Poll: Old School rap or New School?

[retrochimp]

I listen to Doseone who is so new school that he has an honorary doctorate from the university that will be named after him in 20 years.

 

[liquidsolid]

I pick "Old School" but what I really like isn't so much the Golden Age of Hip Hop (early to mid 80's) as it is 1988 (NWA debut) until about 1998. Rap between those years was amazing.

The Notorious B.I.G
The Wu Tang Clan
Big L
NWA
Nas
Outkast
2pac

Todays rap CAN be good, but it isn't as consistently good as it was during that time period.

 

[SageRuffin]

Just by saying that, all you know is the Hip Hop on the radio.

And by saying that, I know you are a rapist.

Oh wait, making assumptions is stupid.

He's actually somewhat right. Just like you made the assumption that rap is just, in your own words:

annoying wannabe gangesters inspiring even more wannabe white gangsters.

That's just like saying all FPS' are about space Marines. Or that all fighting games area bout randomly smashing as many buttons as fast as you can or memorizing long button combinations.

You may hear stuff like that all the time because that's what sells, and that's what the majority wants. Keep in mind that most people don't look past the radio. Furthermore, unlike gamers who are very quick to tell someone what they want in a game, music fans - especially those who like rap - are very hesitant to say what they want in rap music, the general consensus being better lyrics (even if they're about nothing), better personas with better stage names, better production, better sounds... the list goes on. Actually speaking about it will get you, at best, some funny looks and at worst, possibly killed.

If I may test a theory, do you listen to Eminem? Or Paul Wall?

 

[Red Right Hand]

There's good stuff in both. Namely, MF Doom, Madlib, Odd Future, Madvillian, Aesop Rock, Dilated Peoples, Ghostface Killah's newest album for new school and Wu-Tang, A Tribe Called Quest, Jurassic 5, Method Man for old school.

Though I have to admit I can't stand 2pac and I only like Biggie's freestyles.

 

[SageRuffin]

No thanks, I was actually waiting to see if anyone would try to change my opinion on rap, but instead every just seems to want to insult me interesting

I don't think s/he's insulting you. If s/he did, I'm sure they would've come up with something more scathing than that.

And maybe s/he felt your comment had no real relevance and simply wanted you to leave? Sure, it probably could've been better phrased, but come on. That's jumping to conclusions, don';t you think?

You're really willing to take the time to explore and expand? Try some of the following; they're some of my favorite rappers/producers:

Rjd2 (producer)
Aesop Rock
Atmosphere
The Wu-Tang Clan
Mr. Lif
El-P (I don't like him too much, but you might)
Sage Francis
Criss Chords (Nerdcore rapper, ever heard someone rap about Dr. Robotnik or cheat codes?)
Random
Living Legends
MF Doom
Canibus (be careful with this one, he drops a lot of science and he's also very vulgar)
Eminem (don't go past Encore, he fell off that album)
Busta Rhymes (don't go past Genesis, another one that fell off after a point)
Ludacris

That's all I can think of off-hand. There's always the older stuff, again, if you really wanna expand your horizons, so to speak.

 

[SageRuffin]

Neither, but i have heard eminem, absolutley terrible imho. Its all about drugs, pimping, ect. for the most part.

Eh, not quite, but I'm glad I have to bust out a certain observation...

If you can find something to change my mind, im all ears. But thats not the reason i dislike rap, i dislike it because it sounds like a dr. seuss book.

Too cookie-cutter huh? You'd probably hate Ludacris then...

Try this song here [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i3wE2M1BBI]. It's one of his (or their) earliest works, back when he was more known for battle-rapping. Now he's something akin to "emo-rap" without being all depressed and whatnot. His rhymes are more... down-to-earth, for lack of a better term.

Here are some of his other songs from other albums/time periods.



*This song is based on an actual event.


Have fun. Or try to.

 

[EllEzDee]

New rap, because there is only one rap artist I will listen to.

Spoiler: Shoji Meguro

Unless there is another artist who blends rap and jazz that I don't know about.

Try Aesop Rock. A lot of his older stuff (before the album "Bazooka Tooth") had a jazzy vibe to it.

His rhyme style is very unconventional, replete with obscure movie, cartoon, video game, and Japanime references. But that's what makes him one of the best rappers in the underground scene (subjective, I know; just try to roll with it).

