Middle-aged Man Needs More Rap

September 27, 2005 6:32 PM

MusicFilter: I have pretty eclectic tastes. From old-time country to heavy metal. Though lately it occurs to me that I have a severe rap and hip-hop deficiency in my musical diet. I know almost nothing. What singles would you say are ESSENTIAL listening? I'd like to be able to download a wide range of songs from the iTunes store before I get in to albums. Thanks.
posted by captainscared to Media & Arts (40 answers total)

"Rock Box" Run DMC
"Rapper's Delight" Sugar Hill Gang
"The Message" Grandmaster Flash
"Bring The Noise" Public Enemy
"South Bronx," "The Blueprint," "9mm Go Bang" Boogie Down Productions
"Straight Outta Compton" NWA
"Passin' Me By" Pharcyde
"Steppin' To The AM" 3rd Bass
"Wild Wild West" Kool Moe Dee
"Hand On The Pump" Cypress Hill
"La Raza" Kid Frost
"Mrs. Jackson" OutKast
"Jump Around" House Of Pain
"It Was A Good Day" Ice Cube
"G.L.G.B.N.A.F." "Colors" Ice-T
"Alphabet Aerobics" Blackalicious
"Dre Day" "Let Me Ride" Dr Dre
"Lose Yourself" "My Name Is" Eminem

and about a hundred others I'm forgetting
posted by jonmc at 6:44 PM on September 27, 2005

"The Message" Grandmaster Flash
"The Breaks" Kurtis Blow
posted by jonmc at 6:45 PM on September 27, 2005

I'm not a huge rap fan, this is just the stuff that has caught my attention over the years.

Grandmaster flash and the furious five "The message", "white lines", and Sugarhill gang "rappers delight".

Moving forward a little, some classics are by Run DMC, Public Enemy and De La Soul.

Beastie boys have some great stuff, particularly on Ill Communication and Hello nasty
posted by wilful at 6:47 PM on September 27, 2005

Tribe Called Quest's Low End Theory is a good bridge into the witty, lyrically sophisticated, jazzy end of things, while avoiding the corniness pitfall of that kind of thing...

My pops used to say it reminded him of bebop...

Grab the opening track, or "Award Tour," or "Scenario."
posted by johngoren at 6:53 PM on September 27, 2005

"I Left My wallet In El Segundo" is a masterpiece by the aforementioned Tribe Called Quest. So's "Jenifa Taught Me," by De La Soul, "Ghetto Bastard" and "OPP" by Naughty By Nature and "Po' Folks" by Nappy Roots.
posted by jonmc at 6:57 PM on September 27, 2005

Digable Planets - Rebirth of Slick
Pigeon John - Matter 101
2Pac - California Love
Beastie Boys - 3 Mc's 1 DJ, Pretty much anything else
A Tribe Called Quest - Award Tour
Aaliyah - Are You That Somebody
Biz Markie, Doug E. Fresh & Kool Keith - Let Me Clear My Throat
Bubba Sparxxx - Deliverance.mp3
Bullfrog - Reverse Psychology
Busta Rhymes - Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check
De La Soul - me myself & i
Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Dan - Mastermind
Digital Underground - Humpty Dance
Naughty By Nature - O.P.P.
Run DMC - My Adidas
Cibo Matto - Sci Fi Wasabi



Pretty much anything by
Del the Funkee Homosapien
Bullfrog
Buck 65
Jurassic 5
Jay-z
Timbaland and Magoo
Notorious BIG
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (The old shit is the bomb)
Beastie Boys
Black eyed peas (don't overlook the old stuff)
Wu Tang Clan

Tons tons tons more. Ack.. I am sure there are gonna be some overlaps here.
Buck 65 for sure.. I cannot suggest him highly enough.
posted by JonnyRotten at 7:00 PM on September 27, 2005

"Get By" Talib Kweli
posted by 4easypayments at 7:03 PM on September 27, 2005

Previously.
posted by Count Ziggurat at 7:10 PM on September 27, 2005

Nas (can't recommend any specific album, I tend to like a few songs from each but don't love any one as whole)

Redman "Muddy Waters"

Jay-Z "Reasonable Doubt" and "The Black Album" (also, "Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life", but I really only like one or two songs now)

Mos Def "Black on Both Sides"

Black Star "Black Star" (which is Mos Def and Talib Kweli)

Pete Rock "Soul Survivor"

Def Squad "El Nino" (though, I may be the only one that likes this one)

And, of course, this song.
posted by mullacc at 7:21 PM on September 27, 2005

I like Michael Franti and Spearhead
posted by edgeways at 7:24 PM on September 27, 2005

