Mainstream Rappers Who Can Blow Your Favorite Underground Rapper Out The Water [Archive]

AerodynamicOwl

8th August 2010, 02:22

This ones for the hip hop elitists. Let's list mainstream rappers who are more lyrically talented than most of everyone's favorite underground/indie/old school/political rappers:

TI
B.O.B
Lil Wayne
Kid Cudi
Eminem
Wiz Khalifa
Jay Z
Drake
Young Jeezy
Asher Roth
Lupe Fiasco

feel free to contribute

Like many rappers today, OP must have smoked himself retarded.

The Vegan Marxist

8th August 2010, 02:54

I like Eminem, he's definitely still got that old-school heat in his rhymes, especially in "Recovery". But the rest are all sell-out chokes! I'd love for these guys to battle out against Immortal Tech, The Coup, Dead Prez, Diabolic, etc. Fuck mainstream rappers!

El Mono

8th August 2010, 02:58

727Goon

8th August 2010, 03:00

Political rappers are automatically more talented than mainstream rappers. Fuck rappers black people listen to!

...

727Goon

8th August 2010, 03:02

Lupe Fiasco is the only one on that list worth listening too, and that's "Food & Liquor" and most of the "The Cool" bar "Gold Watch".

Blue Scholars, Immortal Technique, Sabac > destroy everyone you mentioned there.

You troll. Cause everybody knows Drake has no lyrics.

Drake has lyrics out the ass, I'll give you that he's soft as fuck and his lyrics have no meaning, but on the real yall all know hes got talent.

8th August 2010, 03:03

Lil Wayne

Really?:lol:kidding, but still not like

Obviously Eminem, and basically a chaos after that:lol:

As for the 2 idiots(woops:engles:) above TVM, just dont post if you have nothing to contribute, and especially you Aerodynamic, "retarded"?:rolleyes: You have been issued with a PM Warning, for prejudice language, dont post shit like that again, i was having thoughts for a warning point, but knowing that (sadly) lot of people got away with that word, and would might be unfair, but do it again, and its an infraction.

8th August 2010, 03:10

727 who you quoted and answered ... TVM didnt said those things:confused: basically no one did

Lupe Fiasco is the only one on that list worth listening too, and that's "Food & Liquor" and most of the "The Cool" bar "Gold Watch".

Blue Scholars, Immortal Technique, Sabac > destroy everyone you mentioned there.

You troll. Cause everybody knows Drake has no lyrics.

Those 3 destroy eminem?Even Jay Z?Come on you cant be serious... And im not one of those guys, ohh eminem cant be beaten etc etc bullshit, of course there is someone else out there that is also talented and can step in with the right lyrics, even jayz(i dont like him, at all) there is no way those guys "destroying" him.There arent many nas out there:lol:
Also, please dont fight on who is the best, worst, artist, lyricist, singer etc...:rolleyes:Its stupid to fight over something like that in a leftist forum...(and anywhere basically but anw)

El Mono

8th August 2010, 03:15

Drake has lyrics out the ass, I'll give you that he's soft as fuck and his lyrics have no meaning, but on the real yall all know hes got talent.

They have no meaning and they're talentless. He is marketed very well, toward 13 year old suburban children, who buy anything, if anything he's just an adult Justin Beiber; I wouldn't say he was Hip Hop, but Pop. He has no multis and freestyles off of a blackberry? I have no respect for that sorry.

He also stole M1's flow from Dead Prez on his track Over.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhNU3oSAuak(Dead Prez Dub)

They murder him off his own beat.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-j6Z_Loxw4 (Drake Parody).

:thumbup1:

Jay-Z is over hyped and a Biter. Any one can tell you, he just stole Biggie's rhymes, what's the point in listening to a re-hash? :/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqScH2CfYTg

727Goon

8th August 2010, 03:16

727 who you quoted and answered ... TVM didnt said those things:confused: basically no one did

It was a joke dude. This thread was meant in good fun but I'm sure there will be some uptight underground fans who will get butthurt.

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/11/18/116-black-music-that-black-people-dont-listen-to-anymore/

727Goon

8th August 2010, 03:24

They have no meaning and they're talentless. He is marketed very well, toward 13 year old suburban children, who buy anything, if anything he's just an adult Justin Beiber; I wouldn't say he was Hip Hop, but Pop. He has no multis and freestyles off of a blackberry? I have no respect for that sorry.

He also stole M1's flow from Dead Prez on his track Over.

www(dot)youtube.com/watch?v=HhNU3oSAuak(Dead Prez Dub)

They murder him off his own beat.
www(dot)youtube.com/watch?v=K-j6Z_Loxw4 (Drake Parody).

:thumbup1:

Jay-Z is over hyped and a Biter. Any one can tell you, he just stole Biggie's rhymes, what's the point in listening to a re-hash? :/

Dead Prez is good, but there are a lot of mainstream rappers who are just as good or better. Plus DP's politics are iffy, I liked their new mixtape, but there was that one song A Beauty Within was kind of creepy and racialist. I mean I love me some black girls but that song sounded a lot like the Nazis talking about the beauty of the Aryan woman.

Chimurenga.

8th August 2010, 03:54

As for the 2 idiots(woops:engles:) above TVM, just dont post if you have nothing to contribute

Get over yourself. If the OP is serious, by all means, to each their own. The original post just, in my opinion, sounds silly to me.

