Intro to rap/hip hop? -

[The Shadow]

Surprisingly I've never been exposed to rap much, but I'd like to learn a bit about the genre. My entire experience with the genre is pretty much white rappers like Beastie Boys/Eminem/Vanilla Ice and Will Smith. Could anyone recommend some to listen to that will introduce me to the genre, maybe some videos or articles on the history of the form? I'm interested but have no starting point.

EDIT: Actually I've also heard some of Shaquille O'Neal's rap albums. Regrettably.

 

[eldri]

Here you go.

 

[Woke Blue Muttlema]

Here you go.

You didn't beat me. We weren't even playing the same game.
My respects my n-word, you are man of culture.

 

[Tootsie Bear]

Dude, the Beastie Boys are dope! I've always been a fan of conscious hip-hop. Growing up in California, gangsta rap was all the rage, but I always respected and enjoyed more deep meaningful lyrics more with beats influenced from jazz samples by groups like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul.

There are many more rappers I would like to share but these are two groups I really enjoy. Creative rapping, catchy beats that you can dance too, you can't beat that!

 

[Al Gulud]

Here you go.

My nigga you got taste

 

[The Shadow]

Here you go.

Starting from #1 with Nas' Ilmatic. I like what I'm hearing so far. Thanks so much, to you and everyone that answered!

...I've also heard Geddy Lee rapping as a skeleton on a Rush album. That made me embarrassed to be a Rush fan, and that's hard to do. Seems like they hate it enough that it's not even on YouTube, you have to go to Vimeo.

 

[J A N D E K]

Dude, the Beastie Boys are dope! I've always been a fan of conscious hip-hop. Growing up in California, gangsta rap was all the rage, but I always respected and enjoyed more deep meaningful lyrics more with beats influenced from jazz samples by groups like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul.

There are many more rappers I would like to share but these are two groups I really enjoy. Creative rapping, catchy beats that you can dance too, you can't beat that!

Love De La and Tribe. Along that chill tip I’d suggest some Digable Planets too.

 

[1Tonka_Truck]

Here you go.

There is so much goodness here. I have to add EL-P and Tech N9ne. If you ever get the chance, Tech puts on a hell of a show in small venues.

Edit: Changed the El-P video to Cancer 4 Cure playlist. Whole album is goodness.

 

[J A N D E K]

For a decent history lesson on the birth of Hip Hop and its evolution...

https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/80141782

 

[Terrorist]

To get into hip-hop, you need to go back to the 90s and understand the history. Listen to some Wu-tang (start with Enter the Wu-tang and go chronologically). I'm basically a white nationalist and I still bump wu.

 

[Otis Boi]

Stankonia was one of the first rap albums i got when i was young,well one that wasn't my mother hand-me downs like doggystyle, B.o.B is properly what really got me into rap. The energy and the lyrics where just exciting to me. It was just fun and i loved that about rap the more i got into it. I know i not a music scholar but i think rap is unique in a way that some black guy can just rhyme words cleverly and it be a hit with no real singing talent involved.

 

[UselessRubberKeyboard]

Does it have to be in English? There are some amazing rap artists all across Europe performing in their own languages, and even if you don't understand what they're rapping it's still possible to enjoy the flow.

If you're up for it and will put up with listening to people speaking commie (Russian), start with Oxxxymiron and then go on to Pharaoh, Slava KPSS, Elias Fogg, MiyaGi, Jah Khalib, Skriptonit, Noggano/Basta, , Duboshit, Anacondaz, and Jubilee (I fucking love Jubilee). Lizer, Flesh, and Face are pretty big too. There's a shitload of others, if you google you can probably link hop from there.

 

[ES 148]

Pink Guy

 

[TheWatchfulFurfag]

Wu Tang - Can't go wrong with 36 Chambers. Also consider Ol' Dirty Bastard, Ghostface Killah, Method Man and RZA's solo stuff.
MOP - Warriorz and Firing Squad are pretty good
Bone Thugz-n-Harmony
I like Gucci Mane. I liked Mr Davis (2017) but if you want something more classic, try Trap God 2
Kanye - Recently released Ye and KIDS SEE GHOSTS is great, But can't go wrong with YEEZUS and Dark Twisted Fantasy.
Ice Cube - Probably one of the most talented Lyricists ever, Death Certificate has a special place in my heart
Kendrick - Good Kid, M.a.a.D City has a special place in my heart, But To Pimp a Butterfly is way stronger instrumentally, IMO. DAMN. is alright, I liked it enough but probably a step down from TPAB.
Warren G - If you want something more G Funkish. Otherwise Doggystyle by snoop is also G funkish. Also The Lady of Rage.
You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack - Viper The Rapper. Need I say more?

 

[Winnie the Poohnani]

The first rap single to enter the pop charts:

Shortly followed by the first non-party rap hit:

And the first notable turntablism track:

 

[J A N D E K]

Love turntablism. Own two Technics 1200s

 

[Al Gulud]

To get into hip-hop, you need to go back to the 90s and understand the history. Listen to some Wu-tang (start with Enter the Wu-tang and go chronologically). I'm basically a white nationalist and I still bump wu.

My guy you realize they have made multiple songs against white extremism right.

 

[Terrorist]

My guy you realize they have made multiple songs against white extremism right.

True, but their music is still good. They were dunking on dumb skinhead degenerates that were active drains on society, which is a noble pastime no matter what your politics are IMO.

 

[Cable 7]

Gorillaz helped get me into rap as a whole when I was a wee lad, so try starting there.

 

[Pointandlaugh]

Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Cypress Hill, Nate Dogg.