http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17963855

The older I get the more ridiculous my collection of Mobb Deep/Big Noyd and other violent albums seems. Was I really into that when I was younger? One thing I will never grow out of: Beastie Boys - Real Hip Hop.

RIP Adam Yauch.

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/z5rRZdiu1UE?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/z5rRZdiu1UE?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>


<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qORYO0atB6g?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qORYO0atB6g?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XflfiylNNXY?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XflfiylNNXY?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

Yeah he was definitely a legend.



But....but Mobb were/are great.....next you'll be saying the same about Wu....

In truth I do know what you mean, but Mobb have so much classic material.

The first Mobb album was a classic and it has been downhill from there. I made that comment because as I've gotten older all of the gangsta rap I used to listen to seems ridiculous. Albums and artists that celebrate hip hop culture and are creative are the only ones I still listen to out of my hip hop collection. Blackalicious, Cunninlynguists, Wu Tang, sure. Big Noyd, Juvenile, Jay-Z, Styles P? Nah. My taste has changed too much. Beastie Boys fall into the first category - I can listen to them any day.

First album as in Juvenile Hell? Surely The Infamous is undeniably their greatest achievement, havoc's beats were crazy. Some of Prodigy's solo efforts have been pretty good too. I don't really think albums like Juvenile Hell and Infamous are really that ridiculous, as they were pretty much stark portrayals of their environment from their perspective (albiet mixed with plenty of ignorance too), at the end of the day. Their newer stuff? Maybe, as they are grown men now, and talking about all that stuff that they blatantly don't do is kinda ridiculous.

I agree with you about the creativity thing, on the whole. It's why I don't get the buzz around guys like Asap rocky, who is yet another wanna be gangsta fanshonista swagster. But then there are also albums that aren't entirely progressive, but the delivery, lyricism and beats combine in such a masterful way that I can't help but appreciate it. Have you heard KA's Iron Works or Grief Pedigree? There are definitely elements in them that will remind you of 90's east coast, but they never lyrics feel gratuitous despite how bleak they often are, so it doesn't feel fully like a blown throwback either.

But there's a lot of good music around right now, I'm looking forward to El-P's new one (despite the fact it leaked, as I didn't listen) Killer Mikes (which is also produced by El-P) and on these shores there's also a new mixtape from Akala I'm looking forward to. There's a real broad selection of Hip Hop around right now if you look for it.

I totally forgot about Juvenile Hell. I meant The Infamous.

Eye for an Eye and Shook Ones Part II are classics - "when the slugs penetrate you feel a burning sensation/ getting closer to God in a tight situation/ now take these words home and think it through / or the next lines I write might be about you"

I agree about the lack of growth as artists being disappointing especially when I've grown up. Now I just feel ridiculous when I'm listening to Scarface blasting people away on wax...

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GKlDBi0cyIA?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GKlDBi0cyIA?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

When I saw Asap Rocky on the BBC's Sound of 2012 I looked up some of his videos and was so disappointed - he's nothing compared to Big L.

My tastes have changed radically since I used to listen to Hip Hop on the regular but I'll have a listen to some of your recommendations. I know you don't like MF Doom and Warcloud but they are ace and what I listen to these days and eery album sees the display a different side of their personality.

That's what I like about the Beastie Boys, too. They evolved.


<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0i1iGa96GYM?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0i1iGa96GYM?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

It's not that I don't like Warcloud, I just haven't ever really got around to listening, I probably would like him. As for Doom, I have kind of mixed feelings about him, I respect his theatrical persona's and how creative he is, he definitely brings something unique to the table and sometimes I do really like his stuff, for example his album with madlib, but then sometimes when I'm not in the mood his stuff just doesn't connect with me. But funnily enough I do really like the KMD albums.

But yeah the music has to evolve all the while keeping what made it so great in the first place. More than ever I'm finding mainstream rap to be so vapid (even though that's an awfully popular sentiment amongst bitter fans), yet on the other hand thanks to the internet, record labels aren't as relevant any more and motivated artists can accumulate and satisfy a happy fanbase without a major label. So I think there is actually a great selection of hip hop about right now, if you look around.