Nwoye

9th August 2010, 19:31

Blue Scholars, Immortal Technique, Sabac > destroy everyone you mentioned there.
immortal technique is one of the worst rappers alive today.

everybody knows Drake has no lyrics.
okay this is completely true. Let's look at Drake's verse from "bed rock":

I Love Ya Sushi Roll, Hotter Than Wasabi,
I Race For Your Love,
Shake And Bake Ricky Bobby

wow talk about a lyrical genius.

Blackscare

9th August 2010, 19:35

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UjsXo9l6I8

Jay Z is the only living mainstream rapper I can stand. Mostly because of this song.

Blackscare

9th August 2010, 19:40

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ihraCCCrpk

Now for some awesome underground shit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7vSzgDhF3Y

M-26-7

9th August 2010, 20:21

Ke$ha's got flow out the heezy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP6XpLQM2Cs

Truth is, Mos Def and Boots Riley ain't got shit compared to this. That's why they and they listeners all gotta hate on all superior lyricists as "corporate", but the truth is they just can't hang. They shit's weak.

Blackscare

9th August 2010, 20:31

Ke$ha sound like my ex gf when she was on xanax.

Aside from the auto tuning.

M-26-7

9th August 2010, 20:37

The auto-tuning reference reminded me of another great mainstream rapper:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u9o8G2EPRg

Pirate Utopian

9th August 2010, 20:42

727Goon

10th August 2010, 01:36

Now for some awesome underground shit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7vSzgDhF3Y

Oh I think you misread the title, this is a thread for mainstream rap. Totalitarian fool.

727Goon

10th August 2010, 01:39

Fuck people who hate on Weezy. As far Drake check out his mixtapes, he goes hard.

Gotta say to the OP though not all rappers mentioned are mainstream. Wiz Khalifa and Asher Roth for example.

But mainstream aint a bad thing, it just means alot of people know about you. Aint nothing wrong with being famous.
I cant stand people who have a bug up their ass about anything mainstream.

Also Sabac, Immortal Technique, Diabolic, Aesop Rock, Atmosphere and all their ilk are fucking rigid, uninteresting bores who bring nothing new to the table.
I'll take any mainstream rapper over them, especially Kid Cudi.

Yeah I dont get how people can say that Wayne has no talent, he's definitely one of the most talented rappers in the game and anyone who would take Immortal Techniques fuck ass over Weezy probably deserves to get slapped upside the head. But I think Wiz Khalifa and Roth especially are pretty mainstream, both are on major labels and granted you probably wont step in the car and hear a Roth song Khalifa is pretty heavy on the street.

Blackscare

10th August 2010, 01:49

I don't see how you can think an autotuned circle-jerk of fake motherfuckers dovetailing on whatever sound everyone else is doing is somehow more original or grounbreaking.

I don't know, seems like a pretty lazy and un-creative scene to me.

Ele'ill

10th August 2010, 02:10

Aesop Rock would run lyrical circles around these clowns.

The Red Next Door

10th August 2010, 05:58

Like many rappers today, OP must have smoked himself retarded.
:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:: laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

The Red Next Door

10th August 2010, 06:09

...

He did not say that, you just add that in there.

The Red Next Door

10th August 2010, 06:24

They have no meaning and they're talentless. He is marketed very well, toward 13 year old suburban children, who buy anything, if anything he's just an adult Justin Beiber; I wouldn't say he was Hip Hop, but Pop. He has no multis and freestyles off of a blackberry? I have no respect for that sorry.

He also stole M1's flow from Dead Prez on his track Over.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhNU3oSAuak(Dead (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhNU3oSAuak%28Dead) Prez Dub)

They murder him off his own beat.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-j6Z_Loxw4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-j6Z_Loxw4) (Drake Parody).

:thumbup1:

Jay-Z is over hyped and a Biter. Any one can tell you, he just stole Biggie's rhymes, what's the point in listening to a re-hash? :/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqScH2CfYTg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqScH2CfYTg)

And Like Justin, he is from Canada and ex degressi star.

The Red Next Door

10th August 2010, 06:33

Mainstream rap is shit, all they talk about is fucking some strippers and getting the bens, while dance showing off, there new ice, they brought from charles fucking taylor.

female disrespecting assholes with blood diamonds in their mouth.

Across The Street

10th August 2010, 06:53

Drake writes most of the mainstream rap we hear today, including Weezy.
Sometimes the whole world seems to be moving to this music.
It's ridiculous

un_person

10th August 2010, 07:03

Fuck people who hate on Weezy.

He is a misogynist it's always "*****" this and "*****" that. I'll say that he is a great freestyle rapper, but in a battle I think Technique would destroy him.

Pirate Utopian

10th August 2010, 09:08

Technique's unbearable anti-flow couldnt beat Vanilla Ice.

Also how can you call Wayne sexist and then mention IT?
Some lyrics from IT:

that's your girl, ***** get over here, give me some brain
I'll bust of on her face, and right after the segment
she'll propably rub it in her pussy, trying to get herself pregnant

I bet people here only listen to IT for his politics, who would listen to his beats or his flow if it wasnt for his politics?
His politics are fucking mess too, conspiracy crap mixed with homophobia and sexism.

You cant bump his music anywhere. It's too angry to relax to, it's too slow to get pumped up to, you can't dance to it, you can't be romantic to it, you can't do shit with it.

