Conscious Hip Hop

[Ander]

So I'm familiar with artists and groups such as dead prez, The Coup, Immortal Technique, etc. but I'm wondering about some other names I've heard floating around recently.

What can you tell me about Mos Def, Talib Kweli, KRS-One, and any others you can suggest? How do you view their political messages? What albums would you suggest I look into for an introduction to these artists?

[Rex0230]

I'm not fan of Talib or Mos, but KRS is a legend! As for KRS you should check out his BDP (Boogie Down Production) albums. Start with his first "Criminal Minded", which is not really political at all, but it is one of the best albums in hip-hop history!

"By All Means Necessary", "Ghetto Music: The Blueprint Of Hip Hop" and "Edutainment" are his more political albums.

[Comrade B]

Blue Scholars are phenomenal. I know that Geo is a Maoist, not sure about the DJ, but at least socialist.

[Pirate Utopian]

Public Enemy. I'm sure you know them, but seeing as they werent mentioned...

[commie kg]

Blue Scholars
Common Market
Gabriel Teodros

[Omi]

Try French/Spanish hip-hop, a lot of great stuff there! Artists like Calavera, Keny Arkana and Mentenguerra have great songs and most of the time are a lot more striking than english stuff.
For more english artists try Flobots, Sweatshop Union, Mc Lynx, Uncle Scams.:)

[Sasha]

and if you looking for sommething less amarican, you might like looptroop aka looptroop rockers, a swedish acitvist hiphop group (there are some videos of them on you tube)

by the way, for the dutchies. the 18th of oktober there will be the 2nd G.A.A.F. RBG hip-hop festival, with graffiti-jam, food, breakdance, mc's, dj's, beatboxing and info stands by groups like AFA. Whole day @ overtoom 301 in amsterdam.

ill post the flyer as soon as i'll get it.

[Y Chwyldro Comiwnyddol Cymraeg]

Go Back to the roots..Gill-Scott-Heron's spoken word/rap is good...Whitey on the Moon makes me lol. The Last Poets are also good as is Grandmaster flash's The Message.

Talib Kweli and Mos Def are both good.

The Fugees released some good concious stuff on The Score.

Emcee Lynx, free music from his website, he's an anarchist West coast rapper.

Erykah Badu's new album is great...New Amerika, although not really Hip Hop more Neo Soul


The Coup, Dead Prez are my favuorites.

KRS-ONe is ok, Wild International are a rock/rap group with Zack De La Roach

Mumia 911 is worth checking out

[An archist]

A thread about leftist hip-hop should always have this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbIpTxJ4-Iw
:cool:

[Sasha]

A thread about leftist hip-hop should always have this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbIpTxJ4-Iw
:cool:

wow!!! awsome, i didn't know her yet, thanx...
i know what i'm going to shop for this afternoon.

[Ligeia]

What about mexican "Boca floja"....
That's really nice concious hip hop but it's spanish language HIp Hop....:)

[Vendetta]

Smif-N-Wessun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P016NQBnYiI

[#FF0000]

There's this guy that goes by the name Koba who's pretty good. Hasn't released anything but a demo yet, but it's produced ridiculously well. PM me for it if you can't find it online.

[RadicalRadical]

I would try out some Jedi Mind Tricks.

[Sasha]

Guerilla Ant Army Federation Strikes Again!
G.A.A.F. Crew - 06.10.2008 11:17

G.A.A.F. Proudly Presents the next party representing the 4 elementz of Hip-Hop Culture. We would like to bring together activists & street youth, and show that there is not one, but many ways to fight the system, and revolution will only be accomplished through working together!

Come to the OT301 in Amsterdam the 18th of October and experience a global counterculture as it's supposed to be, without corporations and government sponsored institutions controlling the music!

We are organising the Essence of Hip-Hop Party the 18th of October @ The Overtoom 301 in Amsterdam. This will feature 12 hours of nonstop Hip-Hop (and Roots Reggae) starting with live graffiti at 17:00, vegan food from 19:00 - 21:00 @ de Peper bar and live acts from 22:00 including B-boys&girls, MCs, DJs and Human Beatbox.
Entrance is 6,- and food is 4,- (if you are poor and hungry negotiation is always an option!).

We hope to bring you all a wonderful day filled with what Hip-Hop is REALLY about (opposed to the sex, money, drugs & blingbling that the corporate media is force-feeding the mainstream public) & overall good vibes.

Spread the word, take back the culture from corporate bizniz and rule the streets!

