Hi dere welcome to Planet Rock, this is the real hip-hop (listening club.)

Hello ilm!

Many of you would have heard of this 'rap music' before and have known it to be pleasant. Others may want to follow in yr footsteps. Geir may also say something.

Each Friday there will be 2 albums announced, 1 classic for beginners and 1 relative obscurity or forgotten gem for the goons. Hope you enjoy.

Firstly, the album that came 8th on ilx's 90s poll-

http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/BDAVIS/nas%20illmatic%20album%20cover%20pic.jpg
Nas' Illmatic (1994) Spotify link

And then secondly, for the fans of Erykah Badu's recent albums, one of Madlib's most underrated records...

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hxvhMhdGW5s/Rx58HEji2YI/AAAAAAAAAAg/IXyCZSKDkJQ/s320/2005692128615387996_rs.jpg
The Lootpack's The Lost Tapes (2004) Spotify link

Enjoy! Or don't, it's your choice.

one of Madlib's most underrated records... for real, i've never hear this, just Soundpieces: Da Antidote!

Excellent idea Sam, Would like to check out rap so it's perfect for moi.
I'm sure some of those who will take part might be interested on the OG records that have been sampled so please check out ILX0RS - FREE YOUR MIND AND YOUR ASS WILL FOLLOW.... TO THE ILM FUNK LISTENING CLUB! (This Weeks Albums are Funkadelic , Ohio Players and Mandrill.) where I hope some of you will join in! Sam & Shakey already posted a list of samples used by this weeks albums on there.

As time goes on I will def. pick some more funk heavy records. I was going to go for the Chronic as my first classic but it wasn't on spotify. Illmatic's samples are more jazz heavy, due to the DJ Premier/Pete Rock influence and Madlib is def. a jazz sampler more than... well... anyone!

What arsenal players are they? ;)

great picks, i owe like fifty bucks in late fees at the downtown library for a copy of 'the lost tapes' i took out a year ago and lost

oh oh oh i just realised this was a series of ilx threads - great idea! dunno if i'll have the time but i'll try to follow the funk thread (i STILL have the funk zips herman put together from YEARS ago and i still haven't got round to them yet aargh). no doubt i'll pick up a lot of stuff from here too, rap albums from before i got into rap albums.

sam you'll be covering the first ladies of ho-rap in here, right?

would join and exclusively ho-rap listening club organized by lex tbh

Lex the idea is anyone can have a week to choose albums (1 classic for noobs/1 obscure seems to be the idea)
So you should totally book a week.

i thought most of the other threads were doing 3 albums at a time?

some dude, please come back to the funk thread, the youtubes wont be too heavy, it was only to try get folks to check out the mandrill!

can i get a week, pls!

never even heard of that Lootpack record - like Zvookster only the Soundpieces:Da Antidode album.

xxpost: I'm gonna suggest on the Jazz thread sticking to 2 a week 'cos its getting a bit overwhelming already!

well i have my 3 for jazz week ready! It was hard enough only choosing 3!

lex- ho-rap isn't something i know too much about tbh, feel free to take a week or two by yourself!

some dude- thought considering 3 albums on all the others is a lot if you want to follow many of them, i'll keep this more popular genre to two.

scmidt- feel free to take next week if you want :)

pfunk - okay go for 3 but after that, 2 for evryone else

a hoy hoy: word is bond

kool let me know when a week is free then!

actually if there's a) interest b) other people want to get involved with the pedagogue side of things, an r&b thread should happen!

will that be singles or albums or both?

Enjoying this Nas album btw. Good choice Sam!

