Hip Hop/Rap Fanatics Unite!

[Frag Mortuus]

Great write ups as always, Noise.

You and I enjoy a lot of the same artists, but you tend to be able to appreciate a broader range of artists than myself. I have a hard time listening to something that I can't immediately connect with. This isn't just confined to artists, but also to albums in an artist's discography. I have been able to revisit an album that I was unable to enjoy previously and found a new appreciation for it, but this doesn't happen very often. It's actually pretty detrimental to my enjoyment of music, because I find myself getting bored of the stuff I actually like pretty often. So, I like that you can enjoy things for what they are, not hate them for what they aren't.

With that said....you're too good to waste your time with ICP, lol.

On a different note, I was reading an article on complex.com about the most anticipated albums of 2014 and they were talking about a resurgence in 90's era NY Hip Hop with a bunch of releases from the biggest artists of that time all trying to take the new releases sound like they were released back then.

Some of highlights for me include:

Raekwon, Fly International Luxurious Art
Common, Nobody's Smiling
Fabolous, Loso's Way 2: Rise to Power
Wu-Tang Clan, A Better Tomorrow
Mobb Deep, The Infamous Mobb Deep
The Lox, We Are the Streets 2
Busta Rhymes, E.L.E.2 (Extinction Level Event 2)
The Game, TBD
Ghostface Killah, Supreme Clientele Presents... Blue & Cream: The Wally Era
Run The Jewels, Run The Jewels 2
Q-Tip, The Last Zulu
Nas, TBD

I know that not all of these guys are 90's era NY Hip Hop, also, I know at least Common's album is already out. But, the rest of those should be great. Nas is the only one that I'm kind of worried about. I haven't loved an album of his in a long time. But, he has a great way of re-emerging after a slump.

[noiseredux]

With that said....you're too good to waste your time with ICP, lol.

I have a weird relationship w/ ICP. I mostly paid them no mind for most of my life. Then in college I saw an Professor's assistant whom I respected quite a bit wearing an ICP shirt. I went up to him and basically said "no offense, but you study poetry and you're wearing an ICP shirt... what gives." His response was that all societies needed clowns to hold a mirror up to how silly we can be. The whole thing just was kind of interesting to me. Whether it's on purpose or not, ICP certainly seems to fill that role.

At any rate, it led me to have this sort of strange appreciation for them. Not that I take it all too seriously. And not that I really consider myself a fan. Yet at the same time I have a strange compulsion to grab an album if I'm missing it and see it at a yard sale. I'm kind of always interested to listen to each album at least. And truth be told here are some albums I will re-visit... mostly early ones that were produced by Mike E. Clark and tried to sort of ape early minimal Ruthless Records era beats and had more "horror"-based rhymes. Stuff like "Cemetery Girl."

Anyway, blah blah. I'm not a fanatic or anything, but once in a while (often around Halloween) I get in the mood to just dumb out w/ some ICP. So I guess I'm not too good for them haha.

EDIT: Another way of putting it is that I can find something 'enjoyable' without considering it 'good.' You might take note that I'm also a really big fan of Pauly Shore's work as well, so...

On a different note, I was reading an article on complex.com about the most anticipated albums of 2014 and they were talking about a resurgence in 90's era NY Hip Hop with a bunch of releases from the biggest artists of that time all trying to take the new releases sound like they were released back then.

There's definitely been a lot of that. Last year's NYC Renaissance mixtape (compiled by Peter Rosenberg) is a good intro to younger/newer rappers that are hugely inspired by Golden Age NY stuff. Joey Bada$$ (and Pro Era), A$AP Mob, The Underachierz, Flatbush Zombies, Action Bronson, Dyme-A-Duzin... there's def a real scene there right now.

Mobb Deep, The Infamous Mobb Deep

One of my fav albums of 2014. The new material is some of their best in years, and the bonus disc is demos for The Infamous... and sounds completely different.

Ghostface Killah, Supreme Clientele Presents... Blue & Cream: The Wally Era

If memory serves, he talked about this since before Apollo Kids, before Wu-Massacre, before Wu-Block and before 12 Reasons... so I'm starting to think it might not happen.

Nas is the only one that I'm kind of worried about. I haven't loved an album of his in a long time. But, he has a great way of re-emerging after a slump.

His last album, Life Is Great was one of his strongest albums in years. I think I'd say it was his best since God's Son. I mean... I wouldn't even say he was in a slump, as Hip Hop Is Dead and Untitled were both really good. But still... Life Is Good was incredible. If you missed that one you need to check it out.

[stickem]

I've paid a little less attention to what is current and popular as i've gotten older but how has that south african hip hop duo blown up. I'm like wtf is this shit. Talking about die antwoord, mostly hip hop. And yes im probably late to the party.

[Ack]

I've paid a little less attention to what is current and popular as i've gotten older but how has that south african hip hop duo blown up. I'm like wtf is this shit. Talking about die antwoord, mostly hip hop. And yes im probably late to the party.

Yes. Even I've heard of Die Antwoord.

Seriously though, they rarely come through Atlanta for concerts.

[stickem]

I've paid a little less attention to what is current and popular as i've gotten older but how has that south african hip hop duo blown up. I'm like wtf is this shit. Talking about die antwoord, mostly hip hop. And yes im probably late to the party.

Yes. Even I've heard of Die Antwoord.

Seriously though, they rarely come through Atlanta for concerts.

That's what happens when get older and have kids and shit. No time to keep up with what is current. Our radio stations in nashville are definitely not playing that, mainly because 90% of them are country lol. That being said for some reason i'd tap the shit out of that weird looking girl.

[Frag Mortuus]

His last album, Life Is Great was one of his strongest albums in years. I think I'd say it was his best since God's Son. I mean... I wouldn't even say he was in a slump, as Hip Hop Is Dead and Untitled were both really good. But still... Life Is Good was incredible. If you missed that one you need to check it out.

I have written four long responses to this explaining but am having trouble explaining that I have issues with music I like and being far too critical. I wish I was able to just enjoy stuff a bit easier

[TSTR]

I remember when "Hate Me Now" came out, one of my friends was convinced Nas was saying "Basketball season has returned."

[noiseredux]

I remember when "Hate Me Now" came out, one of my friends was convinced Nas was saying "Basketball season has returned."

that is... hilarious.

[noiseredux]

not sure if best to put here or in the books thread, but...

I started reading this


Questlove's Mo' Meta Blues

this week, and it's pretty great so far. I'm only 5 or chapters in, but if you're a fan of The Roots the you kind of already know if you'll like Quest's writing style. If the announcement of a new Roots album has you just excited to read his liner notes as hear the music itself, then you know what's up.


EDIT: Man, I'm still just beyond furious that I lost the disc of Twelve Reasons To Die. I mean, I have the limited edition set... but it's missing the actual disc. UGH! Makes me so mad every time I see it.

[mister j-y]

Inbetween bemoaning the fact that Hip-Hop wise we no longer live in the '88 to '94 era and desperately trying (and failing) to like the modern stuff (jeez) I sometime am able to delve into some obscure but musical gangsta sheeit. Question! I really liked A.B.N.'s It Is What It Is, and now I've just found one of the guys (Z-Ro) has released numerous albums afterwards - any ideas where to start?