Guerilla Ant Army Federation

PEACE

http://www.indymedia.nl/images/mail_small.gif E-Mail: gaafcrew(at)gmail.com ([email protected])

[Sprinkles]

I didn't see Drowning Dog and Sage Francis mentioned yet.

http://www.myspace.com/drowningdog
http://www.myspace.com/sagefrancis

[Oneironaut]

I really enjoy Sage Francis- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtNMly0aDUk

[Oneironaut]

I didn't see Drowning Dog and Sage Francis mentioned yet.

http://www.myspace.com/drowningdog
http://www.myspace.com/sagefrancis

Edit: you beat me to it!

[Sasha]

oh god no, i saw drowning dog last year in amsterdam and it was the most embarising, offensive, degrading, unrespect full, toe bending, display of whitey (liberal) trying to be black since vanila ice.
Only the name and logo of their label is more inconsidaret and offensive than the act it self.
if only she would have painted here face with shoepolish than it would have been a complete minstrell show.

[Black Dagger]

display of whitey (liberal) trying to be black since vanila ice.


I've gotta ask, how does one act 'black'?

[Sprinkles]

oh god no, i saw drowning dog last year in amsterdam and it was the most embarising, offensive, degrading, unrespect full, toe bending, display of whitey (liberal) trying to be black since vanila ice.
Only the name and logo of their label is more inconsidaret and offensive than the act it self.
if only she would have painted here face with shoepolish than it would have been a complete minstrell show.

Meh, I thought it was somewhat above mediocre when I saw her perform once.
The thread didn't specify whether they were looking for good artists and I have no taste in music anyway.

[Sasha]

I've gotta ask, how does one act 'black'?

wel in her case prety much the same way most straight portrait gays and most "normal" people portrait an person with a mental handicap, by degrading stereotypes, hence my reference to minstrelshows (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minstrel_show).
there is a huge difrence to making hip-hop and being white (and some of my favorit music is by white hiphop artitst) and being white and do this "rap"thing with a lot of handgestures and yo yo's and being street you know.
I dont know if i can explain myself completly but it just felt so wrong.
"slumming it" (http://http://www.thefreedictionary.com/slumming+it) is a english term that comes close but is still too mild for the vibe i get from her

but maybe its just me, i find the logo and the name of there label http://www.entartetekunst.info/ekwebsite/public_html/EKLogoforwebthumbnail.jpg
also disgusting, inconsidaret and typical "wanabe edgy and darring and political but i dont have fucking clue what im talking about" american but some people disagree with me (mostly americans though)

[Sasha]

http://www.indymedia.nl/img/2008/10/54924.jpg
http://www.indymedia.nl/img/2008/10/54925.jpg

[Black Dagger]

and being white and do this "rap"thing with a lot of handgestures and yo yo's and being street you know.

I understand what you're saying, but 'handgestures and yo yo's and being street' are all a part of being an emcee and hip-hop culture generally IMO.

[cmbnd10]

There's a French group called IAM from Marseille. They are real deep and quite entertaining. Even if you don't speak French, their flow is paralyzing. :cool:


Also, for something less political and more fun, I highly suggest Sonny Bonoho. I saw him open for Aesop Rock and hes hilarious. I quickly bought 2 of his CDs.

[Sasha]

I understand what you're saying, but 'handgestures and yo yo's and being street' are all a part of being an emcee and hip-hop culture generally IMO.

i know that, but in her case it got a very fake feel to it. Maybe its not even racist but just realy nasty classist.

[Rosa Provokateur]

Flobots new album "Fight With Tools" and Public Enemy "Power to the People and the Beats"

[Ligeia]

oh and Boca Floja,mexican-spanish language hip hop_
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHSgiWdLJWM
And Puerto-rican Intifada(spanish language):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gggUYYPOvb4
And chilean Moyenei (though that ain't pure hip hop,it's more like reggae or dance hall):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFPE4CP1kbs&feature=related

:glare:Well,but after all it makes sense to be in command of the spanish language.

[Palmares]

There`s slways combat wombat (http://www.myspace.com/combatwombatforpresident) from Australia. Radical activist hip-hop.

Mos Def is pretty cool. Cept, he seems to make some weird god references, and is a little bit of a conspiracy theorist. Talib Kweli is like the more liberal version of Mos.

KRS-One was cool, ealry on he had rad songs like Sound of da police and free mumia, but nowadays he is more... religious.

Sage Francis is rad, despite being a middle class white boy.

Public Enemy, are mostly good, but not to get into it too much, if you were unlucky to watch Flavor Flav's MTV show, then you saw how consumerist/materialist and mysognist he really is. I wonder what Chuck D thinks of that....

[cmbnd10]

There`s slways combat wombat (http://www.myspace.com/combatwombatforpresident) from Australia. Radical activist hip-hop.