Fuck, The World Is Yours is so fucking classic

I sip the Dom. P. watching Gandhi, till I'm charged - I always liked Nas' steez

Friday 30th - Tannenbaum
Fri 7th April - Lex's amazing feminine lady products week
14th April - Gonna have a personal boom bap week :D

couldn't have picked a better album for Hip-Hop 101 imo. Illmatic is the motherfuckin mountain top

[Verse One: AZ the Visualiza]
Visualizin the realism of life and actuality
Fuck who's the baddest a person's status depends on salary
And my mentality is, money orientated
I'm destined to live the dream for all my peeps who never made it
cause yeah, we were beginners in the hood as five percenters
But somethin must of got in us cause all of us turned to sinners
Now some, restin in peace and some are sittin in San Quentin
Others such as myself are tryin to carry on tradition
Keepin the schwepervesence street ghetto essence inside us
Cause it provides us with the proper insight to guide us
Even though, we know somehow we all gotta go
but as long as we leavin thievin we'll be leavin with some kind of dough
so, and to that day we expire and turn to vapors
me and my capers-ll be somewhere stackin plenty papers
Keepin it real, packin steel, gettin high
Cause life's a bitch and then you die

This looks neat. Love the Nas album, haven't heard this Lootpack (like others, I know Soundpieces but not this one!) so looking forward to it. Would be happy to curate a week if there's a space.

of course there is a space, it will hopefully turn into a successful rolling thread.

yeah i was only sorta kidding on the funk thread, like i said i will try to come back and participate after i DL the albums.

put me somewhere in line, eh?

3 albums doesn't seem like that much more than 2 to me, and in this instance the 2 just felt very limited since it's 1 album i'm slightly tired of thinking about and 1 by an artist i'm just totally disinterested in. this thread def has potential, though.

i switched my motto, instead of sayin fuck tomorrow
that buck that bought a bottle could've struck the lotto

has to be one of my favorite rap couplets of all time

i guess it'd be albums herman?

Lootpack is not Madlib tho some dude

that summer my mom paid me to paint the garage, so all i did for like 2 weeks (i was a lazy and slow worker) was listen to the cassette of illmatic on my knockoff radio shack version of those old yellow sports walkman.

perfect album in every respect.

Yes! I am definitely in for the listening. Busted out Illmatic this week for the first time in a while, plus I've been listening to the Rub's hip-hop history thanks to that best hiphop singles from that one week in 1996 poll. I've never heard the Lootpack, so I'll try and scrounge that up tonight and give it a spin.

well we aren't going to like every album posted sd. its to get discussion going more than anything. i originally proposed just a 1 obscure rap album p/w listening club because i thought w/ many different clubs and seemingly the classics being heard by everyone, it'd be cool like that but i think its better this way. And most weeks a loose definition of classic/obscurity is cool, i just thought it being the first week i'd go with one of the top 10 all time rap records.

Some Lootpack youtubes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTrkgPAUN2Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AvuzoertWY&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApngT22Ya88&feature=related

actually that whole album is on youtube

well if this thread is mostly aimed at people who haven't listened to much hip-hop, i think the "classics" are absolutely necessary, and should there be any dissent from the canon from hip-hop fans then they can chime in with their tuppenceworth.

ya i can sympathize with i don't like madlib but lootpack are hard to resist

The only madlib I've ever heard was a Quasimoto track that I thought was awful, but I'm willing to give this a chance.

Sam, what should i check out next if i liked the nas?

Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt

and can I put in for a week?

rev want a week for the funk club?

sure.. my funk skillz ain't as leet as yours tho

you know what you like and that's good enough.

Six good essentials 90's hip hop albums that would be a nice place for a true neophyte to get started imo

Nas - Illmatic
Jay Z - Reasonable Doubt
8Ball and MJG - Doin' It Down South
Wu Tang - 36 Chambers
Tupac - All Eyez on Me
Biggie - Ready to Die

not like that's a rocket science post or anything; just a good direction to follow up on

8Ball and MJG - Doin' It Down South

so essential and canonical as the other albums you listed that I've never even heard of it and there's no mention of it in their wikipedia article

"Six good essentials 90's hip hop albums that would be a nice place for a true neophyte to get started imo"

sub in comin' out hard if you want to.

actually a quick looksee suggests down south was a 2000 release, so if you're feeling pedantic Comin' Out Hard, In Our Lifetime or On Top of the World are all equally (or better) worth the trouble.

my ho-rap week was popular i see :(

― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, May 14, 2010 8:05 AM (3 days ago) Bookmark

i was psyched for your ho rap week but you recommended me both of these albums in the electrik red thread last year :( you should do another

bump for ilxor

eagerly awaiting the sarcasm

UH OH... my turn, huh?

