Topic: Tell me about some hip-hop or, alternatively, some punk that I should listen to (Read 22498 times)

Gryff · « **on:** 27 Feb 2007, 15:06 »

Hey so we haven't had a recommendations thread in a while, right? But seriously, folks, I've got a couple of quite specific things to ask about, which hopefully in the first case and certainly in the second, you guys will be able to help me out with.

So:

Firstly, I'm looking for a certain type of hip-hop -- more eclectic, off the wall stuff that is unique in subject matter or beats or lyrical flow, whatever. One of my favourite MCs is MF Doom so I'm kind of looking for stuff in the same vein (as in, as original and odd, not necessarily what sounds the same) as him -- things like Madlib, Oh No, Del tha Funky Homosapien, Ghostface's more irreverent stuff etc. I'm kind of bored with stuff like Jurassic 5, so tell me about something really interesting!

Secondly, I've finally clued onto Q and Not U through their album No Kill No Beep Beep (which I've owned for a while but only just started to appreciate) and I'm wanting to hear more contemporary (ish) punk that doesn't suck. Stuff from the nineties onwards I guess, and no NOFX So-cal stuff please. Tommy, I'm sure you can help out here. Sorry I wasn't paying attention the other hundred times you already talked about this stuff. I am just starting to get into more stuff like Fugazi and Drive Like Jehu, if that helps you.

Please when you are recommending things, actually talk about why I should listen to them, don't just list names. Thanks!

Kai · « **Reply #1 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 15:40 »

if you like Drive Like Jehu you will most certainly like Hot Snakes. Get all three albums. Rocket From the Crypt were pretty good too.

Jawbreaker?

as for hip hop.. A Tribe Called Quest and Aesop Rock are good. RJD2, especially the album Deadringer.

EDIT: I figured I should mention BLACKALICIOUS

Gryff · « **Reply #2 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 16:09 »

Blackalicious are the shit, it's true, and yeah, RJD2 is is pretty cool as well. Does RJD2 have a new album out now/soon? Has anyone heard it?

A Tribe Called Quest is pretty much essential listening for every person intereted in hip-hop, so I have that covered! I will look into Aesop Rock though -- I have heard people mention them (him?) before but never got around to listening.

Also, yes, these punk things will be checked out.

THANKS KAI

Joseph · « **Reply #3 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 16:16 »

For some contemperary punk-ish stuff, I have to recommend Be Your Own Pet and Cap'n Jazz (not sure they could be called punk though).

As for hip-hop, Cadence Weapon makes some incredible music with the most original beats I've heard in some time. He has a few mp3s of his own songs and remixes of other artists up on his site, www.cadenceweaponmusic.com

Gryff · « **Reply #4 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 16:30 »

Excellent, thanks for the link. Cadence Weapon sounds really interesting, production-wise. Nice!

And ah yes, I am somewhat familiar with Be Your Own Pet, and will endeavour to check out more of them. Is Cap'n Jazz made up of people from Joan of Arc? I think I heard that somewhere.

edit: allmusic tells me that Cap'n Jazz was an earlier band of Tim Kinsella... So my question becomes, how is Cap'n Jazz similar/different to Joan of Arc?

ImRonBurgundy? · « **Reply #5 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 16:37 »

Yeah, Cap'n Jazz spawned a bunch of bands, Joan of Arc included. If you're not averse to music not in your own language, I would suggest Eastern Youth and Number Girl, as far as interesting punkish stuff goes. I might also recommend Hot Water Music, perhaps just because they're one of my favorite bands. I'd recommend starting with either No Division or Fuel for the Hate Game, which are probably their two best albums. Also, I think Husker Du and maybe Leatherface are pretty much required listening for punk rock.

EDIT: Also! I wholeheartedly second Kai's Jawbreaker recommendation, but with much more force and vigor than his question mark belied.

EDIT2: Forum hates umlauts.

Joseph · « **Reply #6 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 16:57 »

Cap'n Jazz doesn't have the experimental moments with electronics and the like that tend to be found in many Joan of Arc songs. The guitar work is louder and more punk-like. There are definately some moments where they've reminded me of Fugazi.

AnonymousNoob · « **Reply #7 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 17:08 »

I don't know if you've listened to the hip-hop acts you listed or if you wanted recommendations at and around them. But yeah, Black on Both Sides is a classic album and probably Mos Def's best work outside of Black Star, followed by a top notch MF Doom and a top notch Madlib album.