As for auto-tune, too much auto-tune crooning is kinda off-putting to me but I think you can be a little creative with it.
Sometimes it sounds pretty funny. I have auto-tune on my computer, it's pretty fun to mess around with it. I can imagine why so many rappers wanna record a song on it.

I don't see how you can think an autotuned circle-jerk of fake motherfuckers dovetailing on whatever sound everyone else is doing is somehow more original or grounbreaking.

I don't know, seems like a pretty lazy and un-creative scene to me.
Compare a rapper like Kid Cudi who's got these spaced up futuristic beats to some hack like Immortal Technique who's been doing the same uninteresting thing for 3 albums, with what sounds like the same beat.

Mainstream rap is shit, all they talk about is fucking some strippers and getting the bens, while dance showing off, there new ice, they brought from charles fucking taylor.

female disrespecting assholes with blood diamonds in their mouth.
Shows how many Kid Cudi, Wiz Khalifa or Drake you've listened to.

He did not say that, you just add that in there.
Call it paraphrasing.

The Red Next Door

10th August 2010, 15:04

Technique's unbearable anti-flow couldnt beat Vanilla Ice.

Also how can you call Wayne sexist and then mention IT?
Some lyrics from IT:

I bet people here only listen to IT for his politics, who would listen to his beats or his flow if it wasnt for his politics?
His politics are fucking mess too, conspiracy crap mixed with homophobia and sexism.

You cant bump his music anywhere. It's too angry to relax to, it's too slow to get pumped up to, you can't dance to it, you can't be romantic to it, you can't do shit with it.

As for auto-tune, too much auto-tune crooning is kinda off-putting to me but I think you can be a little creative with it.
Sometimes it sounds pretty funny. I have auto-tune on my computer, it's pretty fun to mess around with it. I can imagine why so many rappers wanna record a song on it.

Compare a rapper like Kid Cudi who's got these spaced up futuristic beats to some hack like Immortal Technique who's been doing the same uninteresting thing for 3 albums, with what sounds like the same beat.

Shows how many Kid Cudi, Wiz Khalifa or Drake you've listened to.

Call it paraphrasing.

point is..... they suck. there. deal with it. Now if you excuse me, i am going to run a plane into murder inc records and capital records. send drake with his fellow canuck justin to North Korea.

727Goon

10th August 2010, 16:27

First of all, why the fuck is everyone talking about a battle? This isn't 8 mile or 1985 guys, today being able to freestyle doesnt count for shit. Second dismissing Weezy or Cudi or Wiz Khalifa offhand and in the same sentence saying a no-talent hack like Immortal Technique is more talented just shows a general ignorance of hip-hop music and an elitist attitude towards music that people actually listen to.

bailey_187

10th August 2010, 16:35

Drake, Wayne etc arent "good" and clever lyrically, but who cares?

They sound good over a good beat. I hate most these condesending "conscious" or politial rappers, who think they are teaching me. fuck off, if i want to learn politics ill read or book or something.

I mean, Tech may have more interesting stuff ot say in a conversation on politics, race etc than Drake, Tyga or Wayne, but we are talking about music.

Aesop Rock has more clever and thought and lyrics than Drake, but Thank Me Later sounds much better to my ears than the peice of shit album by Aesop called None Shall Pass

Wiz Khalifa>>>>>>anyone, right now.

Also, OP needs ot add Ricky Ross to the list. And Saigon if he is considered mainstream.

bailey_187

10th August 2010, 16:38

Aesop Rock would run lyrical circles around these clowns.

Yeah but he has a horrible voice, boring flow and shit beats. Its music, its meant to sound good.

Nwoye

10th August 2010, 16:53

Is Mos Def mainstream? And what about DOOM?

kalu

10th August 2010, 17:21

Fuck people who hate on Weezy.

Also Sabac, Immortal Technique ... Atmosphere and all their ilk are fucking rigid, uninteresting bores who bring nothing new to the table.
I'll take any mainstream rapper over them, especially Kid Cudi.

QFT. I mean, I can't lie, I used to love Sabac but nowadays I find rappers who bring their explicit "politics" to the table a bore. There are so many more subtle ways to do it, and Lupe Fiasco's The Cool is a perfect example. Take even Rage Against The Machine (though they aren't exactly "rappers"): their lyrics are metaphorical and require some interpretation, not just "ARGGHHH FUCK CORPORATE CAPITALISM! PLUS LOOK AT ALL THE SHIT I'VE READ ABOUT CONSPIRACIES, ARGHHGH!!!" (there's a Tech parody for yall). I find impressive the underground rappers who are legit underground and yet don't add that to their musical resume as if that somehow makes them better than half these mainstream peoples. I even have to fault Sage Francis for that last point, and I love some of Francis's "personal stories."

And as for Weezy: the dude does sometimes have flashes of genius with some of his rhymes, especially the ways he inflects certain words.

Finally, the OP would have to specify on what basis we're having this competition between mainstream and underground rappers: freestyling ability, catchy hooks, complexity of verse, meaningful content, etc. Id have to agree with bailey that Rick Ross is a good contender for something (Deeper Than Rap is an amazingly lyrically mature album, even if the content's the same as his others). Just to bring some underground rep though, I think Vinnie Paz would win a rap battle for just insanely vicious and brutal lyrics (unfortunately tied to his homophobia, among other things...)

