Hip-Hop 101: Who you should be listening to. - Pokemon Forum

Sean · #1 07-20-2009, 06:53 PM

Now, some of you might stereotype hip-hop music by saying that it's only about sex, drugs, money, etc. However, contrary to popular belief, it can and does go much, much deeper than that. I'm not trying to force my views on you, but this is a good heads up as to who you should be listening to and who you shouldn't be listening to (hence the title).

You Should be Listening To:
Q-Tip
Atmosphere
J. Cole
Jay-Z
Wu-Tang Clan
Any Individual Member of the Wu-Tang Clan -- Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, GZA, RZA, O.D.B. (RIP), Method Man, U-God, Masta Killa
Rakim
B.o.B.
KiD CuDi
Wale
K-Otix
Run DMC
Cypress Hill
Ludacris
Kanye West
Lupe Fiasco
Nas
Eminem
The Game
Jedi Mind Tricks
Common
Mr. Lif
Del tha Funky Homosapien
Clipse
Cormega
Slick Rick
OutKast - And the individual members Andre 3000 & Big Boi
Talib Kweli
Mos Def (including Black Star)
Chamillionaire
Ice Cube
Big L
Big Pun
Snoop Doggy Dogg
MF Doom
AZ
Beanie Sigel
Busta Rhymes
OutKast (including Andre 3K and Big Boi individually)
Papoose
Jay Electronica
A Tribe Called Quest
Dr. Dre
N.W.A.
Papoose
The Pharcyde
Public Enemy
LL Cool J (old stuff)
The Notorious B.I.G.
KRS-One
2Pac
De La Soul
Gang Starr
Lauryn Hill
Wax
Aesop Rock
Sean Price
Drake (Thank Me Later was great. However, he barely made this part.

Who You Should Be Ignoring:
T-Pain
Akon
DJ Khaled
Fabolous
Fat Joe
Rick Ross
Flo Rida
New Nelly (his old stuff is fine)
Diddy
G-Unit
Bubba Sparxxx
Soulja Boy and anyone associated with him
Sean Kingston (not really a rapper but whatever)
Memphis Bleek
Lil' Kim
Lil' Mama
Kardinal Offishall
2 Pistols
Ace Hood
Ray J
Yung Berg
Plies
Twista
Pitbull
Ja Rule
Shawty Lo
Brisco
Will.I.Am.
Lil Jon
Dem Franchize Boyz
E-40
Birdman

Who can either be really awful or really good depending on the track:
Young Jeezy
Lil' Wayne
T.I.
Pharell
N*E*R*D
50 Cent
Fort Minor
Bun B
Three 6 Mafia
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Paul Wall
Juelz Santana
Jadakiss
Cassidy

Hope I could help.

iReign · #2 07-20-2009, 07:19 PM

I think the new T.I. should be on the 'Who You Should Be Listening To' section. His album was great, and there wasn't really a bad song on it. It provided lyrical depth and still weren't boring lecture-like songs.

karmachameleon · #3 07-20-2009, 08:09 PM

MF Doom is alright... and Kanye should be on the sometimes good sometimes bad list. I've been listening to a lot of Bay area stuff, yall should listen to some too:
www.myspace.com/peopleunderthestairs
www.myspace.com/delthefunkyhomosapien
www.myspace.com/zioni

My favorite hip hop album is Illmatic, all of those NY producers coming together plus Nas at his peak speaks for itself

Willow · #4 07-20-2009, 08:19 PM

Darn I actually really like that new sean kingston song... *slowly backs away to go listen to it.

shucklerules · #5 07-20-2009, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iReign

I think the new T.I. should be on the 'Who You Should Be Listening To' section. His album was great, and there wasn't really a bad song on it. It provided lyrical depth and still weren't boring lecture-like songs.

I have to agree with this T.I. should be in the who you should be listening to section.

DragoniteMistress · #6 07-20-2009, 08:46 PM

Isn't all of this... opinion?

Some people like music about their bitcches, sex, and drugs after all :(

Lady Of The Lake · #7 07-20-2009, 09:06 PM

Haha lol I disagree with the stuff in "Who You Should Be Ignoring:"

I COMPLETELY Disagree

Operative · #8 07-20-2009, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Of The Lake

Haha lol I disagree with the stuff in "Who You Should Be Ignoring:"

I COMPLETELY Disagree

Someone likes bad rap. >.>

-

Actually, I like E-40, but I guess, like DM said, it's a matter o' opinion.

Sixto · #9 07-20-2009, 10:17 PM

I completely agree with your list, Sean. With the exception of Twista, he (for me) would be on the sometimes good, sometimes bad list.

Sean · #10 07-21-2009, 02:55 AM

Paper Trail was definitely a step-up from T.I. vs. T.I.P. Honestly, if he didn't release Paper Trail, I would've put him in Ignoring.

While Kanye's 808s wasn't exactly a great album (auto-tune, :\), his previous three are classics, especially The College Dropout and Late Registration. Jesus Walks, Diamonds from Sierra Leone and Crack Music are great songs.

spid3r · #11 07-21-2009, 04:22 AM

You're doing it wrong. Their is no Aesop Rock in this thread.

Sean · #12 07-21-2009, 04:32 AM

Heard he was good. Haven't heard much of him, though.

My list isn't flawless/perfect, just for the record. :|

spid3r · #13 07-21-2009, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean

Heard he was good. Haven't heard much of him, though.

My list isn't flawless/perfect, just for the record. :|

You must not go to clubs either, since every rapper on your avoid is played in the club. Listen to Drake also, he'll be huge in the upcoming years.

Sean · #14 07-21-2009, 06:11 PM

Recommend me some tracks because, from what I've heard, he's overrated.

Lord Fedora · #15 07-21-2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean

Who You Should Be Ignoring:

Soulja Boy and anyone associated with him

This is a fact and you should be thanked for it.

Anyway, thanks for this list. I've actually been planning on finding some good hip-hop to see if I like it when it's not pure crap, so this should help me if I ever decide to do that.