What "Your Opinion" is true hip hop.

I'd say "true hip hop" are the songs that are made with the idea of telling a story or sending a message, making an impression etc, not the ones made with the idea of capturing teenager's attention so they can beg their parents for your album. Basically the 90's was pure story telling, sending a message, etc, now no new rapper can even touch that so they just take what's already paved for them and rap about bullshit that fans do buy.

Some "true" artists i'd say are Nas, Wu Tang Clan, Guru (Gang Starr), Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Immortal Technique, AZ...just to name a couple

 

it isn't hiphop if it doesn't have a message

being a rapper takes little talent, being a hip hop artist takes great talent

 

anyone from the community, expressing them selfs...doing them!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BEg38-bWY8[/ame]

 

Yup.

A Tribe Called Quest will always be amazing hip hop.

 

just being yourself and making music you like to make regardless of the message. there have been too many good rappers who rapped about negative subjects for it to be all about a good message.

 

Expression.

 

Most of you have captured my feelings about hip hop. Keep true to yourself, write stories/messages/etc, and just keep your head on your shoulders.

Favorites are:
Grieves, Lupe Fiasco, Wu-Tang, Aesop Rock, Brother Ali, Freeway, Mos Def, Talib, Invincible, Jean Grae, Krukid, The Coup, Dead Prez, Tribe Called Quest, and Gang Starr to name a few. Lots of quality stuff coming out of Seattle area.

 

The face of "emo" rap in the years to come. Gotta love me some Grieves, dude is poetic as fuck.

Can't help but notice no Sadistik on there but a Seattle area mention, not a fan?

 

I've been following Grieves for a few years now, his lyrics impress me. Crazy poetic like you said. I'm more loyal to the Minneapolis scene (Rhymesayers/Doomtree), but I love Seattle and New York as well. I'm pretty much a fan of styles from all across the country, but I'm not big on southern style.

 

I saw grieves live one time when he opened for another rapper. he was pretty meh. nothing about him i really like. smile for the blade is pretty good though.

 

Check out Knowmads. They too are from Seattle, and they have a very good hip hop vibe.

 

Haven't heard of them, I'll definitely get in on it. Thanks for the rec.

 

old joint, but Murs is a TRUE hip hop ARTIST.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vd1bYZmBgI]YouTube - Murs Belief's Blues[/ame]

 

I've been into him since he opened/Dj'd/hype manned/whatever else he did for Atmosphere on the.... Everybody Loves a Clown tour I think? That sounds about right. He only did a couple songs that night but I was impressed. I did wonder who was letting the kid drink beers on stage though, he looked so young ahaha.

The whole Varsity Blues EP was great, some of my favorite Murs songs are on it.

 

i think expression. but not that fake bling bling shit.

im talkin about that real shit like people talkin about the shit theyre doin and goin through.

j-diggs said it best "im really not a rapper, im real-real street wit it, all i did was take my life and mix a lil beat wit it"

 

That was before I got word of him. I discovered him around mid 2008. Really started following when he dropped 88 Keys and went on tour with Mac Lethal and Soulcrate Music.

 

Haha Mac Lethal was definitely on that tour with Atmosphere too, I think that might have been how I got into Mac actually.

I can't wait to hear what Grieves drops for a debut album on Rhymesayers, I've got hiiiiiiggghh expectations for him.