I shared this privately with Chris, but then I thought ... if anyone else wanted some more German alt-rock/rap/hip hop listens, why not share it publicly. Hope this is okay, Chris?!?!
Mallie, I love the story of your mom and this song! I can only hope to give much children such memories!
I like a lot of rap and hip-hop, but it’s not my typical/preferred genre, so what I like is probably pretty mainstream. My boys like Kanye, but they haven’t played enough for me to really know any of his stuff.
Without Me - Eminem. This song was all over MTV back in the summer of 2002. I was in an MA program at the U of Az, and I flew from Tucson to Houston and spent a week with my middle brother before driving to Iowa State University for our little brother’s wedding. Every time this song came on the radio, my brother and I would do some serious car dancing - mimicking the car dancing in the video! https://youtu.be/YVkUvmDQ3HY?si=B_iV3Pt4s22L510L
Tempo - Lizzo (feat. Missy Elliot). I just love this song! I had it set as my phone ringtone for quite a while. This is one that mortified my daughter every time I played it hahaha! https://youtu.be/Srq1FqFPwj0?si=0wDcHhDprzubZ8yL
Work It - Missy Elliot. LOVE Missy Elliot! This is another one released in 2002. My youngest brother’s wedding weekend got me in trouble with my stepdad when I kept playing this song and Khia’s My Neck, My Back on repeat. I got banned from playing music in the hotel suite we were all sharing lol. https://youtu.be/cjIvu7e6Wq8?si=k-Nq0fJ5cP_7PvMQ
I Love You Mary Jane - Sonic Youth & Cypress Hill. From the Judgement Night soundtrack. I just love everything about this song. The mashup of artists is incredible! https://youtu.be/AXM_nDH2RvM?si=bpkOhSOvX-jRDR4S
Going to have to come back for #5. The Cure just dropped their first single from the new album, and my brain has left the building.
I also like Eminem and Missy Elliot. I could also have gone with Beastie Boys, or even The Bloodhound Gang (what can I say, they make me giggle like an eleven-year-old boy).
My husband tried to get me to include Outkast, being Atlanta-based, like us. And I do enjoy some of their songs, but I don't seek them out to listen often. And I hadn't listened anytime recently.
My obsession with Henning May, Kummer, and Frederick Rabe mean I listen to German music a lot (almost as much as I listen to Scottish indie). So I went with what I listen to often and what I felt comfortable writing up.
Omigod, thanks for letting me know The Cure’s new single is out!! I’ve been waiting for this album for what feels like FOREVER. Haven’t had a chance to listen to your picks yet as I’m listening to Alone now
Ok - after obsessing over the new Cure single and messaging with friends, taking kids to school, and grocery shopping for my mom 😂
I came up with a TON more that I love! But, going to have to go with Party Up (Up in Here) by DMX because I probably sing this one weekly to my kids LOL
That’s a definite keeper, Dan. I also thought about Rock The Bells, by LL Cool J. And many others. Even without a real connection, it was still hard to choose just five.
They're as close as I come to deep discography knowledge, Chris.
As I told Kristin in my reply to her comment, my husband was leaning on me to share Outkast, but it didn't feel honest. I enjoy their songs when they show up on his playlists, but I haven't made any additions to my own.
That’s fair! I’m constantly learning when it comes to increasing my knowledge of hiphop. I was obsessed with Public Enemy then fell out of the loop for…a long time. lol
Kendrick almost made my list, I was going to do m.A.A.d. City, but it did not quite make the cut. If I stuck to top 5 rappers--he'd def be on that list.
Fun lists guys! Love the personalizations. Every favorite has a story.
"Picture Me Rollin' " Tupac Shakur.
I had a job one summer that entailed a lot of driving around in a truck pretending to be busy. My work partner was a fascinating guy whose Mom was a professor at my college and whose Dad was a clinical psychologist and who presented himself as a straight up thug lyfe gangsta. He was a huge Tupac fan. We listened to his "All Eyez On Me" cassette A LOT in that truck.
His last name was Keyes. Anytime I hear this verse I can still picture us rollin'
"I got Ki's
Comin from overseas
Cost a fella* 200 Gs"
(* fella was not the original word that Tupac used but its the same number of letters)
I also don't have much knowledge/exposure to hip-hop, so here are my top 5 which are ones I've been attracted to from the perspective of appreciating good songwriting and tending to be lyrics-first in my listening.
