an odd rap music inner mind debate

[walkonby]

for some reason, i can't listen to most rap music.  i find it useless and without much merit as music.  the only group i could ever stand was digable planets, am i'm not really sure they were rap anyway.  but when i put in any album by old dirty bastard, a smile comes on my face as i get down to his genius.  i've tried the wu-tang and other member's solo stuff to no liking.  only the dirt dog can settle me in for the long haul.  thank you big baby j.

[TheREALHunter]

The first 3 Public Enemy albums will do you right.

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

agreed, at lest back in the day. now, i'd listen for kitsch value, but that's about it.
 
 

Originally posted by TheREALHunter:
  The first 3 Public Enemy albums will do you right.

[renton007]

There have only been 3 "rap" albums that ever did anything for me: Fear of a Black Planet, Blunted on Reality and that Black Star album. I kinda dig J-Dilla's Donuts and a few Spank Rock tracks as well. But I agree I can't listen to most of it. Jazz however, is wonderful.

[Mobius]

If you like the Digables, I can't imagine why you wouldn't like Tribe Called Quest.
 
 And I can't imagine why you wouldn't like GZA-Liquid Swords or Raekwon-Cuban Linx.

[Brian_Wallace]

I think rap has been and always will be a singles medium.  It just doesn't work well in an album format.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.  Rap is really hit or miss but when it hits, like say, Pras "Ghetto Superstar," it's fantastic.
 
 To quote Eddie Murphy in an old SNL skit:
 
 Michael Jackson: "Nine of out ten times, I get my face slapped, but that tenth one: it's magic. It's wonderful."
 
 The greatest rap album I've ever heard?
 
   <img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/517R9NB05GL._AA240_.jpg" alt=" - " />
 
 I know it's not "true rap", it's very nostalgic (a sin) and it's more "mall rap" but there's some great singles on there.
 
 1. White Lines (Don't Don't Do It) - Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Melle Mel
 2. Walk This Way - Run-D.M.C.  
 3. Funky Cold Medina - Tone-Loc  
 4. Humpty Dance - Digital Underground  
 5. Bust a Move - Young MC  
 6. It Takes Two - Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock  
 7. U Can't Touch This - MC Hammer  
 8. Parents Just Don't Understand - DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince  
 9. Around the Way Girl - LL Cool J    
 10. Set Adrift on Memory Bliss - P.M. Dawn  
 11. Tennessee - Arrested Development  
 12. Now That We Found Love - Heavy D & the Boyz  
 13. Good Vibrations - Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch  
 14. Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-A-Lot    
 15. Jump Around - House of Pain  
 16. Hip Hop Hooray - Naughty by Nature    
 17. Who Am I (What's My Name)? - Snoop Dogg  
 18. Nuthin' But a "G" Thang - Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg

[K8teebug]

Good Vibrations is not a rap song.
 
 I third the Public Enemy recommendation.

[Mobius]

Originally posted by Brian_Wallace:
  I think rap has been and always will be a singles medium.  It just doesn't work well in an album format.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.  Rap is really hit or miss but when it hits, like say, Pras "Ghetto Superstar," it's fantastic.
 

Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.
 
 Anyone could say the same thing about rock or country or soul if they were willfully ignorant.

[bluec]

try some of these
 
 The Roots
 Blackalicious
 Lifesavas
 People Under the Stairs
 Common
 Pete Rock and CL Smooth
 Crown City Rockers
 Dilated Peoples
 Jurassic 5
 Mic Geronimo
 The Living Legends
 The Pharcyde
 Lyrics Born
 Mos Def
 De La Soul
 Maroons
 Pharoahe Monch
 Tribe Called Quest
 Aesop Rock
 The Coup
 AZ
 Ohmega Watts
 Outkast (pre-Stankonia)
 Zion-I
 Brother Ali
 Talib Kweli

[godsshoeshine]

ghostface has always been my favorite wu

[Mobius]

it is true that rap/hip-hop albums are historically poorly contructed.  even a lot of classics are littered with filler and lame skits and go waay too long.
 
 I'm surprised more haven't followed Nas' Illmatic which is basically a bulletproof 9 songs and 39 minutes.