I hate the term "old-school" but I couldnt think of another word. So what are your favorite pre-mid 90's rappers.

I'll just throw out my obvious favorites...

N.W.A.

GrandMaster Flash

LL Cool J

Public Enemy (IMO the definitive rap group)

Notorious B.I.G.

Wu-Tang

Run-D.M.C.

geez...there is an infinite amount of artists and groups that "could" be listed....off the top of my head-
Stetasonic
Bambaata
Big Daddy Kane
De La Soul
Eric B & Rakim
Gang Starr
Kurtis Blow
Mantronix
Whodini
Doug E. Fresh

There is a million more...but thats what jumped out at me.

quote:

Originally posted by Imprezu21:
geez...there is an infinite amount of artists and groups that "could" be listed....off the top of my head-
Stetasonic
Bambaata
Big Daddy Kane
De La Soul
Eric B & Rakim
Gang Starr
Kurtis Blow
Mantronix
Whodini
Doug E. Fresh

There is a million more...but thats what jumped out at me.

Eric B. and De la----how could I've missed them. Since you are the designated "hip hop expert" on the forums---question. Assuming Ive scratched the surface of old school hip hop with all the obvious "groundbreakers" and "revolutionaries". Whats some old underground shit thats worth a listen?

will for sure get u a list when i get home...and i can dig through some records and make a list!!

I really cannot give u a definitive "you must buy this" list...i can tell u what i have liked from this era including the late 80's to the mid 90's or near that time frame.

Also i neglected to include either very hard to find albums or artists that didnt put out an album worth of music to enjoy.So every one of these artists at the minimum has at least one excellent album.

KMD
Jungle Brothers
Stetasonic
Ultramagnetic MC's
Mantronix---*Highly Reccomended*
3rd Bass
Kool G Rap
Masta Ace
Above The Law
Black Sheep
Digable Planets----*Highly Reccomended*
Brand Nubian
U.T.F.O
Organized Konfusion----*Highly Reccomended*
The Pharcyde
Pete Rock and CL Smooth----*Highly Reccomended*
Das EFX
Main Source
Geto Boys
MC Shan

I will as time rolls on now that there is a specific thread...add more names to the list...but that is a pretty good list to start out with.There are a few names that i would reccomend almost anything of to you...as producerts mainly or collective groups.If u see there name anywhere near something there is a good chance u may want to check it out.

Prince Paul
Marley Marl
Native Tongues
Pete Rock
Diamond D
DJ Premier
The Egyptian Lover---(one album is stellar)


Personally my fav group is Gangstarr comprised of DJ Premier and Guru.I would highly reccomend anything in their back catalougue.


I willa lso add that there are alot of compilations coming out these days with these tastes in mind...golden era hip-hop and early stuff.I would reccomend looking into somethinglike that to start.Because there is alot of crap out in that time frame also...alot of bad music.

Can't be forgetting Kool Moe Dee, one of the greatest rappers of all time!
X-Clan-To The East, Blackwards is a must have.
Cypress Hill's first disc.
The D.O.C.
I certainly endorse all the aforementioned artists as well!

old[er] hip-hop that i still listen to frequently:

A Tribe Called Quest
Public Enemy
EPMD
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique/Licensed to Ill

quote:

Originally posted by Jack:

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique/Licensed to Ill

I cannot listen to any beastie boys stuff anymore.They are trying so hard to keep their image that they pollute their latest album with a style that has been so far surpassed by time that it sounds like a joke.

I dont think i like any of their music anymore.

if anyone is interested in a GREAT book on the roots of hip-hop, definately check out "can't stop won't stop" by jeff chang. if you don't like to read then "style wars" is a good place to start as far as films go.
my faves from the "old-school":

dj kool herc (the father of hip hop)
bambaata
g flash and the furious five
King Sun
kool moe dee
spoonie gee
Double Trouble

KRS ONE (BDP)
Public Enemy

quote:

Originally posted by Imprezu21:

quote:

Originally posted by Jack:

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique/Licensed to Ill

I cannot listen to any beastie boys stuff anymore.They are trying so hard to keep their image that they pollute their latest album with a style that has been so far surpassed by time that it sounds like a joke.

I dont think i like any of their music anymore.

ACH! Thats exactly what I love about the Beasties. Theyre musical style evolves in different ways but it doesnt form fit to the times and popular demand. Sure they keep their "image". Cheesy or not it doesnt make "Pauls Boutique" any less than stellar

It's worth noting that Public Enemy's Fear of a Black Planet joined Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's "The Message" this week in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry. The Registry is a collection of sound recordings judged to be "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and includes everything from Vivaldi, to Louis Armstrong, to the Reverend Billy Graham, to Abbott and Costello's "Who's on First."

Now Playing: NPR's All Things Considered

Oh yeah, I actually agree with that Public Enemy mention, LT, because as I was telling Sam in the chat, I found FoaBP better than It Takes a Nation of Millions... when I listened to both way back when. Maybe the former wasn't necessarily more important than the latter, but easily seemed better then and now, I believe.

I cannot say i have listened to a Public Enemy album all the way through.I really hate the preachiness...i like my old school fun and light hearted.And of course danceable...if u can call what i do dancing!!

favorite older albums a few
critical beatdown-ultramagnetic mcs
enta da stage-black moon
both digable planets
tical liquid swords cuban linx iron man enter the wu-tang all classics
6 feet deep-grave diggaz
93 till infinaty
doggy style and the chronic
lord finese-return of the funky man i love the punchlines of his
thers a shitload more those are just the ones i thought of

Nobody has mentioned Tupac Shakur....

I'm a little sad. Really.

My List:
Tupac
Wu Tang
Biggie
N.W.A.
KRS One
A Tribe Called Quest
Run DMC
Public Enemy
I'd also list Mobb Deep since they started at about the same time... but they're still on so, they wouldn't be classified as old school

De La Soul

Ohhhhh, BDP, De La..., PE in full effect, Tupac, Dr. Dre, GuRuuuu, and that Marshall Mathers, ohhhhh the rap de rap show is love.

how is marshall mathers old school??
92' and before at least.

Black Sheep
Public Enemy
Del Tha Funkee Homosapien
Gangstarr
De La Soul
A Tribe Called Quest
Arrested Developement
NWA
KRS One
Grandmaster Flash
Run DMC
Beastie Boys
Eric B. & Rakim
Slick Rick
Afrika Bambaataa
LL Cool J
The Fugees

Tupac is doesn't really fall under my definition of old school. He helped popularize the mid-nineties gangsta rap movement, for better or worse. Likewise, Snoop Dogg's first album is old school but pretty much everything else he's ever released has been MTV pop shit. Nor is Marshall Mathers; Slim Shady is late nineties pop-hop. His first LP dropped in 1999.

quote:

Originally posted by Filmore Mescalito Holmes:
His first LP dropped in 1999.

technically infinite dropped in 96, i think that could be condsidered his debut, but none the less not old school in any way.