Johnny C · « **Reply #8 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 17:11 »

See, Mos Def's The New Danger is one of my favourite hip-hop records ever. Also Busdriver's new album is pretty awesome.

Also Stiff Little Fingers are always punk winners.

Kai · « **Reply #9 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 17:15 »

Oh, if you aren't listening to the Afghan Whigs, you need to be listening to the Afghan Whigs. Gentlemen especially.

Gryff · « **Reply #10 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 17:20 »

Ah yes, I'm already familiar with the ones I listed, so Lord Quas and King Geedorah are already favourites. Mos Def is great too. Thanks though -- I should have worded the request a bit better maybe?

I'm really curious about Cap'n Jazz now so I will certainly seek some of their stuff out, and Hot Water Music and Busdriver have been added to the list too. What language(s) do Eastern Youth and Number Girl sing in?

Stiff Little Fingers are those guys who sound like Green Day, right? (I keed, I keed)

Husker Du and Sugar, and the Afghan Whigs are both already known and loved!

Will · « **Reply #11 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 17:30 »

On the hip-hop side of things, I've really been into Dalek a lot lately. I highly recommend them. Also, Listener is really good. He's less of an MC than a spoken word artist set to beats. I guess think underground hip-hop meets Pedro The Lion.

ImRonBurgundy? · « **Reply #12 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 17:31 »

Eastern Youth and Number Girl are both Japanese.

Gryff · « **Reply #13 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 17:33 »

Oh man, I downloaded a Dalek song, 'Paragraphs Relentless', the other day and it blew my mind. Really dense and layered, and with a bagpipe sample! Sold!

Will · « **Reply #14 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 17:44 »

Also, Sage Francis if you don't already know about him, and Atmosphere (sorry, no linky) are both great. Basically, I usually tend to go for hip-hop that's more focused on the writing than the beats, although they don't skimp there either. What I really like about all of the artists I mentioned is that their lyrics can stand alone, independent of the music, and still retain their power.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #15 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 20:02 »

On the same track as Will, you pretty much can't go wrong with anything on the Rhymesayers Label (owned/run by Sean Daley aka Slug from Atmosphere). They've got Atmosphere. MF Doom, Eyedea (my personal favourite MC), and Brother Ali among others.

CamusCanDo · « **Reply #16 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 22:31 »

This is pretty much a given, Wu-Tang Clan.

fish across face · « **Reply #17 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 23:02 »

Yeah, exploring more Wu Tang wouldn't go amiss, although Ghostface is basically the one for loopy lyrics. If you want other solo albums, maybe give GZA's 'Liquid Swords' a go? I like that and Method Man's 'Tical'.

Heh, have you heard much Kool Keith? He's really, really overrated, but I think his rapping-absolute-nonsense schtick came together pretty well on the original Dr Octagon album. He's on about being a gynaecologist from Jupiter, so you have to be up for a bit of filth, but it's all such nonsense I think it'd be hard for most to get offended. Even some of the skits are good, which is a bit scary.

"There's a horse in the hospital!"

I'm always a bit hesitant to recommend this guy, but I do love him... just depends how wonky you want to get... a UK MC called Infinite Livez. His album 'Bush Meat' is really funny, IMO, in a pretty dark way. It has the most repellant innuendo this side of My Humps, but unlike that it's inventive and funny. The Adventures of the Lactating Man is pretty clearly titled, White Wee-Wee is as well... have to skip that when I'm in the wrong mood ... other raps include one about pawning elephant shit as contemporary art in Soho galleries (great line about "MCs in formaldehyde", eat your heart about Damien Hirst); one about a centaur pikcing up a My Little Pony in a bar ("Babe, I just wanna let you know / You're the best looking thing to come out of Hasbro [...] You're such a cutie / Big yellow star tattooed on your booty"); and another about a woman following her husband, sure he's having an affair, and finding he's banging an ape. It's really demented, but it's pretty up mood-wise, lots of reggae inflected vocalising (like all the best UK stuff, I reckon) and I prefer it to a lot of the more serious dudes. I mean, Aesop Rock's lyrics really are as good as all that, but a track like Daylight is enough for me.

I also think Mike Ladd has had some moments of greatness. See if you can find 'Welcome To The Afterfuture'. It's stood up to 8 years of listening so far with me.

