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[OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather]

I purposely chose his most acclaimed/recognized album.

I love Aesop. He is not avant garde in the slightest though. Death Grips was a perfect example of something that could be labelled such.



That's why teenage suburbanites who barely listen to hip hop love Aesop so much. Because he isn't accessible? I think he might be one of the most accessible pseudo-backpackers in the game. Again; I love Aesop - but I'm not going to pretend he is something he's not.

I don't see how white kids that don't like hip hop outside of the odd emcee or two is a measure of accessibility. If anything it's a measure of their willingness to be open minded concerning something they're generally not into. Then again, I was always the suburban white kid that liked hip hop and barely listened to rock outside of one or two acts. Anyway, dude's lyrics seem like some WTF nonsense when you first hear him (at least they did to me so many years ago, but that is what I liked about it) unless you really listen and analyze, at least his earlier shit. Accessible is easy to reach and digest, most mainstream hip hop is accessible as it doesn't require much thought to take in due to its shallowness. Aesop Rock is more complex and deep by comparison. Or maybe I'm just underestimating people's intelligence. I tend to do that.

 

[RJT]

Having a blast today with Lupe and The Roots. Thanks, all.

Hey, I recall Black Thought doing a badass freestyle over the super Mario theme song a few months back. Any really good songs about video games?

If you don't mind a whiny voice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SmlAWKXpqI

 

[Mesoian]

Man as long as guys like Doom and Madlib are out there I'm fine, tired of holier than thou rap as much as lil wayne shit.

I don't like JJ Doom very much and it makes me sad.

I just want Doom to cut an album with Amon Tobin so my face will melt forever.

Also, for people looking for Video game rap.

Molemen, Aesop Rock, MF Doom and Slug - Put Yo Quarters Up
Eminem - Hellbound

 

[Grakl]

I don't like JJ Doom very much and it makes me sad.

I just want Doom to cut an album with Amon Tobin so my face will melt forever.

But JJ DOOM is good. Not as good as his early stuff, but still good.

 

[KnuckaWut]

hip hop is dead.

now that so many rappers can make their own style of music and be accepted will keep it that way.

 

[freenudemacusers]

No. Not really.

Aesop Rock tells a lot of stories in his songs, but he's one of the few rappers that doesn't adhere to the idea that rap music has to be a constant show of aggression towards a particular subject. A lot of his stuff is word association poetry that spends a lot of effort weaving a loosely relatable story. I think people who don't often listen to rap like him so much because he talks about things that aren't so mired in thug life and getting his while telling you how to get yours. He has angry songs, sure, but even those songs feel relatible on a more basic level.

The only time Aesop Rock was really aggressive is when he was working with El-P. It's a shame they separated as they really complimented each other super nicely. But El's sound continues to be more aggressive and intense and angry while still being incredibly thoughtful, while Aesop Rock's sound continues to get more mellow and relaxing.

Aesop Rock - Pigs
Aesop Rock - The Tugboat Complex
Aesop Rock - Coffee
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
Aesop Rock - ZZZ Top

Aesop Rock and El-P - We're Famous
Aesop Rock and El-P - Run the Numbers

I REALLY like Aesop Rock. Skelethon probably was his weakest album, but it's still fucking incredible.

no mention of Delorean?

 

[Mesoian]

But JJ DOOM is good. Not as good as his early stuff, but still good.

Yeah...and I still wanna see the JJDoom show he's doing iwth BadBadNoGood live.

It's just nothing close to when he was working with Madlib or Dangermouse. Or Dan the Automator.

 

[OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather]

no mention of Delorean?

Totally accessible. lol

 

[Grakl]

Yeah...and I still wanna see the JJDoom show he's doing iwth BadBadNoGood live.

It's just nothing close to when he was working with Madlib or Dangermouse. Or Dan the Automator.

Huh, when he work with Dan?

 

[Mesoian]

Huh, when he work with Dan?

Gorillaz.

Edit: Wait no, that was Demon Days, Dan only did the self titled. Disregard.

God damn, Gorillaz production staff is so confusing.

 

[dr3upmushroom]

I don't like JJ Doom very much and it makes me sad.

