The "Adderal Admiral" himself
I hate monotony. It really bugs me when I write in the same style and format over and over again. So this week, I’m taking a break from the typical Classic Cuts framework and I’m going to do a list. GROUNDBREAKING STUFF, I KNOW, but altogether different nonetheless.
This week we’re going to talk about hip-hop. You know, the hippie, the hippie, to the hip, hip, hop. That kind of thing.
I know most of you are thinking, “Why do I care about rap music? Most of it is terrible pop-rappers trying to make a buck off suburban teenagers, talking about bitches, hoes and money.” To these people, I say you’re right. The hip-hop they play on the radio is horrible. If I have to hear Nicki Minaj do her best impression of Fat Albert, or hear Lil Wayne’s annoyingly popular giggle one more time, I will find the nearest cliff and hip-hop right off it.
"HEY HEY HEY, it's 'Pink Friday!'"
But please, believe me, there has been a surge of talented rap artists making names for themselves in the underground scene. You just have to search for it.
But as luck may have it, I already did the searching for you. Here is a list of the top 10 most interesting rappers today:
10. Captain Murphy
Who is he?: The latest internet sensation that is shrouded mystery. The mystery is, no one knows who he actually is. Someone who doesn’t want to be famous??? This makes him even more of a hot commodity.
Many people think he is producer Flying Lotus, starting his rap career under another name, but I say who cares who he is? If he doesn’t want us to know, then we don’t need to know. What I do know however, is he can spit rhymes with the best of them, showcasing his talented lyrical flow on the four songs he has released to date. Added bonus: his name is derived from the television show, “SeaLab 2021.” This guy keeps getting cooler by the second.
Starter Songs: Between Friends (produced by Flying Lotus, featuring Earl Sweatshirt), “Shake Weight,” “Mighty Morphin’ Foreskin,” “The Ritual”
You're not that pretty man.
9. A$AP Rocky
Who is he?: He is “a pretty motherfucker” according to himself. I would have to tend to disagree with him on that note. I will say though, that he does bring a certain funk and attitude that hip-hop hasn’t seen in awhile. The funk in his music is almost psychedelic at times, like hip-hop meets LSD. But the attitude is what has gotten him the most recognition to date. His beef with rapper SpaceGhostPurrp and his affection for fighting anyone and everyone that irks him makes him quite the wildcard. But hey, at least he does his fighting for himself, unlike some rappers I know (Yeah, I’m talking to you Chris Brown. You too, Drake.)
Starter Songs: Brand New Guy (featuring Schoolboy Q), “Trilla,” “Acid Drip”
8. Death Grips
Who are they?: This band transcends genre, but I’m going to attempt to describe them anyway. Its one part punk, one part electronic, and one part hip-hop mixing into a crazy, noise-filled mess that comes out with hints of pop sensibility. Whoa, that was a mouthful.
MC Ride’s voice is so harsh, gritty, and low that you can’t even hear what he is saying half the time, but when you do its well worth it. I won’t lie to you; their music is kind of like smoking cigarettes. You have to try to get it at first, but once you do, you’re hooked.
Starter Songs: “Hustle Bones,” “The Cage,” “I’ve Seen Footage”
7. Action Bronson
Who is he?: He is a fat, white man who raps about gourmet food. Already sounds great, doesn’t it? The best part about it is, he not only knows what he is talking about (he was a former fire-flame gourmet chef in New York) but he can actually rap too. Even though his cooking career has taken the back seat to his steadily rising rap job, he still has his own only cooking series called, “Action in the Kitchen,” which can be found on YouTube and proves himself to be a multi-talented man.
Starter Songs: “Tapas,” “Nordic Wind”
6. Kilo Kish
Who is she?:She is the antithesis of what it is the be a female rapper. She’s dainty and petite, cute and depressing. She talk-raps (more like poetry over funky beats) about her life, which entails hanging out with her friends, getting fucked up, and being a crazy girlfriend. A female rapper that actually acts like a lady? There may be a God after all.
Adorable and talented? Marry me?
Starter Songs: “Crosstown,” “You’re Right,” “Julienne”
5. Schoolboy Q
Who is he?: Part of the fast rising hip-hop collective Black Hippy Group (Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock and Ab-Soul are the other members) Schoolboy Q has began to pop up almost everywhere in hip-hop lately. With his unique voice and comical yet clever lyrical ability, Schoolboy is one of the most promising young rappers today, especially if all of his friends get famous too.
Starter Songs: “Hands on the Wheel” (featuring A$AP Rocky), “There He Go”
4. Vince Staples
Who is he?: OFWGKTA affiliate, Vince staples is definitely one of the most overlooked rappers coming out of the L.A. scene today. His lyrical flow is haunting and dark. He raps about his questions of religion and society but it’s not heavy or pretentious. Although, I don’t think he will ever fully break out from the underground, (mostly because he is too real for the mainstream) I definitely see him becoming an underground legend like a less complicated MF DOOM.
Starter Songs: “Taxi,” “Versace Rap,” “Matlock”
3. MF DOOM
Who is he?: Speak of the devil, or maybe he is more of a god?
SUPER-VILLAIN PHOTOBOMB
MF Doom, who is now in his forties, has been one of the most influential rappers of the last twenty years. His lyrics are complicated and his flow is completely original. Every line is ingenious, making it difficult to listen to. The best part about him is, every time you listen to it, you catch something new you didn’t notice before. Doom has been cited as an influence to many young rappers today including Tyler, the Creator, Earl Sweatshirt and Danny Brown (who we will discuss shortly)
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. Doom’s rap persona is the super-villain, which is why he wears his metal-face mask and gives him an edge and mystery that is sought after by many young artists today (see: Captain Murphy).
Starter Songs: “Accordion,” “All Caps”
2. Earl Sweatshirt
Who is he?: At the age of 16, this kid could rap better than most in their late 20’s. His debut album, simply titled, “Earl,” impressed hip-hop heads across the nation with his unique wordplay and shock-rap lyrics. Then, Earl was sent away to a Samoan troubled boy’s camp for reasons unbeknownst to anyone outside of the tight knit circle of OFWGKTA. Now he’s back, and although he’s dropped his shocking lyrics, Sweatshirt has expanded his “flowcabulary” and has taken on a style to the likes of MF DOOM; otherwise known as genius but fucking complicated.
Starter Songs: “Couch (featuring Tyler, The Creator),” “Kill,” “Super Rich Kids (featuring Frank Ocean),” “Between Friends (featuring Flying Lotus and Captain Murphy)
1. Danny Brown
Who is he?: Danny Brown is a man of many faces on his debut mix tape, “XXX.” He’s the “adderal admiral,” a rock star, and at one point, a 1985 version of Michael J. Fox. What Danny Brown is most of all though, is quite possibly the most talented rapper in the industry today. His unique voice (which can go from a slightly annoying, high pitch to a deep, Isaac Hayes low) coupled with his joke-ridden lyrics has made him a fan favorite. Yet, his best attribute is that the songs are about his life, and nothing makes for better rap than true stories told over amazing beats.
Starter Songs: “Die Like a Rockstar,” “Detroit 187,” “Radio Song,” “Lie 4”
Danny Brown? Is that you?