RAP

Rap Music is Good Again

Fuck the radio. Rap music on the radio is shit. Fuck Soulja Boy and ever no name douche using a voicecoder.  If you listen to just that, you would feel that rap is in a very sad state with no originality. The fact is, rap is getting more experimental then ever. Rappers rhyming over Pink Floyd samples, to rhyming over music from Sonic the Hedgehog video game. There is a whole new movement of these "fusion" rappers. Rappers influenced more by classic rock then Run DMC. Rappers who aren't even in the slightest gangsta and rap about playing XBOX and wear skateboarding clothes. The thing is these guys are actually talented musicians and making some real great music. I feel this whole movement goes back to Pharrell, and was furthered by Kanye West and most recently Lupe Fiasco.

XV - One of my favorite of the new bunch. A little more conventional then the rest and similiar to Lupe, but his skills are undeniable. I love his production and he gets beats from some of the best... like Kanye, Pharrell and Just Blaze.

Listen To: "V for Vendetta"

88 Keys - Probably the most unique of the bunch. He samples some of the weirdest shit out there and somehow makes it work. He is one of Kanye Wests proteges, and even though he lyrically isn't that strong, is songs are so damn different and catchy he is hard to ignore.

Listen To: "Stay Up" featuring Kanye West

Wale - He got pretty popular with his Seinfeld themed mxtape called, "The mixtape about nothing". He is lyrically strong with some pretty good featured guests. He is getting somewhat popular and will probably be the first to blow out of this group.

Listen To: "The Kramer"

Charles Hamilton - The ultimate nerd rapper. A small guy who is obsessed with Sonic The Hedgehog. His music is overly catchy and is very accessible. To my surprise one of his songs was just featured in a new episode of Entourage.

Listen To: "Brooklyn Girls"