I just want Doom to cut an album with Amon Tobin so my face will melt forever.

admitally while I also dont like JJ as much as Doomsday, VV and Madvillian (very tough acts to follow) but he's older now, so I assume he's not as "charged" up anymore but is still creating music that is different and still better, and more thoughtful than most.

As for "intelligent" rap Doom's lyrics in KMD and the group in general are still tought provoking and smart without coming off as pseudo-intellectualism.

 

[BurritoBushido]

Loaded video expecting intellectual rap. I got a symposium instead. I'm gonna go listen to some Aesop Rock now.

 

[HiiiLife]

No offense but underground rap fans are the woat.

Spoiler

Yes offense.

 

[CountBlack]

"I spit nastier than regurgitated period juice" - Immortal Technique

 

[skybald]

shit is bugged out man, what the fuck man
tellin anythin...anythin!

GAF snitches
tellin all they bidness
sit in the court they be they own star witness
do you see the perpetrator? yeah im right here, get they whole name permabanned for years, uh

Lmao

 

[HovaHovito]

Immortal technique lel
He makes music for the WWE stans who go with hand painted signs

 

[cobragt4001]

I have no doubt that pimpc before he died, would agree that this shit music is hurting people. It's not about a person being smarter than others so get the fuck out of here saying this thread is on some holier than thou shit. This is about social commentary.

 

[HovaHovito]

What is the message in today's hip-hop? From what I can gather, hoes, women, bitches, whores, money, money's, cash, stacks, how much better I am than you, I can get your girl, haters, rims, 27" rims, more hoes, I can live better than you, I make more money than what you can in your entire life, cars and more money. So yea, we need creativity and intelligence in hip-hop and if you can manage to argue my point and not see how I'm right you're an idiot that can't see past your fucking patio.

Son get outta here with your corny ass music

 

[cobragt4001]

Son get outta here with your corny ass music

Lol but you physically clicked your way into this thread. Sorry, this ain't GAF-POP

 

[HovaHovito]

Lol but you physically clicked your way into this thread. Sorry, this ain't GAF-POP

No, this is a elitist thread so you can push your salty music tastes on everyone. Your dusty music isnt better than anything

 

[thezerofire]

I have no doubt that pimpc before he died, would agree that this shit music is hurting people. It's not about a person being smarter than others so get the fuck out of here saying this thread is on some holier than thou shit. This is about social commentary.

Pimp C, courtesy of Rapgenius
http://rapgenius.com/Project-pat-cause-im-a-playa-lyrics

We run the streets I seen a part up in the shit I took it up
She wanted me to hit her pussy I'mma go off in her butt
What you gon' do, when that thang go to fightin'?
I'mma lay ya deep off in them hoes, them hoes be boppin'
Tellin' me to stop but bitch, I ain't fit' to stop it
Ya pussy is a pitbull bitch, gon' and lock it
Fuckin' 'round wit' me I knock ya thang up outta socket
Ya ho wanna look at me ya bitch is outta pocket
Flyin' in the Bentley gettin' it sucked just like a rocket
Pimp C bitch I got a zoo off in my closet

 

[cobragt4001]

Pimp C, courtesy of Rapgenius
http://rapgenius.com/Project-pat-cause-im-a-playa-lyrics

Did you not read or listen to what pimp c was criticizing before he passed? Hell I bet you never even listened to him, found one song and trying to make a point.

 

[cobragt4001]

No, this is a elitist thread so you can push your salty music tastes on everyone. Your dusty music isnt better than anything

I feel like I'm being trolled. I'm discussing a real issue here with hip-hop but fuck all that, explain to GAF how this is a elitist thread.

 

[thezerofire]

Did you not read or listen to what pimp c was criticizing before he passed? Hell I bet you never even listened to him, found one song and trying to make a point.

