock - Kyanite Toothpick (feat. Hanni El Khatib) [Official Video]

Lil Wayne - Da Drought 3 [Full Mixtape] 2007 HQ

The Roots - Don't Say Nuthin' (Official Music Video)

Mr. Lif - Because They Made It That Way [Original Video With High Sound Quality]

This was so influential on my development as a fan:

Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme (FULL MOVIE)

Eminem - Rap God (Explicit)

Gucci Mane - Under Arm Kush

MF DOOM - Madvillain - Accordion

Ebonics (Criminal Slang)

Also a fan of mashups back to the Grey Album, it’s the sample ID game with myself on another level!

Danger Mouse - The Grey Album (2004)

All Day - Girl Talk (Full Album)

WUGAZI - 13 chambers [full]

The Best of Guru:Volume 1 89'-94' (Mixtape)

[Dirt_Wizard]

Edan - Fumbling Over Words That Rhyme

Homeboy Sandman (prod. Aesop Rock) - Go Hard || Official Video

MUCHO BARATO

Outkast - Git Up, Git Out (Goodie Mob Mix)

This one will never not get a crowd hyped and if it doesn’t I don’t want to be there:

Daddy Yankee - Gasolina (Video Oficial)

[valleymicro]

Army of the Pharaohs:

Jedi Mind Tricks Presents: Army Of The Pharaohs - "Seven" [Official Audio]

Army of The Pharaohs - "Bloody Tears" [Official Video]

Jedi Mind Tricks:

Jedi Mind Tricks (Vinnie Paz + Stoupe) - "Razorblade Salvation" feat. Shara Worden [Official Audio]

Snowgoons:

Snowgoons - "Starlight" (feat. Viro The Virus) [Official Audio]

Immortal Technique:

The Point of No Return | Immortal Technique

Classics:

The Notorious B.I.G. & 2Pac - Sideways

Dopefiend's Diner

[Rhai88]

I admit… I’m not the biggest rap guy. But the vibez that Ramirez puts out always makes me feel hard when I listen to it. Excellent flows and sampling.

“Deep inside of hell is where I lay my head and call my home”. Definitely hit for me when I was struggling with a lot of shit.

RAMIREZ - THE MYSTICAL WARLOCK [Official Video]

[JustANobody]

I want that old school immortal technique, Dance With the Devil.

[CocoaCoir]

There’s already a hiphop thread.

[JustANobody]

But is there an east coast hip hop thread? I hope we are bringing back the east vs west rap rivalry from the 90s.

[Ris]

I love that song.

[Mad_Barry]

I’m not well versed in North American Hip Hop though I do love some Guru, KRS-One and MF Doom.

My influences are more from the UK scene. Personally I can’t pass up Skinnyman’s album “Council Estate of Mind” as a stand out classic.

Skinnyman - I’ll Be Surprised

skinnyman - i'll be surprised

Skinnyman - Life In My Rhymes

Skinnyman - Life In My Rhymes - Council Estate Of Mind

Skinnyman - Council Estate of Mind

council estate of mind by skinnyman

Foreign Beggers - Hold On

Foreign Beggars ft Skinnyman & DVS Hold on

The Mouse Outfit - Blaze It Up

The Mouse Outfit feat. Sparkz - Blaze It Up (HD)

[Jamescoldflame]

Well what do we have here…https://youtu.be/yGZ6sdapLz0?si=0D8YlzZjl6WLhoeC

[breadwinner]

Mobb Deep - Temperature's Rising (Official Audio) ft. Crystal Johnson

[CocoaCoir]

No Snakes Alive

Most of modern hiphop has unusual time signatures and really good flows. This came out yesterday.

ScHoolboy Q - Yeern 101 (Official Music Video)

Rap keeps evolving.

Then there’s “new” songs that sound like old songs

Vakill Ft Twista Vestcheck 1,2

Stunnaman02 & QuakeBeatz - Big Steppin (Official Music Video)

Since about 2011/2012 The beats and flows have really diversified. The decade prior to that was hella stale and I was really looking back to the 80s and 90s for the “real shit.” Rap is a youngins game… That’s why 3 stacks is on tour playing his flute. Though that’s not to say old heads can’'t make good songs…

Kool Keith - Wood Grain Panels (Official Video)

E-40 "Lift It" (Music Video)

[TopShelfTrees1]

I’m an old hip hop head from way back!! Grew up in the midst of the seen and had my prime youth in the 90’s as well as being a stone’s throw from New York. I grew up on the legends like biggie, Nas , Sean P,BIG L, pac , Smif n Wessun, KRS, Jedi Mind Tricks etc. this is my passion, I was fortunate to meet and hang out with many a legend while we had a production business in the 90’s “trilateral” I became good friends with Sean Price, Schoolboy Q, B-Real and Sendog, Vinnie Paz and I’ll bill, immortal technique, gravediggaz, onyx and slaughterhouse but specifically Joell Ortiz. I’m a New York gangster rap hip hop head no question ! And I cherish those moments to this day. Not a lot I kept in touch with besides Sean P, Classified, Snak The Ripper and Paz (he’s my homie) but those I did are some of the most humble, amazing, legendary people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing . Hip hop is in my blood and something I’ve always lived and breathed . The entire culture.

[the_bot]

Great selection @Dirt_Wizard, there is a gtv rap thread around not sure if uve seen it.

Either way, it is a post i appreciate ! Love hiphop culture and rap

Ill post some stuff here

Outkast - Myintrotoletuknow

Tkay Maidza - Syrup (Official Video)

[Dirt_Wizard]

That’s true and I forgot about it, but I would love to have a place to focus on talking about lyrics and flow in particular, separate from music that’s more repetitive and easy listening, more about the beats and the dance floor or the subs in the trunk. Though maybe we need a topic for just beats and instrumental tracks…

[CocoaCoir]

I used to run one of the biggest hiphop websites on the net and knew DJ’s and interviewed some rappers like Catch Wreck(local Boston rapper) and Cold187um (Big Hutch) from Above The Law. I set up an interview with Kool g Rap but it didn’t work out. I remember when I lived in vegas I hopped a fence to sneak into a vinnie paz and ill bill show. Living in the bay now literally hiphop is alive and everywhere here. It is awesome. I just recently was at Hiero Day last September in Oakland and the Mayor Sheng Tao introduced Del and Common… it took place right in front of city hall. Glad I had my Chocolate Diesel that day.

Mayor of Oakland Sheng Thao presenting awards at Hiero Day

[Dirt_Wizard]

Hell yeah dude! What an experience that must have been, I’ve always just been a fan in this genre, never met many artists but loved the shows I’ve been able to make it to. I grew up young on the early file sharing sites and I particularly enjoy the non-radio, non-album work by a lot of these folks, like radio show freestyles and written performances, remixes and chopped and screwed versions, etc.

Huge fan of Def Jux and other NYC labels of the aughts

[TopShelfTrees1]

Oh man I wish! I’d love to go to HIERO day! And kool g rap ! Oh man that would be legendary I’d love to meet him or big daddy Kane!

[TopShelfTrees1]

@Dirt_Wizard

and I particularly enjoy the non-radio, non-album work by a lot of these folks, like radio show freestyles and written performances, remixes and chopped and screwed versions, etc.

Hell ya, it’s the underground stuff that I love too! I seek it out constantly. So many slept on lyrically gifted individuals too! It’s crazy what you can find sometimes just going down the rabbit hole

[CocoaCoir]

The problem is that this is all subjective.

This moved the crowd

Kurtis Blow-The Breaks

and so did this

Migos - Walk It Talk It ft. Drake (Official Video)