I've decided to end my ignorance about hip hop

Melbourne Red

Still hasn't given Rain Dog another chance
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Go on, all ye wearers of dog-tags and low hanging trousers.

Recommend some essential albums for a beginner.
 
dr dre - the chronic
public enemy - it takes a nation of millions to hold us back
gza/genius - liquid swords
snoop doggy dogg - doggystyle
NWA - straight outta compton
scarface - the fix

a few to get you started
 
Thanks gents, I've started with Straight Outta Compton.

How about some underground hip hop? With a political slant?

I heard Rass Kass' 'Nature of the Threat' years ago and resolved at the time that if I ever started listening to hip hop, that'd be the sort I'd want to listen to.
 
A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory, Midnight Marauders
Outkast - Stankonia, ATLiens
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
 
Not been mentioned yet:

Main Source - Breaking Atoms
Diamond D - Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop
De La Soul - Buhloone Mindstate
Nas - Illmatic
Ice Cube - Death Certificate/Amerikkas Most Wanted
Raekwon - Only Built for Cuban Linx
MF Doom - Operation Doomsday
Notorious BIG - Ready To Die

On the political side:

The Coup - Steal This Album/Party Music
Paris - Sleeping With The Enemy
Micranots - The Obelisk Movement
 
Can't believe nobody has mentioned Tupac yet!

2Pac - Strictly 4 my niggaz
2Pac - Better Dayz

I'll also second Nas - Illmatic

Some of the 'battle' stuff between Jay Z and Nas was good, any of Jay Z's early stuff is good.
 
R_Nick said:
Can't believe nobody has mentioned Tupac yet!

2Pac - Strictly 4 my niggaz
2Pac - Better Dayz

I'll also second Nas - Illmatic

Some of the 'battle' stuff between Jay Z and Nas was good, any of Jay Z's early stuff is good.
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The Blueprint is as good a hip-hip album as there's been in the last 10 years.

I never got into Tupac.
 
datura said:
The Blueprint is as good a hip-hip album as there's been in the last 10 years.

I never got into Tupac.
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Reasonable Doubt is better but its more than 10 years old so kind of irrelevent to your point :lol:

I think Tupac was a genius, best to stick to the stuff released during his lifetime though.
 
R_Nick said:
Reasonable Doubt is better but its more than 10 years old so kind of irrelevent to your point :lol:
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I never really liked any Jay-Z stuff apart from the Premo produced stuff until I heard the Blueprint and I got a new found respect for him. I was more of an underground hip-hop head before that, so never really checked him, pac, biggie etc.

The Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury is a great album too. It's pretty far from being conscious, but the beats are exceptional.
 
Melbourne Red said:
Thanks gents, I've started with Straight Outta Compton.

How about some underground hip hop? With a political slant?

I heard Rass Kass' 'Nature of the Threat' years ago and resolved at the time that if I ever started listening to hip hop, that'd be the sort I'd want to listen to.
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Good choice on Ras Kass. Probably my favourite rapper. All of his stuff is worth seeking out if you like clever lyrics.

You'll probably appreciate Immortal Technique if you want politics and underground. Check out Revolutionary Volumes 1 & 2. Personally I think 2 is the better album but 1 has 'Dance with the Devil' which is just an awesome track.

But that aside, essential albums would be

Tribe - Midnight Marauders
Notorious Big - Ready To Die
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the 36 Chambers
Gza - Liquid Swords
Nas - Illmatic
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Ghostface Killah - Ironman & Supreme Clientele
Mobb Deep - The Infamous
Dr Dre - The Chronic
Jedi Mind Tricks - Vioent By Design
KRS ONE - Return of the Boom Bap
Big Pun - Capital Punishment
Black Moon - Enta Da Stage
Jeru Tha Damaja - The Sun Rises In The East & Wrath of the Math
Big L - Lifestyles of the Poor & Dangerous

....fcuk it. Too many to mention. That's a good start though
 
datura said:
I never really liked any Jay-Z stuff apart from the Premo produced stuff until I heard the Blueprint and I got a new found respect for him. I was more of an underground hip-hop head before that, so never really checked him, pac, biggie etc.

The Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury is a great album too. It's pretty far from being conscious, but the beats are exceptional.
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I've been enjoying a bit of Royce 5' 9" recently, but I've not really got any new music for a while now, just been listening to stuff I already had, should probably make a bit of an effort to get some new stuff.

Hectic's thread may help with this.
 
