Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

An unpunished coup is a training exercise.

It’s time for the GOP to dust off that post-2012 autopsy, completely ignore it, and light the party on fire again.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

“I never thought they’d lock HIM up,” sobbed a distraught member of the Lock Her Up Party.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Second rate reporter says what?

A democracy can’t function when people can’t distinguish facts from lies.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

Happy indictment week to all who celebrate!

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

This really is a full service blog.

As long as McCarthy is Speaker, the House will never be in order.

New McCarthy, same old McCarthyism.

Everyone is in a bubble, but some bubbles model reality far better than others!

We’re not going back!

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

I really should read my own blog.

The GOP couldn’t organize an orgy in a whorehouse with a fist full of 50s.

Let there be snark.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

You are here: Home / Music / I’m Goin Down Down Baby, Yo’ Street In a Range Rover

I’m Goin Down Down Baby, Yo’ Street In a Range Rover

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Here’s a late night open thread for you kids. What songs should the essential rap collection include? I’d throw in Sugar Hill Gang, Run-DMC, the Bloodhound Gang, NWA, Public Enemy, Easy-Mother-FUCKING-E, Snoop, Dre, Jay-Z, Biggie, and the other obvious ones (Eminem), but I’m old, fat and white. Also, I was never a fan of Tupac. So what rap greats belong in an essential collection?

Reader Interactions

165Comments

  4. 4.

    BGinCHI

    Am I the only one who knows/remembers the song “Space Cowboy”?

    I grew up with Rapper’s Delight and Grandmaster Flash, and that was in the rural midwest. So my expertise is limited.

    Though I was an early Prince fan (early 80s).

  5. 5.

    Craig

    Bloodhound Gang, Jesus. That is distressing.

    Eric B and Rakim
    Various and sundry bits of the Wu Tang, esp. Gza and Ghostface
    Tribe, of course.

  7. 7.

    BGinCHI

    For you classic country music fans, you may recognize rap in the work of Whispering Bill Anderson.

    Just add quicker thinking, obscenity, and crotch grabbing.

  9. 9.

    Hunter Gathers

    Too Short.

    You have to admire anyone with the, shall we say, intestinal fortitude to rap about receiving fellatio from Nancy Reagan.

  10. 10.

    The Newtster

    Who cares?! They all need to get off my lawn! Why aren’t you all paying attention to me instead?!

  12. 12.

    Steeplejack

    @Steeplejack (phone):

    Mos Def, “Umi Says.”

    Damn it. I was going to bed, just checked Balloon Juice one last time on my Droid, like you do, and saw this thread. Thought about Mos Def but didn’t decide to get up and get on the real computer until I thought of Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth’s “They Reminisce over You” and knew I wouldn’t be able to get it out of my head until I heard it again.

    Mission accomplished. I shall return upon the morn.

  13. 13.

    eemom

    Fight The Power from Do The Right Thing.

    Also too, the raptastic version of Take This Job and Shove It from the end of Office Space.

    (why yes, I am a middle aged white ‘burbie mom who hasn’t been out of the house in 20 years; why do you ask?)

  14. 14.

    Craig

    White Lines (still) gets tagged as a Grandmaster Flash song, but it was all Melle Mel (with an assist from Liquid Liquid).

  16. 16.

    eemom

    @Hunter Gathers:

    You have to admire anyone with the, shall we say, intestinal fortitude to rap about receiving fellatio from Nancy Reagan.

    hey! that reminds me of a joke from the early 1980s, long before OJ Simpson was a murderer, that involved OJ and the Reagans.

    The punch line was “That you, OJ?”

    To any BJer that can recount that joke – WITHOUT cheating googling, I solemnly swear to contribute $25 to a charity of your choice.

  20. 20.

    eemom

    @Craig:

    White Lines (still) gets tagged as a Grandmaster Flash song, but it was all Melle Mel (with an assist from Liquid Liquid).

    I have no idea what any of that means, but: Rang dang diddly rang dang, SNUFF.

  22. 22.

    4jkb4ia

    LL Cool J, “I Can’t Live Without My Radio”. One of the very few rap records including “Rapper’s Delight” to make The Heart of Rock and Soul.

    Afrika Bambaataa was there close enough to the beginning to be essential.

    Nas! How did everyone in this thread forget him so far?

    Definitely Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. TNC’s posts on her are sufficient reason to include her.

  24. 24.

    MikeJ

    It’s nice to have Ice-T, both in OG mode and in rocker (Body Count) mode.

    Suprême NTM is great. Understanding French isn’t strictly necessary in my view, but the lyrics are worth understanding.

    Here’s a song for our times from Speech.

  26. 26.

    JGabriel

    @eemom:

    I have no idea what any of that means…

    Liquid Liquid was an indie (idependent label) post-punk (not punk, but influenced by its situationist and and anti-consumerist aesthetic (think New Order)) dance band in the early 80’s, most famous for the circa 1982/83 song Cavern, which rap “collective” Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel & the Furious Five sampled (i.e., snipped part of the song and looped it as the bass track) on their 1983 rap single / dance club hit White Lines (Don’t Do It).

    This moment in 80’s alt music trivia brought to you by Former College DJ’s Geek Club, 1983-1986.

    .

  27. 27.

    Djur

    @Yutsano: Beasties and Wu-Tang for sure. If we’re talking about songs… “Shadrach” for Beasties, and… well, my favorite Wu-Tang track is “Swordsman” off Liquid Swords, but for the ensemble, let’s say “Protect Ya Neck”. I also really, really love “Glaciers Of Ice” (Raekwon) and “Daytona 500” (Ghostface).

