Leftist Hip Hop

[SanPatricio'sSoul]

Um basically since over the last 3 or 4 years i've been a huge underground hip hop head, I'm going to attempt to document the many different subgenres of leftist hip hop. Since I don't ever remember seeing this type of topic to date here it goes. By the way feel free to disagree, add on, discuss, etc.

RBG Hip Hop/Militant Hip Hop - This is your more openly militant type of hip hop. Obviously this includes the whole extended RGB (Revolutionary But Gangster) Family which I believe was started by Dead Prez. Other rappers that would fall into this category would be Immortal Technique, Diabolic. Basically its a big "Fuck You" to politicians. The one drawback to this is there are many accusations of bigotry in this genre (I.E. Dead Prez's use of the word Cracker).

Organic Hip Hop - Here is where you would find the more soul-influenced/jazz-influenced type hip hop. This actually is the base type of hip hop for the backpacker movement. Also this is where you would find the most popular leftist rappers. Basically this is your Talib Kweli, Mos Def, and your Roots. The main drawback to this is that some backpack rappers and fans alike are very very Elitist.

Old School - There really is no need to explain this, Hip Hop started out being overtly leftist political in the first place.

Religious Hip Hop - While there is a whole subgenre of Christian hip hop, the current monopoly on Religious Leftist Hip Hop is Muslim. Wu-Tang Affiliates (Black Market Militia for example) make up most of this genre. They are Muslims associated with the 5%ers. Other singular artists in this genre include Hasan Salaam and Vinnie Paz. This is another genre that you unfortunately find bigotry (Mostly homophobia). Also there are many artists who are Muslim and rap, but I'm only including those who are overtly Muslim. Lupe Fiasco and Mos Def are both Muslim Rappers but they don't quite profess their faith as much.

Avante-garde Hip Hop - The best way I can really describe this genre is Hip Hop that pushes the boundries of the genre. Most of the members of this genre come from The Definitive Jux record label. Now although the majority in this genre are White that label doesn't quite fit. This is where you would put Sage Francis, Aesop Rock, RJD2, MF Doom, and Lupe Fiasco. The two drawbacks to this is that these artists are that some of their rhymes are too cryptic and might take a third or fourth listen to understand, and since their music is basically out there its not going to appeal to your average hip hop fan.

Semi-Political Hip Hop - This is where I'm jumbling the rest of the hip hop underground. Basically these are the artists who would throw a couple political tracks on their album but aren't overtly political. Its been my experience that some of the best political songs come from this genre. Examples include Paint By Numbers by Murs, American Terrorist by Lupe Fiasco, and Strange Ways by MF Doom.

Mainstream/Occasionally Political - This is basically where i'm jumbling mainstream artists who will throw out an occasional political song. Think White America by Eminem, Why by Jadakiss (Good Song), and anything of those types. The pro to this is that these songs have more of a chance to be heard by millions of people, the con is that most of their other shit is crack murder crack.

Agree, Disagree?

[IronLion]

Agreed. :D

[SanPatricio'sSoul]

Originally posted by [email protected] 13, 2006 06:26 am
Agreed. :D
Did I miss anything?

By the way Thanks for the AOTP album, I'm going to see Reef the Lost Cauze on Friday I CANT FUCKING WAIT

[IronLion]

Originally posted by SanPatricio'sSoul+November 13, 2006 06:39 am--> (SanPatricio'sSoul @ November 13, 2006 06:39 am)
[email protected] 13, 2006 06:26 am
Agreed. :D
Did I miss anything?

By the way Thanks for the AOTP album, I'm going to see Reef the Lost Cauze on Friday I CANT FUCKING WAIT [/b]
Naw I think you summed it up quite well.
I plan on upping some more underground, left-of-the-center...stay posted :)

[Y Chwyldro Comiwnyddol Cymraeg]

What about NWA FUCK THE POLICE, i know they were more gangsta but that songs good. What do u think of G-Funk, Dr Dre nd Snoops stuff etc. slowed down a Parliment record(for instance) nd gangsta rapped over it........i think

[IronLion]

Originally posted by [email protected] 13, 2006 07:22 pm
What about NWA FUCK THE POLICE, i know they were more gangsta but that songs good. What do u think of G-Funk, Dr Dre nd Snoops stuff etc. slowed down a Parliment record(for instance) nd gangsta rapped over it........i think
Those would fit into SanPatricio's Soul's "Mainstream/Occasionally Political" categorization.

[Gunman]

Originally posted by SanPatricio'[email protected] 13, 2006 06:17 am
Now although the majority in this genre are White that label doesn't quite fit.
Your post was well made, but I don´t get it why a genre that is dominated by a certain racial group should be discredited of its label.