Edit: One more - have you heard any of the MCs affiliated with Freestyle Fellowship or Project Blowed? Some of that's quite amazing given it was going on in the early 90s. At least as far-reaching, adventurous and virtuosic as things like Anticon, but just less of the liberal art college vibe, more stoner / jazz nerds. I don't really think any of the albums come together that well, but there's some incredible moments amongst it all. Maybe you've heard Prefuse 73 if you like sanctioned-for-indie-fans stuff like RJD2? One of the Fellowship's key members, Mikah 9, does a version of Life & Death on Prefuse's first album. Aceyalone is the most famous of all of them... oh wait, he did a whole album with RJD2... so you probably heard that? Can't believe RJD2 did a song with Ric Ocasek...

fish across face · « **Reply #18 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 23:26 »

Gah, sorry I know it's not good form to start another post, but that other one was too huge...

DABRYE! He's a producer, has got oodles of undie-ground hip-hop cred and the added benefit of actually being good. His last album, 'Two / Three' is the one with the MCs on it. It's joyous. He has J Dilla on one of the tracks, hopefully you've followed up on him (he produced the last Tribe album, a million things since, recently put out a couple of great albums on Stones Throw (one post-humously

), the other half of Jaylib, etc.).

Crikey.

May be way too straight-up, but the last De La Soul album really turned my crank too, amazing production, ( some Dilla and Madlib from memory), also MF Doom on one track. Surprisingly superb track with Common too...

BrittanyMarie · « **Reply #19 on:** 27 Feb 2007, 23:36 »

Ooh Ooh I think you would like P.O.S. He co-founded Doomtree and he is also on Rhymesayers, I think, and he is kind of known for being a Punk Rock Hip Hop Guy as in he is a rapper in his own right and he also sings and guitars in a punk band called Building Better Bombs. He is good in both, and really great live. Lyrically he's not really that WEIRD, but he is one of my favorite rappers.

P.O.S.'s opener when he rapped here was Mac Lethal, and he was really good though-he is more Southern style hip-hop as opposed to the Minneapolis/St. Paul style.

Gryff · « **Reply #20 on:** 28 Feb 2007, 03:37 »

This is really excellent, guys. I've definitely got lots to check out now, but by all means continue!

KharBevNor · « **Reply #21 on:** 28 Feb 2007, 05:18 »

Why on earth would you want to listen to contemporary punk?

Go and listen to Anti-Nowhere Leauge and X-Ray Spex, you dirty little boy.

!!!CPAOI!!! · « **Reply #22 on:** 28 Feb 2007, 05:59 »

If you're looking for original hip-hop, check out Subtle. Seriously.

foolsgold · « **Reply #23 on:** 28 Feb 2007, 06:52 »

In case you're interested in some international hip hop, check out Die Fantastische Vier. They have a terrific MTV unplugged recording that is worth its import cost.

My favorite, though, is MC Solaar. Great beats and a silky smooth delivery. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feXhd8e99do

More French rap that is pretty cool. These guys aren't as smooth as Solaar, maybe a bit more IAM than anything. Still, Prodige Namor, one of the MCs, is an absolute force.

The Brits have some good things going too. Roots Manuva (maybe best known in these parts as the voice in the Gorillaz "All Alone") is probably one of my favorite MC/producers out there. Although I do enjoy some of it, Roots is a good counterpoint to the kind of jerky/shouty/laddish Grime movement represented by the Streets/Kano/Dizzee/Lady Sovereign.

Also, Braintax and Lotek Hi-Fi bring the good Brit-hop.

Check the man out and keep checking (4 videos hidden in there)

fish across face · « **Reply #24 on:** 28 Feb 2007, 07:25 »

Quote from: foolsgold on 28 Feb 2007, 06:52

In case you're interested in some international hip hop, check out Die Fantastische Vier. They have a terrific MTV unplugged recording that is worth its import cost.

I haven't heard them in .. shit, almost 15 years, at a guess, but they were pretty funny back then. "Der Smudo, der Smudo, ich bin der Smudo / ich mache keine Karate, ich mache keine Judo" Real old school sounding.

For French rap, I'd also recommend TTC. They're bizarre. More like a Euro take on crunk than the tedious true school shit that pervades what I've heard Europe.

Impossible not to second Roots Manuva, just assumed you'd already have heard him.

Also, maybe be aware that Subtle sound much more like some kind of lo-fi mix of indie and electronica than any (other?) hip-hop act.

SeanBateman · « **Reply #25 on:** 28 Feb 2007, 14:18 »

Stuff that kinda reminds me of MF Doom. First off, get some Victor Vaughn Albums. It's the same MC, under a different name. All his names refer back to Dr. Doom for some reason. Check out Madvillan too, which if I remember right is MF Doom with Madlib.