    Can’t leave out Nas. I’d like to say “the entirety of Illmatic”, but let’s say… “The World Is Yours” or maybe “Halftime”.

    Cole might not be a fan of Tupac, but All Eyez On Me is one of my favorite albums. I guess… “How Do U Want It?” would be what I’d pick out.

    Oh: “Criminal Minded”, also.

    @Craig: Nothing wrong with the Bloodhound Gang, but no, I wouldn’t put them on any kind of rap list.

  29. 29.

    Craig

    @Djur: We will have to agree to disagree about whether or not there is anything wrong with the Bloodhound Gang but hopefully we can all agree that, on a list of the top 1 billion rappers of all time, they are standing out in the snow with their faces pressed against the glass. Probably not wearing any pants, either.

  30. 30.

    Jewish Steel

    Let’s not forget UGK and the drrrty south.

    Oh, and not to mention Matisyahu. (J/k! He is ridic.)

  36. 36.

    burritoboy

    albums you need:

    Del Tha Funkee Homosapien’s Deltron 3030
    KRS-One’s Criminal Minded
    Murs’ Murs for President
    Latryx’ The Album
    MF Doom and Madlib: Madvilliany
    MF Doom and Danger Mouse: The Mouse and the Mask
    MF Doom’s Operation Doomsday
    The Roots’ Things Fall Apart
    Stetsasonic’s On Fire
    Kool Keith (as Dr. Octagon): Dr. Octagonecologyst

  39. 39.

    Murakami

    Anything from Del the Funkee Homosapien though if you can have only one, get Deltron2020.

    De la Soul, Tribe Called Quest, and Digable Planets should also be in there for when you feel like a DFH. And can’t forget Kool Keith.

    Since you’re including things from the ’90s, throw in DJ Shadow who had the best mix/beats album of the decade.

    If you like the beats and are willing to try something new, try Clams Casino’s instrumentals. (Illest Alive is a good place to start. Or something really lush like All I Need)

    And since it’s late at night, here’s some dance music properly mixed for our paranoid and delusional times.

  41. 41.

    duck-billed placelot

    Where the ladies at? Lauren Hill, yes, obviously.

    Missy Elliot, Eve, Lil’ Kim, M.I.A., Remy Ma, M.I.A….

  44. 44.

    duck-billed placelot

    Also, this is one of the few non-Anne-Laurie posts in a long time to make me happy instead of outraged/sullen/depressed

  48. 48.

    Vodkamuppet

    @MikeJ: I got arrested for shoplifting once when I was a kid and I was wearing a Body Count t-shirt, right around the time Cop Killer came out. Needless to say, the police were not pleased with me.

    Anyway, am I the only one who remembers The Fat Boys?

  50. 50.

    delphi_ote

    Yo, Balloon Juicers, I’m really happy for you. Imma let you finish, but Kanye is one of the best rappers of all time.

    OF ALL TIME!

    (P.S. John Cole doesn’t care about black people)

  51. 51.

    Spiffy McBang

    Yeah, JC… the Bloodhound Gang, good god. Save a little face and edit that shit out of there.

    I guess an “essential rap collection” would fill up with great, better-known artists first, but two guys no one’s mentioned (and I’m not surprised) are The Last Emperor and Immortal Technique. They deserve to be in any collection based on lyrical depth, and their skills are off the wall.

    Last Emp: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPT566kdsOk (never mind the average quality, all the other versions are worse remixes)

    Tech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AXnS3y4knQ&feature=related (IMO, listen without watching the lyrics)

  52. 52.

    Vodkamuppet

    Oh! Not sure that it’s essential for a serious hip hop mix but Dee Dee Ramones rap album is possibly the most unintentionally hilarious thing I’ve ever heard. YouTube it.

  54. 54.

    moderateindy

    Probably more in the category of Chicago house music but back in my college days Laid Back’s, White Horse, was the shit. Also, Newcleus’ Jam on it has to be included. Boogie down productions and KRS-One have to be in any list about rap or hip hop. My Philosophy from BDP is just as relevant now as it was back in the day. And don’t forget Big Daddy Kane

  55. 55.

    H.E. Pennypacker, Wealthy Industrialist

    My fav rap album is Tricks of the Shade from a 90’s Philly band called The Goats. It’s almost a concept album in the genre. A must own!

  57. 57.

    ImJohnGalt

    Thank goodness someone mentioned Kool Moe Dee & Doug E. Fresh.

    Kurtis Blow’s original “Basketball” has it all over the shite that was Bow Wow’s version.

    You gotta have some Whodini in there, even if it’s just “Five Minutes of Funk” or “Freaks Come Out at Night”.

    You should have a Big Daddy Kane tune or two.

    No (old Skool) rap collection is complete without “Fly Girl”, by Boogie Boys.

    De La Soul, Das Efx would be in my collection. Whoever mentioned “Space Cowboy” was thinking of The Jonzun Crew.

    Definitely some “Radio”-era LL Kool J, Newcleus (“Jam on It” is a classic)

    I’d probably also include some old Run DMC, UTFO, and most certainly “Regulate”, by Warren G.

    Anyway, I went into the wayback machine for this, because I figured everyone else would have you covered for contemporary rap. (Although if you haven’t heard them, I’d suggest having a listen to Brother Ali and La Coka Nostra [two different artists]).

  58. 58.

    MikeJ

    @Vodkamuppet: I saw Ice-T open for himself at the old 9:30 club. First set rap, second set Body Count. Was almost as cool as when I saw Sonic Youth open for the Beastie Boys at some dump in between DC & Balmer.

  59. 59.