Pirate Utopian

10th August 2010, 18:40

I can dig mainstream rappers but I love underground hip-hop though, but when mentioning underground hip-hop can we please appreciate the good stuff like Curren$y or OJ da Juiceman for example instead of angsty rigid shit like Tech or Diabolic?

murder inc records
Which mentionworthy rappers are still signed to that label?

727Goon

10th August 2010, 18:42

I also find it hilarious that the same people who love Immortal Technique would have the audacity to bash Gucci or Waka Flocka. IT has about the same lyrical ability as those guys, except without being catchy or having good beats. So when your favorite rapper is about as talented as any given member of the 1017 Brick Squad but tries to be a lyricist none the less, you're fucking up.

Blackscare

10th August 2010, 18:42

Blackscare

10th August 2010, 18:43

IT has about the same lyrical ability as those guys, except without being catchy or having good beats. So when your favorite rapper is about as talented as any given member of the 1017 Brick Squad but tries to be a lyricist none the less, you're fucking up.

That's not a talent, that's hiring the right producer.

Pirate Utopian

10th August 2010, 18:52

They're still better at it.

And they got a better flow.

kalu

10th August 2010, 20:08

It's really hard to compare the two the more I think about it. They're basically different genres, rather than classifications of certain artists within the same genre. Mainstream rap focuses more on production than underground rap (usually, but then again look at Deltron 3030), and underground rap usually focuses more on lyrics.

I don't know if that distinction is entirely fair either. First, I think it depends on the region, I mean I think a lot of southern underground rappers definitely work on their hooks and beats (though there are also non-southern rappers who focus on beats, in a different kinda way, too, witness El-P). Second, even in the mainstream you have people like Lupe, Dilated Peoples, or Jurassic 5 bringing up the rear with lyrical content, though they're admittedly not as big as Drake or Weezy.

And to top off Pirate Utopian's suggestion that underground does NOT just equal angsty, I give props to Blackalicious.:thumbup1:

Blackscare

10th August 2010, 20:11

They're still better at it.

And they got a better flow.

This is pretty puzzling because taste in music is totally subjective, and you're presenting it as objective fact.

You could use the same argument in favor of any poppy music. Mainstream rap is pop music. There are certain beats and sounds that appeal to a lot of people and are more "catchy". Thats why lots of people listen to pop.

There are other qualities to music that are more subtle and have a narrower appeal to people, hence the existence of music other than pop. This doesn't make non-poppy music better or worse. It's just different and appeals to different tastes.

Blackscare

10th August 2010, 20:13

Also, as far as better flows go, I still haven't heard anything by wayne or drake or the like that tops Del's.

Pirate Utopian

10th August 2010, 22:51

Del's good but it was about Tech's flow or rather lack there of.

This is pretty puzzling because taste in music is totally subjective, and you're presenting it as objective fact.
I speaks the truth. :sleep:

Ele'ill

11th August 2010, 00:43

Yeah but he has a horrible voice, boring flow and shit beats. Its music, its meant to sound good.

I love his voice- his music is great in itself.

Blackscare

11th August 2010, 00:53

I also happen to hate IT, by the way. And fuck you if you don't like Aesop's accent/voice. You're probably some scrubnub from wisconsin that gets nervous around New Yawkars.

727Goon

11th August 2010, 08:09

Waka Flocka Flame is the best rapper to come out of New York. Fight me.

Ztrain

11th August 2010, 09:20

Del Tha Funkee homosapien is better than al those mofuckas!

synthesis

11th August 2010, 09:41

I also happen to hate IT, by the way. And fuck you if you don't like Aesop's accent/voice. You're probably some scrubnub from wisconsin that gets nervous around New Yawkars.

Aesop Rock actually admitted in an interview that his lyrics are literally meaningless, thereby confirming what we all knew anyways. Also, his voice is fucking annoying. edit: Finally, Midwesterners are probably Aesop Rock's primary fanbase.

E-40: top five, dead or alive. Lupe's great, so is Bun B.

Anyone fuck with Freddie Gibbs or Sugawolf?

synthesis

12th August 2010, 03:56

Bishop Lamont, anyone? He's not quite mainstream yet, but he's gonna be all over Detox.

YXreWiKF8Bs

soyonstout

12th August 2010, 04:06

In terms of what is called 'flow' my favorite rappers have some of the most retrograde lyrics and politics i've ever heard--probably the most. I don't know that much about rap but I tend to have this problem in other genres too--I think 'political' music usually either has crummy 'politics' or is not that great musically (maybe I've just heard the worst examples, but I can't stand RATM, Dead Prez, CRASS, etc.--except for the occaisional song with halfway decent politics and still lackluster music). Icons of Filth are ok (although politically they don't say much), but I'd take Notorious B.I.G., Dre, or Merle Haggard over those guys any day. OutKast are good too, and they don't strike me as 100% sexist/individualistic/thugger-than-thou.

bailey_187

17th August 2010, 13:01

Waka Flocka Flame is the best rapper to come out of New York. Fight me.

come now, thats just dumb

bailey_187

17th August 2010, 13:06

this reminds of the bullshit UK hip hop we get and the nerds that love off it

This guy Giggs is sick, but nothing complicated in lyrics so all the uk hip hop nerds/backpackers hate him

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpqQxklRkHU

but somehow this bullshit is better

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPpfoVGUDkE

its shit

manic expression

17th August 2010, 13:51

It's true, there is elitism in underground fans...but can you blame them? The mainstream is weak...it's just a fact. But it's not all bad:

Lil Wayne is alright...he's a nice emcee and he changes up his flow with the music which is more than most can do...but he doesn't really say anything and his flow has no exclamation marks. Drake's kind of the same. I've only heard a few Wiz Khalifa tracks and they were pretty good so he could be for real. Asher Roth is a herb...he chomps Em's style and he got murdered by Copywrite...people say he's alright at freestyling but that's not good enough when you bite and can't even diss back.