Add Digable Planets to the list.
posted by seawallrunner at 7:28 PM on September 27, 2005

Digable Planets - Rebirth of Slick
OutKast - Ms. Jackson
Public Enemy - Fight The Power
N.W.A. - Gangsta Gangsta
Cypress Hill - How I Could JustKill A Man
The Roots - Adrenaline
The Streets - Fit But You Know It
Jurassic 5 - Quality Control
Mos Def - Ghetto Rock
Beastie Boys - Root Down
Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation
Grandmaster Flash - The Message
50 Cent - A Baltimore Love Thing
KRS One - Sound of Da Police
Wu Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M.
Snoop Dogg - Murder Was The Case
Common - Payback Is a Grandmother
Redman - How To Roll A Blunt
Outkast - Git up Git out
Eric B & Rakim - Teach The Children

I could go on in a lot of directions... I suggest you post a followup once you've found a few that you like.
posted by I Love Tacos at 7:29 PM on September 27, 2005

I recommend "Wear Clean Draws" and "Nowalaters" off the Coup's album Party Music.
posted by evariste at 7:38 PM on September 27, 2005

not sure if these are on the itunes music store or not...and this is off the top of my head without aid of my own itunes library, so check back (=

Atmosphere - If I Was Santa Claus
Atmosphere - Nothing But Sunshine
Sole - Sole Has Issues
Sole - Bottle of Humans
Alias - Divine Disappointment
Alias - Unseen Sights (not very hip-hop, but awesome)
The Listener - Train Song
The Listener - You Will Be My Music


anything by: Immortal Technique, but esp. The 4th Branch, Internally Bleeding, and Freedom of Speech [just looked on the itunes music store and some of the tracks are mislabeled, so look at these off of volume 2, because volume 1 is totally incorrect]
posted by whatitis at 7:48 PM on September 27, 2005

Outkast has so much great stuff, I'll contain my recommendations to them.
- Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
- Synthesizer (with George Clinton)
- Bombs Over Baghdad
- Behold A Lady
- Ghettomusick
posted by McGuillicuddy at 7:50 PM on September 27, 2005

Country and heavy metal aren't really that different... I mean, you are still talking about mostly white guys and stringed instruments :-)

Jurassic 5, Mos Def, and Outkast are all great. If you want to get old school (man, that term is finally appropriate) Run DMC is required listening.
posted by phrontist at 8:00 PM on September 27, 2005

Me too on most of the above mentioned tracks.
Also Criminal Minded, by Boogie Down Prod. and Night of the Living Baseheads, by Public Enemy if you need more late eighties golden rap classics.

But if you have never really been that into rap, maybe you should check out the Grey Album -- an absolute classic. Jay-Z's Black Album vs. the Beatles' White Album. You can't buy it, it's illegal (but you can download it.)
posted by Methylviolet at 8:47 PM on September 27, 2005

All too often, people focus on MCs to the exclusion of DJs. Here's a short, by-no-means-exhaustive list of DJ-focused songs:

Rockit - Herbie Hancock
Adventures on the Wheels of Steel - Grandmaster Flash
One For the Treble - Davy DMX
Jam Master Jay, Jam Master Jammin' - Run-DMC
Marley Marl Scratch - Marley Marl
Go Cut Creator Go, He's Dangerous - LL Cool J
The Magnificent Jazzy Jeff, A Touch of Jazz - DJ Jazzy Jeff
DJ Premier in Deep Concentration - Gang Starr
the 'Lessons' songs - Double Dee and Steinski, Cut Chemist, DJ Shadow
Wax Paper - J-Live
Who You Fuckin' Wit - Roc Raida
Salsa Scratch - Rob Swift
Invasion of the Octopus People - Invisibl Skratch Piklz
Dynamic Duo, Communication - DJ Revolution
Boy Meets Girl - Faust and Shortee
Captain Splatterpatty, Who's Your Daddy - Mr. Dibbs
Quest Represent - DJ Quest
Demonic Forces - DJ Eddie Def
Antimatter - Radar
posted by box at 8:48 PM on September 27, 2005

Concern yourself, Independant Scholarship? Your little screed there is more hateful and ignorant than about any rap tune I've ever heard, and I listen to a lot. Check yourself, friend.

captainscared make sure you grab this one: GeorgeBushDoesntCareAboutBlackPeople(directlink)

and try tracking down a mixtape or two. Look for DJ Premier, or Z-Trip, maybe. (hint: google for "z-trip mix"). What a good dj can do with some records is an important part of the whole thing.
posted by 31d1 at 9:01 PM on September 27, 2005