Just various other reccomendations- Dilated Peoples are just really good hip hop, nothing fancy.

Cannibal Ox, and Grouch and Eligh are dudes I haven't listened to enough to reccomened fully, but have a soft spot for. Same with Latyrx.

The New Talib Kweli album is great(the one he did with madlib), but then in general Talib Kweli is pretty amazing. You should also check out Aceyalone.

But the number 1 biggest recomendation I have for you is Haiku D'etat. It's an underground hip hop supergroup featuring Aceyalone, Mike N Eye, and the best guest stars you will ever hear on a CD. Listen to Coup De Theatre, and especially the song "Top Qualified." The Blackalicious verse on that song will blow you the fuck away.

Also this thread inspired me to listen to Johnny Thunders. Good Job, thread.

Gryff · « **Reply #26 on:** 28 Feb 2007, 14:34 »

Haiku D'etat is an excellent name.

fish across face · « **Reply #27 on:** 28 Feb 2007, 15:13 »

FYI "Mike N Eye" is Mikah Nine who I was recommending, so, yeah, I guess I recommend Haiku D'Etat too. Haven't heard 'em tho.

The guys from Cannibal Ox are also on the Dabrye album I recommended.

Ernest · « **Reply #28 on:** 28 Feb 2007, 19:20 »

If you like Drive Like Jehu, you will like Bear vs Shark. They're more poppy sounding, but still good. Also, for some of the dirtiest sounding punk, listen to some fucking Coachwhips. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbTWFj2SMX8

If you're interested in noise/art punk, you should check out Lightning Bolt. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGzPNQ-cT3o

I'll also recommend Les Savy Fav, just 'cause I want to. I guess they're more "indie."

Anyway, if you're just getting into stuff like Drive Like Jehu and Fugazi, I'm guess you haven't dug that deep. Obvious stuff to mention would be the MC5 (one of my favs) and Dinosaur Jr's early stuff. I'm also gonna recommend you listen to some Mission of Burma.

My advice: Listen to Hot Snakes, but avoid Rocket From the Crypt.

Listen to Deep Wound (I'll upload the album and send it to you if you like).

Of course, don't let this keep you from listening to more Fugazi and Drive Like Jehu, because those two are (IMO) a couple of the most innovative bands in any genre.

Also, pick up Different Damage by Q and Not U if you don't have it already.

Also, Big Black.

grrraham · « **Reply #29 on:** 28 Feb 2007, 23:38 »

Listen to The Thermals you dumb kike.
you cum dyke
you bum pike
you thumb reich
you scum bike
you hum mic

hey. you know what's retarded? Sharp skinheads against racial prejudice. yes. lets co-opt the fashion and style of white supremecists. and then dedicate ourselves to hating white supremacists. And we're all white. Lets get really angry and beat people up when they think we're white supremacists.

amok · « **Reply #30 on:** 01 Mar 2007, 01:00 »

Quote from: grrraham on 28 Feb 2007, 23:38

Listen to The Thermals you dumb please ban my anti-semitic ass.
you cum dyke

laffo

ImRonBurgundy? · « **Reply #31 on:** 01 Mar 2007, 01:58 »

Quote from: grrraham on 28 Feb 2007, 23:38

hey. you know what's retarded? Sharp skinheads against racial prejudice. yes. lets co-opt the fashion and style of white supremecists. and then dedicate ourselves to hating white supremacists. And we're all white. Lets get really angry and beat people up when they think we're white supremacists.

Wow, you're so backwards on the history of that that it's going to take weeks to straighten you out.

grrraham · « **Reply #32 on:** 01 Mar 2007, 05:37 »

And mohawks were co-opted from native americans.
Jamaican rudeboy culture and skinheads have been unrelated so long that no one except for scholars and seniors think otherwise.

Johnny C · « **Reply #33 on:** 01 Mar 2007, 09:55 »

Oh, Canadian rapper Cadence Weapon has a new album out and it's really great. Check out the single here.

Ernest · « **Reply #34 on:** 01 Mar 2007, 19:55 »

Quote from: grrraham on 01 Mar 2007, 05:37

And mohawks were co-opted from native americans.
Jamaican rudeboy culture and skinheads have been unrelated so long that no one except for scholars and seniors think otherwise.

Really man, I want to know who exactly you think you are.