"8pt Agenda" -- The Herbaliser f. Latyrx
I wrote a post about this one which essentially just said, "I may not know much, but I know that this level of writing and creativity is impressive." -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWx23SC2ods
And, I'll round out my top-five with a selection which is both over-exposed and excellent. Lin-Manuel Miranda debuting "Hamilton" at the White House -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuYRcKxtmHo
'The Candle' by Deep Puddle Dynamics occupies a warped liminal space where genres and divergent trains of crystallising thought converge and overlap. There's a spectre of dub in the smudged trumpet fanfare that opens proceedings. A heavy piano note bluntly chimes away the seconds while a drummer overexerts himself in the background and weird voices half-sing/half prattle over each other with varying levels of energy. The disorder belies the philosophical tone taken in the lyrics that are strewn with references to rain and puddles, in common with the rest of the tracks on the album (The Taste of Rain... Why Kneel?), as Doseone contemplates how “a droplet sears the stillness of space dissolved”, while Alias is reassured by the contained chaos of clarifying cobwebs.
Back in the early 2000s, Skinnyman was a potential breakthrough talent who became a what-might-have-been, whose momentum was perhaps broken by a jail sentence a few years later, arising from threats made against a former girlfriend. His only solo album – Council Estate of Mind – is high-rise level social commentary on London as it was at the time (it's gotten a lot worse since then). 'Hayden,' is a measured heads-down tirade from an older and wiser head as, over a repetitive backing track, garnished with mournful, soulful wailing, he dwells on teachers who spend more time attempting to control their classes than they do educating; the young men in their late teens being locked up until their mid-thirties; and a generation with their backs pushed up against a wall, who don't make long-term plans, “and you can't tell them that they're wrong, 'cause they're all men-child who feel they know what's going on”.
Brechtian is an adjective not commonly associated with rap, yet it aptly describes 'The Little Children' – a collaboration between David Axlerod, whose work has been heavily sampled in hip-hop circles, and the rapper Ras Kass. There's a good minute and a half of avant-garde threepenny operatics – a simmering of gypsy violin and a solemn children's chorus laced together with liquoricey threads of New Orleans jazz – before Kass, taking the role of the devil, breaks down the combined failure of social and political systems that deliver innocent souls into his hands.
Roots Manuva has been out of action since 2018 when he was laid low by a subdural haematoma. Prior to this, he was an idiosyncratic and likeable presence on the UK hip-hop scene throughout the 2000s. Raised Pentecostal, there is often a spiritual or churchy influence at play in his music. On the casual but self-assured overture to a relationship, 'Dreamy Daze', glassy harpsichord frames a ragged, half-baked chorus that veers into nostalgia in the last line as the melody steps back on itself.
Caught between spotlights, in the Venn overlap between rap and street poetry, Steven Jesse Bernstein, who ran with the Grungers but who belonged to an older generation, was a deeply troubled man whose brain was literally too large for his skull. He laid down the material for what was to become 'Prison' shortly before his suicide at the age of 40. Th album was finished by Steve Fisk who added music or, on some tracks, ambient backing. 'No No Man Part 2' – Bernstein's parting words to the world – are accompanied by the kind of careening sawtooth jazz that might soundtrack a car chase through 1920s Chicago, while he rants like an animal backed into a corner at a world that has failed him, where even the stars are nothing more than gloomy pocket change.
I shared this privately with Chris, but then I thought ... if anyone else wanted some more German alt-rock/rap/hip hop listens, why not share it publicly. Hope this is okay, Chris?!?!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/49lbBujkkCsnDOFyieFHOC?si=4dfe0ddf23494274
More than ok!
Love the lists!
Mallie, I love the story of your mom and this song! I can only hope to give much children such memories!
I like a lot of rap and hip-hop, but it’s not my typical/preferred genre, so what I like is probably pretty mainstream. My boys like Kanye, but they haven’t played enough for me to really know any of his stuff.
Without Me - Eminem. This song was all over MTV back in the summer of 2002. I was in an MA program at the U of Az, and I flew from Tucson to Houston and spent a week with my middle brother before driving to Iowa State University for our little brother’s wedding. Every time this song came on the radio, my brother and I would do some serious car dancing - mimicking the car dancing in the video! https://youtu.be/YVkUvmDQ3HY?si=B_iV3Pt4s22L510L
Tempo - Lizzo (feat. Missy Elliot). I just love this song! I had it set as my phone ringtone for quite a while. This is one that mortified my daughter every time I played it hahaha! https://youtu.be/Srq1FqFPwj0?si=0wDcHhDprzubZ8yL
Work It - Missy Elliot. LOVE Missy Elliot! This is another one released in 2002. My youngest brother’s wedding weekend got me in trouble with my stepdad when I kept playing this song and Khia’s My Neck, My Back on repeat. I got banned from playing music in the hotel suite we were all sharing lol. https://youtu.be/cjIvu7e6Wq8?si=k-Nq0fJ5cP_7PvMQ
I Love You Mary Jane - Sonic Youth & Cypress Hill. From the Judgement Night soundtrack. I just love everything about this song. The mashup of artists is incredible! https://youtu.be/AXM_nDH2RvM?si=bpkOhSOvX-jRDR4S
Going to have to come back for #5. The Cure just dropped their first single from the new album, and my brain has left the building.
