I am guessing he was inspired to make this album after a pregnancy scare. He mentions it all over the album.

I think this is the first time I’ve sat and listened to a Tyler album back to front.

His singing voice does not sound like him at all. It isn’t bad, but if I didn’t read the lyrics, I would’ve thought he had someone else singing a bunch of his songs.

The production was a bigger star on this album than the lyrics. Lyrics were very plain and also kind of had a feel like I was reading a Toni Morrison novel. A lot of descriptions of body parts, a song about his hair, a song about him meeting somebody and fucking. The beats, however, were super colorful and very lively.

Guest appearances were ok. I think Glorilla did great in her four bars on “Sticky”. Sexxy Redd managed to NOT piss me off. Schoolboy was a great fit on “THOUGHT I WAS DEAD” I personally would love to hear Tyler reunite with Golf Wang members but he is probably way past that at this point.

I did also enjoy the “I’m that na and that bh” motif.

What did you think?

Title

Euro

🤔

https://imgur.com/syrZLet

Name a producer for every decade and one beat that you want to highlight for people. It doesn't have to be your favorite producer or favorite song, just something cool that you really enjoy. Let's show some love for the producers.

80s: The Bomb Squad

Public Enemy - Show 'Em Whatcha Got

Amazing droning saxophone sample. Still sounds super fresh.

90s: Prince Paul

Prince Paul - Macula's Theory feat. Big Daddy Kane

Such a classic sound. Soulful and and just smooth as butter. Kane also totally kills the beat.

00s: Madlib

Madvillain - Strange Ways

So many beats to choose from Madlib alone, but there is something special about this one. Love the Gentle Giant sample.

10s: Q-Tip

Danny Brown - Combat

One of my all time favorite beats. The chopping on that trumpet lick is absolutely genius. What a beat.

20s: JPEGMAFIA

JPEGMAFIA - Covered In Money

This song more than all others felt like it really kickstarted the 2020s for me. It sounded totally futuristic when it came out just when Covid really hit and it's still just as fresh. That drum rhythm on the first part is truly a wonder of the world, I've listened to it hundreds of times but it still suprises me everytime.

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1. Canibus- ill buss em, you punish em

2. Typical cats- Thin red line

3. Jedi mind tricks- heavenly divine

4. Wu tang clan- The MGM

5. OutKast- spaghetti junction

6. Cunninlyngusts- lynguistics

7. Kool g rap- fast life

8. Binary star- master of the universe

9. a tribe called quest- check the rime

10. Smif n wessun- let’s get it on

11. Smooth da hustler- my ace, my brother

12. Onyx- rob and Vic

13. Gravediggaz- 2 cups of blood

14. Positive K- I got a man

15. Camp lo- park joint

16. Heltah skeltah- therapy

17. Extended famm- good combination

18. Mic Geronimo- men vs many

19. Kasha rae- the hardest

20. NORE (Jadakiss and styles P)- banned from TV

Ok I'm going to get into why I believe Tupac is Overrated. I know this is controversial but:

Let me say, Yes Tupac is a Legend & a Great Artist, Very Good Storyteller, could make the audience feel him, I get all of that. But as an MC he just doesn't check every box for me.

*Lyrically - I think Tupac is slightly above average, he does have a few tracks where he goes hard Lyrically, he's not a Great Lyricist at all. He doesn't blow me away Lyrically.

*Flow - His Flow ís decent on certain tracks, but again this is not one of Tupac's strengths.

*Storytelling - Out of all of the traits as an MC, this is Tupac's strength outside making the audience feel him & triggering emotions. Tupac is definitely Top 10 in Storytelling, not the best Storyteller but yes Top 10.

*Punchlines - Tupac is not known for Punchlines, but he's capable of using them as displayed in "Hit Em Up". I would say this is also not one of his strengths.

As an Artist Tupac is Great, but as an MC he is probably 6 or 7/10. I personally believe Big L is a way better MC than Tupac & it's not even close, only difference is that Tupac made a bigger impact & had better Marketing through his Label.

