Hip hop CAN'T be dead.
May 24, 2010 9:00 AM Subscribe
I need recommendations on some good/great/exceptional hip hop produced in the last 2-3 years.
My collection is aging and I need some stellar singles and/or albums that I can enjoy to get me back on track. I'm willing to sample major label stuff to underground and back again. Stylistically open to anything.
My collection is aging and I need some stellar singles and/or albums that I can enjoy to get me back on track. I'm willing to sample major label stuff to underground and back again. Stylistically open to anything.
Re-Up Gang - entire We Got It 4 Cheap mixtape series (literally the greatest hip-hop of the decade)
Chiddy Bang - The Swelly Express + Air Swell mixtapes
Bushido - Heavy Metal Payback (if you're into that whole German rap thing)
Marco Polo - Port Authority + his album with Torae
Royce Da 59 - Street Hop
Lil B - hit up youtube, I think that's where he dumps everything he makes (weird as hell, modern day Kool Keith)
BoB - Adventures of Bobby Ray, poppy but decent.
All pretty recent and good. Really all over the place. You'll almost definitely hate Lil B at first, it's... out there, and somehow grows on you.
posted by wrok at 9:14 AM on May 24, 2010
Chiddy Bang - The Swelly Express + Air Swell mixtapes
Bushido - Heavy Metal Payback (if you're into that whole German rap thing)
Marco Polo - Port Authority + his album with Torae
Royce Da 59 - Street Hop
Lil B - hit up youtube, I think that's where he dumps everything he makes (weird as hell, modern day Kool Keith)
BoB - Adventures of Bobby Ray, poppy but decent.
All pretty recent and good. Really all over the place. You'll almost definitely hate Lil B at first, it's... out there, and somehow grows on you.
posted by wrok at 9:14 AM on May 24, 2010
Also: Ghostface Killa's Fishscale was another big hit, with good reason.
posted by griphus at 9:16 AM on May 24, 2010
posted by griphus at 9:16 AM on May 24, 2010
Clipse. Sample tracks: "Momma I'm So Sorry" and "Champion"
posted by surewouldoutlaw at 9:45 AM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by surewouldoutlaw at 9:45 AM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Lupe Fiasco's The Cool was, according to Wikipedia, "received with near-universal acclaim from music critics".
posted by mhum at 9:49 AM on May 24, 2010
posted by mhum at 9:49 AM on May 24, 2010
OJ Simpson is decent too. If you like that, check out Guilty and Madlib's solo stuff, and maybe Oh No's Ethiopium.
Let's see--Gucci Mane, Nipsey Hussle, Flying Lotus, Gaslamp Killer, Gonjasufi
posted by box at 9:56 AM on May 24, 2010
Let's see--Gucci Mane, Nipsey Hussle, Flying Lotus, Gaslamp Killer, Gonjasufi
posted by box at 9:56 AM on May 24, 2010
Cool Calm Pete's Lost came out five years ago, but it's still worth a listen.
posted by domographer at 10:14 AM on May 24, 2010
posted by domographer at 10:14 AM on May 24, 2010
Depends what your vibe is but you could check out...
J-Dilla produced stuff. Ill beats. (R.I.P.)
The Kickdrums
Statik Selektah
Curren$y ...might be your cup
Asher Roth
Common Market ...along the lines of Jurassic 5 positivity.
In fact, just rock kexp.org on Sunday evenings. the Streetsounds show has been where I get a clue. And it recently got better with less chatter since B-Mello and side kicks split.
posted by talljamal at 10:15 AM on May 24, 2010
J-Dilla produced stuff. Ill beats. (R.I.P.)
The Kickdrums
Statik Selektah
Curren$y ...might be your cup
Asher Roth
Common Market ...along the lines of Jurassic 5 positivity.