Johnny C · « **Reply #35 on:** 05 Mar 2007, 15:12 »

so are you guys listening to cadence weapon yet

Kai · « **Reply #36 on:** 05 Mar 2007, 15:21 »

Quote from: Flaming Ostrich on 28 Feb 2007, 19:20

My advice: Listen to Hot Snakes, but avoid Rocket From the Crypt.

Do not listen to this man (well, listen to the rest of it, it is pretty spot on). Rocket From The Crypt are great.

Gryff · « **Reply #37 on:** 05 Mar 2007, 15:39 »

Johnny C yes. Kai, okay I will give them a shot.

Ernest · « **Reply #38 on:** 05 Mar 2007, 17:12 »

Quote from: Kai on 05 Mar 2007, 15:21

Quote from: Flaming Ostrich on 28 Feb 2007, 19:20
My advice: Listen to Hot Snakes, but avoid Rocket From the Crypt.

Do not listen to this man (well, listen to the rest of it, it is pretty spot on). Rocket From The Crypt are great.

Fine, I won't try to stop him from listening to RFTC, but you better not try to stop him from listening to Hot Snakes.

Kai · « **Reply #39 on:** 05 Mar 2007, 17:14 »

Dude, I totally recommended Hot Snakes in the second post

Joseph · « **Reply #40 on:** 05 Mar 2007, 18:08 »

Quote from: Johnny C on 05 Mar 2007, 15:12

so are you guys listening to cadence weapon yet

Gryff Has been listening to him since I recommended him in the second post (not made by Gryff).

David_Dovey · « **Reply #41 on:** 05 Mar 2007, 22:28 »

Hey did anyone recommend Buck 65 yet? Cos he's pretty freakin good.

Johnny C · « **Reply #42 on:** 06 Mar 2007, 00:04 »

Quote from: Dark Flame on 05 Mar 2007, 18:08

Gryff Has been listening to him since I recommended him in the second post (not made by Gryff).

Sorry, i have a "lesser poster" filter that just kicks in automatically.

The Kangmiester · « **Reply #43 on:** 06 Mar 2007, 05:45 »

http://www.myspace.com/puppybucketanddonnychoonara

Ernest · « **Reply #44 on:** 06 Mar 2007, 17:01 »

Quote from: Kai on 05 Mar 2007, 17:14

Dude, I totally recommended Hot Snakes in the second post

Well then I guess we're cool.

thepugs · « **Reply #45 on:** 07 Mar 2007, 14:01 »

Pretty much anything related to Quannum Projects is worth listening to, if you haven't been lead to it through Blackalicious already.

JediBendu · « **Reply #46 on:** 07 Mar 2007, 14:18 »

Edan's Beauty And The Beat is a great off the wall hip-hop album.

And of course, nobody mentioned them yet I don't think! Jedi Mind Tricks. Really good, with a lot of inventive production and "Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story" has a particularly amazing verse from RA the Rugged Man. If you check nothing else out by JMT, check out that song. Of course, The Roots. Even though they're not that obscure or anything. They're freakin' amazing. Dead Prez is pretty damn good as well. I also personally like Talib Kweli better than Mos Def too. Mos' new album was really dissapointing.

strangeparallel · « **Reply #47 on:** 15 Mar 2007, 10:42 »

Saul Williams is a great great rapper, he also has some books of poetry that are pretty good.
DeLa Soul also takes beats from Steely Dan songs.
Also, not too "alternative" or whatevs, but Biggie is definitally my favorite rapper right now. Ready to Die has the cutest rhymes out there: "if you mess with big and heavy I'll get up in your ass like a wedgie".
Also, another raving review for the Wu-Tang Clan.
If you like Doom, he recorded an album with a bunch of dudes and they were called Monsta Island Czars and they made a concept album called Escape from Monsta Island which is badassery embodied.

Will · « **Reply #48 on:** 15 Mar 2007, 10:51 »

I haven't heard any of Saul Williams' recorded stuff, but I've considered purchasing the Dead Emcee Scrolls a few times. I'll probably actually make that purchase this weekend sometime.

SeanBateman · « **Reply #49 on:** 15 Mar 2007, 18:21 »

Pagebreak is one of my favourite things.

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Author Topic: Tell me about some hip-hop or, alternatively, some punk that I should listen to (Read 22498 times)

AnonymousNoob

!!!CPAOI!!!

foolsgold

SeanBateman

grrraham

grrraham

The Kangmiester

thepugs

strangeparallel

SeanBateman