The Rap & Hip-Hop Recommendation Thread

djchameleon · 05-30-2011, 07:04 AM

I would say start out with some of what is considered the classics.

Eric B & Rakim - Paid in Full
Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet
Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill
A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory

I will let others make some recs for you as well but those four are a nice place to start imo.

Phzed · 05-30-2011, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoundgardenRocks

So, I'm completely ignorant when it comes to Hip Hop and rap. Where do I start and what are the essential albums of the genre?

What are you current interests? Musicwise
'cause that'd be a big factor on where to start with hip-hop.
it's a diverse genre.

SGR · 05-30-2011, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phzed

What are you current interests? Musicwise
'cause that'd be a big factor on where to start with hip-hop.
it's a diverse genre.

I'm mostly a rock and metal guy.

Phzed · 05-30-2011, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoundgardenRocks

I'm mostly a rock and metal guy.

I've found that most people into rock/metal are more into 80s hip-hop, I'd start off with:
Run-D.M.C. - Raising Hell
Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill

SGR · 05-30-2011, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phzed

I've found that most people into rock/metal are more into 80s hip-hop, I'd start off with:
Run-D.M.C. - Raising Hell
Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill

I've heard alot of praise for that Public Enemy album. Is it really that good? Are there any other good hip hop double albums? I also LOVE double albums. Is "All Eyez On Me" anything I'd like? Also, I though Paul's Boutique was considered the best BB album?

One more question, is Lupe Fiasco any good?

Phzed · 05-30-2011, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoundgardenRocks

I've heard alot of praise for that Public Enemy album. Is it really that good? Are there any other good hip hop double albums? I also LOVE double albums. Is "All Eyez On Me" anything I'd like? Also, I though Paul's Boutique was considered the best BB album?

One more question, is Lupe Fiasco any good?

Personally; yeah that album's great.
As for double album's; there's Wu-Tang Forever (Wu-Tang Clan), All Eyez on Me (2Pac), Life After Death (Biggie), The Art of War (Bone Thugs-N-Harmony)... that's all I can think of, and none of them are amazing albums in my opinion, particularly Life After Death which is massively overrated... Wu-Tang Forever is good but it's nothing compared to 36 Chambers.
So all in all, I'd go for hip-hop albums more suited to you than going straight for some double albums.

Lupe's good yeah, but he's much more mainstream oriented, and has a more modern sound... I only really like Food & Liquor, his other 2 albums aren't great imo.

djchameleon · 05-30-2011, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoundgardenRocks

One more question, is Lupe Fiasco any good?

As far as the Lupe question goes, if you listen to Food and Liquor and you find the theme/concept interesting then you HAVE to listen to the second album The Cool because it continues the story.

There was supposed to be a third and final album to this storyline but that didn't go as planned and he ended up releasing Lasers which got neutered by the studio so it turned into something mainstream and far from what he planned.

SGR · 06-03-2011, 03:15 PM

So I'm thinking of buying:

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Public Enemy - It Takes...

But I was wondering, would you guys consider these as albums that EVERY music fan should on? Because I'm trying to have a good collection of ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL music, dyou know what I mean?

Phantom Limb · 06-03-2011, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoundgardenRocks

So I'm thinking of buying:

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Public Enemy - It Takes...

But I was wondering, would you guys consider these as albums that EVERY music fan should on? Because I'm trying to have a good collection of ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL music, dyou know what I mean?

You should go for:
A Tribe Called Quest- The Low End Theory
Wu-Tang Clan- Enter the 36 Chambers
Nas- Illmatic

These albums are all classics, but unlike Paul's Boutique and It Takes a Nation, they have a slightly more modern feel. The beats are dirtier and the rhyming is top notch. I think that most people will agree that these albums are a great starting point.

BastardofYoung · 06-07-2011, 04:31 PM

Need to get more into ra and hip hop. I am very selective about what I like, but I find I like stuff that is on the more jazzy side.

A Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory
The Roots - Things Fall Apart

stuff like that... what are some other ones in this style that I should check out?

06-07-2011, 04:31 PM	#290 (permalink)
BastardofYoung Buzz Killjoy Join Date: May 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 2,692	Need to get more into ra and hip hop. I am very selective about what I like, but I find I like stuff that is on the more jazzy side. A Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory The Roots - Things Fall Apart stuff like that... what are some other ones in this style that I should check out? __________________ last.fm ‎"I hope that someday we will be able to put away our fears and prejudices and just laugh at people." - Jack Handey.

06-03-2011, 03:15 PM	#288 (permalink)
SGR No Ice In My Bourbon Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: /dev/null Posts: 4,327	So I'm thinking of buying: Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique Public Enemy - It Takes... But I was wondering, would you guys consider these as albums that EVERY music fan should on? Because I'm trying to have a good collection of ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL music, dyou know what I mean?