In fact, just rock kexp.org on Sunday evenings. the Streetsounds show has been where I get a clue. And it recently got better with less chatter since B-Mello and side kicks split.
posted by talljamal at 10:15 AM on May 24, 2010
I highly recommend rising stars Solillaquists of Sound and their lead MC Swamburger.
posted by General Zubon at 10:15 AM on May 24, 2010
posted by General Zubon at 10:15 AM on May 24, 2010
Busdriver especially Reality Sandwich
Deltron 3030
Blakroc
Janelle Monae, as discussed recently around here.
posted by cmoj at 10:22 AM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Deltron 3030
Blakroc
Janelle Monae, as discussed recently around here.
posted by cmoj at 10:22 AM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
I think the first El-P record is phenomenal. I think it came out in 2003 but if you don't have it, that counts as recent, doesn't it?
Jay Electronica actually falls within the last 2 to 3 years, and is great.
posted by kensington314 at 10:39 AM on May 24, 2010
Jay Electronica actually falls within the last 2 to 3 years, and is great.
posted by kensington314 at 10:39 AM on May 24, 2010
I read that as exceptional produced hip hop, so let me just tell you to check out almost anything Black Milk has produced. Tronic, for starters, and he has a new CD coming out this Summer.
Kanye's "Good Ass Job" will almost certainly be bangin (comes out next month).
Big K.R.I.T.'s Krut Wuz Here is good Dungeon Family quality rap from the south. Best tracks are probably Hometown Hero and Children of the World.
Also, Jay Electronica. And 1 more, mind the excessive Diddy.
Some singles from the "nobody has heard of this artist file - "Boom", "Roll", "Show & Improve".
People have been going nuts over Nas' collab with Damien Marley. I do like Patience.
Dangerdoom, if you haven't caught that yet. Also, Doom's Born like this has some bangers.
Mos Def's last one had three good songs - Wahid, Auditorium, and Priority. Plus recently his collab with Ski Beatz, Taxi.
Also I have to throw in my abandon hope all ye who enter here if you try to listen to little wayne as an example of dope hip hop. Also avoid Drake and Nicki 'Roman Zolanski' Minaj for the most part.
Do It!
posted by cashman at 10:49 AM on May 24, 2010
Kanye's "Good Ass Job" will almost certainly be bangin (comes out next month).
Big K.R.I.T.'s Krut Wuz Here is good Dungeon Family quality rap from the south. Best tracks are probably Hometown Hero and Children of the World.
Also, Jay Electronica. And 1 more, mind the excessive Diddy.
Some singles from the "nobody has heard of this artist file - "Boom", "Roll", "Show & Improve".
People have been going nuts over Nas' collab with Damien Marley. I do like Patience.
Dangerdoom, if you haven't caught that yet. Also, Doom's Born like this has some bangers.
Mos Def's last one had three good songs - Wahid, Auditorium, and Priority. Plus recently his collab with Ski Beatz, Taxi.
Also I have to throw in my abandon hope all ye who enter here if you try to listen to little wayne as an example of dope hip hop. Also avoid Drake and Nicki 'Roman Zolanski' Minaj for the most part.
Do It!
posted by cashman at 10:49 AM on May 24, 2010
Ah, the last link should go to this MOP/Kool G Rap collab with Statik Selektah and Havoc.
posted by cashman at 10:54 AM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by cashman at 10:54 AM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Here's a semi-abbreviated list, included mostly stuff that has not been mentioned yet.
Blueprint - Sign Language (instrumental)
Kanye West - Graduation
Myka9 - 1969 (he's west coast)
Brother Ali - Us
Cadence Weapon - Afterparty Babies
Clipse - Til The Casket Drops
DJ Sega - New Jack Philly [this is not hip-hop really, but more of dance music that contains some rapping over the beats, remixed]; representative of a genre called Baltimore Club [or Bmore club].
K'Naan - The Dusty Foot Philosopher
K-os - Yes! [especially 'I Wish I knew Natalie Portman']
Murs - I Heard It Today
Reflection Eternal - Revolutions Per Minute [Hi-Tek and Talib kwali][just came out weeks ago].
