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Josh
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« on: August 28, 2003, 09:20:18 PM » |
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We've discussed rap music quite a bit lately, and you seem to know as much about it as anyone else here. So tell me, Tru... what are the best rap albums in your collection? Which ones will make me reexamine my stance on the genre? Which ones should I check out ASAP?
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Josh
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« Reply #1 on: August 28, 2003, 09:34:07 PM » |
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Oh, and this goes for Andree, too, by the way, since I've already heard from Paul and bloop.
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bdg13disciple
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« Reply #2 on: August 28, 2003, 10:21:11 PM » |
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i feel slightly "called out" . . .
but that's okay...
we're phamily here . . .
here's a quick list:
(since i'm about to sign off for the night) . . .
deepspace5 - the night we called it a day ... this is actually a much deeper CD than i originally gave it credit for . . .
the Listener - Whispermoon ... hard to come buy offline, but well worth it . . .
mars ill - backbreakanomics ... another newer one, but solid musically and lyrically . . .
Grits - Mental Releases or Factors of the 7 . . . either one . . .
playdough - lonely superstar ... for the hook lover
LA Symphony - Baloney ... also hooky
Blackstar - Blackstar ... classic
Jay Z - Reasonable Doubt ... a bit raunchy at times, but his best CD
Rakim - 18th Letter ... my copy came with a greatest hits disc too ... Rakim is easily one of the best
Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory . . .
anyway, that's a few . . .
peace . . .
love . . .
bdg . . .
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DvChWi
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« Reply #3 on: August 29, 2003, 01:07:56 AM » |
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Hmmm, just listened to every clip off of Mars Ill's Raw Material. Sounds a lot different than radio rap. I find the whole DJ element more interesting than the rap part, though. When you hear a music clip(a sample, I believe they are called) repeated in and out of scratching, is that done with an electronic device, or with the turntable? What all exactly is done using just the turntable? Do they scratch real records, or just use blanks? Why do they call the rapper a MC? Please excuse my vast ignorance this genre.  Maybe you can help me understand whats happening here. |
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Fun facts about Chuck Norris:
Newton's Third Law is wrong: Although it states that for each action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, there is no force equal in reaction to a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick.
Chuck Norris can divide by zero.
Chuck Norris CAN believe it's not butter.
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Josh
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« Reply #4 on: August 29, 2003, 07:49:16 AM » |
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Thanks, BDG.
And I wasn't challenging your love for the genre, by the way. I'm geuinely curious here. =)
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cbluejays
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« Reply #5 on: August 29, 2003, 09:05:57 AM » |
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Hmmm, just listened to every clip off of Mars Ill's Raw Material. Sounds a lot different than radio rap. I find the whole DJ element more interesting than the rap part, though. When you hear a music clip(a sample, I believe they are called) repeated in and out of scratching, is that done with an electronic device, or with the turntable? What all exactly is done using just the turntable? Do they scratch real records, or just use blanks? Why do they call the rapper a MC? Please excuse my vast ignorance this genre. Maybe you can help me understand whats happening here. I'll tackle the MC thing, and if I mess anything up, Andree and TRu can correct me B) When rap first started, you had the DJ playing the music, the breakdancers dancing to it, and the graffiti artists doing their thing...the MC, or Master of Ceromonies, would be on the mic commenting on it all...originally, they simply talked over the mic, describing what was going on, creating hype, etc...however, eventually, they began rhyming lines together, or "rapping"...from what I've read about it, that's how they got the title "MC"... I'll be back after school to tackle the turtable thing if BDG or Andree hasn't beat me to it... |
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DvChWi
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« Reply #6 on: August 29, 2003, 10:16:24 AM » |
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Why isn't it that you hear the term "MC" in mainstream rap? I also don't hear much DJing either. Is this the way it is now, and the MC/DJ format is only present in indy hip-hop? I was listening to some clips from some really old rap, like Run D.M.C., and it appealled to me more than most of the modern stuff I have heard. Do I have bad taste, or was 80s rap actually better in some ways? Thanks for the education here.
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Fun facts about Chuck Norris:
Newton's Third Law is wrong: Although it states that for each action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, there is no force equal in reaction to a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick.
Chuck Norris can divide by zero.
Chuck Norris CAN believe it's not butter.
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DvChWi
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« Reply #7 on: August 29, 2003, 12:51:48 PM » |
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Hmm, I've been looking around the net, trying to read up on hip-hop, and am learning alot. One thing I am discovering is that I like the 80s ALOT better than what I hear nowdays, but that could be do to bad radio. The 80s seemed to have this cool attitude and spirit, which seems to be totally gone from the modern scene. Something about the picture I have in my head of the 1980s ghetto, it just somehow seems, I don't know, romantic, almost. Kind of this unstoppable spirit and passion, in the midst of poverty and hardship. Using what little they had to create something that was uniquely their own. I must check this out further. B) But man, do I still hate commercial rap!  |
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Logged
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Fun facts about Chuck Norris:
Newton's Third Law is wrong: Although it states that for each action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, there is no force equal in reaction to a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick.
Chuck Norris can divide by zero.
Chuck Norris CAN believe it's not butter.
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oneafroboy
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« Reply #8 on: August 29, 2003, 05:02:09 PM » |
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'80s rap tends to appeal more to me, too. I think it *meant* a lot more back then.
But there's some cool stuff around now too. But generally, like most forms of popular music nowadays, the over-commercialization (because remember, even classical music was "commercial") among other things has created a bland, dull musical landscape.
(Btw, I'm not a big person into rap. I like Gospel music much more. MaryMary all the way!)
