By fayette (205.188.209.38) on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 09:15 pm:

what do you think of todays rappers verses
r&b. is there a place for them both.

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 09:22 pm:

INTERESTING SUBJECT FAYETTE: I ONCE MET A YOUNG RAP ARTIST NAMED "KID FLASH"...BACK IN THE EARLY 90'S WHO HAD A WRITING/PERFORMING CONTRACT WITH WARNER BROTHERS I BELIEVE!!!...NOT BEING REAL DOWN ON RAP...I ASKED HIM WHAT HE CONSIDERED HIMSELF...A MUSICIAN OR SOMETHING ELSE...AND HE TOLD ME..."I'M NOT A MUSICIAN"!!!...I THINK THAT THE EARLY RAPSTERS HAD SOME MUSICAL BACKGROUND...BUT NOT TOOMANY OF TODAYS RAPPERS!!!...STU

By gabriel (212.171.164.148) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 04:50 am:

i consider rappers musicians because i know they can improvise all those lyrics and rhymes and i know its a really difficult way to do music as well as learn to play an instrument...some of the best rappers-to me-they could do musical arrangements and play too-for example dr.dre.they create sometimes really incredible grooves...i mean,they could choose really good-and often not famous at all- musicians.for example there are some really great bass players on records like "the chronic"by dr.dre or "doggystyle"by snoop...

By Soulpuss (24.102.217.36) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 06:36 am:

Hi Gabriel: I really dig Dre's magic with Snoop on "Ain't nuthin' but a G thing". I can't sit still when I hear it. I got to move with my two arms waving back and forth over my head and I ain't no spring chicken. Get the picture.

Missy Elliott "Work it"
Nelly "Air force ones"
They rock.

By Eli (151.197.41.34) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 11:06 am:

50Cent..In the club
Eve/Gwen Stefani... Let me blow ya mind
Tupac...California Love
Nelly...Hot in herre

Those are some of my faves.

By douglasm (68.113.15.28) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 11:43 am:

Yea they gotta be musicians (of a sort) because of the interaction with the music playing behind them, in the same way the beat poets of the '50's were musicians for the same reason.

By gabriel (212.171.164.220) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 12:19 pm:

hey soulpuss,
your talking about my favorite..."ain't nothing but a g thang"...really cool!

...and....

eli,
"california love" is really great to me too...there is dr.dre on it too...

By 1wicked (64.32.154.94) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 04:23 pm:

Though he gets dissed because he's not hard core...I still dig Will Smith. His most recent release really has a base of solid R&B with his "flow" on top. The fellas he introduces (Tra-Nocs ?) on "Born To Reign" have a real future in music and sound better than many of the groups getting the big airplay these days.

By Livonia Ken (136.1.1.154) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 04:37 pm:

Califonia Love was a great track. It benefitted not only from Dr. Dre's involvement, but also that of Roger Troutman. My favorite rap album of all time (to date) is A Tribe Called Quest's "The Low End Theory". It was smart, jazzy, funky, funny, and gangsta-free. It also holds up from beginning to end rather than just being the depository for a couple of singles.

Regards,
Ken

By LiL Cole (205.188.209.38) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 11:25 pm:

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT DMX,DARULE, AND 50 CENT BEEF. AND WHY ARE THEY EATING EACH OTHER OUT

By Sly fan (67.115.74.242) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 09:53 pm:

wow!!50 Cent In the Club Mr Eli??!! Wow!! You really RULE!! I am not worthy!! I am not worthy!!

Good Picks!!!

But for the more "quality" oriented Hip-Hop try:

Pete Rock and Cl Smooth: The Main Ingredient lp
A Tribe Called Quest:Midnite Marauders
Mos Def: Black On Both Sides
Talib Kweli and DJ Hi Tek:Reflection Eternal
Slum Village:Fantastic vol.2 (straight outta Detroit)
The Roots (anything by them)...

Good call Livonia on "Low End".

By Sly Fan (67.115.74.242) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 09:56 pm:

Ps: also try "Yesterday's New Quintet" on Stones Throw records....its not rap but I think you will dig it.

By E JAMM (151.197.40.160) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 10:21 pm:

Although I am noted for being guitar oriented,in fact , I have always been "groove oriented"
Most people I run into assume that because of my history I must be lost in the seventies but in fact, I have been a fan of rap from day one.
To me it is a continuation of a great black musical heritage but just expressed in a different way.
I do not agree with all of the negitivity and disrespect associated with the genre and the over use of the "N" word.
I do not agree with the over the top lifestle albeit temporary but I love a lot of the great grooves and bass lines and the clever use of
samples and various "blips and blops"

I have several rap projects on the back burner and am looking forward to getting back on them.
what tickles me is when people who havent seen me in action watch me "make a beat" they look puzzled as if to say" hey wait a minute, whats wrong with this picture?" he aint 'posed to do dat kinda s**t!!!
Dr Dre and his camp are my faves also Premier and Rockwilder.
I like Timbaland as a hybrid producer as well as Missy. I used to like Jermaine Dupri but we will see what happens at Arista.