I also like Eminem and Missy Elliot. I could also have gone with Beastie Boys, or even The Bloodhound Gang (what can I say, they make me giggle like an eleven-year-old boy).
My husband tried to get me to include Outkast, being Atlanta-based, like us. And I do enjoy some of their songs, but I don't seek them out to listen often. And I hadn't listened anytime recently.
My obsession with Henning May, Kummer, and Frederick Rabe mean I listen to German music a lot (almost as much as I listen to Scottish indie). So I went with what I listen to often and what I felt comfortable writing up.
We'll see what sort of reception it gets!
Bloodhound Gang!! I haven’t thought about them in a minute!
LOL. Our inner eleven-year-old boys rejoice and giggle!
Hahaha yes the Bloodhound Gang makes me giggle too!! I like Outkast too, but, same as you - not a band I will seek out.
I love that you listen to German and Scottish indie music! My best music buddy routinely plays Spotify’s new music from other countries.
Without Me almost made my list--that was also on the soccer warm up playlist back in the day!
I've got a meeting and a webinar coming up, but I'll be back to give your comment the response it deserves, Kristin.
Omigod, thanks for letting me know The Cure’s new single is out!! I’ve been waiting for this album for what feels like FOREVER. Haven’t had a chance to listen to your picks yet as I’m listening to Alone now
Ok - after obsessing over the new Cure single and messaging with friends, taking kids to school, and grocery shopping for my mom 😂
I came up with a TON more that I love! But, going to have to go with Party Up (Up in Here) by DMX because I probably sing this one weekly to my kids LOL
Like you both I don't have a great connection to rap/hip hop - although I always liked "Bust a Move" by Young MC!
That’s a definite keeper, Dan. I also thought about Rock The Bells, by LL Cool J. And many others. Even without a real connection, it was still hard to choose just five.
THAT was a jam back in the day for sure!!
Bust A Move might be the best hip hop karoke song ever.
Love seeing Public Enemy on the list. Those are my dudes. Surprised at no Kendrick but all the rest are great anyway. A couple were new to me.
They're as close as I come to deep discography knowledge, Chris.
As I told Kristin in my reply to her comment, my husband was leaning on me to share Outkast, but it didn't feel honest. I enjoy their songs when they show up on his playlists, but I haven't made any additions to my own.
That’s fair! I’m constantly learning when it comes to increasing my knowledge of hiphop. I was obsessed with Public Enemy then fell out of the loop for…a long time. lol
Bring The Noise is my favorite PE tune. Even the collab version with Anthrax is tight.
I think it’s the hard driving guitar riffs that make PE so accessible, especially for any of us hesitant to dig deeper into the genre.
Yea, crossing over with the rock / metal crowd. They were militant politically and shrewd commercially.
You just reminded me of a favorite Anthrax song! I’m the Man! https://youtu.be/GiHdr4rWG98?si=Wl00uKdgYhtBdYDK
Kendrick almost made my list, I was going to do m.A.A.d. City, but it did not quite make the cut. If I stuck to top 5 rappers--he'd def be on that list.
May I recommend "Check the Technique" by GangStarr.
I’ll certainly check it out!
YES
I’m definitely not a rap/hip hop aficionado, it’s not a genre I listen to that much. Having said that, here are five favorites that come to mind:
Nas - If I Ruled The World
https://open.spotify.com/track/5PQmSHzWnlgG4EBuIqjac2
Dave - Black
https://open.spotify.com/track/0J43IKwcofdlTQPjcbHxCM
Brother Ali - Freedom Ain’t Free
https://open.spotify.com/track/3EuyX0WgXkIFBIb3L8sb0a
Whodini - Friends
https://open.spotify.com/track/0VCMH2s1q05Cx9jKwPkSoM
Lil Simz - Introvert
https://open.spotify.com/track/2lbX8Jt97ou14yL9rqG58C
Fun lists guys! Love the personalizations. Every favorite has a story.
"Picture Me Rollin' " Tupac Shakur.
I had a job one summer that entailed a lot of driving around in a truck pretending to be busy. My work partner was a fascinating guy whose Mom was a professor at my college and whose Dad was a clinical psychologist and who presented himself as a straight up thug lyfe gangsta. He was a huge Tupac fan. We listened to his "All Eyez On Me" cassette A LOT in that truck.