No, I admit I haven't read anything about what he was criticizing, but at the same time no, I did not just find one song to make a point. Here's some more:

Smokin out, pourin up, puttin dick up in yo' slut
All my cars got leather and wood, in my hood we call it buck x3
I'm smokin out, pourin up, keepin lean up in my cup
All my cars got leather and wood, in my (uh!) hood we call it {*screwed*}

Light green, northern lights, gettin' sucked into midnight
Blue Jag, white Range, candy car, kryptonite
I be pro and I keep these bitches hoeing
Want a date? Straight-up pimp
If you want some, you can find me in the H-Town
Bobby by the pound, Whitney by the key
And bitch, my dick was never free
Didn't know if I wanted to rap or sell coke
Cause niggas like me ain't never broke
I traded in my Pyrex for a shiny Rolex
The bitches want sex, but all I'm fuckin' with is checks
I'm smokin' out, pouring up, whippin' my DeVille
Took out the air bag, put in a wood wheel

I guess you could call me a family man
Cause I care for bitches babies every chance that I can
I don't give them clothes, or diapers and shit
But I like to feed they babies with my big black dick
Cause I'm going to tell you if you didn't know
You ain't done until you fucked a pregnant ho
The pussy is hotter, it's got an extra kick
It feels like hot potato pie around ya dick
Sometimes I swing high, sometimes I swing low
Sometimes I like to fuck a pregnant bitch on the floor
Hit it kinda hard, and speed it up fast
Fuck her 'till she gets the cherry blisters on her ass
Cause if she expecting, I can satisfy
And at the same time give her kid a pacifier
And I love it when I bust that ol' nut
Cause I know that her baby's just gonna lick it all up

 

[Stargalaqtic]

Hey everyone new guy here. I see alot of good hip hop acts being mentioned in here. Lots of I like the old Doom vs new JJ Doom. (Personally I like all doom from Operation DoomsDay to JJ DOOM Butter Version)

But here's what I have seen in my years of spinning records and going to shows. And its a very simple alot of people don't want Lyricism anymore. At least that's what I am seeing in my city. For example, a show with your regular artist lil wayne, wiz, people like that came to the city and sold out a huge venue.

Month later Death Grips, Run the Jewels, and Danny Brown and Action Bronson came to the city. I went to each show, and there was not a huge showing.

Most here want that "I'm trying to go to this concert and come home with a bad chick, and nobody better not step on my foams while I'm rocking these $50 dollar jeans with this $400 dollar belt" Music.

Its sad but its is what it is, hip hop is not big anymore. No one wants intelligent music, they twerk wit it, let me see dat booty hole music.

 

[HovaHovito]

I feel like I'm being trolled. I'm discussing a real issue here with hip-hop but fuck all that, explain to GAF how this is a elitist thread.

Only "underground" immortal technique is real hip hop
Evrything else is dumb music thats intellectually inferior ( ironic considering corny ass technique is an infowars soldier)


Lol at the comment above me talking about 50 dollar jeans

 

[cobragt4001]

Hey everyone new guy here. I see alot of good hip hop acts being mentioned in here. Lots of I like the old Doom vs new JJ Doom. (Personally I like all doom from Operation DoomsDay to JJ DOOM Butter Version)

But here's what I have seen in my years of spinning records and going to shows. And its a very simple alot of people don't want Lyricism anymore. At least that's what I am seeing in my city. For example, a show with your regular artist lil wayne, wiz, people like that came to the city and sold out a huge venue.

Month later Death Grips, Run the Jewels, and Danny Brown and Action Bronson came to the city. I went to each show, and there was not a huge showing.

Most here want that "I'm trying to go to this concert and come home with a bad chick, and nobody better not step on my foams while I'm rocking these $50 dollar jeans with this $400 dollar belt" Music.

Its sad but its is what it is, hip hop is not big anymore. No one wants intelligent music, they twerk wit it, let me see dat booty hole music.

Do you believe the public dictates the direction of music?

 

[Mesoian]

Hey everyone new guy here. I see alot of good hip hop acts being mentioned in here. Lots of I like the old Doom vs new JJ Doom. (Personally I like all doom from Operation DoomsDay to JJ DOOM Butter Version)

But here's what I have seen in my years of spinning records and going to shows. And its a very simple alot of people don't want Lyricism anymore. At least that's what I am seeing in my city. For example, a show with your regular artist lil wayne, wiz, people like that came to the city and sold out a huge venue.

Month later Death Grips, Run the Jewels, and Danny Brown and Action Bronson came to the city. I went to each show, and there was not a huge showing.