Lupe's a sick rhymer...no doubt about it...but he tries too hard to be "different" on his albums...if he played it straight he'd be carrying the torch. TI is dope, The Game is too and is kind of underrated IMO, 50 gets a lot of hate but he's a good emcee when he wants to be. Of course cats like Nas, Em, Black Thought, JayZ, Method...dudes who have been in the game since the 90's when the scene was real...they're still killing it harder than anyone else, which says a lot about where the scene is today.

But I'm excited about the up-and-comers. Jay Electronica is one of the realest emcees out there and I think he could break into the mainstream if we're lucky. He's fcking nasty and deserves the spotlight. Also, watch out for Wale, Slaughterhouse and Rhymefest. All dope, all hovering just under the mainstream. The game needs more emcees like them if it's gonna get back to where it needs to be.

black magick hustla

18th August 2010, 09:21

lol aesop rock. yall guys listen to white people rap.

i am not that big of a fan of hip hop anyway but most political music ive heard is shit. it requires no talent to take a bunch of cliche slogans or worthless platitudes and make em rhyme. immortal technique is horrible and DP has shit politics. its kindof like political poetry. when was the last time you read a good political poem. the last guy who was actually good at it was mayakovsky, then came socialist realism. political music is the equivalent of socialist realism

Os Cangaceiros

18th August 2010, 19:39

Whiz Kalifa is pretty good, at least the few songs I've heard of his ("The Thrill" in particular).

The Cool Kids are OK, too, although I guess they're more on the alternative rap side of things.

So is Kid Cudi, perhaps one of the best hip hop artists working today, IMO. (Well, besides Nas, maybe.)

Pirate Utopian

19th August 2010, 00:33

I'm loving The Cool Kids. Are they mainstream yet?

HEAD ICE

19th August 2010, 18:27

Is Big L considered mainstream?

The Red Next Door

19th August 2010, 18:50

lol aesop rock. yall guys listen to white people rap.

Why do we have to label music with Race?

727Goon

20th August 2010, 02:56

I'm loving The Cool Kids. Are they mainstream yet?

They probably will be soon. Regardless I fuck with them.

HEAD ICE

21st August 2010, 04:23

He1AlDIrIUE

BuddhaInBabylon

21st August 2010, 04:37

Knowledge Reigns Supreme mothafuckas.

bailey_187

23rd August 2010, 09:58

Masspike Miles is doing alot right now

Revolution starts with U

25th August 2010, 22:26

Pirate Utopian

25th August 2010, 23:19

Will I Am is however also a mainstream rapper.

Revolution starts with U

25th August 2010, 23:28

wasnt my argument. I was saying I consider him a better rapper becuase his songs sometimes have a meaning outside of consumerism and the glorification of violence and capitalism.

Pirate Utopian

26th August 2010, 01:32

Sexism and homophobia is also a big problem in the underground rapscene.

Alot of mainstream rappers do not even apply to "consumerism, misogyny, the perpetuation of the drug war state through glorifying gangsters, hate, and other bullshit capitalist enterprises".
Nas, Kid Cudi, Wiz Khalifa or B.O.B for example.

Revolution starts with U

26th August 2010, 02:18

Nas is always cool with me. And I didnt say all mainstream, just most. Im not prejudiced against any style of music just because it is a certain genre. I look at artists individually.
(Its like those posers who say "I like any music except pop and country." What a prejudiced statement. Most country/pop/mainstream anything sucks, but you cant discount it becuase it is pop/country/mainstream, but becase it sucks)

Revolution starts with U

26th August 2010, 02:26

If your lyrics have a real meaning, and your rhyme scheme is better than aabb (tho aabb works perfectly well most times, but come on, step it up), you're cool with me

bailey_187

27th August 2010, 12:10

mainstream rap is mostly about consumerism, misogyny, the perpetuation of the drug war state through glorifying gangsters, hate, and other bullshit capitalist enterprises.
If you support that, I feel sorry for you. I dont care how good your lyrical talent is, if your rap is glorifying the capitalist paradigm, you suck.
Shit, I consider Will I Am a better rapper than lil Wayne.

sometimes i jsut say fuck poltics and listen to Rick Ross tell me about his cars and money. maybe thats hypocritical but i dont care, i cba with politics sometimes.

scarletghoul

27th August 2010, 12:25

Kid Cudi

Vendetta

27th August 2010, 13:40

Why is Lil Wayne mentioned here?

I mean, c'mon. Have standards.

Pirate Utopian

27th August 2010, 14:12

Because he's fucking good.

Vendetta

27th August 2010, 14:20

Meh, I think he's shit, except for a few songs.

