A few Rap tunes if you will

Really don't get into much Rap or Hip hop but here's a few that catch my ear
Lil Troy-Baller Shot caller

Chamilionaire-Ridin Dirty
Weird Al's version is just as good
Weird Al Yankovic-White&Nerdy

Shop Boys-Party like rock star
<< Bought this CD back when it came out(My own private shame) The only tune thats any good on it.
Everlast-What it's like
<<Don't know if this tune really qualifies as rap or hip hop but its bad ass to me
Last one,The one that started it all(IMHO)
Sugar hill gang-Rappers Delight

I love rap! My favorite rap artists are Tupac and Eminem here are a few of my favorite songs by them,

Dear Mama - 2Pac



Lose Yourself - Eminem



Changes - 2Pac



Cleanin' Out My Closet - Eminem

Here's one I can listen to...probably cause it has a melody and isn't about shooting people up, making money, or hoes.

A few songs perfect to move your body

It's Tricky - Run DMC



U Can't Touch This - MC Hammer



Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice

Old school hip hop or underground rap for me. Every genre has it's great and not-so great musicians. Some people are too fast to put this genre down because of what they hear on the radio nowadays (most of it is crap in my opinion), take the effort to look up different artists online because many of the amazing ones go underground. Also, not all rap is about obtaining money and women as some like to think, a lot of rap artists write about real world issues: government, conspiracy, religion, crime, war, morality, life experience and storytelling.






^ John Frusciante played lead guitar on this track, and Dhani Harrison did rhythm and percussion.

I love this movie and the song, too!

Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio ft. L.V.

My two favorite rap artists of the last couple years. Sure they aren't clean and melodic but they are music. Music is as much about rhythm, following a beat, lyricism and timing as much as anything. Skill? Well the average person can't do it and not just anyone can even learn it. So yeah, it's sure is a skill. Not all music is going to be an Air Supply song as much as I like that thing. If you go simply by melody I'd discount a lot of genres like certain types of Jazz which is a lot of horn farts and ear piercing chaos. As far as criticizing rap for vulgarity I find it funny a lot of the same people will be all over movies like Goodfellas. So music can't be vulgar but the same level can be accepted in cinema? Anyway, I see a lot of criticism pointed exclusively at rap but we were furious back when our favorite rockers gotm accused of satanic messages and were responsible for suicides?

Anyway, I think this dude is very versatile from battle rapping, to a little introspective crooning with actual instruments to a Kanye style dance jam! He has a mix of crude humor mixed with sincere reflections. It's similar to the same dichotomy that 2Pac had. I don't like the idea of my messages coming from perfect people. This artist is a unique voice in Hip-Hop.


Childish Gambino-Freaks and Geeks, All That Shines and Heartbeat


This guy is brilliant. The following song is a kick in the nuts. I bet you'd never thought you'd hear the same criticisms of today's generation and rap itself come from another rapper. This song lyrically as well as the deliver of the sermon is genius. This guy should be the future of rap. He's got a mixture of dark humor, a flow similar to Eminem but with his own spin, a purpose and fearlessness. I can't wait to this guy breaks through.


Hopsin-The Ill Mind of Hopsin 5


Two more cautionary tales:


Sexy CyberChris Dolmeth


Also part of this decade is one of most brilliant rappers ever. This guy is like the beat poet of Hip-Hop. Real dark poetry delivered from a guy who's read the greats and infused that into his work:


Sage Francis-Black Out On White Night, Broken Wings, Going Back To Rehab & Woke Up This Morning


And proof that even the most vulgar songs can have melody! This is the best diss song ever by Eminem in his sparring with Everlast:


Eminem-I Remember

Some of my favorites...

This is not rap but here are a few songs I like...

C'Mon - Tiësto vs Diplo



We Found Love - Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris



Turn Me On - David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj



Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO

Dilemma - Nelly ft. Kelly Rowland



What's My Name? - Rihanna ft. Drake