dollarsandcents

Welcome!

I'd like to make this a place where I introduce the MB community to the full spectrum of hip hop out there. I understand a lot of people dismiss this genre without really giving it a chance, so I'd like to pick out albums of relevance within the genre, give detailed reviews and sound clips (via the medium of YouTube). I'd like to encompass the full range of hip hop in these reviews and provide for all levels of previous knowledge about the genre. I'd like to shine a light on not only the music, but other aspects encompassing an album. This may be an album of politic relevance at the time, a genre-influencing album such as the jazz-hop revolution or simply instrumental hip hop. There'll be no 50 Cent and Lil Wayne here, I'll hopefully be able to introduce people who are unfamiliar with the genre with quality album rather than the commercial junk which tarnishes its name, as well as offer some lesser known gems for already fans of hip hop.

About me? I'm a 21 year old graduate in Biology living in the UK. I was first exposed to hip hop music about 10 years ago (a sticker saying 'parental advisory' was both intriguing and tempting back then, right?). Although I didn't know much about it then, I believe I have a fairly deep knowledge of the genre now. I think a common reason people don't give the genre a chance is that they can't 'relate' to where some of this music comes from. I can see where they are coming from at times, but I feel there is a wealth of intelligent lyricism if you persist through the junk. I feel the genre often displays emotion in its rawest form, ranging from anger to love. I'm personally a fan of more layed back hip hop, instrumental and jazz influence sub-genres, however I obviously started out listening to more trashy, common albums when I was younger. There's been many stops in the hip hop journey, all of which have influenced my habits and led me to where I am now. I guess that's what music is all about, the journey and influences which have impacted upon the present, and I guess for many people the journey will continue. It's a fluid process, and who knows where it will stop.

So yeah, I'll be reviewing a variety of albums here. Career defining albums, landmark albums which changed the way hip hop was viewed and influential albums in the genre. I'll also be calling upon many of my favourites ranging from laid back instrumenal hip hop to the jazzy sound of A Tribe Called Quest. I'll throw in some international hip hop to demonstrate the scene around the globe and hopefully provide accessible and quality hip hop to people who ar emaybe unfamiliar or put off by the genre to filter the wheat from the chaff, the real lyrics and beats from artists solely indulging in rims and quims. Hopefully people with give some of these a chance.

I'm not claiming to be some sort of omnipotent hip hop deity, I'm simply recommending and presenting what I feel is the best examples of the broad spectrum of hip hop. Get involved with a discussion, check some of the albums out and just ask if you need a link. I'll do my best. Hopefully as this goes on a repertoire of great and diverse hip hop albums will have accumulated in one place for people who want to explore hip hop for the first time or seek a new direction or album they haven't heard.

I'l also maybe include a 'Monthly Mixtape' which deviates from a specific album and includes a handful of tracks from a variety of albums. I think this may help display a collection of tracks in one place to download; maybe artists/tracks which maybe wouldn't get a look in due to the albums they are on. It will also be easier to demonstrate the range of artists this way, being able to include some lesser known artists rather than restricting this to albums.

Enjoy the ride..

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