Hip-Hop Purists

[No spoken words]

Originally posted by DaveC
Big Daddy Kane's on the list there, chief.

And I've only ever heard one Dead Prez track, and other than the beat it was pretty weak.

Must have missed it, Captain. I'm old, eyes are shot.

[Moonlit_Angel]

Originally posted by Earnie Shavers
Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood

Handsome Boy Modelling School - The World's Gone Mad

I love those songs .

Way to list some female artists here as well, people. I agree, though, I consider Mary J. Blige more hip-hop than full out rap. But eh *Shrugs*.

Left Eye...TLC...ah, the '90s . Good times.

Angela

[DaveC]

Originally posted by lazarus


Huh? Blige can't fucking rap. My point about LH is that she's got a great voice for soul stuff, but is also a formidable rapper, lyrics and delivery.

Lauryn Hill is the best female rapper I've ever heard.

Exhibit A: The Score (the song):

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4bbnk5WpX3Y

ETA: The skit at the end of this tune is probably my favourite hip-hop skit. "Not THAT Michelle Leslie Brown from 225th St that plays ball in the park, the OTHER Michelle Leslie Brown..."

[gvox]

Lauryn Hill beats MC Lyte? No way dude.

I will admit she's a better rapper than MJB, of course...I just meant that if you're going to call LH and Jill Scott hiphop well then you have to put Mary in there too..

[DaveC]

I've never heard an MC Lyte tune. Like I said, Lauryn Hill is the best female rapper I've ever heard, not necessarily the best outright.

[lazarus]

Do The Streets' Mike Skinner and/or Lily Allen count?

[DaveC]

Originally posted by lazarus
Do The Streets' Mike Skinner and/or Lily Allen count?

The Streets, yes.

Lily Allen, FUCK and NO.

[dr. zooeuss]

Originally posted by BonoVoxSupastar
Why don't you define Hip Hop "purists" first. I definately think hip hop is an incredible artform, but the word "purists" is not one that many would use in describing hip hop. Also, given my definition of hip hop purists, a few on that list don't even come close.

I still think this is worth answering, especially if you're after a REAL discussion.

[DaveC]

"Purists" refers to the people listening and discussing (namely, us), not the artists.

[LemonMelon]

Originally posted by DaveC


The Streets, yes.

Lily Allen, FUCK and NO.

I think Lily is great, but is she a rap artist? NO.

The Streets are awesome though.

[dr. zooeuss]

...ok, but that doesn't remove the value of defining what is meant by the term.

earlier on it was said the list was included weed out posts on certain artists, which i agree with; there's a lot of crap out there.

also, by the names of a number of artists it's specified "before _____ year", "before _____ album" ...

just curious to know how you came up with those qualifiers.

for a personal example, i'd probably have left tupac on the list, with the qualifier (socially conscious material)

[Earnie Shavers]

I actually initially wasn't sure whether the 'purists' in the title was referring to us (as it turned out to be) or the music (eg 'conscious' hip-hop).

[If you shout...]

Originally posted by Earnie Shavers
El-P
Prefuse 73
Aesop Rock
Cannibal Ox

These artists are in no way "purists" of the continuum. Some good stuff, but that shit ain't pure.

[DaveC]

Originally posted by dr. zooeuss
for a personal example, i'd probably have left tupac on the list, with the qualifier (socially conscious material)

If there is anybody in rap who does NOT need any kind of qualifier, it is Mr. Tupac Shakur.

[If you shout...]

Originally posted by Earnie Shavers
Fun stuff from Del tha Funky Homosapien backed by Dan the Automator:

Deltron 3030 - Positive Contact

Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood

Handsome Boy Modelling School - The World's Gone Mad

While there's again no way that Del is a purist-type, he is indeed the shit. New album coming out, next year! Hurray for Def Jux!

[dr. zooeuss]

Originally posted by DaveC


If there is anybody in rap who does NOT need any kind of qualifier, it is Mr. Tupac Shakur.

you have every right to believe that, and i have every right to disagree.

if it were rap in general, i'd agree for the most part, but that list seems to be picking out acts with a certain mentality and not all of his lyrics fit with it.

"Brenda's Got a Baby," "Keep Ya Head Up," "Changes," Dear Mama" are all incredible songs.

His gangsta influenced work seems to be exactly against the purpose of the list, though, imo..

[LemonMelon]

I think I can rap a good chunk of Paul's Boutique from memory. I've listened to that album waaaaaaaay too much.

[DaveC]

I've heard To The 5 Boroughs so much I can pretty much recite the entire thing.

Open Letter to NYC

[LemonMelon]

I'm working on Ill Communication next.

[Salome]

Madlib / Quasimoto / Madvillian alone can keep me entertained for many days

The return of Lord Quas is one of my top 15 albums in any genre