Most here want that "I'm trying to go to this concert and come home with a bad chick, and nobody better not step on my foams while I'm rocking these $50 dollar jeans with this $400 dollar belt" Music.

Its sad but its is what it is, hip hop is not big anymore. No one wants intelligent music, they twerk wit it, let me see dat booty hole music.

We can't let the Black Eyed Peas be right.

But that being said, I saw Run the Jewels, Aesop Rock and Twalib Kwali over the course of the past 4 months. At RtJ and AR, everyone there were people who genuinely wanted to be there. That being said, everyone there were not the typical archetype of a hip hop fan. It was mostly 16-22 year old white kids from the suburbs. Boston has a history of white washed hip hop shows as it is, but race aside, the people who were there weren't trying to pick up chicks or trying to get crunk or show off their latest style, they were there because they wanted to see the music. It was nice. Now at Blackstar, the floor was filled with hype people, but the balconies? That's where all the people who were in it for the beats were. I watched a VIP section of people who kept sending out members to find cute girls and invite them back, pretty much ignoring the entire show so they could schooze until the girls got sick of them and left. That was sad. But it happens.

Personally, i've decided that if I go to a concert, I'm going to be front row center every time. Otherwise, what's the point?

Do you believe the public dictates the direction of music?

I believe the public dictates the profitability of the music. And I think the level of profitability that the music has dictates what gets played for the masses.

And dumb is profitable. Especially in this country. Stuff like 2 chainz and Nicki Minaj and Wiz and Robin Thicke, they're built up to be financial powerhouses. Most of them can't flow and they can't rhyme, but it doesn't matter because they have a multibillion dollar marketing team making them the face of the nation for a month. The populous simply never gets to hear about "better" bands because the people who control where you listen to music for free spend so much money making these flavors of the month shine so bright that no one else can see beyond them. That's the way it's always been and that's the way it always will be. It's why I don't listen to the radio anymore. It's why MTV spent half of the MTV video music awards pimping beiber clones that no one had ever heard of. That's why hip hop is so poorly represented on pop stations, and it's why BET is a joke.

Thank god for the internet, where the bullshit can, at the very least, be swept off to the side if you know what to look for.

But you still have to know what to look for, because the people selling records aren't going to tell you.

 

[XANDER CAGE]

I believe the public dictates the profitability of the music. And I think the level of profitability that the music has dictates what gets played for the masses.

And dumb is profitable. Especially in this country. Stuff like 2 chainz and Nicki Minaj and Wiz and Robin Thicke, they're built up to be financial powerhouses. Most of them can't flow and they can't rhyme, but it doesn't matter because they have a multibillion dollar marketing team making them the face of the nation for a month. The populous simply never gets to hear about "better" bands because the people who control where you listen to music for free spend so much money making these flavors of the month shine so bright that no one else can see beyond them. That's the way it's always been and that's the way it always will be. It's why I don't listen to the radio anymore. It's why MTV spent half of the MTV video music awards pimping beiber clones that no one had ever heard of. That's why hip hop is so poorly represented on pop stations, and it's why BET is a joke.

Thank god for the internet, where the bullshit can, at the very least, be swept off to the side if you know what to look for.

But you still have to know what to look for, because the people selling records aren't going to tell you.

Except that this is an incredibly cynical, cherry-picking way to look at things. One of the most popular radio rap acts right now is Macklemore + Ryan Lewis who, while I personally think are mediocre at best musically, have several massive singles about socially conscious issues. One of Kanye West's most popular songs is about conflict diamonds, and even his most controversial, sneering album yet has songs focusing on some pretty serious topics. Sure, a lot of radio hits are crap, but being broadly myopic of music for "the masses" means writing off a lot of good stuff.

If I forget my iPod on the way into work, I can't listen to the radio without hearing singles from the new Daft Punk (which might not be your cup of tea, but you certainly can't tell me that album was churned out for money), Vampire Weekend, Kanye West, or Arcade Fire albums. Sure, I might have to squirm through a shitty Lumineers song, but if I ignored stuff that was pitched towards and popular with "the masses" - which, guess what, we're all a part of, sorry - I'd be missing out on a lot of excellent music.

