I've been more of a rap person a few years ago, but thats basically because I didn't listen to much rock/metal and didn't know much of it. I really liked Tupac, Eminem, etc. but when I started listening to rock/metal rap has just began to be boooring. I dont think I'll ever again listen to rap as I used to. But I probably wont ever listen to pop punk either unless something comes out that matches the rock and metal I listen to.

[QUOTE=Kosta]I don't know. It's more like.. I respect Rakim for basically taking flows, rhyme schemes, and overal stucture to a newer and higher lever, but, the dude hasn't progressed since Don't Sweat The Technique, which is my favorite album of theirs. Sure, most people dislike it because it didn't have as much hystoical value as their older stuff. But, Rakim's rapping progressed and improved a lot untill he parted ways with Eric B.

Now, I think of him as a generic rapper that basically recycles every rhyme he ever wrote since the beginning of his solo career, with exactly the same flow and the same rhyme scheme.[/QUOTE]
I haven't actually heard ANY of Rakim's material post-DSTT, except for his guest part on that Truth Hurts track.

[QUOTE=Kosta]Madlib, DJ Shadow, DJ Spinna, Dan The Automator, E-Swift, RZA, Prince Paul, Butterfly, Celph Titled, Rjd2, El-P, DJ Hi-Tek (in his underground days, especially Black Star),, are all incredible.[/QUOTE]
123 of all of that.

I've only (knowingly) heard a minority of those guys - DJ Shadow, Madlib, the Automator, RZA, RJD2..what I imagine are the better known ones there - so would anyone care to give me some recommendations for those others?

Well, like Kosta said, for DJ Hi-Tek, check Black Star.

And for Prince Paul, obviously, you've gotta check 3 Feet High & Rising. And the Handsome Boy Modeling School stuff. I'm pretty sure you already have those, though.

On another note - much love for the Dust Brothers (who produced Paul's Boutique by the Beasties, and Odelay by Beck).

Ah yeah, I already have 3 Feet High and Rising. Didn't know the name, though.

[QUOTE=Iai]I haven't actually heard ANY of Rakim's material post-DSTT, except for his guest part on that Truth Hurts track.[/QUOTE]


It's good, but it's so repetetive, it gets boring rather quickly. I didn't bother to buy any of his post-Eric B stuff. I'm not at all denying his skills to actually be a great rapper, he just lost the thing that made him so great: creativity.

[QUOTE=Bartender]I've only (knowingly) heard a minority of those guys - DJ Shadow, Madlib, the Automator, RZA, RJD2..what I imagine are the better known ones there - so would anyone care to give me some recommendations for those others?[/QUOTE]

DJ Spinna:

Polyrythm Addicts - Rhyme Related (great group, my favorite femcee Apani B Fly Emcee is part of that group. Pretty hard to find, though)
Jigmastas - Infectious

Butterfly:
Check out anything by Digable Planets. He was member of that group.

El-P:

Check out Cannibal Ox, Company Flow, or his solo stuff.

E-Swift:

Member of Tha Alkaholiks, so check out Tha Alkaholiks' stuff, some recommendations:

Who Dem Niggas
Hit And Run
All The Way Live
Read My Lips
I Got It Bad Y'All

[QUOTE=Iai]
And for Prince Paul, obviously, you've gotta check 3 Feet High & Rising. And the Handsome Boy Modeling School stuff. I'm pretty sure you already have those, though.[/QUOTE]


Also;

Gravediggaz - Six Feet Deep
Stetsasonic - In Full Gear

Seriously, Gravediggaz is an awesome group. And Stetsasonic is the first ever hip-hop [i]band[/i]. And one of the most underrated groups in hip-hop history.

I bought Rakim's album, 18th Letter, and although it didn't blow me away, it is a solid album. He has some very nice, intelligent rhymes.

I LOVE NWA. AND RUN DMC AND PUBLIC ENEMY. WOOO RAP.

my opinion/perspective changed when i heard tha crossroads by bone thugz

Who are some groups that a fan of The Roots may like?

[QUOTE=3rdplanet]Who are some groups that a fan of The Roots may like?[/QUOTE]


Black Star
Digable Planets
Common (well, not a group, but, you get my point)
Mos Def (same)

[QUOTE=3rdplanet]Who are some groups that a fan of The Roots may like?[/QUOTE]

De La Soul
A Tribe Called Quest
Common
Talib Kweli
Blackalicious
Mos Def
Black Eyed Peas
Jurassic 5
Pharcyde

What's everyone's opinions of Afu Ra here?

I've not heard him, so I can't say. I just found out about him earlier today (spotted an album of his in a mail-order thing I was looking through) and looked up some reviews. Some said he was excellent, others said he was abysmal and had managed to ruin a practically un-ruinable record with his debut album (un-ruinable due to the number of excellent guest artists and producers he had to hand). Then, coincidentally, I saw someone mention him here on MX later on in the same day. So I wonder.

