I wanted to start this topic for a while now but I've been busy doing nothing.

 

Anyways, I figured I'd try to get some people into hip hop but can't see anything past the facade that MTV has plastered on it with Soulja Boy, Hurricane Chris, and 50 Cent. I would really like someone to start this on other genres too, considering I want to expand my tastes, also don't come in here saying "CAN'T SPELL CRAP WITHOUT RAP, LULZ", you'll just show ignorance. So here goes.

 

 

I figured I would start with my favorite artist, Masta Ace. You probably haven't heard of him, but in the underground scene especially overseas, Ace is a legend. He started out in 1988 with a group called the Juice Crew which contained artists such as Biz Markie, Kool G Rap, Craig G, Big Daddy Kane, Roxanne Shante, MC Shan, and even LL Cool J.

 

His first three albums, Take A Look Around (his debut album produced entirely by hip hop superproducer Marley Marl), Slaughtahouse (a breakthrough album which was one of the first to make fun of the studio "gangstas" that were gaining popularity), and Sittin' On Chrome (his most known mainstream success and was one of the first, love it or hate it, to be an album for banging in the car with the bass) are considered old school classics.

 

But it is his most recent two albums, Disposable Arts and A Long Hot Summer which have gained him the status of hip hop legend. He took a concept that was touched on by producer Prince Paul with his classic album A Prince Among Thieves which was the "movie" concept. First off, DA was recorded in 2001 and the concept follows a young Brooklyn man's release from prison, his return home, and his life at "The Institute of Disposable Arts", a school in which Ace enrolls after realizing how bad the situation in New York is.

 

Widely praised throughout the underground, DA was also thought to be Ace's last album especially when the last song was called "No Regrets" which is the first song I want to show here.

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=oMpFn5Y7arA Not a video, just the song. It's touching and heartfelt and shows how Ace truly appreciates hip hop and thanks everyone who helped him (such as Q-Tip, Guru, Pharcyde, etc.) http://ohhla.com/anonymous/mastaase/dis_arts/regrets.ase.txt here are the lyrics.

 

That's not the end of it though. A Long Hot Summer was released in 2004 and the concept of that was the prequel to DA, the story of how he was wrongly put in prison by hanging out with buddy, Fats Belvedere. To explain in more simple terms, DA was the story of a guy getting out of jail and vowing never to go back and when he sees the horrible situation in New York, he applies to "hip hop school" and it follows him throughout that. And ALHS was a prequel to DA, explaining how the guy went to jail by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

I wanted to show my first favorite track from ALHS which was produced by 9th Wonder (formerly of Little Brother) called "Good Ol' Love" a track asking why he never got accepted into the mainstream, almost a soulful tirade asking why "real" hip hop was never popularized.

 

(also not a real video) and here are the lyrics http://ohhla.com/anonymous/mastaase/long_hot/good_ol.ase.txt.

 

I really hope you guys enjoyed this and I'll update it every now and then.

You misspelled "Paul's Boutique". But I'll have to check this guy out.

You misspelled "Paul's Boutique". But I'll have to check this guy out.

 

Lol, a lot of people know Beastie Boys though.

I really liked the "No Regrets" song.

I really liked the "No Regrets" song.

 

You're my new favorite poster.

I'm glad to see that A Tribe Called Quest will be recognized for their impact on the hip hop community this Monday night.

I would start with Eric B. & Rakim, but that's just me.

But everybody knows Beastie Boys and Eric B & Rakim, I'm giving light to those who don't get any shine.

Debatable, but okay. Start with BDP, then.

I must of missed the memo where KRS-One is not known. I think I'll do Atmosphere next or Murs instead.

If you are just getting into hip hop you have not heard BDP.

My next song is: The Last Emperor ft. Too Poetic - One Life

 

Considered one of the most, if not the most, emotional hip hop song ever, a touching verse on this song by Too Poetic who at the time was diagnosed with colon cancer and was told he had 3 months left to live but even with his last words written on a song, he doesn't blame anybody but rather sets an example of how things could be worse for you.

 

Not a real video

 

Lyrics:

 

[Verse One: Last Emp]

1993, shortly before Thanksgiving

I got the call, she said Jamal Derek is not longer living

Softly she spoke, is this a joke? Man you gotta be kidding

As my question was raised this explanation was given

A meaningless death made me question the meaning of life

Does my body remain at rest like when I'm sleeping at night?

Will I burn in eternal hell or will I find paradise?

Be rejected or resurrected like the body of Christ?

Is it like purgatory, the story described by the Catholics?

Or Nirvana that Buddhists honor in both theory and practice?

Like I study in my college philosophy classes

Or do my molecules and atoms travel back to the gases?

I mean, what I like to know, is where my spirit goes?

After the curtains close, on my final show?

Is there a pain it brings? Enjoy my favorite things?

Visit ancient kings? Hear the angels sing?

Who'll answer these said the great MCs

My man Gribbles battling a debilitating disease

He said you see a brother like me is willing to fight

And everytime I question death my only answer is life

 

[Chorus: Esthero]

One life, yeahhh

And my God will set me free

Am I living in this moment

Am I living righteously

It gets haaarrdddd

But I know I got to keep on

I'm trying so hard to be strooonnnggg

 

[Verse Two: Poetic]

Paralyzed on the bathroom floor by pain

Last month I endured, but now I can't ignore

Feels like railroad spikes being stuck in my liver

Am I dying? Eyes crying, body starting to shiver

Crawl upstair from the basement calling my sister

(Sniff) Dawn help me, I ain't feeling too healthy

Stomach walls burning, head spinning and turning

Waiting for the EMS; 3:10 in the morning

Rush me to the emergency screaming like a newborn

The pain's too strong maybe my soul's trying to move on

They hook me to the I.V., put me through some X-Rays

Gave me Demerol to kill the pain that was the next phase

Early the next day in the hospital room

Moms and pops in the room, three or four docs in the room

Test results suggest your colon and your liver

Is so cancerous you got three months left

Me and Death is playing chess ever since then

My strength is the most high, my fam and close friends

The Last Emp and Set Free blessed me with a verse

Staying healthy comes first

Look at me things could be worse

 

 

 

Also, he had survived almost two and a half years beyond the doctors' initial 4-month diagnosis.

I didn't know where else to post this and I didn't want to start a whole new thread, but I just felt like making a post on this and didn't know where else to track down some hip-hop fans. I'm embarrassed to admit I just now caught Jay-Z's Beach Chair. It's incredible. I'm not much of a fan of the new school stuff by Jay (really anyone in the game), but this is some of the best stuff I've heard dropped in a while. Kingdom Come on the whole was a pretty weak effort, I thought, but Jay absolutely KILLS this track.

 

Loved it. Some real soul there.

 

Now, what's the deal with Dead Presidents III? We ever gonna have that drop or is Jay planning on holding that back? I heard it was gonna be on American Gangster, but it's not on the retail. Anyone?

 

EDIT: And, as if it needed to be said, Doc is the MAN. The beat on 'Trouble' is so raw and deep. Wow. Not a great song, but that beat is ripe man.

Im not a huge hip hop guy but this is a cool thread.

 

 

Start with Grandmaster Flash and work your way up from there.

I must strongly recommend Little Brother's new album "Getback". It's really short and a great listen. A very mellow album with a good bit of humor thrown in. Listen. Learn. Love.

I dont stray too far from pac.