Does that 2pac guy have a new single yet?

September 10, 2019 3:49 PM

I have a hip hop playlist for working out, and I've realized there's basically nothing on it from since the mid 2000s. Please help recommend newer stuff with a similar vibe as the tracks on my list...

I'm not great at describing exactly what I'm looking for, but the songs I've been listening to have a mix of driving, aggressive beats and lyrics. Such as (pretty much all songs nsfw obvs):

Ghostface Killah - The Champ
2pac ft. Trick Daddy - Still Ballin'
Public Enemy - Harder Than You Think
M.O.P. - Ante Up (Remix)
DMX - X Gon' Give It To Ya
The Coup - Pork and Beef
Jammer, Kano et al - Destruction VIP

I'm not psyched that some of this has lyrics that are misogynistic, homophobic, etc.; but that's also not a deal-breaker, it's headphones only and I recognize the venn diagram between "conscious" and "about kicking ass" is pretty small.

I don't really listen to radio, so assume pretty much full ignorance of the past decade or so. Specific tracks are more helpful than artists or albums or producers. Thanks!

posted by Homeboy Trouble to Media & Arts (12 answers total)

Wu Tang has a 2015 album, Del tha funky Homosapien has a 2014 album, De La Soul has a 2016 album.

Here’s a (few year old) Genius thread listing modern rappers of the old(er) school. Not clear exactly how fresh you need but that’s all new-ish in my (old) book.
posted by SaltySalticid at 4:23 PM on September 10, 2019 [1 favorite]

Run The Jewels (Pretty woke, and also check out solo albums from Killer Mike and El-P)
Slowthai
Denzel Curry
Big Krit (some)

More experimental:
Death Grips
Clipping.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 4:38 PM on September 10, 2019 [3 favorites]

Does Run The Jewels do it for you? Maybe some Childish Gambino? Or Kendrick Lamar or Hopsin?
posted by Candleman at 4:38 PM on September 10, 2019 [3 favorites]

Yeah I agree that mining the El-P/RJD2/Run the Jewels/DJ Shadow axis should work for you:

DJ Shadow: Nobody Speak
Run the Jewels: Oh Hail No & Run the Jewels
El-P: Deep Space 9MM, Flyentogloy

Also this is old but I'll throw it in there because its slammin and criminally underappreciated:

Villain - Take A Stand
posted by googly at 5:12 PM on September 10, 2019 [2 favorites]

Earl Sweatshirt, Open Mike Eagle, A$AP Ferg, DJ Khaled, Danny Brown, Migos just to name a few artists that attach to my receptors for invigorating beats..

Cheers!
posted by bird internet at 6:11 PM on September 10, 2019 [2 favorites]

Pep Love, Blackalicious and Dilated Peoples are all conscious rappers that rap about kicking ass.
posted by crunchy potato at 7:16 PM on September 10, 2019

De La Soul’s got a new single out with DJ Shadow right now called Rocket Fuel. It’s catchy.
posted by deludingmyself at 8:28 PM on September 10, 2019

King Kunta, so cheerfully aggressive.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 6:43 AM on September 11, 2019 [1 favorite]

Vince Staples
Niña Dioz
posted by jomato at 12:52 PM on September 11, 2019

A couple of tracks from the Into the Spider-Verse soundtrack:

What's Up Danger by Blackway and Black Caviar

Elevate by DJ Khalil, Denzel Curry, YBN Cordae, Swavay, Trevor Rich
posted by creepygirl at 8:43 PM on September 11, 2019

Sounds like you'd like the most recent Pusha T
posted by Ragged Richard at 12:23 PM on September 12, 2019

Thought of one more:

Throw it Down by Dominque Young Unique
posted by creepygirl at 1:45 PM on September 14, 2019