27th August 2010, 17:00

Because he's fucking good.

Not a fan, but not as bad as people say.My "dislike" especially for lil wayne, its his voice, i dont know, i dont like it, i tend to laugh some times with it, it reminds me of some weird pop artists that come and go every day...

Revolution starts with U

27th August 2010, 21:35

Lil Wayne's only "gangster" act was stealing rhymes from other artists. Id rather hear him talk, than rap. His politics aren't that bad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mptMWzF1K_k

#FF0000

30th August 2010, 05:35

Kid Cudi, Drake, and Lil Wayne are bad.

ed miliband

2nd September 2010, 10:57

Lil Wayne is great because he's so insane. When Lil Wayne is bad he can be astoundingly bad, but when he is on form he can merk any other rapper. His style is so unique and his rhymes are so bizarre that he can be a pleasure to listen to, and he's certainly an antidote to the conservatism of the general hip hop scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcK8mS4JCug

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HIB706Tvwo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGcyQH7BJUM

There was a review of the new Rick Ross album on Pitchfork which basically said a lot of hip hop fans really wish it was still the early 90s and they lived in New York, etc. and rappers like Lil Wayne and Rick Ross piss them off. It's 2010 now and Wu Tang is sonically boring so let's look forward to something else.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuQNS0zBBBY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnbO8GE4V5M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmZb7ekfG6E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py_0PtwJxzA

If you can't see how this stuff - mainstream as it is - is good then I feel sorry for you. I genuinely think a lot of mainstream hip hop is more forward-thinking and interesting than underground shit. It's not 1993 anymore.

Vendetta

2nd September 2010, 18:06

HEAD ICE

6th September 2010, 04:25

Everyone knows my guns make mad noise,
When I put the scope on it's like Pokemon,
cuz when I peek-at-chu i blast-toys

Tomhet

7th September 2010, 00:01

@ Op... Drake? o_0

Mac2468

11th September 2010, 05:57

The only "mainstream" rappers I listen to are Mos Def and The Beastie Boys.

Revolution starts with U

11th September 2010, 17:22

Mos Def is mainstream?

Pirate Utopian

11th September 2010, 17:31

Yes. Pretty much. Especially since the Dave Chappelle Show had him a few times and he's in movies now.

Revolution starts with U

11th September 2010, 17:56

I guess. Still, I don't think he is on the radio or mtv often, which is how I thought you defined so-called mainstream. (IMO it should rather be called generic)

The Vegan Marxist

11th September 2010, 18:10

If you can't see how this stuff - mainstream as it is - is good then I feel sorry for you. I genuinely think a lot of mainstream hip hop is more forward-thinking and interesting than underground shit. It's not 1993 anymore.

Forward-thinking my ass. Mainstream hip-hop has been a betrayal for the most part to the struggle that hip-hop once represented. I can't have respect for most mainstream rappers 'cuz all they talk about is how rich they are, who they want to fuck, & how much coke they snort. Fuck them!

HEAD ICE

11th September 2010, 18:25

Forward-thinking my ass. Mainstream hip-hop has been a betrayal for the most part to the struggle that hip-hop once represented. I can't have respect for most mainstream rappers 'cuz all they talk about is how rich they are, who they want to fuck, & how much coke they snort. Fuck them!

Here's some good tracks from the 'golden age' of hip hop:

eUawT_tl7sg
bQ0u2jjXs_o

these songs right here is what hip hop once represented. and by that I mean ace song writing and rapping ability.

Big L rapping about killing Jesus and shooting nuns> any Immortal Technique track

bailey_187

11th September 2010, 18:54

To whoever hates on "mainstream" hip hop these days because they talk about money:

http://milliondollamindz.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/eric-b-rakim-paid-in-full-289451.jpg

bricolage

11th September 2010, 19:02

Forward-thinking my ass. Mainstream hip-hop has been a betrayal for the most part to the struggle that hip-hop once represented. I can't have respect for most mainstream rappers 'cuz all they talk about is how rich they are, who they want to fuck, & how much coke they snort. Fuck them!
Difference is rappers who talk about 'how rich they are, who they want to fuck, & how much coke they snort' tend to actually be decent rappers.

bailey_187

11th September 2010, 21:04

Difference is rappers who talk about 'how rich they are, who they want to fuck, & how much coke they snort' tend to actually be decent rappers.

true story. being a good rapper = lots of money, women and coke (not so much coke, i dont think many rappers do coke), alot of the time

Os Cangaceiros

11th September 2010, 21:10

replace coke with primo Cali OG kush chron-chron, and it would probably be more accurate

ed miliband

11th September 2010, 21:52

Pirate Utopian

11th September 2010, 22:23

No "SUPERDUPERREAL UNDERGROUND HIPHOP HEADS" complained about hip-hop talking about drugs when it was Dr. Dre, Cypress Hill or Schoolly D.

I gotta get the chronic, the Reme Martin and my soda pop
Now I'm smellin like indo-nesia

Or sex and violence when it was the 2 Live Crew, Boogie Down Productions, NWA or the Beastie Boys.

I had a chance to run,
but he pulled out his shotgun.
Quick on the draw, I thought I'd be dead.
He put the gun to my head and this is what he said:
My name is MCA, I got a license to kill.

(...)

The Sheriff is after me for what I did to his daughter.
I did it like this, I did it like that.
I did it with the whiffle ball bat.