I forgot! Let me think... I'll get back to you guys.

Ultramagnetic MCs - Critical Beatdown (1988)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51PKPF17DHL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

AMG review:

Besides being an undeniable hip-hop classic, the first album by the cult crew Ultramagnetic MC's introduced to the world the larger-than-life, one-of-a-kind personality of Kool Keith. That alone would make this some sort of landmark recording, but it also happens to be one of the finest rap albums from the mid- to late-'80s "new school" in hip-hop that numbered among its contributors Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, and Boogie Down Productions. Critical Beatdown easily stands with the classic recordings made by those giants, and it is, in some ways, more intriguing because of how short-lived Ultramagnetic turned out to be. It would be wrong to assume that the finest thing about the album is its lyrical invention. Lyrically the group is inspired, to be sure, but the production is equally forward-looking. Critical Beatdown is full of the sort of gritty cuts that would define hip-hop's underground scene, with almost every song sounding like an instant classic. Although he turns in a brilliant performance, Kool Keith had not yet taken completely off into the stratosphere at this early point. He still has at least one foot planted on the street and gives the album a viscerally real feel and accessibility that his later work sometimes lacks. His viewpoint is still uniquely and oddly individual, though, and he already shows signs of the freakish conceptualizing persona that would eventually surface fully under the guise of Dr. Octagon. If Kool Keith gives the album its progressive mentality and adrenaline rush, Ced-Gee gives it its street-level heft and is, in many ways, the album's core. Somewhere in the nexus between the two stylistic extremes, brilliant music emanated. Critical Beatdown maintains all its sharpness and every ounce of its power, and it has not aged one second since 1988.

Gang Starr - Daily Operation (1992)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PX5EGP41L._SL500_AA300_.jpg

AMG review:

On Step in the Arena, DJ Premier and Guru hit upon their mature sound, characterized by sparse, live jazz samples, Premier's cut-up scratching, and Guru's direct, unwavering streetwise monotone; but, with Daily Operation, the duo made their first masterpiece. From beginning to end, Gang Starr's third full-length album cuts with the force and precision of a machete and serves as an ode to and representation of New York and hip-hop underground culture. The genius of Daily Operation is that Guru's microphone skills are perfectly married to the best batch of tracks Premier had ever come up with. Guru has more of a presence than he has ever had, slinking and pacing through each song like a man with things on his mind, ready to go off at any second. Premier's production has an unparalleled edge here. He created the minimalist opening track, "The Place Where We Dwell," out of a two-second drum-solo sample and some scratching, but is also able to turn around and create something as lush and melodic as the jazz-tinged "No Shame in My Game" without ever seeming to be out of his element, making every track of the same sonic mind. For an underground crew, Gang Starr has always had a knack for crafting memorable vocal hooks to go with the expert production, and they multiply both aspects on Daily Operation. Every song has some attribute that stamps it indelibly into the listener's head, and it marks the album as one of the finest of the decade, rap or otherwise.

There ya go everyone. Again, sticking to the classics the first time around.

If someone want to post Sp0tify links, or anything else... have at it!

*ahem*

Spfy -

Critical Beatdown

Daily Operation

Thank you kindly.

Can I get a week at some point?

hmm

28th MAY - forks
4th JUNE - the rev
11th JUNE - Sam's super electro spectacular
18th JUNE - Intro to ukhiphop 101
25th JUNE - Le Sarge
2nd JULY - Keyes
9th JULY - deej
16th JULY - samosa

Okay I know that week is done but "Enta Da Stage" is a GREAT album. Buckshot isn't a great lyrical MC but his flow sounds great, and the production on that album is simple, hard and smoky. Black Moon knew their strengths and played to them as well as any rap group. The album has no filler.

