Hip-Hop Talk II

[cobl04]

well, duh

[LemonMelon]

Dave seemed confused by the comment itself

[iron yuppie]

Speaking of Kendrick, I'm finally giving good kid a listen, and yeah, it lives up to the hype. That opening trio is killer, especially Backseat Freestyle, which might be the best hip-hop song I've heard. I see how that track can be misread message-wise, but in context it hits pretty hard, even for a listener about as far removed from Compton as possible.

I'm not sure how I feel about Kendrick's voice, but he's obviously a very literate guy, and the instrumentation/beats keep you guessing. The female backing vocals work really well when they pop up (especially in the second half of Dying of Thirst). You do get a sense of this guy's life through the album - it all comes off as very genuine.

PS I'm still not sure I've ever heard a hip-hop skit/interlude that adds anything to the overall narrative.

Edit: And one last thought - Compton (the track) is totally unnecessary. Not sure why it's there when Real seems to close the album thematically in about every way you could want.

[DaveC]

I think it's ludicrous for any rapper from LA to say they are the king of anything on the east coast, and vice versa, no matter who it is. Even if Tupac came back from the grave and said it, it would still be just as dumb.


Sent from my iPhone using U2 Interference

[cobl04]

Originally Posted by iron yuppie

Speaking of Kendrick, I'm finally giving good kid a listen, and yeah, it lives up to the hype. That opening trio is killer, especially Backseat Freestyle, which might be the best hip-hop song I've heard. I see how that track can be misread message-wise, but in context it hits pretty hard, even for a listener about as far removed from Compton as possible.

I'm not sure how I feel about Kendrick's voice, but he's obviously a very literate guy, and the instrumentation/beats keep you guessing. The female backing vocals work really well when they pop up (especially in the second half of Dying of Thirst). You do get a sense of this guy's life through the album - it all comes off as very genuine.

PS I'm still not sure I've ever heard a hip-hop skit/interlude that adds anything to the overall narrative.

Edit: And one last thought - Compton (the track) is totally unnecessary. Not sure why it's there when Real seems to close the album thematically in about every way you could want.

Interesting... judging by your posts over the last year or so it seems like the more visceral, trunk-rattling, aggressive hip-hop is your bag. I love Backseat Freestyle, for both the beat, which is huge, and the lyric, which is rap bravado at its best. I think Kendrick also said himself that Backseat Freestyle is written from the point of view of a young, mid/late teens Kendrick doing his first braggadocio rap.

For me I really only enjoy skits when they're funny. I love the one at the end of Backseat Freestyle I think it is about the Dominoes pizza.

Agreed on Compton. I think the album should end on Dying of Thirst, with Real and Compton, both of which I like, being bonus tracks. Compton is tacked on as a victory lap, I guess.

Originally Posted by DaveC

I think it's ludicrous for any rapper from LA to say they are the king of anything on the east coast, and vice versa, no matter who it is. Even if Tupac came back from the grave and said it, it would still be just as dumb.

Rap's a dick-waving contest, so I don't think it's ludicrous.

[cobl04]

The best thing about that Control verse is that he names 3000 as one of the untouchable rappers. The respect everyone has for him turns me on so much.

[iron yuppie]

Originally Posted by cobl04

I think Kendrick also said himself that Backseat Freestyle is written from the point of view of a young, mid/late teens Kendrick doing his first braggadocio rap.

Yeah, I took it as a send-up of that type of rap. I guess that wouldn't be clear without the preceding track, though.

[LemonMelon]

iYup just called Backseat Freestyle his favorite hip hop song.

I'm so proud.

[cobl04]

"Pray my dick get big as the Eiffel Tower / so I can fuck the world for 72 hours" is one of my favourite lines in hip-hop in recent memory.

[LemonMelon]

Kanye West - Late - Live @ Camp Flog Gnaw Odd Future ( ofwgkta ) Carnival 11-9-13 in HD - YouTube

Awwww

[cobl04]

oldddddd news son.

[LemonMelon]

I posted the video in the last thread but Tyler's tweet from years ago was just pointed out to me.

Kanye on some Make a Wish shit.

[bono_212]

Originally Posted by cobl04

"Pray my dick get big as the Eiffel Tower / so I can fuck the world for 72 hours" is one of my favourite lines in hip-hop in recent memory.

Oh my God, fucking hell, I hate that song.

[cobl04]

Respect my mind or die from lead showers.

[LemonMelon]

Start up that Maserati and VROOM-VROOM I'm racing

[iron yuppie]

Originally Posted by LemonMelon

iYup just called Backseat Freestyle his favorite hip hop song.

Well, that I've heard so far.

[DaveC]

Black Moon's Enta Da Stage is phenomenal.


Sent from my iPhone using U2 Interference

[bono_212]

I think it took me two seconds after hearing Be to decide that Common was my favorite MC, but I have only recently heard any albums outside of that one and his most recent. I'm listening to Like Water for Chocolate right now and I'm just in heaven. Which brings me to this: I saw Common interview Mike Tyson on Sunday. One of the most surreal moments of my life, basically. Afterwards, I tried to cautiously follow the few people who realized where Common would be exiting from the interview area, and for two seconds I was standing right next to him and that was basically the coolest moment ever for me .

[DaveC]

Originally Posted by bono_212

I think it took me two seconds after hearing Be to decide that Common was my favorite MC, but I have only recently heard any albums outside of that one and his most recent. I'm listening to Like Water for Chocolate right now and I'm just in heaven. Which brings me to this: I saw Common interview Mike Tyson on Sunday. One of the most surreal moments of my life, basically. Afterwards, I tried to cautiously follow the few people who realized where Common would be exiting from the interview area, and for two seconds I was standing right next to him and that was basically the coolest moment ever for me .

That is pretty cool

Why was he interviewing Mike Tyson?

[bono_212]

The BET awards were this weekend, and to go along with it, BET organized a weekend full of events/concerts/etc at the LA Convention Center. That's where I saw the Celebrity Basketball game and also got this amazing picture taken:

 

Part of the weekend's activities were what was called "Genius Talks", in which one person of note interviewed another person of note. For example, prior to the Common/Mike Tyson talk, Floyd Mayweather was interviewed by Doug E. Fresh. This, for the record, was a much better interview, as far as life-affirming content. But Tyson was just...Common came in with so many sincere questions and by the mid-point, he was basically cribbing off of Inside the Actor's Studio. He spent like five minutes asking him what his favorite movies were. And this wasn't Common's fault, Tyson is just insane and none of the good questions were going anywhere. Also, Tyson's bottom button on his shirt was unbottoned and it was hilarious. I didn't get a picture of the screen to show it, because I'm an idiot, but you can enjoy it in all its glory here:

Genius Talks: Mike Tyson's 'Undisputed Truth' | Videos | BET

__________________

__________________