Any recommendations for non-English rap/hip-hop songs?

August 4, 2004 6:01 PM

Any recommendations for non-English rap/hip-hop songs? I've found a couple I like ("Represent" by Orishas (Spanish), "Hasta la Vista" by MC Solaar (French)), and I'm trying to put together a full mix CD. Bonus points for songs available on iTunes.
posted by rorycberger to media & arts (31 answers total)

"Beautiful 21C" from Dance Dance Revolution, as performed by some South Korean guys trying to sound like the Wu-Tang Clan.

MWR's "Because I'm an Arab."
posted by inksyndicate at 6:03 PM on August 4, 2004

Not proper rap/hip-hop, but Molotov is Mexican rap-metal. Some in Spanish, some in Spanglish.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:25 PM on August 4, 2004

While I am not a connoisseur, those in the know tell me that of all the rappers in Japan, Rhymester is the best.
posted by gen at 6:36 PM on August 4, 2004

MWR (interesting but not fabulous arab rappers, but has mp3s)

and these people are cute too
posted by amberglow at 6:47 PM on August 4, 2004

Plastilina Mosh are usually described as Mexico's answer to the Beastie Boys. Their song "Afroman" is a particular favorite of mine, as is "Mr P. Mosh". They're mostly spanish rap-rock-whatever with some spanglish mixed in.

MC Solaar is really good, look for more stuff by him. Iam is another french rapper worth checking out.

From Chile, there's "La Posse Latina" (recommended), "Los Tetas" (in a funk/rap vein), "Tiro de Gracia", "Makiza". All in spanish.

Send me an email if you want some tracks.
posted by signal at 6:48 PM on August 4, 2004

Anything by MC Hotdog (not kidding) from Taiwan.
posted by alidarbac at 7:17 PM on August 4, 2004

De La Soul's "Long Island Wildin'" (on Buhloone Mindstate) features some Japanese rapping. It's short though (only 1:30).
posted by sad_otter at 7:21 PM on August 4, 2004

Cantonese is amazingly well suited to rap and hip hop styles. The group of artists known as LMF (lazymuthafucka) produces albums under the LMF name as well as individuals and subsets. They are on Warner Music, out of Hong Kong. All of the music I have obtained of theirs has been directly from Hong Kong, on DVD, VCD and audio CD. They cover a wide variety of styles associated with rap and hip hop, so buying one of their albums is not a sign of what the next album might be like.

I haven't succeeded in locating a place to purchase their music in MP3 format. Definitely not on iTunes.

Someone on #mefi had an incredible mix of French rap and hip hop, but for the life of me I can't remember who.
posted by sequential at 7:30 PM on August 4, 2004

Try Nitro Microphone Underground, whom I believe is on Def Jam Japan if that helps. Amazing Japanese hip hop, especially for someone like me who ignored all hip hop until recently.
posted by revgeorge at 7:46 PM on August 4, 2004

There is one kinda famous (and not-that-bad) Israeli rap group. Shabbak Samech. Kinda 'eh, but it does fit your criteria.

Another shout out for MC Solar. He's great.
posted by zpousman at 8:01 PM on August 4, 2004

It's not purely rap, but I'm a big fan of Control Machete - kind of hardcore metal/rap. Or something. Listen to their track "Si Senior" on iTunes. Fettes Brot is a fairly good German rap group.
posted by icetaco at 8:15 PM on August 4, 2004

The DJ Krush album "Shinso: The Message in Depth" has a great track called "Taki No Tabiji ", featuring the Japanese rapper Inden.
posted by arha at 8:19 PM on August 4, 2004

Not that this is really useful to you, but I like MC Solaar's album Prose combat and in particular the song "Nouveau western" better than his other stuff.
posted by Utilitaritron at 8:20 PM on August 4, 2004

The Rough Guide to African Rap has some great stuff on it. Some is English and others are in various African languages. Not completely brilliant throughout, but very solid.
posted by livii at 8:30 PM on August 4, 2004