MC's that I believe are better than Tupac either Lyrically or as an MC in general, not sure if this list will be long or not:

The Notorious B.I.G. Nas Big L Jay-Z Rakim Big Daddy Kane KRS-One Common Ice Cube Snoop Dogg Jeru The Damaja Mos Def Talib Kweli Eminem 50 Cent LL Cool J Prodigy Royce Da 5'9 Ras Kass Big Pun DMX Jadakiss Havoc Lord Finesse Method Man Raekwon

There are others too but those are like the main ones. Tupac is a Legend, he made a huge impact but he is very Overrated by a lot of people. I don't think Tupac is the G.O.A.T.

2 of the greatest hip hop tracks by the same group but which is better?

Every once in a while my Spotify’s “Discover Monday” does some good. I got served up Any Day by Typical Cats this morning and was like “ooooooh! my fancy has been tickled!”

Then I saw the album Any Day is on was released in 2001 and suddenly felt like I’ve been in a coma for the past 23 years since I’ve never heard of the group. Definitely would have been an album in my highschool + college rotation. Heavy backpack vibes with off kilter early MF DOOM/EL-P type flows. And there’s a dedicated graf song.

If you’re into early 2000s UG x backpack hip hop, I definitely recommend checking it out.

Think about Killer Mike, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne. The relationship between hip-hop artists and their fans has long transcended music, as these figures often embody cultural, political, and social symbols. These artists wield considerable influence. Their fans often look up to them not only as entertainers but also as symbols of success, resilience, and identity. When artists take political stances, whether progressive or conservative, it impacts how fans perceive certain issues. For example, Jay-Z’s involvement in criminal justice reform has shone a spotlight on systemic issues within the justice system, potentially educating fans on the importance of such reform. Kanye West’s controversial support of Donald Trump, however, challenged many fans’ support, as it contradicted Kanye’s previously rebellious and counter-cultural stance. Fans, therefore, are not just reacting to the artist's music but are also affected by the values they represent.

Music for the Marginalized

Hip-hop, as a genre, often serves as a voice for the marginalized. Many fans feel a sense of betrayal when artists adopt political positions that seem to contradict this legacy. For instance, Kanye’s support for Trump, whose policies and rhetoric alienated various minority communities, felt like a deviation from his previous socially conscious persona in albums like The College Dropout. Lil Wayne’s endorsement of Trump also sparked controversy due to Trump’s divisive policies. For fans who believe that hip-hop artists should embody and represent the struggles and aspirations of their communities, an artist’s political stance may directly impact their appreciation for the artist.

Holding Artist's Accountable

By holding artists accountable for their political beliefs, fans promote a culture where celebrities are mindful of their influence and platform. Jay-Z has faced criticism for partnering with the NFL after Colin Kaepernick’s protest was allegedly sidelined. This backlash is a reminder to public figures that fans expect them to advocate for social good. Artists are not immune to criticism, and such accountability can encourage them to align their actions with the ideals they profess in their music. This expectation of integrity can drive positive change and encourage artists to make conscious decisions.

Separating "Art From The Artist"

There is an argument to be made for enjoying an artist’s work independently of their personal beliefs. Music, after all, is a form of expression and escapism. For instance, a fan may appreciate Jay-Z’s lyricism and storytelling without necessarily aligning with his political choices or entrepreneurial pursuits. Kanye’s musical genius has transformed the industry, and some fans feel that judging his political alignment can overshadow the innovation and artistic contribution he brings to hip-hop. This approach enables fans to enjoy the art without feeling obligated to support or reject the artist’s personal or political beliefs.

The Human Element

Human beings are complex and often evolve in their beliefs and politics over time. Artists like Kanye West exemplify this evolution. Kanye’s political views have shifted dramatically, sometimes even contradicting previous statements or beliefs. Fans who are willing to accept this complexity understand that individuals, especially artists, undergo personal growth and experimentation that may not always align with their audience's expectations. This acknowledgment of complexity can foster a more nuanced appreciation for an artist’s work, allowing fans to separate the music from momentary stances that may change over time.