    Jc

    Glad someone put in eric b and rakim there. Also mos def, roots – roots show is AMAZING. In terms of pure enjoyment, those two and cypress hill are my fave to see. The best from cypress just kicks the entire set, same with roots.

    Also, a personal fave, though not really essential – Brand Nubian fan.
    Must have listened to everything is everything 1000 times. Whole album is amazing, and doesn’t even have any songs that really became big., not like slow down or punks jump up.

    I’ve left out the obvious late 80,s early 90’s of course, b/c everyone knows them.

    Outlast, lil Wayne, both have some great stuff.

  60. 60.

    ImJohnGalt

    @Vodkamuppet: No, you’re not. Someone above mentioned them. *Love* the “Human Beat Box”. Brrrrrrrr-stick ’em, ha ha ha stick ’em!

    I gotta go through my old skool collection now.

  63. 63.

    Jc

    The correct pop-hip pop gets no love, but still is fun to dance to the once every few months I’m out with younger friends clubbing. Much more natural to dance to.

  64. 64.

    ImJohnGalt

    You know what? Screw this. All you need is at The Rub.

    Make sure you click through “older entries”. It goes all the way back to 1979. And it’s downloadable. For free.

    You’re all welcome.

  65. 65.

    sherifffruitfly

    Whatever hasn’t been yet mentioned among:

    Grandmaster Flash (White Lines in particular)

    Blondie: Rapture.

    The Colors Soundtrack (their version of Paid In Full is teh shit)

    Run DMC (besides some of the famous ones, old stuff like King of Rock and You Talk Too Much)

    Tupac: California Love

    Too Live Crew (no matter what Tipper says)

  66. 66.

    Raven

    Frank Zappa Trouble Every Day

    You know we got to sit around at home
    And watch this thing begin
    But I bet there won’t be many live
    To see it really end
    ‘Cause the fire in the street
    Ain’t like the fire in the heart
    And in the eyes of all these people
    Don’t you know that this could start
    On any street in any town
    In any state if any clown
    Decides that now’s the time to fight
    For some ideal he thinks is right
    And if a million more agree
    There ain’t no Great Society
    As it applies to you and me
    Our country isn’t free
    And the law refuses to see
    If all that you can ever be
    Is just a lousy janitor
    Unless your uncle owns a store
    You know that five in every four
    Just won’t amount to nothin’ more
    Gonna watch the rats go across the floor
    And make up songs about being poor

  68. 68.

    Mortimer

    Doubling up on Brand Nubian and Tribe Called Quest (esp. Low-End Theory),adding Poor Righteous Teachers, Pharcyde, and Re-up Gang…

  70. 70.

    homerhk

    @H.E. Pennypacker, Wealthy Industrialist:

    Absolutely with you on that one. Fantastic album, played it to death while I was at university. Now sadly you can’t buy it anywhere but I got myself a copy from ebay. Much of that album was about poppy bush but listening to it while Bush the younger was in power and the themes were just as relevant.

  71. 71.

    JBP

    Gotta go with Tribe’s “Scenario”, Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones Pt. 2”, EPMD “Whatcha Sayin'”, Tupac’s “Hit em Up” (greatest diss song ever), Eric B and Rakim’s “Paid in Full”, Run DMC “Kings of Rock”, “South Bronx” by Boogie Down Production, “Busta Move” (because it’s fun) by Young MC, “Welcome to the Terror Dome” by Public Enemy, “Flava in ya ear” Craig Mack (remix with Biggie and others), “Nas is Like” by Nas and for something slow, “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” by PM Dawn (with the True sample from Spandau Ballet).

  72. 72.

    Raven

    Check out Tupac in “Gridlocked” with Tim Roth. Two junkies in Detroit try to get into rehab. Hilarious flick.

  78. 78.

    burnspbesq

    There are only two essential rap songs.

    One is the precursor to all of rap, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.”

    The other is “The Message.”

    The rest? No thanks.

  79. 79.

    burnspbesq

    Also too, happy 91st birthday, Dave Brubeck. More musical talent than the aggregate of every rapper who ever lived.

  81. 81.

    Bludger

    It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
    The only album you would ever need. I dare say, one of the best albums ever produced in any era.

  83. 83.

    vernon

    Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel, The Sequence, Afrika Bambaataa, Kurtis Blow, Spoonie Gee, Kool Moe D, Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions, Rakim.

    Brubeck? Jazz for people who don’t like jazz? Frosting without any cake? Chickenshit.

  84. 84.

    4tehlulz

    No Gangstarr? Let me fix that.

    Also:
    NAS
    Wu Tang
    Grandmaster Flash
    Ice-T
    NWA
    NWH
    Public Enemy

  87. 87.

    RalfW

    Beastie Boys and Cypress Hill are my two additions (both mentioned upthread, but I’m sayin’ it again.

  93. 93.

    Elizabelle

    Can we haz new thread?

    Can we really haz a Dave Brubeck thread?

    (Prepared to be schooled, rap affecianados.)

    91 years old today. The real deal.

  95. 95.

    russell

    Am I the only one who knows/remembers the song “Space Cowboy”?

    Don’t you know that I’m a gangster of love?

    Gil Scott Heron and Grandmaster Flash, all good. Don’t forget Kool Herc!

    But the real great unsung hero of rap is Clyde Stubblefield. If that guy isn’t cashing a giant royalty check each and every day, there is no justice in this world.

  97. 97.

    Comrade Baron Elmo

    Seconding Gang Starr, De La Soul, Eric B & Rakim and Tribe Called Quest.

