Rapper-Poets
Nas- The effort Nas puts into editing his work and perfecting it to a poetic sensibility is evident in the great deal of time that some time exists between his albums. Though turning out albums on a yearly basis helps one's bottom line, Nas is and was at his best when he takes time to develop his work. This is because to Nas every word, every syllable and every letter is crucial in fitting into his overall theme. His poetic sensibilities are best on display in tracks such as my all-time favorite song "One Mic," and "If I Ruled the World."
Tupac- Tupac's talent as an actor and dancer are more discussed than his great ability with poetry. Tupac's poetry was usually short, simple, sweet and to the point. This style is also evident in his movies and his rap albums. You can check out his poetic sensibilities in tracks such as "Brenda's Got a Baby" and "Thug Mansion," as well as the movies "Juice" and "Poetic Justice," (which he co-starred in with Janet Jackson, only to find out Jackson wanted NOTHING to do with him off-screen.)
Poet-Rappers
Biggie- Biggie is probably the least poetic of the four, but Biggie was also able to mix in hypnotic hooks with stunning imagery. His greatest and most popular hit "Juicy" was also by far his most poetic work. "I made the change from a common thief, to up close and personal with Robin Leach. And I am far from cheap, smoke toke with my peeps all day, spread love it's the Brooklyn way," and "money green couch, leather sofas, got two rides, a limousine with a chauffer. Phone bill about 4 gs flat, no need to worry my accountant handles that. "
Jay Z- Sean Carter is able to go in the studio and spit out a song in one go. That he maintains a poetic narrative arc and imagery in such a pressured situation is impressive. In these times, Jay Z is able to take other people's work and efforts and expand upon them in a new creative direction. For anyone who thinks this a problem, consider such reputable artists such as Shakespeare took other people's work, such as Plutarch's which he used to help describe Cleopotra entrance in "Julius Ceaser." What a great tribute to these rappers from one of the best ever!
The Rapper-Poet Poet-Rapper
Eminem-Eminem is able to freestyle as a poet-rapper and perfect and edit his work as rapper-poet, the only rapper in history to fit both roles to the T, Eminem is only third behind Nas and Tupac in poetic sense, and only behind Tupac as the greatest rapper ever. His narrative arc was best displayed on the song "Stan," along with other hits and even non-hits such as "When Bad Meets Evil," "Brain Damage," (if you have not heard this one, go immediately and check it out) and "Love the Way You Lie."
Which of these rappers best exemplifies the diamond in the rough?
Showing posts with label Rap. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rap. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Fresh and Def Jazz-Rap Combos from the Early 90's
Pharcyde- Pharcyde's creative height was achieved early on in their careers on their first demo, including the hit song "Passin' Me By." The 1994 Red Hot Organization's compilation "Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool" (the benefit album for AIDS awareness that won "Album of the Year' by Time Magazine) was bolstered by Pharcyde's inclusion onto it with "The Rubbers Song."
Digable Planets- Probably the most unique and stylistic of the Jazz-Rap era, Digable Planets was "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)." Digable Planets was also featured in "Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool" with "Flyin' High in the Brooklyn Sky," a song that featured fellow artists Lester Bowie and Wah Wah Watson.
De La Soul- De La Soul's 1989 release '3 Feet High and Rising" and 1991 release "De La Soul is Dead" (a reference to the changing of the tides of Hip-Hop from a socially conscious movement to its growing characterization by its sub header Rap as a "Gangsta" movement, a transformation that was cemented by the works of Tupac and Biggie in the mid-90s, although "Gangsta Rap'" remains a socially conscious movement, even if you have to dig a little deeper to get there) were at the same time the most critically acclaimed and commercially acclaimed hits of the Jazz-Rap fusion.
De La Soul's playfulness was on display in such tracks as their biggest hit, "Me, Myself and I", while their socially conscious undertone hit you over the head with shock and value in tracks like "Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa." The De La Soul tradition is carried on by artists such as Common, Rakim and KRS One to this day to the same critical acclaim, though not the same commercial success.
A Tribe Called Quest- In probably the greatest as well as least recounted tour in all of musical history, De La Soul joined with A Tribe Called Quest and Digable Planets in 1994, ending with a bang at Lollaplooza. If you ask the Tribe "Can I kick it?" the answer is most certainly going to be "Yes you can!"
