I've become a big fan of ATCQ, De la soul, The roots, Pete rock and CL Smooth, etc. The lyrics are phenomenal. I'm looking for something with a little more variation in the beat, a little less jazzy, a little more hard core. But still I'd like the lyrics to be meaningful, no little wayne stuff. Thanks

^ try Loot Pack

thanks, not really liking it so much though. Still a little too much like what I said before. What do you guys think of talib kweli and how he relates to the artists I mentioned? Thanks

talib kweli is super boring to me.

Is it golden 90's hip hop your looking for?

not really sure wha that means. As I said, I love the ingenuity of ATCQ, just the simple background and the jazzy quality got a little old

if its the production you don't like off ATCQ and Pete Rock etc, I'm not really sure what to tell you. All had pretty great beats.

You could check out Organized Konfusion, same general time period but more raw.

Yes, try Lootpack! MUAHAHAHA!

I've been in a mode of listening to a decent amount 90s gangsta-type stuff lately and releasing that my favorite tracks on these albums tend to be the bleakest, both lyrically and sonically. I'd love to find some albums where that's the general style. I mentioned the 90s just because of what I've been listen to lately but the music I'm looking for doesn't necessarily have to come from that time period, I'm open to whatever. So, anyone have any recommendations in that bleak direction?

can you give an example?

Stuff like this:

Geto Boys—"Blind Leading the Blind"
Geto Boys—"I Just Wanna Die"
Snoop—"Murder Was the Case"
Dr. Dre—"The Day the Niggaz Took Over"
Ice Cube—"When Will They Shoot"