    Also Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, Mantronix (“nee-dle-to-tha-groove…”), MF Doom, Jungle Brothers, Del (dude’s got a great triple CD set that came out this year that’ll run ya about fifteen bucks), Kool Keith (particularly in his Dr. Doom and Dr. Octagon guises), Main Source, The Coup, LL Cool J’s (first and fourth albums especially), J. Dilla, Pharcyde (mainly their first), Brand Nubian (ditto), and Madlib. Pretty much anything by Madlib, including his DJ mixes.

    A few obscure rap CDs worth tracking down: New Kingdom: Paradise Don’t Come Cheap, Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf: Big Shots, Downtown Science: Downtown Science. And kudos to them that mentioned The Goats’ Trick of the Shade, yo.

    Problem is that hip-hop, especially old school, is more of a singles than an albums music… and there are dozens of acts who dropped a killer 12-inch or two and never made it to the LP leagues, or the album wasn’t all that. One need only point to such cold crushers as Funky 4 + 1 “That’s the Joint,” Fearless Four “Rockin’ It,” Crash Crew “Breaking Bells.” or Sequence “Monster Jam.”

    Tommy Boy had a 12-disc box set of (mostly) Eighties hip-hop singles that was the mutha-effin’ BOMB. I burned a five-disc best-of from that box that will rock the party all damn night.

  98. 98.

    pukebot

    meh, alot of boring shit in this thread so i’m gonna bust an all caps in your ass. GUERRILLA FUNK BY PARIS.

  100. 100.

    Donut

    Probably all of these have been mentioned already, but missing from Cole’s list:

    Tribe Called Quest
    Beastie Boys
    Outkast
    the Roots
    Ice T

    More on the pure pop tip, but still fun:

    Young MC
    Salt-n-Peppa

    And 2 Live Crew, just because.

    I read this list and it shows I am 40.

  102. 102.

    Lawnguylander

    I don’t see the need for a Dave Brubeck thread when we can make fun of that soulless hack and his crackuh-ass-crackuh fans right here.

  103. 103.

    Surly Duff

    Essential rap songs? Well, the ones I have not seen listed so far that I would include would be:
    Pete Rock & C. L. Smooth “They reminisce over you”, Wu-Tang Clan “C.R.E.A.M.”, ATCQ “Scenario” and “Eleectric Relaxation” (or about 20 others), Dre & Snoop “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ thang”, Pharcyde “Passin me by”, Talib Kweli “The blast”, Warren G. & Nate Dogg “Regulate”, Slick Rick & Doug E Fresh “Ladidadi”, Marley Marl & the Juice Crew “Symphony”. That’s a good start.

    There are so many more artists that are great, but I wouldn’t include on a “Rap Essentials” list: Blackalicious, People Under the Stairs, J-Live, Immortal Technique, Little Brother, Foreign Exchange, etc.

  105. 105.

    zubalove

    De La Soul
    Tribe Called Quest
    Beastie Boys
    LL Cool Jay
    Cypress Hill
    House of Pain (“Just Another Victim”)

    3rd Base and MC Serch (“Back to the Grill”) had one or two note worthy jams.

    Common
    Mos Def

  106. 106.

    Mark S.

    Some guy at Clownhall:

    If you are an unskilled laborer, it may seem like there are no opportunities. But, there are if you move to where the jobs are. In the 1930’s and 1940’s, there were several great migrations in the United States. The migration from the Great Plains to California was captured in the John Steinbeck novel about the Joad family.

    Ah yes, that was such a happy tale.

    Shit, conservatives are so warped these days, maybe they do think it’s a pro-capitalist novel.

  108. 108.

    Brian R.

    The Bloodhound Gang? I’m white, but Jesus Christ, you must be practically translucent.

    I’d say:

    Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
    Kool Moe Dee
    Big Daddy Kane
    Public Enemy
    EPMD
    LL Cool Jay
    Eric B. and Rakim
    NWA
    De La Soul
    Black Sheep
    Tribe Called Quest
    Black Star
    Blackalicious
    Asheru
    The Roots
    Outkast
    Mos Def
    Biggie
    Kanye West
    Jay-Z

  109. 109.

    The Golux

    I guess it marks me as an old fogy that I’m surprised that it took 69 comments before someone expressed my attitude about rap – meh.

    Though I admit there are a few Beasties’ numbers that I like, and I found some of Fatboy Slim’s stuff amusing.

  110. 110.

    vernon

    YES to Gang Starr. HELL YES to Slick Rick and Doug E Fresh!

    Who remembers “Double Dutch Bus”? I know it’s corny, but that was THE CUT back in 3rd Grade!

    Hey, Pat Boone turned 91? Tell Mater to set out a tea.

  113. 113.

    Matt Finnigan

    Sage Francis. By far, not the weirdest guy to come out of Providence, but if you want a good rapper, he’s one that I’ll put up there. Not if you’re thinking “retrospective” or “shit people will recognize”, mind you ….

  114. 114.

    HT

    Milk is chillin, Gizmo’s chillin
    What more can I say, top billin
    That’s what we get, got it? Good
    And since you understood…

  116. 116.

    grape_crush

    YT’s Thinking of a master plan.

    A Tribe Called Quest
    Fu-Schnickens
    Cypress Hill
    Geto Boys
    The Pharcyde
    Public Enemy
    The Fugees

    Just to name a few. Also liking Jurassic 5, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Common…

  118. 118.

    nevsky42

    Solo Ice Cube crushes solo Eazy-E. AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, Death Certificate and The Predator are must-owns. After that, he’s merely good.

  119. 119.

    4jkb4ia

    @114: That made “The Heart of Rock and Soul”, too. But it was about #980 and was included to make a point about pop more than one about rap. I don’t think even Dave Marsh would say it was essential. So I demurred.