This group defines the Jazz-Rap era more than any other. Wikipedia.org says the group's debut album "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm" was "marked by...light-hearted content (safe sex, vegetarianism, youthful experiences)." (Are you now on instinctive travels marked by the rhythm of your own heart beat? Ask yourself, what is the diamond in the rough?)The Source gave this album, which took six years to become a commercial hit, its third-ever five-mic rating.
Miles Davis- The influence of Hip Hop in the late 20th century is exemplified in Miles Davis's 1992 "Doo-Bop." Jazz was the musical expression of the African-American community up until this point, and "Doo-Bop" signified the passing of this torch onto Hip Hop. Davis's recognition of the importance of this new genre reveals his musical genius, and that he was only 6 tracks deep into "Doo-Bop" before his passing on September 28th, 1991 is a tragedy.
Nas- Much like Nirvana's "Teem Spirit" was for grunge, Nas's "Illmatic" was both the height and death for Jazz-Rap fusion. "Illmatic" remains the ultimate expression of how a young, black male (Nas was 20 at the time, and many of the songs and production were done when he was much younger) can turn the difficult experiences of growing up in the ghettoes of New York on their head. (make sure to read Goodman's response if you choose to follow this link, and keep in mind this article is from 1965.) "N.Y. State of Mind," similarly, is the ultimate musical expression for the world's definition of a cosmopolitan and modern city. Nas was able to cut his lyrics and style down to the effectiveness, efficiency and authority of a young Hemingway.
What if the diamond in the rough could give you success like these people? Would you then be willing to shape it?
Digable Planets- Probably the most unique and stylistic of the Jazz-Rap era, Digable Planets was "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)." Digable Planets was also featured in "Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool" with "Flyin' High in the Brooklyn Sky," a song that featured fellow artists Lester Bowie and Wah Wah Watson.
De La Soul- De La Soul's 1989 release '3 Feet High and Rising" and 1991 release "De La Soul is Dead" (a reference to the changing of the tides of Hip-Hop from a socially conscious movement to its growing characterization by its sub header Rap as a "Gangsta" movement, a transformation that was cemented by the works of Tupac and Biggie in the mid-90s, although "Gangsta Rap'" remains a socially conscious movement, even if you have to dig a little deeper to get there) were at the same time the most critically acclaimed and commercially acclaimed hits of the Jazz-Rap fusion.
De La Soul's playfulness was on display in such tracks as their biggest hit, "Me, Myself and I", while their socially conscious undertone hit you over the head with shock and value in tracks like "Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa." The De La Soul tradition is carried on by artists such as Common, Rakim and KRS One to this day to the same critical acclaim, though not the same commercial success.
A Tribe Called Quest- In probably the greatest as well as least recounted tour in all of musical history, De La Soul joined with A Tribe Called Quest and Digable Planets in 1994, ending with a bang at Lollaplooza. If you ask the Tribe "Can I kick it?" the answer is most certainly going to be "Yes you can!"
This group defines the Jazz-Rap era more than any other. Wikipedia.org says the group's debut album "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm" was "marked by...light-hearted content (safe sex, vegetarianism, youthful experiences)." (Are you now on instinctive travels marked by the rhythm of your own heart beat? Ask yourself, what is the diamond in the rough?)The Source gave this album, which took six years to become a commercial hit, its third-ever five-mic rating.
Miles Davis- The influence of Hip Hop in the late 20th century is exemplified in Miles Davis's 1992 "Doo-Bop." Jazz was the musical expression of the African-American community up until this point, and "Doo-Bop" signified the passing of this torch onto Hip Hop. Davis's recognition of the importance of this new genre reveals his musical genius, and that he was only 6 tracks deep into "Doo-Bop" before his passing on September 28th, 1991 is a tragedy.
Nas- Much like Nirvana's "Teem Spirit" was for grunge, Nas's "Illmatic" was both the height and death for Jazz-Rap fusion. "Illmatic" remains the ultimate expression of how a young, black male (Nas was 20 at the time, and many of the songs and production were done when he was much younger) can turn the difficult experiences of growing up in the ghettoes of New York on their head. (make sure to read Goodman's response if you choose to follow this link, and keep in mind this article is from 1965.) "N.Y. State of Mind," similarly, is the ultimate musical expression for the world's definition of a cosmopolitan and modern city. Nas was able to cut his lyrics and style down to the effectiveness, efficiency and authority of a young Hemingway.
What if the diamond in the rough could give you success like these people? Would you then be willing to shape it?
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