!i!i!hip!i!i!hop!i!i!

Pointinel i to would love to hear the Talib album, thanks.
As for my top 20 emcees (good to see you included reasons with yours) i'll have to do it in 2 parts because i got shit to do today. Here goes:

1. KRS-1 - The man and his lyrics taught me a hell of a lot when i was growing up. Criminal Minded, B.A.M.N. and Edutainment still find their way onto my rotation even today.
2. Gift of Gab - Has the most amazing breath control i've ever heard, which wouldnt be that impressive by itself but the guy never fails to deliver some of the most inspiring and positive lyrics to date.
3. Illogic - Lyrically probably my fav, he could say things the easy way but he'd rather put it in a way that leaves you shaking your head thinking "how'd he come up with that?"
4. J-Live - I havent been listening to this guy long and i havent heard a full album yet, so when i put him on this list above most of the others i've heard he needs no reason. Check him for yourself and you'll see what i mean.
5. Chuck D - Most commanding voice ever in hip hop imo, again PE's music and message guided me through my teenage years (much like BPD) and taught me alot.
6. John Smith - There doesnt seem to be a whole lot to rap about in Canada compared to the US, so the fact that this guy can take everyday subjects and spit such clever lyrics is an achievement in itself.
7. Supastition - One of the tightest flows i've ever heard, honest lyrics with incredible punchlines. I was hooked after one EP.
8. Aesop Rock - Totally original, which is an rare thing nowadays. Sometimes it can take ages to decipher his cryptic verses but when you do you're left nodding your head in agreement.
9. Ice Cube - Not many have managed to make gangsta rap with the profound message that Cube always had in his music. Totally hit his stride after he left NWA and it was clear to see that he was the brains behind them when you hear their music post - Cube.
10. Mos Def - The guy has skills no doubt but alot of people forget that now he has moved on to other avenues. Listening to Blackstar and B.O.B.S. you are reminded what a talent he is.

Looking forward to hearing the rest of yours guys. I'll be back later with the other 10, right now i'm taking the kids to the beach. Peace.

Originally posted by koolruningz
Sweet, im glad it was worthwhile. Any legendary tracks you remember them performing?

Bring The Noise, Rebel Without a Pause, Black Steel, Fight The Power...you name it, they (probably did it). It was way more than worthwhile droolio

Anyways...

1. El-P
People always talk about his production, and forget his vocal skills. He was way ahead of his time with Company Flow, and now his mix of weird sci-fi imagery, David Lynch style abstract metaphors and bitter political paranoia always sends chills down my spine.
2. GZA
The (grand)master of battle raps. GZA's ridiculously smart and intricate wordplay never fails to make me laugh my ass off, or just flat out astonish me (see 'Labels' and 'Fame'😉. He's pure hip-hop.
3. Vast Aire
He has quite a few weak verses, but when he's on form, he's just plain incredible. The opening verse of 'Pigeon' is the most beautiful piece of lyricism I've heard.
4. Chuck D
Everything kool said and more. Probably the most quotable MC of all time.
5. Cage
This time last year, he wouldn't even have been near my top 50, but Hell's Winter changed all that. Phenomenal, unique grasp of imagery that feels more like watching a movie than listening to music.
6. Deacon The Villain
Versatile as hell. On the one hand, as politically motivated as Chuck D, on the other, as satirical as Eminem. Add a melt-in-your-mouth flow, and you get one helluva complete package.
7. Aesop Rock
Can be a little too cryptic at times, but he's worthy of patience. Aes is so deep it's scary, but he knows how to ease up and give listeners openings to understand his big pictures too.
8. Posdnous
Gets better with age. To me he's always been the strongest link in the De La chain, and can almost certainly lay claim to being the most uplifting hip-hop artist around.
9. One Be Lo
Or One Man Army as he was known, hasn't really released a great deal of material, but already has two classics under his belt, one with Binary Star. A perfect blend of oldschool delivery and modern indie sensibilities.
10. Mr Lif
Chuck D's successor, and a worthy one at that. Outstanding narrative capabilities, and always seems to have something worthwhile to say.
11. Nas
The greatest story teller in hip-hop, fullstop. Released a whole lot of crap between Illmatic/It Was Written and Lost Tapes/Street's Disciple, but a really good Nas song is guranteed to be better than a really good song by just about anyone else.
12. Tre Hardson
I have a real weakness for The Pharcyde, and Tre was their leader in my eyes. Much deeper than the other three, and mixes soulful deliveries and messages with a subtle dark side, and of course the funnies.
13. Black Thought
Criminally underrated I think, despite The Roots success, as he never really gets much mention as an individual. Outstanding in almost all areas, and completely easy to listen to.
14. Illogic
Despite a sometimes questionable flow, Illogic is the poet laureate of hip-hop. Delves deeper into the human psyche than any rapper has ever dared (although Cage gave it a good go), and somehow makes it sound wonderful.
15. Zion
Not a very original MC (he sounds like a direct hibrid of Bootie Brown and Black Thought; high-voiced kooky b-boy with a political concience), but still a fantastic lyricist. Powerful but never preachy.
16. Insight
Great flow, great vocabulary, there's very little Sight can't do. Very underrated, probably because of his low-tech, do it yourself approach, but that's what I love about him.
17. Ice Cube
Kind of fallen out of favor with me lately, as I just can't get past how truly awful everything he did in the late 90's was, but back in the day he was the west coast's answer to Chuck D, albeit more violent, and if it's possible, even louder.
18. MF Doom
Obviously has severe mental issues, schizophrenia being one. Most crazily out there MC around today, endearingly goofy rhyme scheme and concepts, and a suprisingly great flow for a man who probably struggles to breathe.
19. Louis Logic
The drunken master of hip-hop. Superb, totally unique flow, and consistently hilarious lyrics. One of the few (almost) exclusively comedic MC's that doesn't rely on gimmicks, or get played out over a short time.
20. Alaska
Extremely charismatic, and a genuinely nice guy. Possesses probably the best flow going, spits insane multi-syllabic verses, and manages to make huge complex words and phrases roll cleanly off the tongue. Canibus must hate his guts.

