[gblade]

Post all the great hip-hop artists/albums that you listen to, but don't even think of posting anything mainstream. If they play it on main stream radio it doesn't belong here.

Dead Prez: Turn off the radio:The Mix Tape, Vol. 1
Common: Resurrection
Nas: Illmatic
Notorious B.I.G.: Ready to die
The Roots: Do you want more
Zion i: Deep water Slang v2.0
Looptroop: Fort Europa

to start

 

[Pomomofo4130]

Some nice albums on that post. A few other's I'd recommend checking out are:

Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Smoothe Da Hustler - Once upon a time in America
Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt & The Blueprint
Wu-Tand Clan - Enter the 36 Chambers
M.O.P - Warriors
Ghostface Killah - Pretty Toney / Fishscale

add to some from your post and you have my top 10 albums...

 

[CLum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblade /img/forum/go_quote.gif Post all the great hip-hop artists/albums that you listen to, but don't even think of posting anything mainstream. If they play it on main stream radio it doesn't belong here. Dead Prez: Turn off the radio:The Mix Tape, Vol. 1 Common: Resurrection Nas: Illmatic Notorious B.I.G.: Ready to die The Roots: Do you want more Zion i: Deep water Slang v2.0 Looptroop: Fort Europa to start

Don't they play Biggie and NaS on mainstream radio? I don't think you can discount all mainstream hip-hop since there was a lot of greats back then. As for hip-hop artists/albums that I find great:

2pac: Me Against the world
Aceyalone: A book of human languages
Blackalicious: Blazing Arrows, NIA
Curse Ov Dialects: Wooden Tongues
Dangermouse and Jemini: Ghetto Pop Life
Dizzee Rascal: Boy in da Corner
Deltron: Deltron 3030
Edan: Beauty and the Beat
Gravediggaz: 6 feet deep (probably my all time favorite)
GZA: Liquid swords
Hieroglyphics: Third Eye Vision
J-live: All of the Above
Non-Prophets: Hope
Outkast: atliens
RJD2: Deadringers
Viktor Vaughn: Vaudeville Villain

 

[YoungClayB]

Jurassic 5 - Quality Control; Power in Numbers
The Roots - Organix, Do you want More, Things Fall Apart, The Tipping Point, Phrenology, Game Theory...basically everything they've ever done

Common - Like Water for Chocolate
A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
Da Grassroots - Passage Through Time

 

[laxx]

Big Wu-Tang Clan fan here.

But you can't hate on Westside Connection - Bow Down.

 

[GlendaleViper]

Kool Keith/Dr. Octagon
MC Paul Barman
Public Enemy
KRS 1
Mos Def
Talib Kweli
Sweatshop Union
Blackalicious
MF Doom
Atmosphere
Masta Ace

 

[philodox]

snoop dogg [mainly doggystyle]
2pac
nwa
a tribe called quest
busta rhymes [the older the better]
public enemy
alias
archive [not exactly hip hop, but has that feel]
earthling [the same]
castheadwork [my current favourite]

 

[jayehs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblade /img/forum/go_quote.gif Post all the great hip-hop artists/albums that you listen to, but don't even think of posting anything mainstream. If they play it on main stream radio it doesn't belong here. Dead Prez: Turn off the radio:The Mix Tape, Vol. 1 Common: Resurrection Nas: Illmatic Notorious B.I.G.: Ready to die The Roots: Do you want more Zion i: Deep water Slang v2.0 Looptroop: Fort Europa to start

Biggie's Ready to Die was so mainstream, what are you talking about? It was all over radio / tv and they still play juicy and big poppa all the time at clubs. If that's not the definition of mainstream, i don't know what is.

 

[laxx]

But his best song was Machine Gun Funk. =]

 

[goldenratiophi]

The Streets - Original Pirate Material and A Grand Don't Come For Free

Less mainstream than a lot of stuff anyway.

 

[jayehs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by laxx /img/forum/go_quote.gif But his best song was Machine Gun Funk. =]

Not saying the album is bad. The OP strictly said no mainstream.

 

[Zanth]

Anything by K-OS

 

[GlendaleViper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zanth /img/forum/go_quote.gif Anything by K-OS

I don't know what it is, but I just can't get into that guy. I can recognize his talents, and everything he brings to the table, but I can't dig it. My girl loves it, and we have very similar tastes, so it's all the more bizarre.

On the Canadian end of things, I always loved Stinkin' Rich (now known as Buck 65, also excellent) and Hip Club Groove.

 

[TheChemist]

GZA
Nas
Jay-Z
AZ (I can't believe no one has mentioned him)
DJ Shadow
Raekwon
KRS-One
Wu Tang Clan
Rjd2

no order

 

[The Actual]

De La Soul for sure, and he has kind of been mentioned through NWA, but I think Ice Cube is one of the greatest rappers ever. His early solo stuff in particular is amazing.