Or money/expensive stuff when it was Big L, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim or the Sugarhill Gang.

I threw on my brand new Gucci underwear
For all the girls I might take home
I got the Johnson's Baby Powder and the Polo Cologne
Fresh dress, like a million bucks,
put on the Bally shoes and the fly green socks.

i got bodyguards, i got two big cars
that definitely aint the wack
i got a lincoln continental and a sunroof cadillac
so after school, i take a dip in the pool
which really is on the wall
i got a color tv so i can see
the knicks play basketball
hear me talkin bout checkbooks, credit cards
more money than a sucker could ever spend
but i wouldnt give a sucker or a bum from the rucker
not a dime til i made it again

11th September 2010, 22:35

Now you said Dr.Dre, when the fuck is that damn Detox cd coming?He said is coming 2010 for sure, but this cd is claimed to be getting out for years and years now:lol:

apawllo

11th September 2010, 22:50

not really sure what underground and mainstream are anymore...the lines are blurred beyond recognition. just listen to whatever you're into.

bricolage

11th September 2010, 22:57

replace coke with primo Cali OG kush chron-chron, and it would probably be more accurate
Good point actually, don't really know the intricacies of America that much but in the UK most rappers would never admit to doing coke, and actually doing it is seen negatively. Shotting it though is of course another matter itself;

Half of the party's snorting my charlie

bricolage

11th September 2010, 23:03

I always find it funny how people who complain about modern mainstream rappers seem to have no beef with NWA or Wu-Tang, or whatever. Why is it okay for them to rap about drug dealing, money and fucking? The past is always so easy to reimagine.
Because like you said it was the past, and by now they have had an image effectively assimilated into broad culture, hence 'drug dealing, money and fucking' become humorous quirks of the early 90s as opposed to, well, drug dealing, money and fucking. Here's a good quote;

"The mass production of a cultural project robs it of its ability to rebel against the very culture in which it is produced."
-- Michael Eric Dyson

I imagine at the time NWA, Wu-Tang etc wouldn't have the allure they have now.

#FF0000

12th September 2010, 04:16

wait isn't lil wayne also a tremendous biter

Pretty Flaco

12th September 2010, 05:02

Nas is mainstream and I always love me a little Nas <3

NoOneIsIllegal

12th September 2010, 05:15

This is Lil Wayne. The same Wayne that apparently tons of people love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWCrBPOAeU8&feature=related

What the fuck.

LOL

Invincible Summer

12th September 2010, 06:26

I like the Beastie Boys and Public Enemy, and I think they're a lot better than more "underground" groups like Dead Prez and Immortal Technique

ed miliband

12th September 2010, 10:21

This is Lil Wayne. The same Wayne that apparently tons of people love.

JWCrBPOAeU8

What the fuck.

LOL

No, that Lil Wayne is awful. He's a bit like Prince in that his good:shit ratio isn't very good, but his best stuff is always gold.

bricolage

12th September 2010, 11:38

I like the Beastie Boys and Public Enemy, and I think they're a lot better than more "underground" groups like Dead Prez and Immortal Technique
I don't really think either of them, especially not Dead Prez, actually count as 'underground' to be honest.

bailey_187

12th September 2010, 11:44

This is Lil Wayne. The same Wayne that apparently tons of people love.

JWCrBPOAeU8

What the fuck.

LOL

yeah but theres also all this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykVwmYAUzEg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HIB706Tvwo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXfbD2DqeNM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3HZhLFFaSk&feature=fvst
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpQtmZWf8-8&feature=fvst
The Carter III is a classic, you man are just all too stuck up on your backpacker shit to appreciate

Theres also shit like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPTFzAOmNZQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErCAOMi5EGM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pt4kzmxBrc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pjn49bhk4Q&feature=related

Revolution starts with U

12th September 2010, 16:02

12th September 2010, 19:25

You above are clearly overacting, what does music taste has to do with any of this shit?!?
Now on weezy, i said again i dont like him, his music aint my thing, but noOneIsIllegal its completely unfair judging a musician by just one of his song, and saying he is shit, or not.
For example, we have Eminem(and im taking him as i consider him the best) who i can give you not just one video with a shitty song he made, and when i say shitty, i mean reaaaally shitty, but thats how Shady is, i know that, and i still respect it, but if someone came to me with one video of Eminem, saying see this, this means he is full of shit, i would laugh at his/her face.So while i agree with your case of disliking weezy(though im not having something against him as i said, i just really dont like his voice) you are putting it ahead wrongly;)

Os Cangaceiros

12th September 2010, 20:47

fXvPayu-X5A

I kind of got tired of Jurassic 5, but that song continues to be a favorite of mine, as far as alt-hip hop goes. I love the bass line.

bailey_187

13th September 2010, 10:19

Wow fanboy, settle down.
Being envious of these people just buys you into the capitalist paradigm. If you appreciate any of these glorified thugs for anything more than comedic relief, you are really not philosophically revolutionary at all, imo.
But, as I said before, if you like it for the beats, or to laugh at the quest to be a capitalist, whatever. Or if it actually means something, whatever.
But you know yourself it probably doesnt, you probably just like to think what it would be like if you had all that money, and all them *****es. Would you still support leftist movements if you were in their shoes, it makes me wonder?
Maybe you should re-examine your priorities if this movement is ever going to go anywhere.

lol, u dont know what your talking about. How is Lil Wayne in anyway a "thug"? Most the superduper revolutionary rappers are more "thuggish"?

lol at "not philosophically revolutionary at all"? What the hell does that mean?

