Alas, my week has come to an end, so I figured I’d go through some of my favourite rappers. Thanks to everyone to commented or looked at my posts during the week; you should join dTunes and share your favourite songs if you haven’t already!



Nas

Nas is one of my favourite rappers, in fact probably my favourite. I can’t remember how or when I got into hip hop, since my household didn’t play it (I grew up hearing mainly gospel and 90’s pop/r’n’b), but I have a feeling it was around the time Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 (I mentioned it before earlier in the week, the game really put me on to a few artists). My favourite song in the game was “The World Is Yours” by Nas, and that inspired me to find out more about him, upon which I listened to his large catalogue of songs. Nas’ subject matter ranges from telling stories about the street life in reverse, to empowering kids and telling them they can be whatever they dream, to reminiscing on good times and so much more. I haven’t heard a rapper with a more diverse range. His flow is addictive as well, it’s a little known fact that Eminem tried to emulate Nas (and Nas’s childhood friend AZ) on his first album, “Infinite”. In the late 90’s /early 00’s Nas was at risk of suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of Jay-Z, who had called him out since he was fading into obscurity. However, Nas came back even stronger and proved once again to be the great rapper people saw him as.



Other tracks from Nas that I recommend:
• Rewind
• Where Y’all at (by KRS-One)
• Black Zombie
• It Ain’t Hard To Tell



MF Doom

I only started listening to MF Doom around a month ago, but he’s quickly become a regular on my playlists. Although I didn’t think that much of Operation Doomsday, the album I was recommended by a friend, after listening to Madvillainy (an album completely produced by Madlib) I really saw how talented he is. Doom has an unusual voice, but it works with the beats almost flowing in unison with them.



Other tracks from MF DOOM that I recommend:
• Rhinestone Cowboy
• Money Folder
• Raid



GangStarr

GangStarr were a duo consisting of DJ Premier (the DJ I started off with yesterday) and Guru, a slick talking rapper with a monotonous voice that somehow complimented each track Premier made for their albums. They were one of the first to use jazz so influentially in hip hop, and spoke about real issues that were affecting them and their friends in their daily lives on the street. Needless to say, they gained a lot of respect, and became one of the most acclaimed hip hop groups of all time. Most hip hop fans have been calling for them to reuinite since they disbanded in 2004.



Other tracks from GangStarr that I recommend:
• Riot Akt
• Rite Where You Stand
• Mass Appeal
• Capture (ft. Big Shug and Freddie Foxx)



Royce 5’9

Royce 5’9 has had quite a long-running career, he was one half of a duo called Bad Meets Evil with Eminem but unfortunately their relationship soured and they parted ways (only recently making up). However that didn’t stop Royce, it just made him work harder, and although he was missing from the scene for a few years after some successful hits with DJ Premier, he has recently re-emerged with a new album and a new group (Slaughterhouse with Crooked I, Joell Ortiz and Joe Budden). With his re-emergence came a deeper level of lyricism, each time you play one of his songs you’ll pick up something new in a line or a new metaphor that’ll make you think “Wow, how did he think of that?!”, he really is a skilled story-teller.



Other tracks from Royce 5’9 that I recommend:
• Hip-Hop
• Boom
• Something 2 Ride 2
• Part of Me



CunninLynguists

I’ve been listening to CunninLynguists for around a fortnight, yet in that time they’ve become one of my favourite groups. The production is always good (usually by Kno), and though I sometimes the two MC’s voices annoying they usually compliment the beat well. The music is often funky (in the good smooth way) and because of all this they definitely stand out.



Other tracks from CunninLynguists that I recommend:
• To Be For Real
• Dirty Acres
• What’ll You Do
• Hourglass