Bazooka Tooth is probably his worst album, especially with the fucking terrible El-P "featurettes". Still, it's not uncommon (the whole "nerd" fanbase references), especially nowadays, to have all that crap.
Deltron 30-30, most notably Deltron Zee, i.e. Del Tha Funky Funky Sheet/Funky Homosapien, Sir Diesel or whatever the fuck he wants to call himself, is (or are) well known for it, and their music is fantastic.
MF Doom is known for it aswell, but only because that's all he can fucking do. Release 10 songs about comic books, constantly resample them and re-release them, get rich and forget about the people who got you to where you are = MF Doom.

It's cool how it's impossible to talk about underground hip hop/rap - especially with the whole "gaming forum" in mind - without Atmosphere, MF Doom, Aesop Rock or Deltron 30-30 popping up. I know Doom and Deltron 3030 have somewhat similar lyrical styles, but where do Atmosphere and Aesop Rock fit in? Besides them both being white and good at what they do (though i don't really like Atmosphere)...

 

[ProfessorLayton]

Oh man, 2004 is old school?
Both old school and new school can be great.

Spoiler: Old School

Spoiler: New School

The Kendrick Lamar one is the best.

My old school list isn't too great, but it gets the point across. It's really hard to compare because both have good songs and bad songs.

Of course, I'll have to say "new school," because Kendrick Lamar is the best rapper out there.

 

[shitoutonme]

Tupac, Biggie, NWA, Ice Cube, Lonely Island, Beastie Boys? WTF?

All of them are WHACK compared to this new rapper commin' up in the industry!

Spoiler

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1tufujnbzU[/youtube]

 

[StellarViking]

Old school all the way. I think that the genre has lost a lot of what formed it to begin with. Of course, at the same time, new school doesn't have Devastatin' Dave.

 

[artanis_neravar]

No thanks, I was actually waiting to see if anyone would try to change my opinion on rap, but instead every just seems to want to insult me interesting

I don't think s/he's insulting you. If s/he did, I'm sure they would've come up with something more scathing than that.

And maybe s/he felt your comment had no real relevance and simply wanted you to leave? Sure, it probably could've been better phrased, but come on. That's jumping to conclusions, don';t you think?

You're really willing to take the time to explore and expand? Try some of the following; they're some of my favorite rappers/producers:

Rjd2 (producer)
Aesop Rock
Atmosphere
The Wu-Tang Clan
Mr. Lif
El-P (I don't like him too much, but you might)
Sage Francis
Criss Chords (Nerdcore rapper, ever heard someone rap about Dr. Robotnik or cheat codes?)
Random
Living Legends
MF Doom
Canibus (be careful with this one, he drops a lot of science and he's also very vulgar)
Eminem (don't go past Encore, he fell off that album)
Busta Rhymes (don't go past Genesis, another one that fell off after a point)
Ludacris

That's all I can think of off-hand. There's always the older stuff, again, if you really wanna expand your horizons, so to speak.

I was referring more to the person that called me a troll, and thank you I will look into them.

 

[artanis_neravar]

"Its all about drugs pimping etc."

Get this out of your head.

Also Rock musicians have songs about drugs since forever and ever, there is nothing wrong with rapping about drugs, its a common problem which rappers adress.

But when it comes to rockers it is more subtle, at least in my experience

 

[Joshua Mcdaniel]

im leaning towards old school but even new school has some promising newcomers once you dig past all the club ones

 

[JUGGERNAUTBITCH]

jedi mind tricks/vinnie paz
best underground rap i have ever heard. but the mainstream shit i pref. old.

 

[SageRuffin]

The Lonely Island is the only good rap, and they are better then any other rappers past present or future. There, I said it

When I get ignored that means I win.

Or that noone found your response very interesting or thought provoking so they just passed it over.

Nope, it means I win and no one can come up with a good counter argument

You know what... I retract my last post towards you. I'm with the other guy in thinking that no one really cares and are happily having lovely conversations with good folks who, you know, actually know what the hell they're talking about.

Retraction: Actually scrub it. You just do you and we'll do us. Feel free to keep looking into that list.

However... you say the only good rappers are Lonely Island... I, for one, would love to know how you came to that conclusion.