And yeah, it's a bummer there aren't really any proper non pop-rap radio stations. Thankfully, "the masses" don't really get their music exclusively from the radio anymore. Run the Jewels is doing just fine, and it seems like genuine new talent is blowing up in the mixtape scene pretty much every week. With the way people are starting to find their music, it's probably never been better to be an underground unsigned rapper.

I mean shit, Death Grips became a massive cult hit practically overnight. I don't think that could have happened a decade or two ago. The visibility of underground music is probably higher than its ever been.

 

[Pavaloo]

I think I saw Ab-Soul get dissed in here so I'm going to post a good Ab-Soul song.

Book of Soul

edit:

Someone else used that sample. Was it MF DOOM?

EDIT: Yeah, it was DOOM. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ofyZPCzXuQ

damn, well it's a dope beat.

 

[OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather]

I think I saw Ab-Soul get dissed in here so I'm going to post a good Ab-Soul song.

Book of Soul

Someone else used that sample. Was it MF DOOM?

EDIT: Yeah, it was DOOM. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ofyZPCzXuQ

 

[televator]

All you need to know about Immortal Technique:

He likes Alex Jones.

Oh damn! INSTANT drop in all interest.

 

[Tabris]

Immortal Technique - Dance With The Devil - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qggxTtnKTMo

This is probably the hardest song to listen to but powerful.

 

[cobragt4001]

I believe the public dictates the profitability of the music. And I think the level of profitability that the music has dictates what gets played for the masses.

And dumb is profitable. Especially in this country. Stuff like 2 chainz and Nicki Minaj and Wiz and Robin Thicke, they're built up to be financial powerhouses. Most of them can't flow and they can't rhyme, but it doesn't matter because they have a multibillion dollar marketing team making them the face of the nation for a month. The populous simply never gets to hear about "better" bands because the people who control where you listen to music for free spend so much money making these flavors of the month shine so bright that no one else can see beyond them. That's the way it's always been and that's the way it always will be. It's why I don't listen to the radio anymore. It's why MTV spent half of the MTV video music awards pimping beiber clones that no one had ever heard of. That's why hip hop is so poorly represented on pop stations, and it's why BET is a joke.

Thank god for the internet, where the bullshit can, at the very least, be swept off to the side if you know what to look for.

But you still have to know what to look for, because the people selling records aren't going to tell you.

What you're saying is true but imo key things are left out. See the music industry has the power to advertise anything as the new hot thing and usually the masses will go with whatever is given to them. The industry works in conjunction with the radio industry to get certain songs played just to put it in people's minds that this is the new hot thing. When you look at Em's success, it's not based on his skills but the hype the industry puts behind him. That same industry even had enough pull to give him a movie, again to solidify his place in hiphop as a top tier figure. We can't discount the power that the industry has on the direction of music. I find it strange how Em can continue his style but other artist have to go with this stupid 2013 bling bling shit.

 

[JohnDoe]

Immortal technique lel
He makes music for the WWE stans who go with hand painted signs

Only "underground" immortal technique is real hip hop
Evrything else is dumb music thats intellectually inferior ( ironic considering corny ass technique is an infowars soldier)

Junior went in, whew.

 

[cobragt4001]

Only "underground" immortal technique is real hip hop
Evrything else is dumb music thats intellectually inferior ( ironic considering corny ass technique is an infowars soldier)


Lol at the comment above me talking about 50 dollar jeans

Yet you completely missed the issue I'm addressing. Bet you got into hiphop 3 years ago.

 

[Blake'sGrave]

Well it's true, because you can't see it don't get offended by my opinion. I'm 27, so I grew up with No Limit and Hot Boyz, that was the progression to shitty rap.

I just think the whole idea of 'intelligent' hip hop is a complete misnomer, what do people mean by 'intelligent'?

I think intelligence comes not just through lyrical content, but through technical expertise, a la Kendrick.

Have you seen this? GZA on Startalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson Sounds like you might enjoy it.

 

[IrishNinja]

First point taken into account, hip hop today is trash , sorry.

i'm sorry that you stopped paying attention decades ago, sounds like you took a lotta notes but quit & still wanna comment on it anyway

Its sad but its is what it is, hip hop is not big anymore. No one wants intelligent music, they twerk wit it, let me see dat booty hole music.

yeah that was totally not the case back in the 2 Live Crew days, or early Afrika Bambaataashit right? some of ya'll stay acting like there were golden ages and everything's totally different now, based on what little you actually look at.