[QUOTE=Bartender]What's everyone's opinions of Afu Ra here?

I've not heard him, so I can't say. I just found out about him earlier today (spotted an album of his in a mail-order thing I was looking through) and looked up some reviews. Some said he was excellent, others said he was abysmal and had managed to ruin a practically un-ruinable record with his debut album (un-ruinable due to the number of excellent guest artists and producers he had to hand). Then, coincidentally, I saw someone mention him here on MX later on in the same day. So I wonder.[/QUOTE]

I know that I have heard him, and liked what I heard, but I can't remember the names of the songs :/

All I remember is that he has a good flow.

Cheers for those reccomendations, will look into those groups/artists.

Did anyone listen to the song I uploaded?

i dont know if anyones heard of them or not, but two of my favorite rappers are necro and ill bill. not every song is golden, but they did some work with vovoid and hatebreed. it can get repetitive, but the way they move troguh words..its amazing. the content of the songs is definately not what youll be expecting. ive got almost all of their cd's, if you want to hear a sample.

[QUOTE=insearchofsomething11]i love atmosphere[/QUOTE]

Them + Jurassic 5, The Roots, Blackalicious, Black Star and (Old) Common are the only artists I like.

[I]Like[/I], not really listen to... Well, [I]used[/I] to.

[QUOTE=Nuke Broadcast]i dont know if anyones heard of them or not, but two of my favorite rappers are necro and ill bill. not every song is golden, but they did some work with vovoid and hatebreed. it can get repetitive, but the way they move troguh words..its amazing. the content of the songs is definately not what youll be expecting. ive got almost all of their cd's, if you want to hear a sample.[/QUOTE]

Necro is out of his mind.

My Sweet Dreams is my favorite track from him.

Do you like Non-Phixion?

I've been in a heavy Madlib period right now. I didn't really hear much of him until around this time last year when I got the Madvillian album, and then a few months ago I got [I]Shades of Blue[/I] which is pretty amazing.

Lately I've been downloading and listening to anything Madlib-related: Quasimoto, Lootpack, Jaylib, Yesterday's New Quintet- and its all pretty decent stuff.

[QUOTE=The_Bends]Them + Jurassic 5, The Roots, Blackalicious, Black Star and (Old) Common are the only artists I like.

[I]Like[/I], not really listen to... Well, [I]used[/I] to.[/QUOTE]

did you not like Talib Kweli & Mos Def on their own?

[QUOTE=3rdplanet]Who are some groups that a fan of The Roots may like?[/QUOTE]

Try Common and A Tribe Called Quest

[QUOTE=The_Bends]Them + Jurassic 5, The Roots, Blackalicious, Black Star and (Old) Common are the only artists I like.

[I]Like[/I], not really listen to... Well, [I]used[/I] to.[/QUOTE]
What's wrong with Common's new stuff?

[QUOTE=rory_breaker]I've been in a heavy Madlib period right now. I didn't really hear much of him until around this time last year when I got the Madvillian album, and then a few months ago I got [I]Shades of Blue[/I] which is pretty amazing.

Lately I've been downloading and listening to anything Madlib-related: Quasimoto, Lootpack, Jaylib, Yesterday's New Quintet- and its all pretty decent stuff.[/QUOTE]


Quas is some of my favorite music, ever.

Checkout Declaime, he worked with him, too. And Dudley Perkins, Declaime's alter ego.

[QUOTE=Nuke Broadcast]i dont know if anyones heard of them or not, but two of my favorite rappers are necro and ill bill. not every song is golden, but they did some work with vovoid and hatebreed. it can get repetitive, but the way they move troguh words..its amazing. the content of the songs is definately not what youll be expecting. ive got almost all of their cd's, if you want to hear a sample.[/QUOTE]


Well, they're extremely well known in underground circles, sooo.

I like some early Necro, not much But it's quite enjoyable at times. Non-Phixion isn't bad, but msot of their stuff sounds the same and is rather tiring/generic. Not bad, though.

Any Handsome Boy Modeling School fans?

Abso-frickin-lutely. Though, I still haven't heard their first record in full. What I have heard is even better than White People, which is some going considering how much I love White People.

*ponders what he just wrote*

The Roots utterly dominate all of my rap listening intake.

[QUOTE=Iai]Abso-frickin-lutely. Though, I still haven't heard their first record in full. What I have heard is even better than White People, which is some going considering how much I love White People.

*ponders what he just wrote*[/QUOTE]

White People is so great.

I am uploading a track by Busdriver for you guys, it's blowing me away right now.