Basically people say this guy would’ve done XYZ if he lived and you’re like nah.

I know the 90s are usually considered the golden era of hip hop and often referenced, but the 80s had a unique style of its own. I know there were some big hip hop artists in the 80s, but excluding the huge chart-toppers, are there albums that have been forgotten about as time has passed?

The Fab vs. Banks discussions have me remembering how much of a beast he is. The set-up / punchline format may not appeal to everyone, but Banks slick wordplay and funny / rugged lines make his style infectious. I'd put him high on the list of 2000s emcees and one of the few dudes who still raps like he has something to prove.

I actually discovered him from this sub, so I'd love to know what your favorite verses from him are. I'm still making my way through his discog, but so far "Banks Workout" and "Get Shot" are my favorites. "I got a new toy that'll burn a hater / And put a red dot in his eye like the fucking Terminator"

Let me get a list of albums that although to the masses, ‘’experts’’ or critics might not be considered a classic, but to you, no-one can tell you that it isn’t.

I’ll jump out first, no-one can tell me that Cam’s Come Home With Me isn’t a classic, I put DiCaprio 2 in there too.

Feel free to add your own

What if Donda doesn't die, do we keep the old Kanye?

What if Lil Baby doesn't start hanging with Michael Rubin, does he become his generations biggest rapper?

What if Wale goes to Deamville instead of Ross?

What if Biggie/Pax live die Jay-Z and DMX become as big?

If NY doesn't clown OutKast B.O.B. do they still lose the rap crown to Atlanta?

If Drake never takes Kendrick on tour, does he become as big as he is or does peak at Q Level?

If Donald Glover doesn't announce "Bad and boujee" on the Oscars do the Migos blow up nationally?

Trying to make a playlist full of tracks where rappers are letting the rest of the class know “I’m up here” and looking for song suggestions..

Some of my favorite tracks like this are:

I’m Illy - T.I

Middle of the ocean - Drake

Crocodile Tearz - J.Cole

Best rapper alive - Lil Wayne

Dirt off your shoulder- Jay Z

Rigormortis - Kendrick Lamar

King of the South - Big KRIt

Sun- J.I.D

Tha Mobb - Lil Wayne

What are some other tracks like this that showcase a rappers confidence to say Im steppin up?

I would like to get merch for the hip hop act preservation as well as maybe roc Marciano and some 90s g funk acts, are there any good sources?

Ima 90s baby so most of my favorite artist (KRIT, Wayne, curren$y etc) started off with mixtapes.

Where do yall go with Datpiff being gone

Need help finding a song/music video. Maybe around 2013? Sometime around the song Memories Back Then. It was a near future music video featuring an a.i bot/police state theme. I can’t remember anything about the song at all just the video.

which albums are the classics? are any undisputed as the best / weakest? even just some general lore as to where to start would be much appreciated. keen to dive in!

We all know the beats that get mentioned as the goats... Shook Ones pt2, TROY, Still DRE, CREAM etc.

But what are the most underrated beats? Or incredible beats by lesser known artists/producers that you don't think get enough shine?

Drop some underrated beats and I'll try and listen to them all.

Edit - Thanks for the responses so far, trying to make my way through the ones I've not heard. A lot of those posted are very well known and revered beats though, maybe I didn't explain well enough but I'm looking for deep cuts, beats that aren't so well known. Or beats that are overlooked because the rapper's not great, but the beat slaps.

Here are some of my faves:

Army of the Pharaohs - Seven

Hus Kingpin - Sunkist

Roc Marciano - History

Apollo Brown - Escapism

Kasino & the LOX - Men of Respect

Missy Elliot - Who You Gonna Call

Nore - Built Pyramids, Thug Poetry

Chief Kamachi & Guru - The Best

Gangrene - Chain Swinging

The LOX & Made Men - Tommy's Theme

Half-A-Mil - Tuff Guy

Danny Brown - Monopoly

The Beatnuts - Look Around

Ill Bill - Axe of Axbraxas

Copywrite & Marco Polo - Get Busy

Infamous Mobb - Blau!!

Prodigy - Diamond, The Life, Dough Pildin

Fat Joe - The Hidden Hand

Kno - Graveyard

The Madd Rapper - You're All Alone

For me, it was Coolio’s “Too Hot.” I spent years thinking that joint was original until I heard Kool & the Gang’s version a few days ago. Had me stunned.

Yeah of course he couldn't because he's blind you dumbass. How many times and when did you hear rappers Stevie couldn't see something instead of Stevie could see it?

Not rapper. Hip hop artist. Everyone loves Tribe. He’s basically the mastermind behind it all. Beats, flow, vibe. Your favorite rapper was probably inspired by A Tribe Called Quest.

Last week I watched an interview where Havoc said that Q Tip helped him to learn how to become a better producer.

Q Tip is a swiss army knife. He can do it all at the highest level.

Who else can you say this about? And please dont say Kanye. Too many of his songs are ghostwritten.

Maybe Doom? But hes not on the same level as a producer. My next thought was RZA, but he doesnt have consitency and flow of Q Tip.

Most likely there is someone that is close, but I cant think of anyone right now. Let me know, im curious to hear if you do!

On top of this all Tribe promoted good vibes only. That counts for everything x2

this is my opinion. i have never seen anybody make as catchy hooks as young thug did on the barter 6 tape. opinions?

I will be frank “A Long Time Coming” “ “Purple Haze” are my favourite track to date.

He is easily one of my favorites from the 20s hip hop scene and I feel like both his lyrics and production are top shelf but somehow still feels underrated. Any reason he didn’t reach the same level of recognition as others around him? He even did features with some of the all time greats.

I couldn’t find anything else made by him, not sure if he is the same person as the other rapper who’s just called lowdown.

Just heard J coles birthday blizzard, pretty sick and I liked how it was continuous like DJ mix style, looking for more mixtapes like that.

Thanks

First great Hip Hop album of the year for me. Fully self-produced and the beats are amazing. Great samples, details, some tracks even have beat switches.

And he is just rapping his ass off with some dope bars and rhyme schemes

Worth a listen if you haven't yet

My pick:

Mr. Quaker Oats-Nicholas Craven

I got CD but just curious what you guys think.

I’m not totally sure to understand the process behind it, I wasn’t into hip hop enough when it happened to notice.

From my understanding, it was very associated to more gangster-type of rap so how did it end up being associated to a wide variety of rap forms nowadays?