This will be a controversial choice, given that many Cats are not into “rap”. For me, Hip Hop is something entirely different and very wonderful at that.
It emerged in the early 1970s in the Bronx, courtesy of various black peoples. It was truly revolutionary in its use of musical techniques defined by four key stylistic elements: MCing/rapping, DJing/scratching with turntables, breakdancing, and graffiti art.
Hip hop has some clearly defined stages, including Old-school hip hop, marked by its disco influence and party-oriented lyrics, New-school hip hop, marked by its electro sound, and Golden Age hip hop, from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s that was an album focused era.
But enough of the historiography, courtesy of Wikipedia, Cats.
Time for some definitive tunes – I was never a fan of the Beastie Boys until the release of the now legendary “Paul’s Boutique”, one of the defining albums of hip hop. Best listened to in one sitting from beginning to end.
And this epic, featured as it was on the soundtrack from Colors, the 1988 film directed by Dennis Hopper.
Enjoy and let’s have some of your favourites, cats!
I am pained.
Jump Around – House of Pain (1992)
Not pained by the track, but by YouTube – who have just made a frigging awful change to how music videos are rendered on their site. Sheesh.
Pump up the volume …
Fight the power …
1989 …
Ok yes, hip hop is probably not big here at the Cat.
I’ll step up with one of my fave genres: trip hop. Very closely related to hip hop but with a tiny flavour of herb or other arcane substances.
Tricky – Black Steel (1995)
Chuckee D and the Flave – very transient.
Safe from harm …
Protection
Hip Hop is one genre which is inextricably entangled with TV… there are too many great vids to mention, not least Crazy In Love by Beyonce. More on the R&B side, but qualifies with Chi-Lites sample and Jay Z putting down the bong and getting off the couch to do an obligatory leaden mumble rap “feat.” while a lithe young B and her Fly Girls invent twerking.
My musical faves-
Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey), De La Soul
We Know Something You Don’t Know, DJ Format feat. Chali 2na
Hot in Herre, Nelly
Downtown, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
I thought Rabz that you might like some more of Ms Martina Topley-Bird.
She has a great name! As well as working with Tricky she did stuff with Massive Attack.
Tricky – Ponderosa (1995)
Massive Attack – Babel (2010)
De La Soul
Thanks, Wallee!
De la Soul – Say No Go … 😕
Inspired by the original:
Dazza Hall and Steel Cut Oates … 🙂
Funny as.
—
Kool Keith:
Back Stage Passes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asCVx_ojAp8
Some hip hop laydeez.
En Vogue – Free Your Mind (1992)
First one I noticed.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – The Message (Official Video)
My all time fave hip hop track, because it’s a marvelous mash-up of rock and hip hop. With a really fun video too!
RUN DMC – Walk This Way ft. Aerosmith (1986)
Pretty pink, baybee bleu …
I have a few more lurking in the weird mazeways of my brain. This one is a fine collaborative effort from De La Soul and a certain Mr Albarn.
Feel Good Inc (2005)
I’m sorry Ms Jackson …
Big Boi and the 3000 …
If we;re doing Outkast we really got to do Outkast.
Just sayin’.
Outkast – Hey Ya! (2003)
Ok more seriously like, this one is my fave trip hop track of all time.
Morcheeba – Big Calm (1998)
The whole album is ridiculously good.
A day ago ABBA was awarded Sweden’s highest honour – 50 years since winning Eurovision.
Although not hip hop this is close:
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
I know nothing about hip hop but am happy to take advantage of other posters here who are sharing their knowledge and favourite tracks. Much appreciated.
P, good Abba inclusion.
Sorry can’t link, Gangsta’s Paradise by Coolio is about it for me. Not enough music in the rest.
Absolutely not a fan of hip hop, but I do have to mention hilltop hoods.
Particularly the unfortunately timed release Cosby sweater.
https://youtu.be/aB16fJpoj-I?si=Ne4yuPMdyKIH6gEk
Ooh yes!
Hilltop Hoods – The Hard Road (2006)
Aussies can do hip hop, believe it.
Smoothest trip hop.
Morcheeba – The Sea (1998)
Some good solid Brit hip hop:
Stereo MC’s – Connected (1992)
This single I have heard before, but I haven’t explored their other stuff. I should check it out.
Before the days of hip hop there was rap.
I remember this from the 1940s:
Noah
Fun, baybee … 😕
2Pac’s All Eyez on Me. Big Pun’s Glamour Life (language is salty but this is gangsta perfection). Fugee’s Fu-Gee-La. Warren G’s Regulate.
On a tangent as more related to gang culture but intertwined with hip hop. What is better, the C-walk or the Blood Bounce, or are they just two sides of the same coin?
Beastie Boys, Run DMC were my staples in the 80’s.
Ice-T with ‘Colors’ from the film of the same name with Robert Duval and Sean Penn, I didn’t mind.
Perps – Rick james from the Colors soundtrack – Everywhere I Go …
Cypress Hill + Beastire Boys + Some Black Guy on Keyboards
all represented by an 8 bit Kat, no less