[SanPatricio'sSoul]

Originally posted by Gunman+November 13, 2006 07:47 pm--> (Gunman @ November 13, 2006 07:47 pm)
SanPatricio'[email protected] 13, 2006 06:17 am
Now although the majority in this genre are White that label doesn't quite fit.
Your post was well made, but I don´t get it why a genre that is dominated by a certain racial group should be discredited of its label. [/b]
To be honest when I was writing the Avant-Garde section I wasn't quite sure what to call it. Because the artists themselves don't create a label for themselves other then Hip Hop, but they basically are perceived as being Nerd Rap and the fact that they write in such a different style then most other hip hop AND their Race is somewhat of an issue to some other members of the hip hop community.

Now after I dig through all the artists I've forgotten about over the years i'm going to compile an artist list for each category and try to cross reference with their affiliates.

[Ol' Dirty]

Look up The Coup, nuff said.

[which doctor]

chopped and screwed...'nuff said

[Fawkes]

You could probably make an entire other sub-genre of Marijuana legalization hip-hop. Kottonmouth Kings and Cypress Hill are examples.


EDIT: my 100th post... hell yeah

[Tekun]

Where would Illogic (the artist) fit in? ;)

[Pirate Utopian]

what about just normal political hiphop like Public Enemy or X-Clan?

[IronLion]

Originally posted by Big [email protected] 15, 2006 11:17 am
what about just normal political hiphop like Public Enemy or X-Clan?
They'd fit into the first "group"/categorization

[Eastside Revolt]

My only criticism would be that you oversimplified with "organic Hip Hop". There are many underground mc's that come out that I would describe as "organic" but are not necessarily soul or jazz influenced.

By "organic" I'd assume you mean you mean original in either the beats or lyrical content.

[Ol' Dirty]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14, 2006 06:23 pm
chopped and screwed...'nuff said
Hmm?

[IronLion]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14, 2006 11:23 pm
chopped and screwed...'nuff said
Chopped & Screwed is for the mentally challenged........

[Keyser]

Organic Hip Hop - Here is where you would find the more soul-influenced/jazz-influenced type hip hop. This actually is the base type of hip hop for the backpacker movement.

What is the backpacker movement?

Excuse my ignorance here, Im not into hip hop, just kind of curious.

[Pirate Utopian]

i kinda like back pack hiphop, but i cant really explain it

[IronLion]

Originally posted by Big [email protected] 16, 2006 01:07 pm
i kinda like back pack hiphop, but i cant really explain it
Here are some backpacker artists:

De La Soul, Lupe Fiasco, Pharrell (sometimes), A Tribe Called Quest, Kanye West, Common, Talib Kweli......

[Y Chwyldro Comiwnyddol Cymraeg]

Ilike gil scott heron who is very political, hes sampled on My way home kanye West

[ComradeOm]

Hip hop is the true opiate of the masses

[SanPatricio'sSoul]

Originally posted by Anarchism [email protected] 16, 2006 10:42 am

Organic Hip Hop - Here is where you would find the more soul-influenced/jazz-influenced type hip hop. This actually is the base type of hip hop for the backpacker movement.

What is the backpacker movement?

Excuse my ignorance here, Im not into hip hop, just kind of curious.
Well the name itself is derived from people who where so into hip hop that they always carried backpacks filled with their cd collection and possibly notebooks to write rhymes in.

The best way I can really describe it is kind of being a softer type of hip hop. It usually does in most cases have soul influences. Basically its a less aggressive style of hip hop. The thing i find funny is that I wrote that whole thing while listening to house music.

[Hampton]

It's also called nerd rap. Ie Aesop Rock, Def Jux, Atomosphere.

[IronLion]

Originally posted by [email protected] 16, 2006 07:13 pm
Hip hop is the true opiate of the masses
Only as of late.....regardless, there is still pure hip-hop out there.....you've just gotta search.........dig in the crates.......

[synthesis]

Originally posted by IronLion+November 15, 2006 11:05 pm--> (IronLion @ November 15, 2006 11:05 pm)
[email protected] 14, 2006 11:23 pm
chopped and screwed...'nuff said
Chopped & Screwed is for the mentally challenged........ [/b]

Hip hop is the true opiate of the masses

Who the fuck are you to talk? Go back to your gated communities.

[Honggweilo]

http://www.xs4all.nl/~osdorp/dox/frameteksten.html

:D

[Fawkes]

Has anyone else heard of the Oakland underground anarchist rapper Emcee Lynx (that was a lot of adjectives)?

