is there any intelligent rap today?

[europop2005]

is there any influential, good rap today? I think its a great style, but most of the hip-hop or rap i hear these days is complete

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

No

 

[BVS]

Yes

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

Yes

examples?

 

[Zoots]

The last rap song I liked was Golddigger!

 

[corianderstem]

I believe intelligent rap exists today; you just don't hear it on the radio.

I watched Dave Chapelle's Block Party (great movie, by the way - so full of fun and heart) a few months ago, and was really intrigued by one of the rap acts in the concert. I can't remember what they were called, but they were rapping about social issues. I got the impression they were on the controversial side, but it was nice to hear something like that.

 

[majid23]

Jay-Z - Kingdom Come Album

I like it all...Track 13, Minority Report, is about Hurricane Katrina...Track 14, Beach Chair, is done with Chris Martin and has a nice beat...Track 5, Lost One, is a meaningful song, very personal to Jay-Z and loss of his nephew in the car he bought for him. In terms of "intelligent" rap, it's your own interpretation.

 

[majid23]

Also Ludacris' new album, Release Therapy, has some meaningful tunes as well...

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I believe intelligent rap exists today; you just don't hear it on the radio.

I watched Dave Chapelle's Block Party (great movie, by the way - so full of fun and heart) a few months ago, and was really intrigued by one of the rap acts in the concert. I can't remember what they were called, but they were rapping about social issues. I got the impression they were on the controversial side, but it was nice to hear something like that.

the roots, common, mos def, kanye west, erykah badu, jill scott & the fugees were in block party...

 

[impy13]

the roots, common, mos def, kanye west, erykah badu, jill scott & the fugees were in block party...

And they're all good examples.

Outkast is intelligent, good rap too.

 

[corianderstem]

the roots, common, mos def, kanye west, erykah badu, jill scott & the fugees were in block party...

Yep, but it was a rap group I had never heard of. I'd heard of all those people prior to seeing the movie.

 

[martha]

Dead Prez was in Block Party. They're intelligent, but they'll make you shrivel.

The Roots are intelligent and will make you

 

[corianderstem]

Dead Prez! That was it. I don't remember what they were rapping about, but I remember thinking, "Well, that'll never get played on the radio."

 

[INDY500]

Oxymoron.

 

[corianderstem]

Thanks for the moronic contribution. I knew someone eventually would say it. Thanks for being predictable.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Dead Prez was in Block Party. They're intelligent, but they'll make you shrivel.

The Roots are intelligent and will make you

i knew i forgot someone

5,000 black people chillin' in the rain. 19 white people peppered in the crowd. Trying to find a Mexican.

 

[martha]

Dead Prez! That was it. I don't remember what they were rapping about, but I remember thinking, "Well, that'll never get played on the radio."

 

[martha]

Oxymoron.

People with narrow-minded musical taste

 

[IWasBored]

saul williams

 

[BVS]

Oxymoron.

I was going to make a Republican joke, but then I realized it was already made.

 

[LemonMelon]

the roots, common, mos def, kanye west, erykah badu, jill scott & the fugees were in block party...

I wish I would have seen this thread sooner...I would have named some of those.

 

[Laura M]

most of the hip-hop or rap i hear these days is complete

could be said about any type of music really

and there are lots of wonderful hip-hop and rap bands and artists out there.

jay-z
kanye
outkast

 

[bollox]

the roots. heck yes.

 

[U2DMfan]

Not a big fan of what you would call contemporary rap or hip-hop.
That said:

When you think of the great rock music you know of today and some of the better things that you know are floating around, you should recognize easily that this particular group of musicians is not represented well on TV or radio.

Same with hip-hop. The fluff always gets the hype.

The top 5% of any genre is usually great.
And the rest is passable, forgettable or just shit.

Common, Mos Def, now that shit is miles away from the shit on MTV or radio. Chuck D and Michael Franti opened up my eyes years ago, there was a lot of crap then as well. Me and buddy have a rule, it's called the 5% rule. 5 % of any genre is awesome, the rest shoudl be tossed out. That doesn't leave a lot but it does leave some great music from death metal to bluegrass baby.

 

[martha]

the roots. heck yes.

I got to see them again last Saturday night. Jill Scott was in the show as well.

 

[Harry Vest]

There's actually lots out there but unfortunately it's mostly "underground" hip hop. Seek and ye shall find.

 

[elevation2u]

someone beat me to it: saul williams!
great, great stuff both lyrically and musically

same with roots, mos def, dead prez, and sole
great social commentary and makes me wanna get up and break some moves. i haven't really heard any kanye or common, but i've been curious to.

sounds like i need to rent Block Party,
i've never seen it but from the performances mentioned sounds pretty darn good

 

[AtomicBono]

this is a good thread. I should check some of those artists out. When it comes to rap I listen mostly to Outkast (Aquemini=quintessential hip-hop album) and Mos Def...Cee-Lo (now famous because of Gnarls Barkley) is brilliant as well. The song "Sometimes" is beautiful. I also like Nappy Roots and Jurassic 5.

Kanye's good but I think he's overrated in the grand scheme of things...but only because he's so much better than most of the shit on the radio

I don't hate all mainstream rap though. Sometimes I just want a "dumb" rap crunk song. The Game is good for that. So is Ludacris, though he's actually got some interesting stuff not on the radio. and I love Eminem, I won't lie. Not his recent stuff so much, but his first two albums were brilliant. he's a funny guy.

 

[LyricalDrug]

Lyrics Born is incredible. And he's from the east bay / Berkeley area, so bonus points

 

[Canadiens1131]

And they're all good examples.

Outkast is intelligent, good rap too.

I love OutKast! Musically challenging hip hop, who knew?