    Hey John, I think I saw what you did making the title from “Country Grammar”.

    This thread has turned out really well now that actual hip-hop heads have showed up.

  121. 121.

    4jkb4ia

    now that actual hip-hop heads have showed up

    That would certainly include burritoboy@36. I will go look for some of those.

  123. 123.

    ImJohnGalt

    For those that missed my link above, The Rub has a 32-part “History of Hip Hop”, with a mix from each of the years from 1979 to 2010. All downloadable, and all free. Go grab ’em if you’d like to get a real picture of how the form has evolved over 3 decades.

  126. 126.

    Mitch

    Bloodhound Gang? Are you fuckin serious? It’s redundant to say De La Soul, but you have to get Buhloone Mindstate. Also, Illmatic by Nas is widely regarded as one of the best rap albums of all time. For something more recent, check out MF Doom (or just “Doom” now). Either Madviallainy, Mmmm…Food, or Dangerdoom, they’re all good.

  132. 132.

    Bill Murray

    As a hipster, I only go for good, obscure stuff, so listen to People 4 Prez by The Perceptionists (also Mr. Lif’s later stuff is good too). Follow that with Seattle’s great hip hop group Blue Scholars

  137. 137.

    gbear

    Late to the game here and didn’t read previous 136 comments, but I’ll toss The Disposable Heroes of Hiphopcracy into the mix. Really literate stuff.

  138. 138.

    Bubblegum Tate

    @Comrade Baron Elmo:

    Downtown Science: Downtown Science.

    One of my favorites. I would love to do a record with Bosco Money, except that he quit rapping.

    To showcase how great beats used to be, the first albums by Cypress Hill and Main Source must be represented. Low Profile’s “We In This Together” should get some bump–either “Pay Ya Dues” or “A Funky Song.” And nobody has said Digital Underground yet? Seriously? Shock G is a muthafuckin’ genius, and DU goes so much deeper than “Humpty Dance.”

    One of my personal favorites would be Super Lover Cee and Casanova Rud, but not everybody gets as hyped on them as I do. Supe just sounds like what I think a rapper is supposed to sound like, even if he’s lyrically just average. Also gotta give a nod to Stezo, as his “It’s My Turn” was the first time the Skull Snaps break was ever heard, and people went crazy for it (plus, check him out doing the Steve Martin in the video!), and to the Beatnuts for having amazing beats and one hilarious rapper (Psycho Les).

    And finally: X-Clan. Brother J is the shit.

  139. 139.

    Chukwu

    I think that the Black Key’s project Blakroc is a pretty solid album. As for essentials that haven’t been mentioned yet, gotta go with Slum Village (Specifically Fantastic vol 1 & 2). The late great J Dilla was one of the best producers to ever do it.

    A somewhat related question: why do people always feel the need to trash rap music in rap threads? I don’t come to other music threads and talk shit about Phish.

  140. 140.

    Tractarian

    The Low End Theory is the greatest rap album that has ever been, or ever will be, produced. It, itself, is as good as any greatest-hits collection.

  141. 141.

    Bubblegum Tate

    Special Ed–“I Got It Made” or “The Mission” or “Come On Let’s Move It” or, for a slept-on album cut, “I’m Special Ed”

    Poor Righteous Teachers–“Rock Dis Funky Joint” or “Shakilya” (the 12-inch version with the Maynard Ferguson loop)

    Lord Finesse–“Baby You Nasty” or “Return of the Funky Man”

    Fuck, I could go on for days….

  142. 142.

    O'Shea J

    Oooh, I love rap lists!

    Here’s my unnecessarily long contribution, which omits some great acts that just couldn’t fit (mostly for the underground rap collector).

    The originators of the new school rap sound:

    Public Enemy – the first three albums are arguably the greatest three album run of any band, ever. Changed the whole sound of music and shaped, along with Chicago acid house, most of today’s popular music.

    Boogie Down Productions / KRS-One (first two solo albums only) – close to the greatest of all time

    Eric B. and Rakim – two of the most important rap records.

    NWA – pioneered “gangsta” rap and made two brilliant records (Straight Outta Compton and Niggaz4life)

    Beastie Boys

    Sure Shots:

    De La Soul (have not missed on a record yet)
    Common (brilliant his whole career, but Resurrection, One Day It Will All Make Sense, and Like Water for Chocolate are the standouts)
    Outkast (everything)
    ATCQ (pretty much everything)
    Jungle Brothers (first two albums only)
    Black Sheep (A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing only)
    The Roots (pretty much everything)
    Brand Nubian
    The Pharcyde (first two albums)
    Del tha Funkee Homosapien (plus the whole Hieroglyphics family)
    Wu-Tang Clan (including ODB, Ghostface, Raekwon, GZA, Method Man and Inspectah Deck solo records as well – Only Built 4 Cuban Links is one of the great albums of all time)
    Kool Keith (the Heironymus Bosch of hip hop?)
    The Alkaholiks (completely underappreciated their whole career)

    Under the radar:

    Aceyalone – best rapper currently plying his trade. (also, Freestyle Fellowship’s Innercity Griot’s is one of the best records of the 90’s)
    KMD (MF Doom before the transition – Mr. Hood and Black Bastards are brilliant)
    Jay Dee / J Dilla, particularly Jaylib and early Slum Village records
    Busdriver (the Sun Ra of hip hop)
    The Clipse (the modern version of the ‘gangsta’ sound)
    Consequence
    K-Os (representin’ rural Canada, of all places)
    Pigeon John
    The Cool Kids (kickin’ it old school in 2011)

    Bonus:

