Any Opinions on Def Jux?

[Jimmie Higgins]

I think it's great stuff. El-P and Mr. Lif and Murs and Cage and Aesop Rock and so on. They all had some great albums in the early 00s, then hit a rut for a few years, but they've come back to form lately with the New El-P and Aesop albums in my opinion. Also they are doing the new Del album.

[Jimmie Higgins]

No hip-hop fans here? Folks might like it - El-P's songs sound like a hip-hop version of "London Calling".

My favorite music video ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNJFq6VjHJI

[Jazzratt]

Aesop Rock is the shit. As is El-P.

Def Jux, in general really is fucking great.

EDIT: Also everyone would do well to note Cannibal Ox Released his best stuff on Def Jux.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Yeah, I can't believe I forgot Ox. Pigeon is a great song and that album was the first Def Jux thing I bought.

[More Fire for the People]

I like Def Jux but I feel they are too self-alienating from the hip hop movement.

[Jimmie Higgins]

I like Def Jux but I feel they are too self-alienating from the hip hop movement.How do you mean? By claiming that they are the only innovators right now or the heirs to golden-age rap or something? I get that sense from interviews I've read. Or is it something else like style or something?

[More Fire for the People]

How do you mean? By claiming that they are the only innovators right now or the heirs to golden-age rap or something? I get that sense from interviews I've read. Or is it something else like style or something?
Yeah, they're a bunch of white middle class hipsters claiming to be the prophets of the Zulu nation by remixing Eric B & Rakim tracks.

[Black Dagger]

I'm a big fan of Lif and Aes (even though he did that lame Nike joint); but El-P is just way too sexist/homophobic in his lyrics to keep me interested.

I think some of my fav Def Jux shit is the collab stuff they do - not just The Perceptionists but stuff like 360 Degrees with Del.


Yeah, they're a bunch of white middle class hipsters claiming to be the prophets of the Zulu nation by remixing Eric B & Rakim tracks.

I feel what ya saying but to be fair, not all of the Def Jux roster are 'white middle class hipsters'.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Anybody read "Can't stop, Won't Stop"? It's like Mike Davis for hip-hop.

[Sleeping Dog]

Don't know much on "Hip Hop" Mother Jones November December 2007 had an article pertaining to re-birth of social relevancy in that genera. I'm just an "old dog".

[Jimmie Higgins]

Yeah, they're a bunch of white middle class hipsters claiming to be the prophets of the Zulu nation by remixing Eric B & Rakim tracks.True, in part, but how does that not describe all of the Indy or Backpacker scene? Besides, P.E. were middle class but they still made exciting music.

[blackstone]

Horrible music. Especially Aesop Rock. I'm a hip hop but thats not hiphop.

[Jazzratt]

I'm a hip hop but thats not hiphop.

Bollocks. It might be hiphop that you don't like, but that doesn't mean it doesn't fall well within the bounds of the genre. It's stupid to talk about it in terms of not being within the genre.

This is an argument that gets to me sometimes, especially as metalhead, because there are approximately seven hundred and fifty three bajillion and seven subgenres of metal - but I don't think it's fair to say that nu-punk fusion rapcore metal isn't metal, just that it's metal I hate. Same goes for hip hop, if you don't like the sound but it falls well within genre boundaries then just suck it up and admit it. Say that you think that def jux hip hop has weak beats & rhymes, I might disagree but at least you'll be honest.