Who's your favourite rapper?

[doppelkorn]

Best voice: Biggy

Actually, the answer's just Biggy.

[Malcy]

Biggy & PAC are massively overrated. Never had any interest and surely them dying when they did just added to that.

There are so many I like and it can change regularly but always enjoyed Dr Dre, Kurupt, RBX, Roots Manuva, MC Ten. Too many to just have one favourite really.

[The Masked Unit]

Biggy's first album is one of my favourites and I think he was massively talented, but for me the jury's out on what he'd have gone on to achieve as the rot was already setting in by the second album IMO.

Addendum: there's a decent album's worth of material in that second double album, but a lot of it suffers from being very unfortnately attached to some shite production that was very much of its time, and what a shit time that was.

[Bhazor]

Lyrics: MC Ride. I can't think of many rappers who would have a track about sensory overload and anhedonia as their lead single.

Production: MC Ride. Flatlander is amazing at blow your head off noise but still manages to have fun and mix in some bizarre samples like having an undercurrent of tennis grunts as the main hook in System Blower.

Voice : Roots Manuva. Just something soothing and natural about his voice, nothing put on about it at all.

[Malcy]

Lyrics: MC Ride. I can't think of many rappers who would have a track about sensory overload and anhedonia as their lead single.

Production: MC Ride. Flatlander is amazing at blow your head off noise but still manages to have fun and mix in some bizarre samples like having an undercurrent of tennis grunts as the main hook in System Blower.

Voice : Roots Manuva. Just something soothing and natural about his voice, nothing put on about it at all.

Haven't heard of MC Ride but yeah Manuva has a great voice. And no bad albums. He's brilliant. Met him in a now defunct record store in Glasgow. Digging through the crates next to me and went wow how's it going? Top bloke.

[Sneeze]

Lyrics: MC Ride. I can't think of many rappers who would have a track about sensory overload and anhedonia as their lead single.

Production: MC Ride. Flatlander is amazing at blow your head off noise but still manages to have fun and mix in some bizarre samples like having an undercurrent of tennis grunts as the main hook in System Blower.

Voice : Roots Manuva. Just something soothing and natural about his voice, nothing put on about it at all.

Death Grips get a very rough ride because of the questionable following they have developed but I personally think they are fantastic, having seen them live last year. The Exmilitary mix-tape and The Money Store are two of the most exciting albums I have ever heard. There was an insane energy in the performance they gave. MC Ride is a very intimidating figure, Zach Hill is mercurial on drums and Andy Morin is extremely inventive. If you haven't, I would suggest listening to the Andy and Zach side project The ILYs. No rap but pure experimental garage rock, a treat for the ears.

[Dannyhood91]

MF DOOM is fantastic. Every verse is like being thrown into some dada art exhibition. His LP with Madlib is one of the best albums I've ever heard and played a big role in my teenage years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL5cun2kQ6M I love this track especially and I actually think the low quality of the video accents his rapping in a weird way.

He's also got some good storytelling chops https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CwZen9b5mU

Honurable mention to Pharoe Monch who is honestly akin to a fire and brimstone preacher with his voice and delivery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf6MdR-zSxA his verse starts ere at around 2:12

[doppelkorn]

The forum hack killed my incredible mention of Dana Dane, so I'd just like to urge you all to listen to Dana Dane With Fame.

[jobotic]

Death Grips get a very rough ride because of the questionable following they have developed but I personally think they are fantastic, having seen them live last year. The Exmilitary mix-tape and The Money Store are two of the most exciting albums I have ever heard. There was an insane energy in the performance they gave. MC Ride is a very intimidating figure, Zach Hill is mercurial on drums and Andy Morin is extremely inventive. If you haven't, I would suggest listening to the Andy and Zach side project The ILYs. No rap but pure experimental garage rock, a treat for the ears.

Tell me more.

[Sneeze]

Tell me more.

Nothing too juicy i'm afraid, but in the internetsphere they are intrinsically linked to Anthony Fantano or 'The Needle Drop' who is a Youtube music reviewer. This led to the band being 'memed' with the general edginess and extreme alternative nature of the music leading to many jokes at the expense of a fanbase that was deemed to be made up primarily of teenage hipsters. This wasn't helped by the love they recieve on the /mu/ board on 4chan. 

[jonnycuba]

Always liked Redman a lot! Big L is certainly up there, as is Pharoh Monch, olschool KRS1 (before he went mad & became a nonce defender).

That Big L freestyle over that Buckwild beat is Death Wish (ARP strings)?! The bass line is off a track on the second SOUL lp... (filtered to just the bassline & played at 45).

[Here Comes Mongo]

....olschool KRS1 (before he went mad & became a nonce defender).

What's that all about?

That Big L freestyle over that Buckwild beat is Death Wish (ARP strings)?!

Yeah, found the sample, it's very gritty and New York based, so appropriate.