In Hebrew: Mook E. (formerly in Shabak Samech), Segol 59

Arabic: Tamer Nafer with DAM
posted by terrortubby at 8:31 PM on August 4, 2004

italianrap.com is a great site by italian-american folklorist joe sciorra...
posted by judith at 8:59 PM on August 4, 2004

Wyclef had some good stuff on Carnival, especially Sang Fezi
posted by jmgorman at 9:29 PM on August 4, 2004

RICO SUAVE!
posted by NortonDC at 9:40 PM on August 4, 2004

ow, quit it
posted by NortonDC at 9:40 PM on August 4, 2004

How can one omit "Dur d'etre Bebe"?
posted by RavinDave at 10:32 PM on August 4, 2004

If you have a sense of humor about it, Ich Kann Nicht Rappen by Die Prinzen is fun. Not real hip hop, but fun (unfortunately, the album Alles nur geklaut isn't on iTunes, though some of their others are).

There was another great sounding tune I think was called Wek by a band something like Die Fantastiche somethin'or'other... can't find it on my iTunes or Google right now. Will try later.
posted by weston at 10:45 PM on August 4, 2004

I also like MC Solaar, especially Prose Combat. Dig that Gainsbourg sample in "Nouveau Western"! "La Concubine de l'Hémoglobine" and "Obsoléte" are really good too.

Living as I do in a heavily Greek neighborhood, I occasionally hear some Greek hip-hop. Check out Ominus...their site has MP3s.

This page has links to crews from all over the place -- it might get you started next time you're on a totally legal, completely legit, fully licensed file-sharing network.
posted by Vidiot at 11:30 PM on August 4, 2004

hey guess what, if you switch to another itunes store, like germany and find something fun to buy there you can't if you signed up in the USA. iTunes needs some help.
posted by rhyax at 12:08 AM on August 5, 2004

I'm a Francophile, which will explain these selections.

The Fonky Family are probably the best French language rappers IMHO, not necessarily for the rapping, but for the beats. They have some great tunes.

NTM are okay.

IAM are cute, particularly Je danse la mia which has a great Michel Gondry directed video.

Clotaire K is a Lebanese rapper who raps in French. He has this great pan-Arabian rap sound going, which is pretty unique.
posted by wackybrit at 6:16 AM on August 5, 2004

I like Dragon Ash, a Japanese hip hop group.
posted by Jeanne at 7:09 AM on August 5, 2004

Look for "Conquest Of The Irrational" by DJ Vadim feat. a French rap by Jupiter Jam.
posted by hyperizer at 7:32 AM on August 5, 2004

Check out Stupeflip... straight outta' France. Actually, they're kind of rad.
posted by ph00dz at 8:01 AM on August 5, 2004

Starflam is a great Belgian hip hop group, rapping in French.
posted by rainking at 9:02 AM on August 5, 2004

Die Fantastischen 4 is great German rap/hip hop. Check out Raus, Krieger, Sie is weg, and Die da, in particular.

Shakkazombie is alright for Japanese - try Shiroi Yami no Naka and Get Yourself Arrested.

I can't tell you much about Dragon Ash, other than I really like the song Grateful Days.

Ketsumeishi is another Japanese group I only really know through one song (Tomodachi), but it's a good one, so you might like to check them out as well.
posted by emmling at 11:31 AM on August 5, 2004

I almost forgot about Seth P. Brundel (Spanish).
posted by hyperizer at 1:31 PM on August 5, 2004

For the love of God, will people quit yelping "MC Solaar!" whenever anybody even hints at the topic of non-English rap? What a bore!

Anyway, it would be remiss of me as a obsessif not to mention the one and perhaps only classic rap number by Manau, «La tribu de Dana». Stunning, really. And it's an historical drama!
posted by joeclark at 2:43 PM on August 5, 2004