    Anything Madlib touches, i.e. Lootpack, Yesterday’s New Quintet, Quasimoto, OhNo (particularly the Gangrene project)

    Can’t go wrong:

    Redman, Run DMC, Organized Konfusion (and Pharoahe Monch), Kool G. Rap, Main Source, The Beatnuts, Ultramagnetic MC’s, Camp Lo, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, E-40, Geto Boys (took NWA’s game and raised it), Biz Markie, Diamond D, Digital Underground, Kanye West, Kool Moe Dee, Ice-T (first three albums), Lupe Fiasco, Big Daddy Kane, Diamond D, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Ice Cube (first three albums), Goodie Mob, Ed OG (first record), Dana Dane, EPMD, LL Cool J, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Black Star (Mos Def + Talib Kweli), Blackalicious, Souls of Mischief, Ludacris, Black Moon, Mobb Deep, Cypress Hill (first two records), Lord Finesse, Positive K, Digable Planets, Murs, Black Milk, Jeru tha Damaja, Kardinall Offishall, Nas, Leaders of the New School, X Clan (agreed with the above – Brother J is the shit), Masta Ace, Nice & Smooth, Poor Righteous Teachers, Schooly D, Too Short

    And props to those who were in on the Occupy Everywhere action before it was cool:

    Paris
    The Coup
    Dead Prez
    Intelligent Hoodlum (currently ‘Tragedy Khadafi’)

  143. 143.

    Captain Goto

    I listen to live jazz 3-4 times a week, and I find it a transcendent experience. Being friends with the musicians probably helps that way.

    And yet, what Chukwu said. Sheer snobbery, IMHO.

  144. 144.

    Cpuppy

    Westside Connection ! Anybody who can take a Nine Inch Nails song and accapella it into just as awesome Gangsta Rap epic is f’ing genius… not sure wear Ice-cube went after that

  146. 146.

    Sentient Puddle

    Hey, this thread is handy. I decided today that I want to get into The Roots a little more than what I currently know (which amounts to approximately The Seed 2.0). What’s a good starting point? It sounds like Things Fall Apart is the obvious pick, but anything else worth highlighting?

  147. 147.

    4jkb4ia

    @123: Good gracious, I haven’t thought of “Request Line” in 25 years!

    I actually have this book, in the same room as the computer, and the Wall Street pile got so high that I forgot.
    Speaking of which, Ho has a great riff on “corporations are people” waiting for a Romney thread to be put into. Essentially her point is that even Adam Smith knew there was a conflict between owners and managers. If you focus on shareholder value one of the things that indubitably gets you is that the corporation is seen as the shareholders as one idealized shareholder–one person. And that has nothing to do with the legal fiction coming out of Santa Clara in its logic.

  149. 149.

    Bubblegum Tate

    @O’Shea J:

    Intelligent Hoodlum

    “Arrest the President” is my shit. That record knocked my head sideways when I first heard it back in the day.

    Also: Did I seriously forget to say Tuff Crew? What the fuck? TUFF CREW, DAMMIT.

  150. 150.

    jake the snake

    @Craig:

    Not going to argue about whether they should be consider rappers, but with the line, “You and me, baby, we’re nothin’ but mammals, so let’s do it like they do on the discovery channel”, they should be on some list.
    For the ballad of Chasey Laine, also, too.

  151. 151.

    The Populist

    Eric B And Rakim no doubt.

    I’d also add old school NYC rap like UTFO and early LL Cool J whose first two albums kicked ass.

  153. 153.

    O'Shea J.

    @Bubblegum Tate

    Too bad I have to work – you and I could go on all day. Currently playing: X-Clan’s Grand Verbalizer What Time Is It? Genius…

  154. 154.

    TOP123

    @O’Shea J:

    good list, and nice name reference, Mr. C.

    Another late vote for Rakim…’ll say Peace.

  155. 155.

    mai naem

    I recognize some of these names and that’s about it. I am an old fart I guess. Does Blondie’s Rapture count? “And the man from Mars just came on down and he ate the cars and he ate your head and then you’ll be singin’ in the rain Rapture seashore!!! Yeah, I think this proves that’s I’m an old fart.

  156. 156.

    pragmatism

    MFDOOM/madlvillain. The best rapper with no chain you ever heard. Intricate rhymes and no choruses or hooks

    Also too EPMD

  157. 157.

    gil mann

    @Maxwel:

    @burnspbesq:

    Ha, I’m old enough to remember when dipshits like you were the majority opinion, then hip-hop took over the world, just like everyone who ever hurt themselves trying to breakdance knew it would.

    How’s that ash-heap of history? Comfy?

  158. 158.

    burritoboy

    Thanks for all the shout-outs.

    I met Dan the Automator just randomly waiting for a burger at Johnny Rocket’s (no, I’m not joking) and he told me there was going to be a Deltron 3030 sequel in a few months….that was three years ago. Good to hear about Del coming out with new music.

    Yeah, I was wondering why it took so long for somebody to mention Digital Underground. Shock G and Murs on Murs’ Risky Business are hilarious.

    Here’s some white rappers who are actually good rappers:

    MC Paul Barman
    Aesop Rock
    Ugly Ducklings

    Mighty Underdogs should get a mention. I love Mr. Lif too.

  159. 159.

    Bubblegum Tate

    @O’Shea J.:

    Once I get started with the rap lists, it’s hard to stop. It’s probably good that I’m not home right now, otherwise I’d be going through my crates like crazy.

    I got to open up for Brother J back in 2003 or so–I was so unbelievably excited for that. I got him to autograph the cover of one of my “Funkin Lesson” 12-inches (the Euro-import with the remix by the Stereo MCs); it’s currently framed and hanging on my wall.