Mos Def is pretty cool. Cept, he seems to make some weird god references, and is a little bit of a conspiracy theorist. Talib Kweli is like the more liberal version of Mos.

KRS-One was cool, ealry on he had rad songs like Sound of da police and free mumia, but nowadays he is more... religious.

Sage Francis is rad, despite being a middle class white boy.

Public Enemy, are mostly good, but not to get into it too much, if you were unlucky to watch Flavor Flav's MTV show, then you saw how consumerist/materialist and mysognist he really is. I wonder what Chuck D thinks of that....


Chuck D didn't attend his roast. I think that says everything right there.

[Sasha]

saw public enemy afew years ago live and it was realy pathetic. flavor flav cut off almost every song halfway to promote his solo cd and the PE merchandise.
it pissed me off tremendesly and i left in disgust before the show was over.
real shame to see your old heroes fall so hard.

[Pirate Utopian]

I saw them last year in april in De Melkweg, it was great.
Although Flav did do a horrid song of his horrid soloalbum.

[Palmares]

Chuck D didn't attend his roast. I think that says everything right there.

But he is still in Public Enemy with him...

[Rosa Provokateur]

Chuck D didn't attend his roast. I think that says everything right there.
Whatever, man; Chuck D is there if you watch it from the beginning and the part he played in it was perfect.

[cleef]

Its all about Promoe!

(not that well known outside of europe but is a quality revolutionary artist

everything he touches turns to gold!

make sure to check out 'Headache' and 'Murder Murdoch' and 'Long Distance runner'

[Davie zepeda]

http://home.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user

There A few guys here that i found on myspace who are not that bad and i liked maybe you guys will like them .
Some are in south america but tight to me.

[Palmares]

Its all about Promoe!

(not that well known outside of europe but is a quality revolutionary artist

everything he touches turns to gold!

make sure to check out 'Headache' and 'Murder Murdoch' and 'Long Distance runner'

Promoe is the dreaded guy from looptroop - I saw looptroop a few years back, pretty fucking sweet, cept I found it weird that pretty much all the people at the show outside of me and my friends were trendy macho hip-hop wankers...

[Joshiimufu]

You should check out Jedi Mind Tricks, R.A. The Rugged Man, Army of The Pharaohs, Apathy, Ras Kass, Ill Bill and Joell Ortiz, they are all very good. :)

[Comrade B]

Honestly, just saw the Blue Scholars live, one of the greatest experiences in my entire life

[cleef]

Promoe is the dreaded guy from looptroop - I saw looptroop a few years back, pretty fucking sweet, cept I found it weird that pretty much all the people at the show outside of me and my friends were trendy macho hip-hop wankers...

yeh i cant wait to see them!

hopin for a u.k tour...but i doubt it

where did you see them?

might have to fly out to sweden

[Slave Revolt]

Welfare Poets from Puerto Rico are my favourite; great music, great lyrics

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LzOth38jxtM - them playing for Hugo Chavez

Akala, Foreign Beggars, GZA, Tricky, Roots Manuva are all good as well

[Palmares]

yeh i cant wait to see them!

hopin for a u.k tour...but i doubt it

where did you see them?

might have to fly out to sweden

In Australia eh. So they get around.

[metalero]

I've heard the Welfare Poets, hip-hop political activists; but they seem a project rather than a fixed band. any one knows more about them?

[Rex0230]

You should check out Jedi Mind Tricks, R.A. The Rugged Man, Army of The Pharaohs, Apathy, Ras Kass, Ill Bill and Joell Ortiz, they are all very good. :)

JMT - Islamic fundamentalists (well Vinnie is... Stoupe is Buddhist as I heard), R.A. (Yeah he got some good stuff, but not revolutionary), Ras Kass (Listen to Ras Kass - Nature of the Threat... Full of racism and pro Islamic BS), Army of The Pharaohs (I've heard that they're down with Dr. Malachi Z. York... York claims usual stuff: white ppl are devils who were created by mad scientist :laugh: ) ...only Ill Bill is kinda "revolutionary"

For the REAL revolutionary hip hop, check The Coup only artist I've heard of in hip hop who proclaim themself as commies... Immortal Technique is not bad as well, just skip his religion rhymes

[Sasha]

just got the dissobiente cd from keny arkana, its awsome.. been listing for it for 2 days straight.

[Rex0230]

Also check out atheist emcee Greydon Square

[Y Chwyldro Comiwnyddol Cymraeg]

Dead Prez and Outlawz have a new album out soon I think....

Mos Def and Talib Kweli are well worth a listen.

[deLarge]

Also check out atheist emcee Greydon Square

Greydon seems to take a few stabs at American politics in his song, "Pandora's Box". I'm wondering what his new album will be like..