Good Hip Hop Still Exists

[AUChizad]

Hip Hop in general has been in a downward slide for the last decade, in my opinion.

Every once in a while, a couple of albums come out that give me hope.

Here is a review of some of those albums:

B.o.B - The Adventures of Bobby Ray


Very melodic hip hop. Lots of live instrumentation and a rock influence. Rivers Cuomo from Weezer even makes an appearance. He even heavily samples and interpolates Vampire Weekend's "The Kids Don't Stand A Chance".

The sample provided below features the chick from Paramore, and there's a remix on the album that also features Eminem. Not sure why he didn't make that version the single.


Travie McCoy - Lazarus



Perhaps even more melodic and rock influenced than B.o.B, also including a song sampling an Indie hit, "Alright" by Supergrass. This is the solo album from the lead singer (or more accurately, rapper) from the pop-punk-rap band Gym Class heroes, but hey, I'm counting it as a rap album.



Drake - Thank Me Later


There are very few "club bangers" on this album, and the ones that are there are obviously built-in singles.

The majority of these tracks are entrancing, slow and dream-like. Really different stuff.

Again, this is a single, so it's not really representative of the album, but here's a sample.

[wesfau2]

Shad's new album, TSOL, is very, very good.

Check it out.

[AUChizad]

Shad's new album, TSOL, is very, very good.

Check it out.

Interesting, I will check it out when I get home. If I like that, which I think I may, I'll download his discography.

Wonder if the name of the album is named after the punk band, which stands for (True Sons of Liberty)?

[wesfau2]

Interesting, I will check it out when I get home. If I like that, which I think I may, I'll download his discography.

Wonder if the name of the album is named after the punk band, which stands for (True Sons of Liberty)?

Not sure what the genesis of the name was.

Also, I don't know how far back you're going for hip hop, but here are a few from the last 5 years or so that give hope:

Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
Sage Francis - A Healthy Distrust
Atmosphere - You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having
P.O.S. - Audition

[AWK]

Not sure what the genesis of the name was.

Also, I don't know how far back you're going for hip hop, but here are a few from the last 5 years or so that give hope:

Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
Sage Francis - A Healthy Distrust
Atmosphere - You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having
P.O.S. - Audition

White rappers from Minnesota rule.

[GH2001]

Hip Hop in general has been in a downward slide since it was invented. for the last decade, in my opinion.

FTFY

[wesfau2]

White rappers from Minnesota rule.

If you had included P.O.S. in your highlighted gheyness, you could drop the racial qualifier, cracka.

[AWK]

If you had included P.O.S. in your highlighted gheyness, you could drop the racial qualifier, cracka.

I like Atmosphere, and I seemed to be one of the 5 people in Alabama that know he exists.  P.O.S., ehhh, not so much.

[wesfau2]

I like Atmosphere, and I seemed to be one of the 5 people in Alabama that know he exists.  P.O.S., ehhh, not so much.

Point of order: Atmosphere is the name for two people working in concert: Sean Daley/Slug (MC) and ANT (DJ/producer).

Check out P.O.S.'s song "Brokedown Concept".  You have to love a song that starts out:

First of all, fuck Bush
That's all, that's the end of it...

[AUChizad]

If you had included P.O.S. in your highlighted gheyness, you could drop the racial qualifier, cracka.

And Aesop Rock. I have None Shall Pass. Good album.

Coffee was my jam for a while.

[AWK]

Oh yeah, and I really like the B.O.B album.  And, as much as I hate to say it, I like Jason Derulo's album.

[wesfau2]

And Aesop Rock. I have None Shall Pass. Good album.

Coffee was my jam for a while.

Ian/Aesop is a white dude from NYC.

[AUChizad]

Ian/Aesop is a white dude from NYC.

I'm aware. I think I misinterpreted the statement.

P.O.S. is the only non-Caucasian listed?

[wesfau2]

I'm aware. I think I misinterpreted the statement.

P.O.S. is the only non-Caucasian listed?

Yeah, but if you want to get picky, Slug is bi-racial.

[Thrilla]

Oh yeah, and I really like the B.O.B album.  And, as much as I hate to say it, I like Jason Derulo's album.

Doesn't Jason Derulo start off every song by singing his name?

[AWK]

Doesn't Jason Derulo start off every song by singing his name?

So you've heard of him...no pun intended.

[Jumbo]

M&M's new cd isn't bad ass.

[wesfau2]

M&M's new cd isn't bad ass.

I downloaded it, but haven't mustered the giveadamn to unpack and listen to it.

[AUChizad]

M&M's new cd isn't bad ass.

I just downloaded and gave it a listen-to.

I liked it a lot. He dropped all the cartoony bullshit he's been on for too long.

A line from "Talkin 2 Myself" says it best.

This time around is different, the last two albums didn’t count: Encore I was on drugs, Relapse I was flushing them out/I’ve come to make it up to you now, no more fucking around/I’ve got something to prove to fans, ’cause I feel like I let 'em down.

Expect to hear the song with Lil Wayne that samples What Is Love (the Night at the Roxbury Song) in a club near you very soon.

[wesfau2]

I just downloaded and gave it a listen-to.

Have you checked out Shad yet?  I'm curious to hear your take on him.