Also, here's a nice mp3 blog.
posted by 31d1 at 9:04 PM on September 27, 2005

Rap/hip-hop is not my genre of choice, but off the top of my head here are some tracks I can't forward past:

Dub Pistols - Cyclone
Jurassic 5 - The Influence
Roots - Water
Roots Manuva - Witness (One Hope)
De La Soul - Eye Know
De La Soul - It Ain't All Good
Jay-Z + DJ Danger Mouse - December 4th
N.W.A. - 100 Miles and Running
Mos Def - Summertime
posted by teem at 9:36 PM on September 27, 2005

A few quick suggestions:

"93 til Infinity" by Souls of Mischief
"Soul Flower (remix)", "Officer" by Pharcyde
"Packet Man" by Digital Underground
"Potholes In my Lawn", "Me, Myself, & I" by De La Soul
"Make you Feel That Way" by Blackalicious
posted by wakko at 9:51 PM on September 27, 2005

btw... Paul's Boutique has to be the best beastie boys album, ever.

"egg man" is a really fun track from that disc.

also De La Soul - Ego Trippin' (part 2) is pretty good. that's the first time i heard the line "i change my pitch up, smack my bitch up" as made famous by prodigy.
posted by joeblough at 9:52 PM on September 27, 2005

Digable Planets - The Art of Easing
Nas - Halftime, One Time 4 Your Mind
Wu Tang Clan - Shame on a Nigga

Are four of my favorite tracks at the moment. I've listened to Hip Hop for quite a while but my selections have been haphazard, which is why I'm discovering 1993 Hip Hop in 2005. Still, these, especially Nas, really blew me away. I'd say the rapping and the production on all of these tracks has something pretty special.
posted by louigi at 10:21 PM on September 27, 2005

Real quick, I should be writing a paper...

Sugarhill Gang - 8th Wonder
The Treacherous 3 - Feel the Heartbeat
Funk Four Plus One - Rappin' and Rockin' the House
Boogie Down Productions - 9MM Goes Bang
EPMD - Manslaughter
Snoop Dogg - Gin and Juice
El-P - TOJ
Company Flow - Blind
Aesop Rock - No Regrets
Latyrx - Lady Don't Tek No
Blackalicious - Anything off A2G
Atmosphere - Like Today
Brother Ali - Pretty much anything [he's my favorite]
Cee-Lo - I'll Be Around
Pharcyde - Runnin'
CloudDead - Bike Pt. 2
Wu-Tang Clan - CREAM
Paris - The Devil Made Me Do It
Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy - Television, The Drug Of The Nation
The Coup - I Ain't the Nigga
Nas - New York State of Mind
Afrika Bambaataa - Planet Rock [electroish]
Sole - Year of the $exxx Symbol
Mr. Lif - Home of the Brave
Sage Francis - Crack Pipes
Gza - BIBLE
Madvillain - Figaro
posted by cloeburner at 10:22 PM on September 27, 2005

Dream Warriors: My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style
posted by Rumple at 10:26 PM on September 27, 2005

I'm not paying attention to the responses, but my personal repetoire (including both white-boy stuff and otherwise):

- Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Million to Hold Us Back
- Meat Beat Manifesto - Anything (but esp. Actual Sounds + Voices)
- MF Doom - Mmm... Food?
- Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow
- Dilated Peoples - Anything
- Atmosphere is also pretty good, but I think I like them mainly because they're local (Minneapolis).
- Dälek - Absence
- Techno Animal - Brotherhood of the Bomb
(these last two are very, very noisy experimental hip-hop. This kind of stuff rocks me world nowadays, but it may not rock yours necessarily.)
posted by neckro23 at 10:30 PM on September 27, 2005

Not my specialty, but for recent stuff, I think you have to have:

"Yeah!!" by Usher, featuring Lil' Jon and Ludacris
posted by SuperNova at 11:03 PM on September 27, 2005

Rakim is pretty much the god of Mc's.

Rakim-R.A.K.I.M., How I get Down, The Saga Begins
Jay-Z-BluePrint 2
Shyne-What u gonna do
posted by AMWKE at 12:06 AM on September 28, 2005

Saul Williams
posted by koenie at 4:05 AM on September 28, 2005

"Rakim is pretty much the god of Mc's.

