MarsKid
Mitch Worden
Emeritus

Reviews 172
Approval 98%

Soundoffs 200
News Articles 34
Band Edits + Tags 478
Album Edits 1,058

Album Ratings 5899
Objectivity 86%

Last Active 01-01-70 12:00 am
Joined 01-01-70

Review Comments 21,030

 Lists
09.20.23 MarsBro's Court of 2023 08.30.23 MarsBro's NFL Ranking: '23-'24 Preseaso
06.23.23 Mars 23/5: All the Goodies 02.24.23 straight edge friendos
01.28.23 Mars Ranks: Avantasia01.11.23 MarsBro's NFL Ranking: '22-'23 Season F
01.09.23 The Weekly Dive: Doom and Melodic Death01.06.23 MarsBro's NFL Ranking: Week 18
01.02.23 The Weekly Dive: Hip-Hop12.28.22 Build-an-Album II, GAME OVER: Adios, Am
12.27.22 MarsBro's NFL Ranking: Week 1712.26.22 Mars Ranks: Blue October
12.20.22 MarsBro's NFL Ranking: Week 1612.13.22 MarsBro's NFL Ranking: Week 15
12.12.22 Build-an-Album II, R13(P3): The Final C12.08.22 MarsBro's Court of 2022
12.07.22 MarsBro's NFL Ranking: Week 1412.04.22 Build-an-Album II, R12(P3): Just One of
More »

The Weekly Dive: Hip-Hop

Starting a new series for the start of the new year. Let's get it rolling!
1Macho Man Randy Savage
Be A Man


Before 2023 gets into full swing and I focus more on new stuff, I want to take time to check out genres I haven't explored as much as I'd like to and do some deep divin'.

The genre this week is HIP-HOP. I want to get a bunch of recs regardless of release day! Whatever you think is the cream of the crop or things that are a must-listen, send them my way.

I hope/expect this to fill quickly, so I'm limiting everyone to FIVE RECS. That way everyone has a shot at providing their only top shelf collection of recs.

Let's get it started!
2Nujabes
Luv(sic) Hexalogy


Johnny's rec

Calming, peaceful lo-fi vibes. Beats are lovely, although I think it's at its best when an emcee is bringing them to life. 4.0
3Eyedea and Abilities
By the Throat


Johnny's rec

Experimental, intriguing beats, with a punk edge and strong emo sensibilities. Brutal listening experience given the additional context. 4.0
4 MIA
Kala


Johnny's rec
5Snoop Dogg
Doggumentary


Johnny's rec
6Cannibal Ox
The Cold Vein


Mort's rec

Appropriately cold and vicious. 4.0
7Three 6 Mafia
Mystic Stylez


Mort's rec

I respect this release, but do not personally enjoy it. 3.0 (which was my original rating it seems, and I think I'll keep it)
8Death Grips
The Money Store


Mort's rec

Despite this coming out and getting big when I was starting to get into music, I never really tried it out. Long overdue; the intensity here, both in terms of its hard-hitting, varied beats and aggressive rapping is massively entertaining. 4.0
9GZA
Liquid Swords


Mort's rec

4.0

Plenty of lyrical highlights here, and just generally good production.
10Joey Badass
2000


dedex's rec

3.5

This was a lot of fun, felt v much like a mainstream crowd-pleaser but not to the point where I got annoyed. Enjoyable for the most part.
11Lil Ugly Mane
Uneven Compromise


dedex's rec
12Damso
Ipséité


dedex's rec

3.5
13A Tribe Called Quest
The Low End Theory


dedex's rec

3.5

Just really didn't think the beats brought enough to the table, although the prominent bass did some serious heavy lifting.
14JAK3
Moonlight Radiation


dedex's rec

2.0

I tried to "get this," but eventually decided there was nothing to get. There's no real consistency to whatever atmosphere this thing attempts to create beyond purposefully production choices. Everything sounds broken and as if it were recorded with the artist trying to rap through a brick wall.
15Ini
Center of Attention