Of course i would like to have as much money as these rappers. So what? Which normal person wouldnt?

bailey_187

13th September 2010, 10:20

did this kid even listen to the videos i posted though? For the most part they dont even talk about money.

apawllo

13th September 2010, 16:07

lol, u dont know what your talking about. How is Lil Wayne in anyway a "thug"? Most the superduper revolutionary rappers are more "thuggish"?

lol at "not philosophically revolutionary at all"? What the hell does that mean?

Of course i would like to have as much money as these rappers. So what? Which normal person wouldnt?

if you don't see the difference between leftist rappers like chuck d, boots riley, m-1, or even immortal technique rhyming about ending exploitation through revolution and someone limiting their own personal suffering by "getting money" through continued racial exploitation, i'd have to agree that you probably aren't philosophically revolutionary.

that said, i could care less if anyone listens to lil wayne. far worse things have happened...

Vendetta

14th September 2010, 02:46

far worse things have happened...

that is true

waka flocka

14th September 2010, 03:33

if you don't see the difference between leftist rappers like chuck d, boots riley, m-1, or even immortal technique rhyming about ending exploitation through revolution and someone limiting their own personal suffering by "getting money" through continued racial exploitation, i'd have to agree that you probably aren't philosophically revolutionary.

If i wanted to learn politics, or read about them i would get a book, if i wanted to hear politics, i would search for a movie or an speech, its not bad doing political music, but its fucking boring doing just that!

Sir Comradical

14th September 2010, 03:49

This ones for the hip hop elitists. Let's list mainstream rappers who are more lyrically talented than most of everyone's favorite underground/indie/old school/political rappers:

TI
B.O.B
Lil Wayne
Kid Cudi
Eminem
Wiz Khalifa
Jay Z
Drake
Young Jeezy
Asher Roth
Lupe Fiasco

feel free to contribute

The first four are garbage. I never really liked Lupe either. Eminem and Jay Z are great though.

apawllo

14th September 2010, 05:07

that is true

waka flocka

touche

maskerade

16th September 2010, 20:15

Eminem is sick, and I don't think you get more mainstream than that. Then there is Nas, though his album "untitled" sucked, but his stuff with Damian Marley was really good.

Lil wayne is on some other plateau of existence though, but it's true, he has a lot of crap songs too.

Why do people want to make everything political though? Just because I like to listen to hip hop doesn't mean I endorse crack dealing, beating women, spending lots of money on rims etc.

16th September 2010, 22:12

Any links on the Marley jr-Nas thing?I was reading about them some time ago, but i always forget to search for them

Vendetta

17th September 2010, 02:30

Any links on the Marley jr-Nas thing?I was reading about them some time ago, but i always forget to search for them

http://www.dubandreggae.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Nas-Damian-Marley-Distant-Relatives-album-300x300.jpg

Reznov

17th September 2010, 03:02

Gucci Mane makes some funny songs.

Does Lemonade count?

maskerade

17th September 2010, 05:36

Any links on the Marley jr-Nas thing?I was reading about them some time ago, but i always forget to search for them
AhcPPfJKs8I

damian marley spits shit hard too. great lyrics in this song

20th September 2010, 18:54

EvilRedGuy

21st September 2010, 17:27

I just gotta say. IF you dont like it then dont whine about it and simply don't listen to it, this is the best way to eliminate these stupid, useless board fights over something as simple as music.

21st September 2010, 22:14

music is far from simple

brigadista

21st September 2010, 22:56

AhcPPfJKs8I

damian marley spits shit hard too. great lyrics in this song

its a great album - im listening to it a lot at the moment

Iskalla

23rd September 2010, 17:40

I'm listenin to a lot of Lil Jon lately.

maskerade

23rd September 2010, 19:03

not bad, not bad at all(not great either, but good). Combination of the 2 greatest music styles(hip-hop and reggae) imo, there can be greater results i think combining the 2.But this is a hopeful try:thumbup1:
It aint on of the cd's i got and i was like, yeah, this shit are fucking GREAT, but are of the cd's that wont "disappear" like most do.:)

yea, it took a few listens for me to get really into it, but now i think its great! though there are better songs than that one

its a great album - im listening to it a lot at the moment

yea me too mate! listen through it almost every time i go to sleep :thumbup1:

RadioRaheem84

23rd September 2010, 19:06

RadioRaheem84

23rd September 2010, 19:17

Sippin on Some Sizzurp

"Keep the dope fiends higher than the GoodYear Blimp"

"We eat so many shrimp, I got iodine poisoning"

Vendetta

24th September 2010, 00:30

727Goon

24th September 2010, 01:47

I really do not think that I have heard better lyrics than from Southern Rap artists from TX, ATL, New Orleans and Tennessee. They have some ofthe fastest and wittiest lyrics I have ever heard. Some of the stuff they come up with just floors me! They will leave you thinking, "did he really just say that"?

For real, even fucking Gucci got some lyrics that are a lot better than the stuff IT shits out.

"Money long like shaq feet, runnin dope like a sprinter at a track meet" > poorly written songs about conspiracy theories