[OneBrickOneVoice]

Originally posted by IronLion+November 13, 2006 07:29 pm--> (IronLion @ November 13, 2006 07:29 pm)
[email protected] 13, 2006 07:22 pm
What about NWA FUCK THE POLICE, i know they were more gangsta but that songs good. What do u think of G-Funk, Dr Dre nd Snoops stuff etc. slowed down a Parliment record(for instance) nd gangsta rapped over it........i think
Those would fit into SanPatricio's Soul's "Mainstream/Occasionally Political" categorization. [/b]
oldschool hiphop wasn't mainstream when FTP came out

[Epoche]

underground hip hop head

Its not underground, none of it. It is set up to appear "anti-establishment" to "rebellious youth," (the largest music consumer group) so that they buy it.

Hip-Hop is mindless trash....much like its listeners.

[Hampton]

Originally posted by [email protected] 02, 2006 04:00 pm

underground hip hop head

Its not underground, none of it. It is set up to appear "anti-establishment" to "rebellious youth," (the largest music consumer group) so that they buy it.

Hip-Hop is mindless trash....much like its listeners.
Once again ignorance rears its ugly head.

[Pirate Utopian]

obiviously epoche doesnt know The Coup!

[Epoche]

Scribble dabble scrabble, on the microphone I babble....Ad nauseam.

[Hampton]

Originally posted by [email protected] 02, 2006 07:20 pm
Scribble dabble scrabble, on the microphone I babble....Ad nauseam.
So you're saying all rappers have nothing to say/or have said nothing of importance in any of their songs?

Or do you just not like and are unable to form a coherant sentence as to why you dislike it?

[Solitary Mind]

Originally posted by [email protected] 03, 2006 12:20 am
Scribble dabble scrabble, on the microphone I babble....Ad nauseam.
and in other forms of music they dont babble? get out of here and stop being ignorant. hip hop has alot of good leftist music with alot of good messages. and the hip hop artists that i listen to have alot more on their minds than you do, you can be labeled mindless trash because of your ignorance. and get out of here with the whole its set up to look a certain way, because theres too many artists like Aesop Rock that could be getting rich instead of putting on a "anti establishment" facade on...do some research and stop being ignorant

hip hop is music like anything else, and like anything else is going to have artists that suck and dont speak about much..but in rock it doesnt matter does it? they just need to play instruments and sing and what they doesnt matter? no its about the message and hip hop brings that, especially underground hip hop (and it confuses me how they would be underground to make money, when the ones making money are clearly not even trying and are mainstream cats who talk about completely different shit?)

[Pirate Utopian]

Originally posted by [email protected] 03, 2006 01:20 am
Scribble dabble scrabble, on the microphone I babble....Ad nauseam.
:o it's 50 cent, get him! ;)

[BreadBros]

I've always felt a lot of mainstream hip-hop is vageuly "leftist" if not explicitly so, in terms of being about ghetto life and marginalization in society and the rebellion against that. I'm talking about Nas, Tupac, Big Pun that kind of stuff.

[Pirate Utopian]

Originally posted by Tupac - Panther Power
I couldn't settle for being a statistic
Couldn't survive in this capitalistic
Government cause it was meant to hold us back
Using ignorant, drugs, to sneak attack
:)

[Epoche]

Or do you just not like and are unable to form a coherant sentence as to why you dislike it?

[laughing]

I'm sorry man, didn't mean to upset you. I prefer not to, if you don't mind. I've wasted enough time describing the tragedy of "hip-hop" music elsewhere.

And another thing I won't explain is this: hip-hop is not helping the communist cause.

Again, sorry to bother you.

[Sir_No_Sir]

Originally posted by Freedom for [email protected] 02, 2006 12:43 am
Has anyone else heard of the Oakland underground anarchist rapper Emcee Lynx (that was a lot of adjectives)?
YES

[Hampton]

Originally posted by [email protected] 03, 2006 10:53 pm

Or do you just not like and are unable to form a coherant sentence as to why you dislike it?

[laughing]

I'm sorry man, didn't mean to upset you. I prefer not to, if you don't mind. I've wasted enough time describing the tragedy of "hip-hop" music elsewhere.

And another thing I won't explain is this: hip-hop is not helping the communist cause.

Again, sorry to bother you.
:rolleyes:

Didn't mean to try and get to explain your assaine statments.

Sorry about that.

[BreadBros]

How is hip-hop not helping the communist cause? Revealing the truths of urban working class life, expressing a materialist standpoint, etc. I can't think of more revolutionary music except maybe punk.

[Tekun]

Gotta love elitists :rolleyes:

[armedpoet]

We have some great revolutionary hip hop in Aust.

Mostly put out by elefant traks see: www.elefanttraks.com

Combat Wombat are pretty much anarcho.

The Herd and TZU are somewhat radical leftists.

