It's happened to every lover of hip hop, or rather, probably most of us. It's relatively common; to be hanging out at a party and end up in conversation with someone who just isn't feeling the music-- only because it's hip hop.
Even here in New York City.
Whether it's super intellectual, comic book or kung fu-themed, or wobbly trap, there's a type of hip hop for just about everybody. We even ran down some of our favorites with "Best NYC Hip Hop Artists", and "Best Laid Back NYC Hip Hop" lists.
So we thought it was a great idea when Paste Magazine recently published a web article entitled "10 Hip Hop Albums For People Who Don't Like Hip Hop."
There's no doubt that the list was curated with good taste, featuring artists from across the spectrum of hip hop that integrate a myriad of aspects of crossover appeal. Much respect, but we don't entirely agree with all of it.
So we're running down the list in the interest of dialogue, because besides dancing to it, and listening to it, discussing hip hop is about as good as it gets.
1. Digable Planets, Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)
Digable Planets is classic laid back hip hop. As far as introducing people who don't like hip hop to the genre in a friendly way, Planets is great and non-intimidating to the new hip hop listener.
There is always a healthy dose of jazz in their beat production, meriting Digable Planets as one hip hop group worthy of being considered above many of their peers in terms of intelligence in production as well as lyrical content.
Another jazz-friendly hip hop album that cannot be ignored is Madlib's Shades of Blue, a compilation album of Blue Note Jazz records that the Beat Conductor himself mixed into contemporary hip hop forms, with the blessing of Blue Note Records we may add.
The intent of the record was to introduce youth to the jazz masters of yesteryear by reformatting Blue Note Records classics into contemporary hip hop beats. Not to mention, Madlib was given full license by Blue Note to sample their catalogue all he wanted.
2. Jurassic 5, Quality Control
Jurassic 5 is another hip hop outfit that's highly respected for top notch beat production as well as thoughtful lyricism. Cut Chemist and Nu-Mark produced the beats, and they're killer. We really can't argue with this one.
The range of cadence and delivery from the groups four MCs covers basically the whole range of what one would consider "grown up" hip hop, and that's one criticism of lots of hip hop that abounds: it sounds immature. J5 isn't trapped by that pitfall in the slightest.
3. Deltron 3030, Deltron 3030
Del the Funkee Homosapien is a mastermind of hip hop. He founded the world famous Hieroglyphics Crew in California's Bay Area and was one forerunner and coordinator of the spaced out, jazzy vibe heard on so many West Coast golden age albums.
His Deltron project, however, is distinctly different from the rest of his body of work, including the first Gorillaz album, which he is a fixture on.
Deltron 3030 is an afro-futurist sci-fi hip hop concept album and it's amazing. It's as much about self liberation as it is about projecting contemporary race relations on a futurist setting.
There aren't many comparable works, but two come to mind: Dr Octagon (Kool Keith)'s Dr. Octagonocologyst and perhaps Danger Doom (MF DOOM & Danger Mouse)'s The Mouse and the Mask.
4. RJD2, Deadringer
RJD2 is another great choice for introducing people who don't listen to hip hop to the genre. His appeal is wide, able to produce theme songs to instrumentals. Deadringer is a beautifully groovy album. Check it out.
Other artists we recommend for accomplishing the same means is Break Science, a Brooklyn-based electronic hip hop production duo featuring MCs from Redman to CX and Slick Rick.
5. Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere
Gnarls Barkley had American radio on lock for a while. The songs "Forget You" (not on this album) and "Crazy" are undeniably amazing. This album wouldn't be the success it is without Danger Mouse (and you'll see him a lot here).
The genius of introducing people to hip hop through Gnarls Barkley is that they draw from soul, hip hop and R&B, and most people get down with at least one of those genres.
6. Kid Cudi, Man on the Moon: The End of Day
Kid Cudi killed it on this record, so we don't have much of an issue with this selection. We would agree with it as an introduction because it's a departure from what was happening in the genre before it.
There's introspective lyricism that often gets overblown as too mopey. Sure, he's probably the loneliest stoner in Cleveland, but that doesn't make him or his music depressing. Especially with tracks that Ratatat and MGMT were featured on.
Of course, let's touch on some of the undeniably great (and possibly underrated) tracks like "Heart of a Lion", "Solo Dolo", and "Cudi Zone." These beats evoke the same groove as Kanye, but Cudi's flow is substantially better. We'll take Cudi over Ye every effing time.
7. The Roots, How I Got Over
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The Roots are a genius force of hip hop, and overall music. Long before you'd see Kendrick Lamar on stage with a full touring band, you saw The Roots making hip hop as a band, successfully, and with style and grace.
How I Got Over is a great record, and since The Roots are absolute legends we also recommend checking out Undun, Phrenology, Things Fall Apart, anything, really.
8. Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
We have an issue with this selection namely in that its inclusion is based on Kanye's status as, well, Kanye. This album is great, but no introduction to hip hop should ever start with someone so undeniably polarizing as Kanye. If they don't like hip hop, at some point Kanye's a contributing factor.
So, we're giving you Danger Mouse's The Grey Album. The hip hop elite know this album, and the people who don't know hip hop should absolutely start with this. The very pillars of hip hop rely on elements of storying, riffing, and improvisation. What embodies that better than the art of the mashup?
Consider the opposite end of the spectrum where there's nothing but hip hop failure. Yes, we're talking Jay-Z and Linkin Park. Before that, renowned producer (yeah, he's in this list a lot) Danger Mouse mashed up The Beatles (using instrumentals from The White Album) and Jay-Z's Black Album.
The result is hip hop perfection. Danger Mouse took a good Jay-Z album and a beautiful Beatles album and showed us what hip hop was and what it could be. If there's a college course on "Intro to Hip Hop", The Grey Album is 101.
Simply put, Jay-Z is better when his verses are thrown into music better than he's capable of putting together (case in point: collaboration with Kanye because if there's one thing Kanye does well is produce some good music). You get a better appreciation for The Black Album with The Grey Album.
9. Chance the Rapper, Acid Rap
Chance the Rapper is one artist responsible for the prog-rap movement happening right now. Sure, that isn't exactly a buzz word, but that's probably because most people who mainly consume hip hop are not into prog-rock and wouldn't appropriate the term very quickly or easily.
Acid Rap made a splash on the scene a few years ago because Chance was doing something new, or at least something tried and true in a new context. If your friends who don't like hip hop are into Pink Floyd or Journey, they should hear Acid Rap.
10. Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 2
Run the Jewels has managed to captivate audiences across the world. Killer Mike and El-P are a great duo, and El-P's beats are fire. Fire.
Now, they're basically a mainstream hip hop act, but they just have a contemporary flavor to them that's a little out of the ordinary, especially with how Killer Mike can articulate political themes and 'hood themes in a new way.
100% worth checking out if your non-hip hop head homies dig RTJ is Ghostface Killah's BADBADNOTGOOD.
Check out 7 Best Laid-Back Hip Hop Albums Straight Outta NYC.
[via Paste Magazine]