Erykah Badu?

quote:

Originally posted by MightyOrnery:

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Angelo:
I actually disagree. Instrumental hip-hop has been banging this year and there are about 5-10 good to great traditional hip hop albums around. In addtion, Atmosphere released two stellar albums this year. Isn't that enough for you people?

I've been trying to get into more instrumental music of all genres. The main site doesn't review much of it so I'd love it if you gave me some artists/albums (Of absolutely any genre) to check out.

Here's a some stuff in from instrumental genres for the year of 2008. If you're the type who enjoys linkage, PM me.

(No order)

Hip Hop
Metaform Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Ayatollah Louder
DJ Cam Lost and Found
Flying Lotus Los Angeles
Blue Sky Black Death Late Night Cinema (seconded)
J. Rawls Presents The Liquid Crystal Project II

Funk/Jazz/Whatever
Clutchy Hopkins Walking Backwards (Mostly instrumental)
Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra Miles of Styles (Thanks for the recommendation Twink!)

Rock
Maps The Wick and the Fire
Grails Take Refuge in Clean Living

Electronic music is generally instrumental most of the time anyway, but here are some random suggestions:

Venetian Snares Detrimentalist
Deepfried Dub Deepfrieddub
Booka Shade The Sun & The Neon Light
Adam Singer Life Force
Deadly Avenger Blossoms and Blood
2562 Aerial
Subheim Approach
Morphonix Off the Grid
Syclops I've Got My Eye on You
Bruno Pronsato Why Can't We Be More Like Us

As far as rap based hip-hop albums... Look no further than:

Invincible - Shapeshifters

Mike can vouch for me on this one.

Bah! I've been talking about Invincible for years now, ever since she popped up on a Dabyre album. One good popmatters review and now everyone is a motherfucking expert...

But yes she is nice, like a white Jean Grae.

Getting a little bit touchy about popmatters taking away your indie cred concerning Invincible?

Well I was actually taking the piss but yeah sure why not.

So after extensive research, I have come to the conclusion that the most repped instrumental hip hop stuff like Ayatollah and Prolyphic/Reanimator are only okay. However, in the course of the research I also discovered the awesomeness of Blue Sky Black Death's Late Night Cinema, which is really really amazing. I also finally dug into new Flying Lotus and Metaform and both are also great, but still don't touch Blue Sky Black Death.

I too have been hearing the buzz around Invincible. Heard the production is mediocre but the rapping is great. I'll check it out.

quote:

Originally posted by DFelon204409:
Prolyphic/Reanimator

Not instrumental.

BDSD's new album is great, but I'd probably put it right on par with Ayatollah and Flying Lotus regarding quality and Metaform is much better, methinks.

quote:

Originally posted by St. Mike:

quote:

Originally posted by DFelon204409:
Prolyphic/Reanimator

Not instrumental.

BDSD's new album is great, but I'd probably put it right on par with Ayatollah and Flying Lotus regarding quality and Metaform is much better, methinks.

Well, different strokes at this point with the Metaform. I meant to say trip hop / instrumental hip hop. P/R I think has completely trip hop backgrounds from what I've heard.

quote:

Originally posted by DFelon204409:
Well, different strokes at this point with the Metaform.

What you talkin' 'bout Willis?

quote:

Originally posted by Borachon:

quote:

Originally posted by DFelon204409:
Well, different strokes at this point with the Metaform.

What you talkin' 'bout Willis?

Different strokes for different folks.

Sorry... my humour is lost on anyone who wasn't a child in the 80's.

No I know haha.

Tha Carter III surprised the hell out of me. Lil Wayne really went all out on creativity, the man's got some nasty punch-lines. "Get on my level, you can't get on my level / You would need a spaceshuttle or a ladder that's forever", and the Dr. Carter track's got a 'thematic Nas' feel to it.

Bun B's II Trill is hot, too. Without Pimp C's weight it actually propelled it to a higher level of quality than their 2-disc Underground Kingz, which was one of the nicest albums of '07 regardless.

And Nas put out probably the top hip hop album of the year. Not quite up there with Hip Hop is Dead but he's certainly done worse. Epic as fuck and merks Talib's own conscious effort the year prior.

quote:

Originally posted by Frame:
Bun B's II Trill is hot, too. Without Pimp C's weight it actually propelled it to a higher level of quality than their 2-disc Underground Kingz, which was one of the nicest albums of '07 regardless.

GOOD GRAVY! We agree on at least ONE THING!

Well, it looks like 2008 has been an underwhelming year for hip-hop. However, DOOM (formally MF Doom) has announced that he will have a new album out in October on Lex Records. It should be a fine return for him after four years since his last solo album, so I look forward to it.

Also, it looks like Kanye West might release his new album in December. There is hope.

and i think Common is coming out with an album too. he's been cranking out music like a mad man over the past two years o_O

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:
Well, it looks like 2008 has been an underwhelming year for hip-hop. However, DOOM (formally MF Doom) has announced that he will have a new album out in October on Lex Records. It should be a fine return for him after four years since his last solo album, so I look forward to it.

Also, it looks like Kanye West might release his new album in December. There is hope.

Kanye is one of the worst things in "hip hop" right now. "Stronger" was an affront to Daft Punk and repetitive rapping undermined flows everywhere. His new single is repetitive and boring. He still produces some good tracks but he's a subpar emcee.

I used to be a hater of Lil Wayne, mosty becasue of my extreme biased against anything i percieve as bling rap. But his last two albums have been pretty damn good. The Carter III is highly inconsistent and overated by the mainstream; i:e, Rolling Stone, and Blender giving 41/2 stars but it's a good and entertaing album.

I love Nas's new album, it's been getting mixed reviews, though most of the bad reviews have come from pretentious internet sites like Pitchfork. It's great lyrically, the beats aren't great but thats to be expected from Nas. I like Bun B's album as well.

quote:

Originally posted by DFelon204409:
Kanye is one of the worst things in "hip hop" right now. "Stronger" was an affront to Daft Punk and repetitive rapping undermined flows everywhere. His new single is repetitive and boring. He still produces some good tracks but he's a subpar emcee.

To each their own I guess. Hip hop is a lot more than just how good the MC is at rapping. If you are trying to argue that West isn't as good of a producer as he is made out to be, I'd argue you are wrong. I consider him to be one of the premiere producers making music and his rapping and flow is only improving because he is constantly making music and practicing.