Sloth's rec
16Sage Francis
Personal Journals


Sloth's rec

A series of unrelenting lyrical gut-punches in a way that isn't often seen in hip-hop. Heartbreaking. 4.5
17EPMD
Strictly Business


Sloth's rec
18Seth Sentry
This Was Tomorrow


Sloth's rec

4.0

Beats are ace, lyrics too. Perfect package.
19Snow
12 Inches of Snow


Sloth's rec

Very repetitive and grating at times. 2.0
20Rakim
The 18th Letter


MoM's rec

4.0

Same as Seth Sentry, just a good package.
21The Pharcyde
Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde


MoM's rec
22Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
E 1999 Eternal


MoM's rec
23Macho Man Randy Savage
Be A Man


Placeholder for HOH - Livin in a Casket (not in database)

MoM's rec
24Mos Def
Black on Both Sides


bg's rec

A lyrical tour-de-force. A powerful exhibition of writing and rapping technique all around. 4.5
25The Roots
Game Theory


bg's rec

The live band aspect gives the arrangements a bit more life. It's subtle, but it's there. And of course there is the ultimate x factor that is Black Thought. 4.0
26A Tribe Called Quest
Midnight Marauders


bg's rec
27Run the Jewels
RTJ4


bg's rec

Heck yes, RTJ go hard. 4.0
28Lauryn Hill
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill


bg's rec

4.0

Great mix of rap and R&B, although it's mostly an R&B album at its heart. Great vocals, great hooks.
29WC
The Shadiest One


Drifter's rec
30Ice-T
O.G. Original Gangster


Drifter's rec

3.5

Goes on a bit too long tbh, although Ice-T is a lot better than I expected.
31Dubee
Dubee a.k.a Sugawolf


Drifter's rec
32Paris
Sleeping with the Enemy


Drifter's rec
33Madvillain
Madvillainy


cylinder's rec

4.0

I finally got into this, mostly thanks to appreciating DOOM's contributions a lot more. RIP to the illest.
34Aesop Rock
Float


cylinder's rec

3.0

Something about this guy's style gets grating to me after a while, can't describe exactly what.
35Genelec & Memphis Reigns
Scorpion Circles


cylinder's rec
36Blackalicious
Blazing Arrow


cylinder's rec
37P.O.S
Never Better


cylinder's rec

Love this guy's style, always hits hard and comes packaged with an intensity that feels like it draws heavily from punk realms. The drum-heavy beats help with that level of power as well. 4.0
38Aesop Rock
Spirit World Field Guide


Coast's rec

3.5

See the first Aesop Rock on this list.
39UGK
Ridin' Dirty


Coast's rec

4.0

I think I just really love funk in rap lol
40Adagio!
New York To Philly


Coast's rec
41Kurupt
The Streetz iz a Mutha


Coast's rec

4.0

Funky beats, hell yes.
42MC Solaar
Prose Combat


Coast's rec

Didn't do much for me. I like some minimalist rap, but the beats and the rapping itself blended together and neither did much to be too distinguishable. At times enjoyable, but also not doing enough to stand out. 3.0
43OutKast
Aquemini


Alex's rec

4.0
44Danny Brown
XXX


Alex's rec

4.0

I used to hate this guy, maybe I need to try again. His tone, delivery, and lyrics are a perfect portrayal of someone experiencing fame and quickly losing grip of their sanity.
45Black Star
Black Star


Alex's rec
46Suga Free
Street Gospel


Drifter's rec

4.0

I'D RATHAH GIVE YOU MAH BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETCH
47Despicable
Meditations


DungeonBoy's rec
48Doomtree
False Hopes XII


MoM's rec
49Bahamadia
Kollage


Trif's rec
50DJ Krush
Strictly Turntablized


Trif's rec
51Boldy James and The Alchemist
Bo Jackson


botb's rec
52Genesis Owusu
Smiling with No Teeth


botb's rec
53Griselda
WWCD


botb's rec
54JPEGMAFIA
Veteran


botb's rec
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