[jonnycuba]

KRS1...

http://www.spin.com/2016/07/krs-one-afrika-bambaataa-quit-hip-hop/

Followed by:

http://www.vibe.com/2016/05/krs-one-issues-afrika-bambaataa-statement/

[Dr Syntax Head]

Close thread

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ntk7V6km3k

[phantom_power]

KRS1...

http://www.spin.com/2016/07/krs-one-afrika-bambaataa-quit-hip-hop/

Followed by:

http://www.vibe.com/2016/05/krs-one-issues-afrika-bambaataa-statement/

http://www.avclub.com/article/whoops-krs-ones-new-song-eulogizes-wrong-beastie-b-255228

[marquis_de_sad]

The forum hack took away my mention of my favourite Kool Keith songs, so here they are again for anyone who missed them: Drugs and I Don't Believe You.

But even though I think Keith is an amazing lyricist, I dunno if I would go so far as to say he's my favourite rapper. That'd like saying Mark E Smith was your favourite singer.

[monkfromhavana]

MF DOOM is fantastic. Every verse is like being thrown into some dada art exhibition. His LP with Madlib is one of the best albums I've ever heard and played a big role in my teenage years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL5cun2kQ6M I love this track especially and I actually think the low quality of the video accents his rapping in a weird way.

He's also got some good storytelling chops https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CwZen9b5mU

MF DOOM is just utterly fantastic in every way. Today's track of choice has been 'Rhymes Like Dimes' from Operation Doomsday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPCwL__3Lss

I love the humourous ending as well with, what I guess is one of his mates, shouting out nonsense.

Also a big fan (although I haven't heard much of his recent stuff) of Brother Ali

Shadows On The Sun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCZ3G_3Tpkg

Uncle Sam Goddamn (I don't think he'd be a Trump supporter)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDi9eHTvis0

[phatfill]

No love for RA the rugged man?   Legends never die from 2012 was one of the best albums ive ever heard.   

[Jobey]

Some yank choices:

Doom
Del The Funky Homosapien
Suga Free
Sean Price

Uk lads:

Cas
Roots Manuva

[Hat FM]

andre 3000 for me too. The love below still blows my mind.

anyone looking for an under the radar hip hop album needs to check out 'ghetto pop life' by DM and Jemini. Its what danger mouse did before Gnarls barklay and its great.

[Swoz_MK]

No love for RA the rugged man?   Legends never die from 2012 was one of the best albums ive ever heard.

His section on this is mindblowing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBwhKC2pvWg

[The Masked Unit]

Del The Funky Homosapien

Yes! I think "I wish my brother George were here" is the perfect introduction to rap for non rap fans. It's got everythig that makes the best rap great like humour, story-telling, providing a window into ghetto life, social commentary, black power etc, but does it with incredible, radio-friendly funk and is non-violent. Plus he's got a great voice, writing ability and flow of course. Definitely in my top ten.

[dmillburn]

The forum hack killed my incredible mention of Dana Dane, so I'd just like to urge you all to listen to Dana Dane With Fame.

Loved a bit of Dana Dane - Delancey Street was a standout on that first Def Beats compilation.

And talking of Def Beats, does anyone know what was the story with Beware Affair who did that Mission Impossible sampling opening track? Was it Derek B type thing, ie something put together just to fill the record? I remember Mike Allen playing "I'm really rocking" around that time but appears to be literally all they released.

[WestHill]

MF DOOM is just utterly fantastic in every way. Today's track of choice has been 'Rhymes Like Dimes' from Operation Doomsday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPCwL__3Lss

I love the humourous ending as well with, what I guess is one of his mates, shouting out nonsense.

That's Bobbito Garcia aka Cucumber Slice of the legendary Stretch & Bobbito show. He's one of my all time favourite humans, who not only ran the most influential hip hop show ever but also birthed Fondle'em Records which was a home to some of the best indie hiphop records of the 90s including Juggaknots, Cage, Siah & Yeshua and MF DOOM. His film "Radio that changed lives" is a must for any ageing b-boy worth his salt.

"Buttery...biscuits and I get lost a yes yes yes y'all!"

To answer the thread question, Breezly Brewin. He's the best MC.

[WestHill]

Anyone heard the Strange U album? Fucking hell, it's like Roots Manuva meets Company Flow:

https://youtu.be/-ksuLdcV1eM

Really feeling it.

[darby o chill]

Loved a bit of Dana Dane - Delancey Street was a standout on that first Def Beats compilation.

And talking of Def Beats, does anyone know what was the story with Beware Affair who did that Mission Impossible sampling opening track? Was it Derek B type thing, ie something put together just to fill the record? I remember Mike Allen playing "I'm really rocking" around that time but appears to be literally all they released.

God I remember buying that Def Beats album. Bluz Broz track was good - sampled that Billy Joel thing long before Kool G rap. No idea about Beware Affair except remembering the 'Rocking' track. Also - Nomis Sirrah is the worst alias ever.

[Funcrusher]

His section on this is mindblowing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBwhKC2pvWg

I knew what track that would be before clicking. A real standout that one.