  160. 160.

    Comrade Baron Elmo

    I want to give another plug to the Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf Big Shots album, ‘cos it’s in print and too few folks have heard it. The Onion tapped it as #1 on their list of Great Hip-Hop Albums Known By Too Few. Nimble, groove-laden, crammed with great ideas yet absolutely accessible, this is a great rap album to play for folks who aren’t really into rap. If Charizma hadn’t been iced in a mugging at the age of 20 in 1993, there’s no doubt in my mind that he could’ve been a major player in the game.

    If I can get just one of y’all to check out this killer album, my work here is done.

  161. 161.

    Comrade Baron Elmo

    Arrrrgh! How could I have forgotten Blu & Exile’s Below the Heavens!? This lost 2007 hip-hop masterpiece is temporarily available again, so don’t sleep on it. Less than a year ago, this disc was fetching an easy hundred smackers on eBay and Amazon.

    Okay, I’m really done now. Peace out.

  162. 162.

    nick

    100 essential tracks. Dates may be inaccurate.

    Aesop Rock – “Daylight” – 2001
    Afrika Bambaataa – “Planet Rock” – 1980
    A Tribe Called Quest – “Oh My God” – 1993
    Audio Two – “Top Billin” – 1987
    Beastie Boys – “Car Thief” – 1989
    Beastie Boys – “B-Boy Bouillabaisse” – 1989
    Big Boi – “Shutterbugg” – 2010
    Big Boi – “Shine Blockas” – 2010
    Big Punisher – “Still Not a Player” – 1998
    Black Star – “Respiration” – 1998
    Cam’ron – “Hey Ma” – 2002
    Cam’ron – “Soap Opera” – 2004
    Clipse – “Zen” – 2005
    The Coup – “Me and Jesus the Pimp in a ’79 Granada Last Night” – 1998
    The Coup – “Ghetto Manifesto” – 2001
    Curren$y – “The Day” – 2010
    Cypress Hill – “How I Could Just Kill a Man” – 1991
    De La Soul – “Eye Know” – 1989
    De La Soul – “A Roller Skating Jam Named ‘Saturdays’” – 1991
    Dizzee Rascal – “I Luv U” – 2002
    Dr. Dre – “Lyrical Gangbang” – 1992
    Dr. Octagon – “Blue Flowers” – 1996
    E-40 – “Rapper’s Ball” – 1996
    Eminem – “Kim” – 2000
    EPMD – “Crossover” – 1992
    Eric B & Rakim – “I Know You Got Soul” – 1987
    Eric B & Rakim – “Follow the Leader” – 1988
    Freeway – “What We Do” – 2003
    The Fugees – “Fu-Gee-La” – 1996
    The Game – “Hate It or Love It” – 2005
    Geto Boys – “Mind Playin’ Tricks on Me” – 1991
    Ghostface Killah – “Daytona 500” – 1996
    Ghostface Killah – “Shakey Dog” – 2006
    Goodie Mob – “Cell Therapy” – 1995
    GZA – “Liquid Swords” – 1995
    GZA – “4th Chamber” – 1995
    Ice Cube – “Endangered Species” – 1990
    Ice Cube – “A Bird in the Hand” – 1991
    Ice Cube – “It Was a Good Day” – 1993
    Jay-Z – “Can’t Knock the Hustle” – 1995
    Jay-Z – “Big Pimpin” – 1999
    Jay-Z – “Heart of the City” – 2001
    Jay-Z – “Ignorant Shit” – 2007
    Juvenile – “Ha” – 1999
    Kanye West – “Family Business” – 2004
    Kanye West – “Touch the Sky” – 2005
    Kanye West – “Runaway” – 2010
    Kool G Rap – “Streets of New York” – 1990
    Kurtis Blow – “The Breaks” – 1980
    Lauryn Hill – “Doo Wop” – 1998
    Lil’ B – “I Seen That Light” – 2011
    Lil’ Wayne – “Georgia Bush” – 2006
    Lil’ Wayne – “Dough is What I Got” – 2007
    Lil’ Wayne – “Let the Beat Build” – 2008
    LL Cool J – “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” – 1985
    Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz – “Deja Vu” – 1997
    Luniz – “I Got 5 On It” – 1995
    M.O.P. – “Ante Up” – 2000
    Madvillain – “Fancy Clown” – 2004
    Madvillain – “ALL CAPS” – 2004
    Missy Elliott – “Get Ur Freak On” – 2001
    Mobb Deep – “Shook Ones pt. II” – 1995
    Mos Def – “Mathematics” – 1999
    Mystikal – “Bouncin’ Back” – 2001
    Nas – “Life’s a Bitch” – 1994
    Nas – “NY State of Mind” – 1994
    Nas – “Ether” – 2002
    Nas – “One Mic” – 2002
    Notorious BIG – “Gimme the Loot” – 1994
    Notorious BIG – “Machine Gun Funk” – 1994
    Notorious BIG – “Juicy” – 1994
    Notorious BIG – “Everyday Struggle” – 1994
    Outkast – “Rosa Parks” – 1998
    Outkast – “B.O.B.” – 2000
    Outkast – “So Fresh So Clean” – 2000
    Pete Rock & CL Smooth – “They Reminisce Over You” – 1992
    The Pharcyde – “Oh Shit” – 1994
    The Pharcyde – “Passing Me By” – 1994
    Positive K – “I Got a Man” – 1992
    Public Enemy – “Welcome to the Terrordome” – 1990
    Raekwon – “Ice Cream” – 1995
    Raekwon – “Cold Outside” – 2009
    Rich Boy – “Throw Some D’s” – 2006
    The Roots – “Thought @ Work” – 2002
    The Roots – “The Seed 2.0” – 2002
    Run-DMC – “It’s Like That” – 1984
    Slick Rick – “Children’s Story” – 1988
    Snoop Dogg – “Gin and Juice” – 1993
    T.I. – “What You Know” – 2006
    Talib Kweli – “Get By” – 2003
    Too Short – “The Ghetto” – 1990
    Tupac – “I Don’t Give a Fuck” – 1991
    Tupac – “Old School” – 1995
    Tupac – “California Love” – 1996
    Tupac – “I Ain’t Mad At Cha” – 1996
    Tyler, the Creator – “Yonkers” – 2011
    UGK – “International Player’s Anthem” – 2007
    Warren G – “Regulate” – 1994
    Wu-Tang Clan – “C.R.E.A.M.” – 1993
    Young Jeezy – “Go Crazy (remix)” – 2005