His last name was Keyes. Anytime I hear this verse I can still picture us rollin'
"I got Ki's
Comin from overseas
Cost a fella* 200 Gs"
(* fella was not the original word that Tupac used but its the same number of letters)
Did you check out any of my German offerings? You know I like to share lesser known stuff! LOL! I'm just thrilled I didn't embarrass myself.
"Picture Me Rollin'" was on my shortlist!
virtual fist bump
Only 5? Crap, that's hard. Liable to change, depending on the day, but I guess I'll go with:
Mos Def
A Tribe Called Quest
Public Enemy
Wu-Tang Clan
Eminem
I also don't have much knowledge/exposure to hip-hop, so here are my top 5 which are ones I've been attracted to from the perspective of appreciating good songwriting and tending to be lyrics-first in my listening.
"8pt Agenda" -- The Herbaliser f. Latyrx
I wrote a post about this one which essentially just said, "I may not know much, but I know that this level of writing and creativity is impressive." -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWx23SC2ods
"Your Revolution" -- Sarah Jones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scq80McyE3Y
"Memories Live" -- Talib Kweli & Hi Tek
A really moving reflecting on growing up and becoming an artist and a parent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQut7mOVXpE
"Hip Hop" -- Mos Def: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq3syNck274
And, I'll round out my top-five with a selection which is both over-exposed and excellent. Lin-Manuel Miranda debuting "Hamilton" at the White House -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuYRcKxtmHo
Just want to say that I love seeing "See Watch Channel Zero?!" make the list. It's one of my favorite PE songs.
HOORAY!
'The Candle' by Deep Puddle Dynamics occupies a warped liminal space where genres and divergent trains of crystallising thought converge and overlap. There's a spectre of dub in the smudged trumpet fanfare that opens proceedings. A heavy piano note bluntly chimes away the seconds while a drummer overexerts himself in the background and weird voices half-sing/half prattle over each other with varying levels of energy. The disorder belies the philosophical tone taken in the lyrics that are strewn with references to rain and puddles, in common with the rest of the tracks on the album (The Taste of Rain... Why Kneel?), as Doseone contemplates how “a droplet sears the stillness of space dissolved”, while Alias is reassured by the contained chaos of clarifying cobwebs.
Back in the early 2000s, Skinnyman was a potential breakthrough talent who became a what-might-have-been, whose momentum was perhaps broken by a jail sentence a few years later, arising from threats made against a former girlfriend. His only solo album – Council Estate of Mind – is high-rise level social commentary on London as it was at the time (it's gotten a lot worse since then). 'Hayden,' is a measured heads-down tirade from an older and wiser head as, over a repetitive backing track, garnished with mournful, soulful wailing, he dwells on teachers who spend more time attempting to control their classes than they do educating; the young men in their late teens being locked up until their mid-thirties; and a generation with their backs pushed up against a wall, who don't make long-term plans, “and you can't tell them that they're wrong, 'cause they're all men-child who feel they know what's going on”.
Brechtian is an adjective not commonly associated with rap, yet it aptly describes 'The Little Children' – a collaboration between David Axlerod, whose work has been heavily sampled in hip-hop circles, and the rapper Ras Kass. There's a good minute and a half of avant-garde threepenny operatics – a simmering of gypsy violin and a solemn children's chorus laced together with liquoricey threads of New Orleans jazz – before Kass, taking the role of the devil, breaks down the combined failure of social and political systems that deliver innocent souls into his hands.
Roots Manuva has been out of action since 2018 when he was laid low by a subdural haematoma. Prior to this, he was an idiosyncratic and likeable presence on the UK hip-hop scene throughout the 2000s. Raised Pentecostal, there is often a spiritual or churchy influence at play in his music. On the casual but self-assured overture to a relationship, 'Dreamy Daze', glassy harpsichord frames a ragged, half-baked chorus that veers into nostalgia in the last line as the melody steps back on itself.
Caught between spotlights, in the Venn overlap between rap and street poetry, Steven Jesse Bernstein, who ran with the Grungers but who belonged to an older generation, was a deeply troubled man whose brain was literally too large for his skull. He laid down the material for what was to become 'Prison' shortly before his suicide at the age of 40. Th album was finished by Steve Fisk who added music or, on some tracks, ambient backing. 'No No Man Part 2' – Bernstein's parting words to the world – are accompanied by the kind of careening sawtooth jazz that might soundtrack a car chase through 1920s Chicago, while he rants like an animal backed into a corner at a world that has failed him, where even the stars are nothing more than gloomy pocket change.