The Cool Kids - The Bake Sale [Bassment Party is a good track][I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet.
Wale - The mixtape about nothing [available for free online] [it's a mixtape featuring snippets of seinfeld]. [Definitely check out the song 'the Kramer']
posted by fizzix at 1:42 PM on May 24, 2010
Blueprint - Sign Language (instrumental)
Kanye West - Graduation
Myka9 - 1969 (he's west coast)
Brother Ali - Us
Cadence Weapon - Afterparty Babies
Clipse - Til The Casket Drops
DJ Sega - New Jack Philly [this is not hip-hop really, but more of dance music that contains some rapping over the beats, remixed]; representative of a genre called Baltimore Club [or Bmore club].
K'Naan - The Dusty Foot Philosopher
K-os - Yes! [especially 'I Wish I knew Natalie Portman']
Murs - I Heard It Today
Reflection Eternal - Revolutions Per Minute [Hi-Tek and Talib kwali][just came out weeks ago].
The Cool Kids - The Bake Sale [Bassment Party is a good track][I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet.
Wale - The mixtape about nothing [available for free online] [it's a mixtape featuring snippets of seinfeld]. [Definitely check out the song 'the Kramer']
posted by fizzix at 1:42 PM on May 24, 2010
To repeat a couple, Cadence Weapon and Busdriver put out some amazing stuff recently. Don't count out everything by Buck 65 as well.
posted by StoicRomance at 2:55 PM on May 24, 2010
posted by StoicRomance at 2:55 PM on May 24, 2010
Cool Kids - Bake Sale EP
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
Clipse - Hell Hath no Fury
Tanya Morgan - Brooklynati
Brother Ali - Us
posted by mattholomew at 3:50 PM on May 24, 2010
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
Clipse - Hell Hath no Fury
Tanya Morgan - Brooklynati
Brother Ali - Us
posted by mattholomew at 3:50 PM on May 24, 2010
The Janelle Monae album is amazing.
Frankly, I have found hip-hop a little boring lately, although the albums suggested above represent the best of what has come out over the past few years.
I've become much more interested in some of the hip-hop/electronic fusion that has come out lately, particularly with what has come out with Dubstep (although that's getting a little tired) and DJs like Diplo. I would suggest checking out things like Burial, Rusko, any of the Rinse mixes, and also the Major Lazer album which is a mix of hip-hop, electronic, and reggae.
Also Flying Lotus is brilliant, and one of my favorite things he has done is his Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1 which came out in 2008.
posted by hazyspring at 3:59 PM on May 24, 2010
Frankly, I have found hip-hop a little boring lately, although the albums suggested above represent the best of what has come out over the past few years.
I've become much more interested in some of the hip-hop/electronic fusion that has come out lately, particularly with what has come out with Dubstep (although that's getting a little tired) and DJs like Diplo. I would suggest checking out things like Burial, Rusko, any of the Rinse mixes, and also the Major Lazer album which is a mix of hip-hop, electronic, and reggae.
Also Flying Lotus is brilliant, and one of my favorite things he has done is his Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1 which came out in 2008.
posted by hazyspring at 3:59 PM on May 24, 2010
If you aren't adverse to an Australian accent ... Hilltop Hoods.
posted by Admira at 8:16 PM on May 24, 2010
posted by Admira at 8:16 PM on May 24, 2010
I've been enjoying P.O.S.'s most recent, Never Better, quite a bit.
posted by genehack at 3:20 AM on May 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by genehack at 3:20 AM on May 25, 2010 [1 favorite]
Strangely enough, hip-hop is alive and well in Minneapolis. Check out the Rhymesayers. Brother Ali, P.O.S., Atmosphere are all worth checking out.
posted by mcstayinskool at 8:26 AM on May 25, 2010
posted by mcstayinskool at 8:26 AM on May 25, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by griphus at 9:08 AM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]