And of course Daily Operation is amazing. Brave is the knave....

Let's get some new picks.

#1 - Devin Tha Dude - Just Tryin' Ta Live (2002)

AMG Review: Reminiscent of other great storytellers like Slick Rick, Devin the Dude is a true gift to laid-back Southern rap. This is his first real solo LP, and he didn't do it alone, given the presence of Raphael Saadiq, Xzibit, Nas, and Pooh Bear, and a couple of appearances by the Odd Squad. It's obvious that Devin put a lot of soul into this album, and it shows through in deep and reflective stories that evolve slowly through the album. Most of the songs are rather humorous, such as "R & B," which would seem to be about rhythm & blues, but it's really about Devin's need for reefer and beer. "Lacville '79" follows, one of the smoothest tracks on the LP. Again hitting some comedy notes ("I'm rollin', car not stolen, prolly never will be, it's much too olden"), Devin continues to tell a story about how he's happy with his girlfriend because she didn't mind pushing the car when it stopped working. The track titled "Who's That Man, Moma" is equally as amusing. The beats on the disc are smooth and funky, perfect slow-driving music. Devin's style is a mix somewhere between Too $hort and Warren G; he almost sings as he raps and it works wonderfully on this album.

Recommended Tracks: 'Lacville 79, I Hi, Doobie Ashtray, Just Tryin' Ta Live, Zeldar

#2 - 8Ball and MJG - Comin' Out Hard (1993)

AMG Review: Along with OutKast's Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1994) and Goodie Mob's Soul Food (1995), Eightball & MJG's debut, Comin' Out Hard, is one of the most influential rap albums to come out of the South. It wasn't as widely heard as those others albums, nor was it as professional-sounding; however, its independent release by Suave Records, based in Houston, and its basement-level production were influential in their own way. A generation of underground Southern rappers would arise by the end of the '90s, many of them following the template of Comin' Out Hard: underground hardcore rap modeled after West Coast gangsta rap yet delivered in a distinctly Southern manner, released via an indie label with major ambitions. Even the cover artwork of Comin' Out Hard, courtesy of Pen & Pixel Graphics, was influential, as the company would go on to design all the bling-blinging No Limit and Cash Money albums of the late '90s. Unfortunately, Comin' Out Hard is more historically significant than it is impressive from a strictly musical point of view. The production is admittedly lo-fi, credited to the rappers themselves, and while the raps are effective, the hooks leave room for improvement. Eightball & MJG would indeed improve in the years that followed, ultimately releasing a classic at the end of the decade, In Our Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1999). Comin' Out Hard pales in comparison, yet it's an interesting album to hear from a historical perspective and is certainly noteworthy for its widespread influence, especially throughout the South.

Recommended Tracks: 9 Little Millimeta Boys, Comin' Out Hard, Armed Robbery, Niggas Like Us

ooooooooooh, colour me excited.

neither are on spotify, gonna have to look for a dl

Unfortunately, Comin' Out Hard is more historically significant than it is impressive from a strictly musical point of view.
http://www.soulstrut.com/images/smileys/icallbullshit.gif

'its a shame' off that devin cd is one of my favorite dre beats ever

i don't agree with you a lot about music deej, but yeah, that AMG guys has issues.

furthermore that isn't devin's first solo album unless you feel like the odd squad took over THE DUDE which they did not

Just starting to check out this thread and enjoying it quite a bit.

from an onlookers pov can i just say if you're not writing something personal about your picks and just c&p amg instead you fucking suck imo

yes! also annoying: ppl who 'pick' a week but never actually comment on anybody else's choices

Since we skipped a week, is the whole schedule pushed back a week?

from an onlookers pov can i just say if you're not writing something personal about your picks and just c&p amg instead you fucking suck imo

Maybe it just means we don't care to spend more than 5 minutes on ILM per day, ya'think?

http://www.dbmlabs.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/HipHopIsDead.jpg

I haven't heard Comin' Out Hard in ages. Lemme find my CD.