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9KuakHn47cU?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9KuakHn47cU?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>


Also, in relation to my previous post here's that Killer Mike album I mentioned http://www.spin.com/articles/hear-kille ... his-new-lp

Now that is a classic, straight up I'd be interested to hear what you thought of it, Genki.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll give it a listen soon.

Sorry Vash, after getting hyped over the first track I became bored with it. I've never been into music from the dirty south - I'm totally into East Coast Hip Hop from the 90's. The mix of old-school East Coast tunes - Public Enemy samples - with the bounce of the south was initially interesting but then it just sounded the same after a while. The lyrics were better than your average Lil Wayne (or whatever he's calling himself) track but it was also packed full of NWA rap cliches so I had to stop listening.

I guess I'm too into surreal Hip Hop.

Ouch, that's a pretty harsh review. I agree that the west coast influences on Mike are clear-in fact he's almost like an Ice Cube in his prime but then taken to another level, which I like- but I think accusing it of being "packed full of NWA clichés" is doing the album an injustice. The subject matter on this album is treated with far greater nuance than anything on Straight out of Compton (which was still a revolutionary album) and they are legitimate subjects worth addressing (for example the awful policies that were introduced under Reagan, from the police to the private prisons).

I think comparing his lyricism to lil Wayne is also a bit of a back handed compliment, as lil Waye is really no better than a child.
"This is not a fiction that is sold by conglomerates
This is Soul of Black Folks mixed with Donald Goines shit
Better said, Robert Beck, esoteric I could get
This is John Gotti painting pictures like Dali
This is Basquiat with a passion like Pac
In a body like Biggie, telling stories like Ricky
If a rapper was to spar, please tell him better kick it
You with me?"

C'mon, lil Wayne doesn't deserve to even be in the same sentence!

But I suppose it just comes down to whether the idea of a modern day AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted is appealling to you. It very much appeals to me!

I have to confess that I've never head AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (I do have a Lench Mob album) but I can hear the similarities to Ice Cube.

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/T4wuDyca_Mk?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T4wuDyca_Mk?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

You have a point about content and its appeal and I think it comes with age. When I was younger I was far more into the Lench Mob, Paris, and Public Enemy but as I've grown older I've eased up and developed a taste for whimsy (sort of like Ice Cube who has gone from Lench Mob to 21 Jump Street).

Killer Mike is bringing raw anger on this album and although he gets props for calling out Reagan because, like you said his presidency really was a disaster for everybody but the rich, Mike's views lack nuance and I found it tiresome. Maybe I'm getting old but the thing with the Hip Hop I still listen to like MF Doom, Blackalicious, and Warcloud is that they couch the political content and Hip Hop swagger in nerdy/fantastical lyrics/subject matter and production that I find appealing.

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nepVH1FI_Tg?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nepVH1FI_Tg?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-ZYYNCZhYQc?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-ZYYNCZhYQc?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

I have numerous films that Wu Tang members have sampled and I get a buzz whenever I hear the Chinese/Japanese martial arts samples.

The Amerikkka's Most Wanted comparison is especially appropriate not just because of Mike's similarities with Cube, but also because that album was more or less produced entirely by The Bomb Squad, so you had this interesting mash up of east coast production with west coast vocals, just like R.A.P Music is a mash up of east coast with down south.

I know what you mean about tastes evolving and whatnot, but I really don't think I'll ever lose my love for that Public Enemy on Nations of Millions and Fear of a Black Planet, because for me those are real genre defining albums, they really embody the power of hip hop for me. With that said though I do definitely appreciate more left of field or 'alternative' hip hop too, Edan's Beauty & the Beat for example is a classic in my opinion. And there guys like Cities aviv and Blu who are all trying being creative in the way they approach hip hop too. I know exactly what you mean about Wu, and that's why I love them so much too. I never got into the whole Odd Future thing, though, and it seems their just transforming (who knows how) into a real mainstream power now.

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/g828CjvscuE?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/g828CjvscuE?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZoAxy5K_C1A?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZoAxy5K_C1A?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

<object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eSyVYTUVSFE?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eSyVYTUVSFE?version=3&amp;hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>