Can somebody post a redmen album or a few good songs of his... never really heard ne thing from him but am kinda interested to now

here you go guys:

Talib Kweli - Right About Now (Retail 2005)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SE6V2DYR

If you like it, you buy it!

my top 10 CURRENTLY <----- top 20 is too hard

off the top of my head:

1. Aceyalone (I just love everything he has done. The Book of Human Language, Love & Hate, All Balls Dont Bounce)
2. Warcloud (underrtated, in reality he does suffer mental issues due to the heavy amounts of drugs taken in. lyrically he's literally on a whole different planet, incredible imagery in his lyrics)
3. Gza (Liquid Swords...)
4. Ras Kass (Soul on Ice is easily the greatest lyrical album)
5. MF Doom (he's too consistent)
6. Vast Aire ( i didn't like his solo album that much, but his work on Cold Vein is unforgettable)
7. Illogic (beautiful lyrics cry 😛 )
8. Chino XL (i think he's the best punchline lyricist, he gets too much hate from tupac fans. Here To Save You All has too many great songs)
9. Pharoahe Monch (he hasn't really been doing much, but his work with the OK albums are classic. His solo album was solid also)
10. Braille (im a religious type of guy so i really like his music)

Originally posted by Pointinel
can i have a moment of your time? lol!

i just wanna know who you think are the best mcs to bless the mic and then some... everybodys opinion is valid. if you say that ying yang twins are your goat, id respect that, and hope everybody does the same with my opinion.

I'll have my list ready soon

i just heard this song by a group called Cyne

http://s7.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1RQJS9UGU7T2D18G3WVP6MY04V

great stuff 👆

Originally posted by Pointinel
*back from retirement*

wat up people? hope we good?

sup phat j, sup doom, sup koolrunningz... i see you fam

peace

whats up man

Originally posted by -hh-
can someone upload track 1 from Vakill- The Darkest Cloud.

heres the vakill album, i fell asleep the other night and havent been on my cpu since then, sorry about the wait. this is a great album, definite must hear for any fan of great lyricism.

vakill - darkest cloud
http://s55.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=12WIXX6JHDQG736B3KWG75VEOH

Originally posted by -hh-
i just heard this song by a group called Cyne

http://s7.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1RQJS9UGU7T2D18G3WVP6MY04V

great stuff 👆

that cyne track was pretty good, had to give it a second listen. i thought the first verse was good, but then the second guy came in and killed it. im gonna look for some more of their stuff.

i'll do my top 20 emcees in a bit.

thanks for uppping the album, but i just need the intro and i got it a yesterday. 👆

Busdriver- Imaginary Places

http://halfelement.com/busdriver1.mov

video^

did i already post this?

sure did 😛

i cant even get into it its so fast

😂

but his talent is cleary seen. lyrically and flow wise. 👆

anybody that can spit taht fast deserves some gratitude.

im dling dave chapelles stand up for hbo right now, can't believe i didnt think of puttin taht on a cd before now, killin em' softly is so funny.

Nice lists you guys. I'll add my top 10 after the Suns game.

Wow, never thought I'd hear about Cyne being talked about here. Good to see they're making some noise around here. They make good music.

Originally posted by D00m
Nice lists you guys. I'll add my top 10 after the Suns game.

Wow, never thought I'd hear about Cyne being talked about here. Good to see they're making some noise around here. They make good music.

they really do. why didn't u mention them before? 😛

Remember that huge list I made of underground artists awhile back? I'm pretty sure they were on there....

Originally posted by D00m
Remember that huge list I made of underground artists awhile back? I'm pretty sure they were on there....

yea probably...but that list was like 4 huge posts 😂

Just laying the KMC underground foundation...

D00m thanks for the Can Ox live album. i've been listening to it non stop. its great.

Hell's yea man! I'm loving it. Any real OX fan will enjoy it. The bonus tracks are just the icing. Makes me want to see them live. Hopefully they'll come to the west coast once they release the new album.

Originally posted by D00m
Hell's yea man! I'm loving it. Any real OX fan will enjoy it. The bonus tracks are just the icing. Makes me want to see them live. Hopefully they'll come to the west coast once they release the new album.

can't wait droolio