Maybe it just means we don't care to spend more than 5 minutes on ILM per day, ya'think?

― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Monday, June 7, 2010 9:27 AM (1 week ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

this doesn't seem true of you and certainly not of the people being referred to

*bump*

I was looking forward to the electro special.

/11th JUNE - Sam's super electro spectacular/

looooooooool i thought that was in july. will be sorted by the end of the day :)

I spent about a half hour putting together a post for the RnB listening club and got about three quick responses; from a writers perspective, I do enough unrewarded, unpaid work elsewhere that I don't feel compelled to write an essay about two albums that are well-known and well-written about elsewhere on the web and people who have an issue with that fucking suck imo

pick two albums that arent well-known or are underappreciated then? or compare and contrast two big ones and say why? i dunno - i'm not the one volunteering here am i.

wouldnt be turning your nose up at writing practice if i were u either big man.

music is its own reward

4th JUNE - the rev
11th JUNE - Sam's super electro spectacular
18th JUNE - Intro to ukhiphop 101

Sorry to be the club policeman, but we slippin.

...

coup d'état?

http://img.tfd.com/wn/1C/6C068-gift-horse.jpg

rap music is for life, the world cup is only for this summer.

1. Ras Kass- Soul On Ice

http://www.straightgangsterism.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/soulonice1.jpg

Ras Kass feels like an early prototype for the buzzed about 00s rapper. His appearance coincided with the early days of the internet and as with Nasty Nas a few years earlier his guest spots and early singles had people checking for his debut. His guest verse on “Come Widdit” (at 1:55)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdLdeu2nIFc

where Ras drops lines like “Even if man wasn’t prehensile, I’d still find a way to grip mics, hold my tip when I piss and pick off pubic lice” is like the blueprint for a decade of backpack rap.
Ras started recording “Soul On Ice” and had the now familiar problem a demo version of the album leaking to the web, causing excitement among fans, who were ultimately disappointed to see tracks like "Remain Anonymous" and "Core Audience" dropped and replaced with tracks like "Anything Goes."

This site has info on the tracks that didn't make the retail version.

Of course the most famous song from "Soul On Ice" was "Nature of the Threat" a history of white supremacy that sparked a million message board posts.

http://www.youtube.co/watch?v=pKUrQMYMv04

Other key tracks:

"On Earth as It Is In Heaven"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siXzh-DwJBw

Diamond D's remix of the title track didn't appear on the album, but is well worth hearing along with it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu5dFf5E0CI

Let's try that "Nature of the Threat" link again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdJgVf4l1A0

Oh I should mention that track is way homophobic.

2. The Coup- Genocide & Juice

http://braindeadzombie.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/coupgenocidejuice1.jpg

So I guess the theme for this week is mid-90s West Coast rap that falls somewhere between poli-sci edutaining and hustler bragging.

This one starts off (after the intro) with three tracks linked by the setting of an upper crust cocktail party. "Fat Cats, Bigga Fish" is one of the great story raps, a precursor to their breakthrough "Me & Jesus the Pimp"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v-rIWUAQuI

(This video cuts out essential parts of the story, so try to listen to the album version.)

Lots of great stuff here besides, like "Repo Man" and "Taking These."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o9lEcmfWeA

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

Genocide and Juice is pretty necessary

can i get a week?

or is this thing done

i was slated to post that charizma and peanut butter wolf album and the swishahouse vol. 1 comp in a couple weeks but ya looks like this is no longer gwan on

post something at yr leisure :)

Samosa, go ahead and post yours, since you were in original lineup. If others want to come back and claim their weeks, cool. If not, I'll go after you.