hugh wrote:Come to think of it, I take back that comment on mainstream rap. I genuinely can't think of a single good mainstream hip hop tune in like the past 10 years outside of the occasional ok Eminem tune or a bit of MOP or something like that.
You have to realise that being from the UK means that our mainstream rap tends to get filtered a lot more than an Americans. Mainstream rap in the US is a much bigger thing. I think if you lived in the UK for a few years you would realise how bad it is over here.
But I am really not that blown away with these supposed new breed of great up and coming rappers. ASAP Rocky does nothing for me, Kendrick Lamarr does nothing for me...I just don't get it.
Hugh what are some rappers you rate then? I think you have taken it too far. Much of down south hip hop is exceptional. Bun B, Trae, Z-Ro from Houston, even Lil Keke. Killer Mike from Atlanta. Many producers associated with trap, like Shawty Redd, I already mentioned Lex Luger are very talented producers. I'm with you on Gucci, Yo Gotti and the like being total shit rappers though. Chief Keef isn't great either.
You have to separate your personal preference from what is actually quality. Just because you don't like something like skittering hi-hats, doesn't mean it isn't good. I personally don't like Lil Wayne, or Rick Ross, but I recognize especially in the case of Wayne, that they have some mic skills and have crafted some excellent records (The Carter 2 & 3, BMF) in the past.
Kendrick Lamar is arguably the leader of the new school of Hip Hop, the Good Kid album was ranked as one of the best albums, not just in hip hop, but best album PERIOD of 2012 by many professional music publications like Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, NME etc. And I think it's well justified. He's passionate, intelligent, and talented. Kendrick really has some incredible bars and I have been a fan since I first heard "The Heart". Asap Rocky is like Snoop Dogg to me, smooth delivery, tight flow. He may not be an elite lyricist like Kendrick but Asap Rocky is still dope. I'm also digging Asap Ferg who can really flow.
Earl Sweatshirt however IS an elite lyricist and Tyler the Creator is dope as well. There's also Casey Veggies, Vince Staples, Joey Badass, Flatbush Zombies, The Underachievers, Azalea Banks, Iggy Azalea, Angel Haze, Chance The Rapper newer artists who are all gifted and waiting to break into the mainstream. Kid Ink is decent as well.
As far as mainstream goes, there is still a lot of talent. Kanye West is the best rapper/producer combo in Hip Hop period. I don't care how you feel about his personality. His music is boundary pushing, innovative and he can spit like very few. Whenever Kanye drops, it's usually an album of the year contender. I don't have to mention Jay-z who is a legend (Magna Carta was meh though). Nas is a legend. Busta Rhymes is a legend. Eminem is a legend. J Cole is great, Wale is solid, etc. etc.
There are some mainstream acts who aren't so good like French Montana, 2Chainz, Trinidad James. I''ve soured on Nicki Minaj (she can still spit though). Will.I.am and the rest of peas are laughably bad now.
There is so much diversity and acclaim in modern hip hop right now if you don't like at one of the newer rappers, well then I question how much you love hip hop because it has progressed so much.