I never really listen to modern day hip-hop, i becam disillusioned with the bling aspect, but old school is the shit

Run Dmc
Public Enemy
Beasties
Jurassic 5
NWA
 
d1260702rme.jpg


"Media darlings after the commercial success of their debut, Digable Planets attempted to prove their artistic merit with this second album, and succeeded wildly. ... The beats were incredible, some of the best ever heard on a rap record, a hip-hop version of the classic, off-kilter, New Orleans second-line funk. The productions, all crafted by the group themselves, were laid-back and clearly superior to much hip-hop of the time. The raps, though certainly not hardcore, were just as intelligent as on the debut, and flowed much better."



 
ignore all of the above and simply get three albums:

The Game - The Documentary
The Game - The Doctor's Advocate
The Game - LAX
 
Nas - Illmatic
Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor
Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
Kanye West - The College Dropout
Blu & Exile - Below The Heavens
Black Star - Black Star
 
Ignore some of the commercial shite a few of the other members have been listing, the following will blow you away dear friend :)

GZA - Liquid Swords
nike-dunk-high-liquid-swords-2.jpg


cLOUDDEAD - Ten
clouddead.jpg


DJ Shadow - Entroducing
endtroducing.jpg


Big up to the few members who have already mentioned a few of these titles, good taste lads! :)
 
pillory said:
d1260702rme.jpg


"Media darlings after the commercial success of their debut, Digable Planets attempted to prove their artistic merit with this second album, and succeeded wildly. ... The beats were incredible, some of the best ever heard on a rap record, a hip-hop version of the classic, off-kilter, New Orleans second-line funk. The productions, all crafted by the group themselves, were laid-back and clearly superior to much hip-hop of the time. The raps, though certainly not hardcore, were just as intelligent as on the debut, and flowed much better."



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Great album, one of the best of the 90's. Lo-fi jazzy hip hop, high quality. I got Reachin aswell but Blowout is their finest.
 
To the OP,

People Under The Stairs
Jurassic 5
The Pharcyde
Main Source
Gang Starr
A Tribe Called Quest/Q-Tip
The Roots
De La Soul
Eric B & Rakim
Big L
Leaders of the New School
Fu-Schnickens
Lords of the Underground
Big Daddy Kane
Jeru
Diamond D
Mos Def
Jungle Bros
UMCs
Stetsasonic
KRS-One
Poor Righteous Teachers


That Main Source album recommended by datura is a cracker aswell.
 
20solskjaer said:
dr dre - the chronic
public enemy - it takes a nation of millions to hold us back
gza/genius - liquid swords
snoop doggy dogg - doggystyle
NWA - straight outta compton
scarface - the fix

a few to get you started
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all time favorite album
 
I thought of another one that fits your underground and slightly political criteria whilst I was at the gym

The Goats - Tricks of the Shade

Great album.
 
I've in no way grown up listening to hip hop, so I suppose I needed to ease my way into it. cLOUDDEAD appeared at a time my ears were wide open, and was a nice mishmash of hiphop and other things. So here's the insanely brilliant I promise never to get paint on my glasses again (pt. 1):

Melbourne Red said:
How about some underground hip hop? With a political slant?
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I think Non-Prophet's Hope made a big difference to me, that album made it clear that hiphop can be as clever and intense as anything. Sage Francis (one half of N-P) is a great lyricist, and one of the best social critics in music today IMO. He's both underground and political, and thus exactly what you're looking for. Any Port:


But obviously you must start with Public Enemy. Burn Hollywood Burn:
 
CassiusClaymore said:
I thought of another one that fits your underground and slightly political criteria whilst I was at the gym

The Goats - Tricks of the Shade

Great album.
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that is a very underrated album - a bit too much chat between tracks means it doesnt flow so well as a piece of music but there is obviously a story being told as well - not sure whatever happened to The Goats - I was always a fan

a lot of the all time classics have already been mentioned in this thread so im sure there is plenty for the OP to start with on his hiphop education ... plenty more in Hectic's thread as well

For something a bit different I recommend checking out Roots Manuva - one of my fave artists anyway ...
 
Thanks for those, guys. I've also asked people on facebook and talked to some mates, and basically I'll be getting the albums that recur most often in people's recommendations.

But to be fair, I've got halfway into Straight Outta Compton and am now having a rethink. I knew it'd be full of male posturing, glorification of the criminal life and 'bitches ain't shit' attitude, but I thought it might be interesting anyway. But having listened to it, it really is fecking tedious. The complete absence of any self-aware irony is also making me cringe.

A move away from that would be welcome.

Furthermore, I'm after rappers with the cleverest lyrics. To that end, I don't mind if the rapper is concerned with politics, or even whether he indulges the gangsta shit described above, I just want to hear the rappers with the most impressive command of words.
 
Melbourne Red said:
Thats for those, guys. I've also asked people on facebook and talked to some mates, and basically I'll be getting the albums that recur most often in people's recommendations.

But to be fair, I've got halfway into Straight Outta Compton and am now having a rethink. I knew it'd be full of male posturing, glorification of the criminal life and 'bitches ain't shit' attitude, but I thought it might be interesting anyway. But having listened to it, it really is fecking tedious. The complete absence of any self-aware irony is also making me cringe.

Ergo, my new criteria is rappers with the cleverest lyrics. To that end, I don't mind if the rapper indulges all of the above, I just want the rappers with the most impressive command of words.
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I never been a big fan of hip hop, but 2pac is good.. you'll obviously find the occasional "Bitches and ho's"-attitude in there as well, but some of his lyrics are really really good.. You can tell he was a poet as well.
 
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