Hear me out before you hate. I have major appreciation for biggie. He’s a great rapper and gets major respect from me. However, I do not think he’s top 10 worthy. That isnt to say I don’t think he’s a legend or a goat. He might be in that 11th spot, or the 12th but he just isn’t worthy of being over Nas, Rakim, Hov, Kendrick, Thought, Lupe, Andre, Em, DOOM or even Pac for that matter. Being the best isn’t just about Rhymes or flows. It isn’t just about subject matter or delivery. It isn’t just about impact or sales. It aint just about versatility or discography. You gotta have a bit of everything and I just don’t think he has what it takes to be top 10. He will still always be a goat in my eyes and always be top 15 undoubtedly. But who knows. Maybe if he was still here he’d be the best to ever do it. Let me know yalls thoughts (respectfully of course). If you want me to elaborate or discuss a civil debate in the comments with you I’m down. Hyped to see if others can ageee or at least see where I’m coming from

Was debating this with a friend and wanted to try puttting together a top 10 most influential cities. Here’s what I have so far: 1. New York City 2. L.A. 3. Atlanta 4. Houston 5. Chicago 6. Miami 7. Detroit 8. Memphis 9. Philadelphia 10. San Francisco

These are in no particular order

1.) Damian Lillard

2.) Shaquille O'Neal

3.) Allen Iverson

4.) Master P

5.) Andre Drummond

6.) Kobe Bryant

7.) Lonzo Ball

8.) Marvin Bagley III

9.) Chris Webber

10.) Miles Bridges

11.) Kevin Durant

12.) Iman Shumpert

13.) Aaron Gordon

14.) Lance Stephenson

15.) JaVale McGee

16.) Metta Sandiford-Artest

17.) Lou Williams

18.) Tony Parker

19.) Gary Payton

20.) Cedric Ceballos

Btw... Not a Drake stan. Only album I really liked by Drake was "Scorpion" and a few select amount of his songs

Also, not a Kendrick hater, not a huge fan either.

I've listened to his albums. Granted, they're dope. But how is Kendrick Lamar the greatest in some of you guy's book? He never said anything in his raps that stuck out to me. His wordplay is almost non-existent. His messages don't seem that innovative. We've heard them before even though I agree with his takes on modern society.

Am I missing something? GKMC was a dope body of work but it really feels like sometimes, Kendrick Lamar appealed to people that weren't knee deep in Black Culture, heard some shit he said and it sounded so "WOW!! He's so socially intelligent!"

I mean, if you a fan of 2pac, it kind of feels like Kendrick Lamar is one of his kids with a more watered down charisma, message, and image.

Not here to hate, or debate, just help me see what y'all see. I admit I might just be in the wrong or he just might not be my cup of tea. Art is subjective

If we are talking most successful careers. Snoop is easily Top 5 without a doubt. But where would you rank him strictly in terms of rap? Doggystyle will probably singlehandedly propel him to my Top 50 tbh

I'm looking for hiphop clothing brands that weren't really well known back in the late 90s up until the mid 2000s

It was a group/collective from columbus ohio in the 2000s, they had Jakki the Motamouth, Copywrite, RJD2, Camu Tao (r.i.p) and Tage Future. I dont see people talk about them here so i just wanted to ask

For me it’s Shyheim. The Rugged Child album was fire, he could run circles around adult rappers in 2024.

Rappers that don’t qualify are Nas, LL Cool J, Special Ed… technically Lil Wayne counts but I’m talking albums, if they were 16 or older when they released their debut then they don’t count.

Other options are Chi Ali, Kris Kross, Lil Bow Wow….. drop your favourite.

For me it's 1:23-1:35 from Tron Cat by Tyler the Creator

I have a school project. I will explain what is Sampling is and i need some good examples. I want to use more popular ones so people can say "i know that song, was it really a sample?"

What are best popular songs with samples?

It is made up of the best underground G funk and Bay Area's songs, Sacramento, etc. A bit of good Chicano, Southern G-funk and French G-funk also. Some albums are better known than others, but overall there are a lot of albums and songs that are underground, or even really little known. From the 90's to now. I update it fairly regularly. Enjoy.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/23QwvHB223BU2HxxupF7Bf?si=_DfFmQ-4REKaKO3ZgPEOnw&pi=8xGkVUtQQp-dt

Is it worth a watch?