--the Afroman
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\"Living your life like you're trapped in a bad rap video is just not that appealing.\"
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cbluejays
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« Reply #9 on: August 29, 2003, 07:37:15 PM » |
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It probably seems like it "meant" more because you only listen to what's on the radio or MTV...Believe, there is plenty of heartfelt hip hop out there today (and some of it is even on radio or MTV!)... Josh, have you checked out ANY of the hip hop groups suggested yet? B) When you hear a music clip(a sample, I believe they are called) repeated in and out of scratching, is that done with an electronic device, or with the turntable? I'm not exactly sure what you mean here...what do they use to make the sample? or what do they use to scratch? or something else? What all exactly is done using just the turntable? You need to see a DJ in action...I suggest you check this out: http://www.gotee.com/marsill/video/onemconedj.movIt's a clip of Mars Ill live...the sound quality isn't great, but it should give you a basic idea of what the DJ does... |
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« Last Edit: August 29, 2003, 07:37:33 PM by cbluejays »
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Josh
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« Reply #10 on: August 29, 2003, 07:45:14 PM » |
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Josh, have you checked out ANY of the hip hop groups suggested yet? I've listened to a few brief audio samples, and I'm going to download those Urban Sophisticates MP3s sometime this weekend. I need to hunt down some lyrics, too, for all these groups... |
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bloop
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« Reply #11 on: August 29, 2003, 07:46:23 PM » |
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The only time I ever saw a DJ live was Kid Koala opening for Radiohead (the Beta Band and Kid Koala were the openers). I enjoyed it immensely...he was very funny, and he was obviously very talented. Then, he came out and did his thing with Radiohead on "Pakt Like Sardines...". It's something to behold.
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Enjoy our pub. user/pw: thephorum Follow me on Grooveshark or Spotify. username: iceybloop |
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cbluejays
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« Reply #12 on: August 29, 2003, 08:07:27 PM » |
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I've listened to a few brief audio samples, and I'm going to download those Urban Sophisticates MP3s sometime this weekend. I need to hunt down some lyrics, too, for all these groups... Cool... This is the only song by the Urban Sophisticates that I have the lyrics for...you can check out the writing style and see if you like it http://www.urbansophisticates.com/journals.htmlTo further aid you, here is the "official" description of the Urban Sophisticates: "A lead rap vocal followed by live bass, guitar, trumpet, and trombone makes the sound unique. "...there is some percussion in there as well... B) Also, at http://www.marsill.com, they have a lyrics section you could check out...I'm pretty sure the groups like A Tribe Called Quest, Blackalicious, the Roots, etc. will have easy to find lyrics if you just do a search for them... On a side note note: the Urban Sophisticats song "Just Not Urban Enough" could be my theme song... Finally, TRu, can you help me explain this DJ stuff better? |
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« Last Edit: August 29, 2003, 08:14:51 PM by cbluejays »
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DvChWi
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« Reply #13 on: August 29, 2003, 09:34:11 PM » |
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OK, let me clarify the Dj thing. When you listen to a rap song, you "samples" right? Little clips from other songs thrown in in some sort of rythmic fashion. Now, how does the DJ do that? Does he move the record back and forth, picking up the needle on each pass? Or does he use some sort of electric thing that brings up the sample digitally, possibly triggered by a MIDI keyboard or something? What is a "break" and a "cross fader" When records are scratched, are they real records, with songs on them, or just blank grooved records? Who invented scratching? What is the earliest recorded song with scratching in it? I'm curiuos about this whole DJ thing. That video didn't let me see the hands well enough to figure out whats happening.
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Fun facts about Chuck Norris:
Newton's Third Law is wrong: Although it states that for each action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, there is no force equal in reaction to a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick.
Chuck Norris can divide by zero.
Chuck Norris CAN believe it's not butter.
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Josh
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« Reply #14 on: August 30, 2003, 09:19:34 PM » |
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Hmmmm.
I have been offered a complimentary copy of the new Mars ILL record.
But if I accept it then I have to review it. And, being a hip-hop dunce, I'm not sure how wise that it.
Decisions, decisions...
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cbluejays
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« Reply #15 on: August 30, 2003, 09:32:59 PM » |
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Oooh...you should accept it, then have BDG or Andree write a review for you B) ...
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Escuchame
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« Reply #16 on: August 31, 2003, 10:56:16 AM » |
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Mine is going up at the CT Music Channel on Tuesday...
Be on the lookout for it.
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"We are the world, we are the children
Throw your hands to the ceiling!" - GRITS
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bdg13disciple
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« Reply #17 on: September 02, 2003, 10:06:32 AM » |
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i already wrote three reviews for it . . .
at the TRu, at HipHopForTheSoul.com, and at WorldofCM.com . . .
i wouldn't mind doing one for das base, but ... eh, well, anyway...
peace . . .
love . . .
bdg . . .
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Josh
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« Reply #18 on: September 02, 2003, 03:12:31 PM » |
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BDG, you're welcome to submit reviews to me any time.
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DvChWi
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« Reply #19 on: September 03, 2003, 04:07:22 PM » |
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So, I'm still curiuos aboput the whole DJ technique thing from my last post, so if anyone has any insight into that, please let me know. I think I will buy Mars Ill's Raw Material with my next music club buy, so I can give hip-hop a fair chance.
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Logged
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Fun facts about Chuck Norris:
Newton's Third Law is wrong: Although it states that for each action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, there is no force equal in reaction to a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick.
Chuck Norris can divide by zero.
Chuck Norris CAN believe it's not butter.
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