Rakim-R.A.K.I.M., How I get Down, The Saga Begins
Jay-Z-BluePrint 2
Shyne-What u gonna do"

AMWKE is correct.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 7:16 AM on September 28, 2005

"Liquid Swords" by GZA
"6 Feet Deep" by Gravediggaz
"Doggystyle" by Snoop Doggy Dog
posted by xpermanentx at 7:22 AM on September 28, 2005

Nas - "One Mic", "I Can", "Rewind"
Biggie (Notorious BIG) - "Hypnotize"
Big Punisher - "Still not a player"
Dr. Dre - "The Next Episode", "Still D.R.E"

and pretty much what everyone else said.
posted by geeky at 8:10 AM on September 28, 2005

Oh, and
Snoop Dog - "Still A G Thing"
Gorillaz - "Feel Good Inc", Clint Eastwood"
posted by geeky at 8:14 AM on September 28, 2005

Response by poster: anyone know what 31d1 meant by his comment about a screed?
posted by captainscared at 8:42 AM on September 28, 2005

I got into rap a little when I worked at the Foot Locker in Center City Philadelphia. I still listen to the late 80s rappers sometimes, they rap less about guns, drugs & gangs than their contemporary counterparts. Here is a partial list.

DJ Jazzy Jeff & the FP:
Parents Just Don't Understand
Charlie Mac (first out the limo)
Nightmare on My Street
(He's the DJ & I'm the Rapper album is 'fly')

Kool Moe Dee:
Wild Wild West
How You Like Me Now

One of the best things about these songs is that you can unserstand the lyrics.
posted by UncleHornHead at 9:15 AM on September 28, 2005

no captain.

and this question could go a lot of ways. Are you looking for something political? Something fun? Money, Ho's and Rims?

If you're like me, mid twenties college dropout white kid with a good paying job, Kanye West is pretty damn relateable.
posted by CCK at 9:17 AM on September 28, 2005

Also, if you do like Del and Kanye. Check out Talib Kweli, Mos Def, and I can't believe no one has said MURS yet.
posted by CCK at 9:20 AM on September 28, 2005

Probably deleted.
I'm gonna do you one better: I'm gonna YSI some tracks...
(Well, and point you here for some DCMA-action. ) If you had an email address, I'd do this directly...
Painkillers by Cannibal Ox
Wu-Tang Clan's Da Mystery of Shadowboxin'.
Other ones you should look for (that I don't have handy) are Aesop Rock's Flash Flood, Dalek's Making Mountains out of..., Afrika Baambata's Planet Rock, Dr. Octogon's Half-Alligator, Half-Man, One Be Lo's Double SSA... I'll think about it some more. Somewhere around here, I have my Rap and Street Consciousness textbook that has a pretty solid discography for anyone wanting to learn about rap.


Oh, and BUY ALBUMS FROM THESE ARTISTS OR DELETE THE TRACKS.
posted by klangklangston at 9:26 AM on September 28, 2005

Here is a list of tracks, in rough chronological order from the late 70s to today, that represent the best and most influential songs and artists in rap. Together, they form a pretty concise history of hip hop (and would make an awesome three-disc set). Obviously some great songs and artists are left off of this list, but I think this is a good start.

"Rapper's Delight" - Sugar Hill Gang
"The Breaks" - Kurtis Blow
"The Message" - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
"The Show" - Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew
"It's Like That" - Run-DMC
"Peter Piper" - Run-DMC
"Paid in Full" - Erik B. & Rakim
"Raw" - Big Daddy Kane
"South Bronx" - Boogie Down Productions
"You Gots to Chill" - EPMD
"Hey Ladies" - Beastie Boys
"Children's Story" - Slick Rick
"Me Myself and I" - Del La Soul
"Check The Rhime" - A Tribe Called Quest
"Fuck Tha Police" - NWA
"Fight the Power" - Public Enemy
"Insane In the Brain" - Cypress Hill
"It Ain't Hard to Tell" - Nas
"Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" - Digable Planets
"Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang" - Dr. Dre
"All Eyez On Me" - 2Pac
"Who Am I? (What's My Name?)" - Snoop Doggy Dogg
"Definition" - Black Star
"Big Poppa" - Notorious B.I.G.
"Rosa Parks" - OutKast
"Hip Hop" - Dead Prez
"C.R.E.A.M." - Wu Tang Clan
"Everything is Everything" - Lauryn Hill
"My Name Is" - Eminem
"Hard Knock Life" - Jay-Z
"Country Grammar" - Nelly
"Quality Control" - Jurassic 5
"In Da Club" - 50 Cent
"Through the Wire" - Kanye West
posted by conquistador at 2:03 PM on September 28, 2005