We also have Downysyde and Hill top hoods - kinda more mainstream but write a few political tracks.

Plus Cursovdialect who are more experimental hip hop but pretty fuckn awesome and militantly anti-racist.

[Concept]

props on the original post....good work
i don't even try to keep up on the sub-genres...lol...way too many

myself i love underground hip-hop...the mainstream is just the same recipe used over and over...no originality to it
anybody ever hear of Mr.Lif....read somewhere this guy was once on the FBI watchlist cuz his tracks r so political they felt he could start an uprising

also to that comment about hip-hop being about the establishment...ever hear of Living Legends...these guys started up their own label and organized a couple world tours...all on their own....they r doing it cuz they love music and thats it...not to make money like the mainstream punks

for all those haters out there who think hip-hop has nothing to say may i suggest to dl Immortal Technique - The Poverty of Philosophy and also The Message & The Money

[Concept]

was just listening to some more Immortal Technique and another good track is Propaganda

droppin mad science

"I don't want no computer chip in my arm/
I don't wanna die by a nuclear bomb/
I say we all rush the Pentagon/
Pull out guns and grab the intercom/"

tight verse

[Honggweilo]

what if you guys post some sample's of the somewhat underground bands/formations/rappers, especialy those from specific countries (which are hard to find for outsiders). that would be more convincing :)

[Ze]

Sabac Red! He came out with an ILL album couple years ago with Immortal Tecnique and Necro on a couple tracks.

[Organic Revolution]

Originally posted by [email protected] 05, 2006 11:55 am
was just listening to some more Immortal Technique and another good track is Propaganda

droppin mad science

"I don't want no computer chip in my arm/
I don't wanna die by a nuclear bomb/
I say we all rush the Pentagon/
Pull out guns and grab the intercom/"

tight verse
yo, thats dead prez :huh:

[Fawkes]

Originally posted by [email protected] 02, 2006 04:00 pm

underground hip hop head

Its not underground, none of it. It is set up to appear "anti-establishment" to "rebellious youth," (the largest music consumer group) so that they buy it.

Hip-Hop is mindless trash....much like its listeners.
THe term hip hop actually was coined as a name for the cultural movement of which rapping (MCing) is a big part of. Hip hop as a culture is more sympathetic to leftist beliefs than probably any other.

P.S. On the song "Keynote Speaker" by Talib Kweli, is that Dave Chapelle speaking?

[Hanguk_Leftist]

Pretty much all I listen to is political hip-hop.

Let's Get Free by Dead Prez is a classic political hip-hop album. 10/10

We do for self like ants in a colony
Organize the wealth into a socialist economy
A way of life based off the common needs
And all my comrades are ready, we just spreadin the seed


Download Let's Get Free here
http://www.megaupload.com/de/?d=DVA2D07M

Ayo my life is like Roots it's a true story
It's too gory for them televised fables on cable
I'ma a runaway slave watching the north star
Shackles on my forearm , runnin with the gun on my palm
I'm an African , never was an African-American
Blacker than black I take it back to my origin
Same skin hated by the klansmen
Big nose and lips, big hips and butts, dancin, what

[SanPatricio'sSoul]

Originally posted by Freedom for all...ALL+January 01, 2007 09:06 pm--> (Freedom for all...ALL @ January 01, 2007 09:06 pm)
[email protected] 02, 2006 04:00 pm

underground hip hop head

Its not underground, none of it. It is set up to appear "anti-establishment" to "rebellious youth," (the largest music consumer group) so that they buy it.

Hip-Hop is mindless trash....much like its listeners.
THe term hip hop actually was coined as a name for the cultural movement of which rapping (MCing) is a big part of. Hip hop as a culture is more sympathetic to leftist beliefs than probably any other.

P.S. On the song "Keynote Speaker" by Talib Kweli, is that Dave Chapelle speaking? [/b]
Yes it is, and i'm glad to see my thread sparked so much debate. To the dude that wanted samples, I'll throw a track from each category onto a mix and upload it IF the mods are cool with that, so if they say yes, lets do the damn thing

[Phalanx]

The Coup and dead prez are my fav hiphop groups. I especially like The Coup because they've got the funk element much like Digital Underground. The gangsta stuff like 50 cent is usually shit though. It's too much like metal of the 80's, where the musicians brag about excess and extreme wealth.

[Alf]

try this for a variant: left communist rap plus boogie-woogie/hip hop fusion

http://www.myspace.com/jayceemcee

[An archist]

Recently I saw a really good riothiphop song on mcm (the French Mtv), the singer was a woman, and the clip consisted of a lot of images of riots and social revolts, next to her, there was usually a guy wearing an EZLN bandana.
I know this is a really vague description, but does anyone know wich song that is?