It's cool how it's impossible to talk about underground hip hop/rap - especially with the whole "gaming forum" in mind - without Atmosphere, MF Doom, Aesop Rock or Deltron 30-30 popping up. I know Doom and Deltron 3030 have somewhat similar lyrical styles, but where do Atmosphere and Aesop Rock fit in? Besides them both being white and good at what they do (though i don't really like Atmosphere)...

I don't think Atmosphere fits in that category, really. Aesop Rock definitely fits as his songs are rife with references to movies, comics, Japanese animations, and the like. Take "Coma" for instance...


Just in the first few lines there are references to Speed Racer, Dragonball Z, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I'm sure there are others, but I don't watch movies as much as he does.

 

[artanis_neravar]

The Lonely Island is the only good rap, and they are better then any other rappers past present or future. There, I said it

When I get ignored that means I win.
That said other then my above example I find rap to be very uninspiring

No thanks, I was actually waiting to see if anyone would try to change my opinion on rap, but instead every just seems to want to insult me interesting

Well if you come in with a music bashing attitude, what do you expect?

If you want your opinion changed, look past the radio for music, read about the musical style, stop being close minded.

I have a music bashing attitude because I said that I find rap to be uninspiring? Did I come in here saying "fuck rap it's complete shit and anyone who likes it is a douchebag"? No I gave a fair opinion on what I think of rap

 

[artanis_neravar]

The Lonely Island is the only good rap, and they are better then any other rappers past present or future. There, I said it

When I get ignored that means I win.

Or that noone found your response very interesting or thought provoking so they just passed it over.

Nope, it means I win and no one can come up with a good counter argument

You know what... I retract my last post towards you. I'm with the other guy in thinking that no one really cares and are happily having lovely conversations with good folks who, you know, actually know what the hell they're talking about.

You say the only good rappers are Lonely Island... I, for one, would love to know how you came to that conclusion.

After Listening to quite a bit of rap I found that The Lonely Island is the only rap band I like, unless you count Linkin Park or The Gorillaz, which I find that most people do not

 

[artanis_neravar]

"Its all about drugs pimping etc."

Get this out of your head.

Also Rock musicians have songs about drugs since forever and ever, there is nothing wrong with rapping about drugs, its a common problem which rappers adress.

But when it comes to rockers it is more subtle, at least in my experience

That justifys your hate of a musical style? Seriously?

Look past the lyrics its alot about a good beat and interesting sample.

Bet you dont even listen for that.

I never said I hated rap, all I said was that with rock the drug references are more subtle, and in most songs the first thing I do is listen for the drum and bass lines.

 

[Private Custard]

New rap artists have fuck-all interesting to say.

Go back to the 90's and listen to The Predator by Ice Cube. Released after the Rodney king beating, and subsequent trials, it's anger personified.....but funny at the same time.

So much awesomness in the late eightis to mid nineties. These new twats can't compare!

 

[SageRuffin]

The Lonely Island is the only good rap, and they are better then any other rappers past present or future. There, I said it

When I get ignored that means I win.

Or that noone found your response very interesting or thought provoking so they just passed it over.

Nope, it means I win and no one can come up with a good counter argument

You know what... I retract my last post towards you. I'm with the other guy in thinking that no one really cares and are happily having lovely conversations with good folks who, you know, actually know what the hell they're talking about.

You say the only good rappers are Lonely Island... I, for one, would love to know how you came to that conclusion.

After Listening to quite a bit of rap I found that The Lonely Island is the only rap band I like, unless you count Linkin Park or The Gorillaz, which I find that most people do not

That's because they're not "rap bands", they're bands that feature a rapper (Mike Shinoda and Del tha Funky Homosapien, respectively). Big difference.

And really, The Lonely Island are a rap group the same way Weird Al is a rapper: they're not. They make parodies of rap songs (i.e. I'm on a Boat, Like a Boss). That one's a bit more subjective though, as The Lonely Island's songs are indeed more original if nothing else (gotta give Weird Al credit though, "White & Nerdy" is fucking brilliant).

I'll say this much else before I grab my mail: have you ever looked into the various sub-genres? From the sound of things, you might enjoy Nerdcore; guys like YTCracker, Duane & Brand0, Random, Criss Chords, MCs Frontalot and Hawking (the former having some of the best flow I've ever heard), Hayzee, stuff like that.

Here, try this. He's rapping about Zork for crying out loud.


Observation: Oh, shit. Suspended. Never mind.