  163. 163.

    O'Shea J.

    @nick – thanks for the stab at a list. I was working on one today but work got in the way. A sample of my thoughts, in no order since I was just working on it as time allowed:

    Brand Nubian – Who Can Get Busy Like This Man?
    Brand Nubian – Wake Up
    Brand Nubian – Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down (although the anti-gay slur isn’t cool…)
    Positive K – Pass the Mic
    Positive K – A Good Combination
    Positive K – How The F–k Would You Know?
    Prince Paul – Handle Your Time
    Public Enemy – Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos
    Public Enemy – Fight the Power
    Public Enemy – Rebel Without a Pause
    Public Enemy – Louder Than a Bomb
    Public Enemy – Miuzi Weighs a Ton
    Public Enemy – Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos
    Public Enemy – Terminator X Speaks with His Hands
    Public Enemy – Raise The Roof
    Public Enemy – Shut Em Down
    Public Enemy – Timebomb
    Public Enemy – Welcome to the Terrordome
    Public Enemy – You’re Gonna Get Yours
    Public Enemy – Public Enemy #1
    Public Enemy – B-Side Wins Again

    @Bubblegum Tate – the Brother J signed copy is an awesome memento, especially on that 12″ with the Stereo MC’s mix – I hadn’t even thought of that record in years… We could go back and forth all day on that stuff…

  164. 164.

    NobodySpecial

    One I didn’t see, and yes, I’m very late to the party.

    Scarface – The Diary. “I Seen A Man Die” is worth the full price.

Comments are closed.

Trackbacks

  1. […] ‘ ‘Ante Up’ ‘ 2000 Madvillain ‘ ‘Fancy Clown’ ‘ 2004 Madvillain ‘ ‘ALL CAPS’ ‘ 2004 Missy Elliott ‘ ‘Get Ur Freak On’ ‘ 2001 Mobb Deep ‘ ‘Shook Ones pt. II’ ‘ 1995 Mos Def ‘ ‘Mathematics’ ‘ 1999 Mystikal ‘ ‘Bouncin’ Back’ ‘ 2001 Nas ‘ ‘Life’s a Bitch’ ‘ 1994 Nas ‘ ‘NY State of Mind’ ‘ 1994 Nas ‘ ‘Ether’ ‘ 2002 Nas ‘ ‘One Mic’ ‘ 2002 Notorious BIG – ‘Gimme the Loot’ ‘ 1994 Notorious BIG – ‘Machine Gun Funk’ ‘ 1994 Notorious BIG – ‘Juicy’ ‘ 1994 Notorious BIG – ‘Everyday Struggle’ ‘ 1994 Outkast ‘ ‘Rosa Parks’ ‘ 1998 Outkast ‘ ‘B.O.B.’ ‘ 2000 Outkast ‘ ‘So Fresh So Clean’ ‘ 2000 Pete Rock & CL Smooth ‘ ‘They Reminisce Over You’ ‘ 1992 The Pharcyde ‘ ‘Oh Shit’ ‘ 1994 The Pharcyde ‘ ‘Passing Me By’ ‘ 1994 Positive K ‘ ‘I Got a Man’ ‘ 1992 Public Enemy ‘ ‘Welcome to the Terrordome’ ‘ 1990 Raekwon ‘ ‘Ice Cream’ ‘ 1995 Raekwon ‘ ‘Cold Outside’ ‘ 2009 Rich Boy ‘ ‘Throw Some D’s’ ‘ 2006 The Roots ‘ ‘Thought @ Work’ ‘ 2002 The Roots ‘ ‘The Seed 2.0′ ‘ 2002 Run-DMC ‘ ‘It’s Like That’ ‘ 1984 Slick Rick ‘ ‘Children’s Story’ ‘ 1988 Snoop Dogg ‘ ‘Gin and Juice’ ‘ 1993 T.I. ‘ ‘What You Know’ ‘ 2006 Talib Kweli ‘ ‘Get By’ ‘ 2003 Too Short ‘ ‘The Ghetto’ ‘ 1990 Tupac ‘ ‘I Don’t Give a Fuck’ ‘ 1991 Tupac ‘ ‘Old School’ ‘ 1995 Tupac ‘ ‘California Love’ ‘ 1996 Tupac ‘ ‘I Ain’t Mad At Cha’ ‘ 1996 Tyler, the Creator ‘ ‘Yonkers’ ‘ 2011 UGK – ‘International Player’s Anthem’ ‘ 2007 Warren G ‘ ‘Regulate’ ‘ 1994 Wu-Tang Clan ‘ ‘C.R.E.A.M.’ ‘ 1993 Young Jeezy ‘ ‘Go Crazy (remix)’ ‘ 2005. Read more on Old Skool Rap […]