 

[soulution]

I think that there's a certain bias that works behind the proclamation of a particular art form as being dead: it's not that the art form is dead but rather that the art form is veering off in directions that you cannot accept because you are stuck in the nineties my dude.

If you want some vague need for intellectual fulfillment from the radio, you're best off listening to independent stations; expecting people to gain aesthetic values from a media that has been consolidated by the media giants of America is like walking into a strip club and expecting a soulmate.

Sometimes, what we choose to engage in is simply spectacle. What we decide to enjoy pertains only to the moment and has no overarching value for the rest of our lives. Just because I'll listen to Juicy J instead of Milo doesn't make me less of an intelligent person; trying to subvert your consumer values onto others reeks of the hivemind mentality you seem to be so against. Shouldn't we be celebrating a diversity of voices in this day and age available to us across multiple outlets?

but really though i guess my life is hot garbage because I'm not listening to illmatic 24 hours of the day HASHTAG REAL

 

[DonasaurusRex]

i'm sorry that you stopped paying attention decades ago, sounds like you took a lotta notes but quit & still wanna comment on it anyway



yeah that was totally not the case back in the 2 Live Crew days, or early Afrika Bambaataashit right? some of ya'll stay acting like there were golden ages and everything's totally different now, based on what little you actually look at.

aaaaaand no , missed the point.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

Alot of god damned haters in this thread. Holy fuck.

 

[Mesoian]

Alot of god damned haters in this thread. Holy fuck.

We don't hate the players, we just hate the game.

 

[WanderingWind]

I think that there's a certain bias that works behind the proclamation of a particular art form as being dead: it's not that the art form is dead but rather that the art form is veering off in directions that you cannot accept because you are stuck in the nineties my dude.

If you want some vague need for intellectual fulfillment from the radio, you're best off listening to independent stations; expecting people to gain aesthetic values from a media that has been consolidated by the media giants of America is like walking into a strip club and expecting a soulmate.

Sometimes, what we choose to engage in is simply spectacle. What we decide to enjoy pertains only to the moment and has no overarching value for the rest of our lives. Just because I'll listen to Juicy J instead of Milo doesn't make me less of an intelligent person; trying to subvert your consumer values onto others reeks of the hivemind mentality you seem to be so against. Shouldn't we be celebrating a diversity of voices in this day and age available to us across multiple outlets?

but really though i guess my life is hot garbage because I'm not listening to illmatic 24 hours of the day HASHTAG REAL

You're my favorite poster in this thread. Irish, sit your old and busted ass down.

 

[cobragt4001]

I just think the whole idea of 'intelligent' hip hop is a complete misnomer, what do people mean by 'intelligent'?

I think intelligence comes not just through lyrical content, but through technical expertise, a la Kendrick.

Have you seen this? GZA on Startalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson Sounds like you might enjoy it.

I've seen that before but thanks for sharing. I like Lamar and I feel he has all the potential in the world to be the best. I agree with your point but I'm mainly talking about being culturally aware and my man immortal technique is the type to put that awareness in his music. Intelligence in hip-hop to me means more than just using big words or showing everyone you read a book or two. Intelligence in hip-hop to me is being able to understand how your environment around you affects you, negative or positive and expressing that in a artistic form. Hip-hop now isn't artistic in the least and the subject matter is far from creative. Look at how hip-hop has created such a antagonistic society, everyone has haters or they want people to hate on them.

Intelligent artist don't always have to have a message in their music but it is up to them themselves to want to create creative music. Let me share this song with you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3QOcoO6iGg The song doesn't have a deep message, it's just creative.

 

[cobragt4001]

Lyrically and creatively, don't think many songs can compare to this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGA519exsT4

I dare anyone to find me lyrics that compare to the above song ^ and I'm a huge Gza fan.

 

[Threi]

... yeah I'll just sit in the corner and keep bumping shad

 

[breakfuss]

I think that there's a certain bias that works behind the proclamation of a particular art form as being dead: it's not that the art form is dead but rather that the art form is veering off in directions that you cannot accept because you are stuck in the nineties my dude.

