Thread: Speech Is My Hammer: Good Hip Hop

"Speech is my hammer bang the world into shape
Now let it fall..."
- Mos Def, Hip Hop [00:11-00:14], from Black on Both Sides [2002]


I didn't see a thread specifically for rap/hip hop, through both a scan through the two pages in these forums as well as a forum search (unless I'm just blind) so I figured I'd go ahead and create a thread solely dedicated to good rap/hip hop.

While I'm sure there's a chance that some of these have been posted in this thread, I'd figure I'd start off the thread with some of the, I guess you would call, basic stuff as well as some other tracks that I personally like and/or think are underrated.

Five Deez - Latitude [from Koolmotor, 2001]



Nujabes ft. Cise Starr - D. T. F. N. [from Hydeout Productions First Collection, 2003]



Binary Star - Reality Check [from Masters of the Universe, 2000]



Atmosphere - Puppets [from When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint that Shit Gold, 2008]



Madvillain - All Caps [from Madvillainy, 2004]



Brother Ali - Room With a View [from Shadows on the Sun, 2003]



Little Brother - The Listening [from The Listening, 2003]



N. A. S. A. ft. Tom Waits and Kool Keit - Spacious Thoughts [from The Spirit of Apollo, 2009]

Needless to say, the list goes on. As such, post 'em up!

Never took you for a hip hop guy Sos. Listened to some of those videos, pretty good stuff. I'm not a big hip hop fan, but I liked those.

Originally Posted by Mr_Blonde_OPS

Never took you for a hip hop guy Sos.

Musically speaking, rap/hip hop is my second love. Though, I really didn't start getting back into it until probably late 2007.

Some more tracks:

2Pac - If I Die 2 Nite [from Me Against the World, 1995]



Zion I ft. Susan Suh & Dust - Finger Paint [from Deep Water Slang V2.0, 2008]



People Under the Stairs - Step Off [from Carried Away, 2009]



Nujabes ft. Substantial & L-Universe - Lyrical Terrorist [from Hydeout Productions First Collection, 2003]



Rjd2 - June [from Deadringer, 2002]



Eminem - Infinite [from Infinite, 1996]



Tracks that can't be embedded properly due to playback restrictions:

• The Roots ft. Malik B - Game Theory [from Game Theory, 2006]
• Hilltop Hoods - The Hard Road [from The Hard Road, 2006]
• Deltron 3030 - Mastermind [from Deltron 3030, 2008]
• Common - Resurrection [from Resurrection, 1994]

For some reason I feel like I need to anticipate people coming in and saying, "There are better tracks from artist X." I understand that there are, or at least probably are, but for now I've just been posting, I guess you would call, introductory tracks to the some of the artists. Regardless, I still think all the tracks I've posted so far are good tracks.

Originally Posted by Alundil

Sos - good pics in there. Also - ATXPlex's thread "Hood Bangers" is primarily a Rap/Hip Hop thread (though he might disagree about the Hip Hop part )

Hmmm, guess I missed that thread (the thread title wasn't something along the lines of what I was searching for). Seems like the thread has more of a specific focus in terms of style (artist and/or track), though.

DAMN SOS i guess i didnt remeber that you bumped my music. I love hip hop/rap. I am familiar with almost all of the tracks you linked. Here are some hip hop cuts for ya. I have been on an old school/gangsta/party rap binge recently to keep me from stressing. Heres some of my favorite hip hop tracks.

If there is one track that i try to play for anyone who hates on my beloved hip hop it is this. BLACKSTAR- Thieves in the night. If their ignorance cannot see the poetry in this song then peace out baby.


Common-Payback is a Grandmother


I love MF-DOOM. Before he was DOOM he was Zev LOVE X and rapped in the group KMD with his brother SUb roc. DOOM is one of the best alive today. Listen to how his voice changed over the years this album was when he was very young.
"Suspended animation of a gray expansion casting shadows over the son."


This is a group that i liked named Invisible Men MArq Spekt and Karniege. JIMMY SWAGGER.


C-RAYZ WALZ- if u aint heard of him.... check this man out. his flows are relentless and cleverly written. this is one of my all time favorite hip hop songs.

Thomax is a pretty under the radar remixer, but his tracks are simply beautiful.

SOs that five deez song was great. I definitely had not heard it. I really enjoyed it. The Nujabes i hadn't heard of before and they were really dope as well.
Thanks for the new music. i am very happy you made this thread. i was seriously about to create a hip hop thread. my hood bangers thread is for my party/battle/gangsta rap, which i also love.

Fajita i really loved the beats on the tracks you linked. I am hooked to any track with a cryptic woman singing gibberish in the background. see killa cam.

I used t obump this program called pitch control when UT access had student shows and MUch music, or old canadian MTV as it was known by me. this was a track i use to wait for to come on. It is great.

I still pack heat though.

What is a hip hop thread without some Tribe? Scenario remix from revised quests for the seasoned traveler.


What is a hip hop thread with out some premiere? GANGSTARR-RIP to the GURU.

Gangstarr is here to bust ya shit.

Awesome tracks, Slika and Fajita. Hadn't heard Invizzbl Men, C-Rayz Walz, Solitair, or Thomax. I'll be sure to check out some more from them.

More tracks:

Sage Francis - Civil Obedience [from Human the Death Dance, 2007]



Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - The Main Ingredient [from The Main Ingredient, 1994]



Non-Prophets - Any Port [from Hope, 2003]



El Da Sensei & The Returners - Life It Is [from Global Takeover, 2008]



Blakroc ft. NOE - Hard Times [from Blakroc, 2009]