If you want some vague need for intellectual fulfillment from the radio, you're best off listening to independent stations; expecting people to gain aesthetic values from a media that has been consolidated by the media giants of America is like walking into a strip club and expecting a soulmate.

Sometimes, what we choose to engage in is simply spectacle. What we decide to enjoy pertains only to the moment and has no overarching value for the rest of our lives. Just because I'll listen to Juicy J instead of Milo doesn't make me less of an intelligent person; trying to subvert your consumer values onto others reeks of the hivemind mentality you seem to be so against. Shouldn't we be celebrating a diversity of voices in this day and age available to us across multiple outlets?

but really though i guess my life is hot garbage because I'm not listening to illmatic 24 hours of the day HASHTAG REAL

Well put. Still, I think the problem is less that commercial/radio hip-hop is "devoid of value" and more that it seems to promote debauchery and self-destructive behaviors. No other genre of music (that I can think of) is plagued with it, but that's probably no coincidence.

 

[cobragt4001]

I think that there's a certain bias that works behind the proclamation of a particular art form as being dead: it's not that the art form is dead but rather that the art form is veering off in directions that you cannot accept because you are stuck in the nineties my dude.

If you want some vague need for intellectual fulfillment from the radio, you're best off listening to independent stations; expecting people to gain aesthetic values from a media that has been consolidated by the media giants of America is like walking into a strip club and expecting a soulmate.

Sometimes, what we choose to engage in is simply spectacle. What we decide to enjoy pertains only to the moment and has no overarching value for the rest of our lives. Just because I'll listen to Juicy J instead of Milo doesn't make me less of an intelligent person; trying to subvert your consumer values onto others reeks of the hivemind mentality you seem to be so against. Shouldn't we be celebrating a diversity of voices in this day and age available to us across multiple outlets?

but really though i guess my life is hot garbage because I'm not listening to illmatic 24 hours of the day HASHTAG REAL

I'm not talking about bringing back the 90s and I hate that most people think my point is to bring back KRS one and put him on the radio stations or MTV. It's about creativity and you can't honestly say that any of this new rap is creative when everyone has the same format. We don't have to bring back the same sound of the 90's but the 90's did have diversity in hiphop. Can you honestly show me diversity in hiphop now? What you and many other people fail to get from me is, I don't expect every song to be a audible book but when your subject matter is reduced to material things that are self destructing then there's a problem. Look at the youth nowadays, the black youth to be specific. What do the majority of black boys have to look forward to?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nV0SUJr5Es
These boys are already slaves to money and you want to talk some crap about diversity and the only subject matter on the radio waves is killing another nigga, getting money, getting hoes and some other stupid shit. The issue at hand is bigger than just perference. Artist that are lyrically nice aren't given the shine they deserve. The only way to make it in the music industry is to have a stupid ass club banger, a dance or to go with the already tired routine.

 

[cobragt4001]

Do we not understand the implications hiphop has on the society, blacks to be specific? I remember when Tupac was big, a lot of my friends actually tried to look like him and even sound like him. When southern rappers started rocking dread locks you saw a large majority of black men growing their hair so they could get locks. Where did pants sagging come from and why do most young men do it? See we can talk bullshit all day about our likes or who we don't like but you can't deny the influence hiphop has had on people. Can we say the influence of today's hiphop is positive? Where's the positive growth hiphop is creating? Remember Spike Lee's movie "Inside Man" with Denzel Washington and Clive Owen? I remember a scene in the movie were Clive's character talks to a young black boy about the violent videogame he was playing on his handheld. The young boy goes to compliment Clive's character for robbing the bank and how cool it was. The boy then goes to say, "like my man 50 cent said, get rich or die trying." So is this what we want young black boys and just boys in general to think they have to do to be successful? Do we want our boys to think drug dealing is the only way to make it or being a, entertainer is the only way to make it? See there are too many ego's going off in this thread and the bigger picture can't be seen.

 

[AIRic]

This is why the last Killah Priest album was so refreshing. I've always been a fan and that 2 disc album is a god send to me.