You may see some terrible hip hop on the radio and immediately generalize about the whole genre. Rap isn't like that, though. There is so much diversity in it. If you're tired of all of that popular rap bullshi+ you see and hear day to day there are alternatives. Here are a few of some of those choices. Also don't be closed minded. There may be some music on this list you won't like, but don't immediately dismiss it as bad. Just look carefully and decide for yourself.


My top three favorite albums. These three are constantly in rotation.

1.Do You Want More?!!!??! This is the best Roots album. Musically it has a nice relaxed feel mix with jazz. Musically it is the best album out there. I can listen to this all day. It never gets old.

2.Illmatic Nas's first album. Produced by Large Professor of Main source, Pete Rock, and DJ Premier. The beats and the lyrics on the Album are ridiculous. It is only 40 minutes long but it is 40 minutes of near perfection.

3.Aquemini Outkast's third and best album. Everything on this CD is ill. The first three songs not including the into are ridiculous.



The Roots. My all time favorite group. All of their albums are nice. There most two recent Phrenology and The Tipping Point are not even close to their best but are still good. My favorite roots album is Do You Want More as I said on top. Organix is their first album my next favorite. Both Organix and Do You Want More have a much more jazzy feeling and have more improvisation. Illadelph Halflife and Things Fall Apart are their next best albums. They are more complete with better production.



The rest of Okayplayer.com. Common, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Jean Grae. Four incredible MCs. All of these people have put out great albums not necessarily at the same time they were on Okayplayer. The best is either Black Star with Mos Def and Talib or Reflection Eternal/Train of Thought by Talib and DJ Hi-Tek. After that there is Resurrection and Like Water For Chocolate by Common. Black on Both Sides by Mos Def. And Attack of the Attacking Things by Jean Grae, an quality underground record.



A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. Everybody should know about these groups. They do hip-hop like it should be done. The Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders by A Tribe Called Quest are two outstanding CDs that are definitely must haves. De La Soul Is Dead is De La's second and best album, produced by Prince Paul. The Grind Date is De La's newest album. It is very different from their first albums. It has less skits and less comedy, but it is still nice. One of the best of 2004.



Jurassic 5. Another great group. Headed by Chali 2na's baritone flow, catchy hooks, and nice beats by nu mark and cut chemist, Power in Numbers is their best release. Quality Control is more of the same but not quite as good. Still very good.



Gangster. It is not my favorite genre of rap, but some of it is good. Here are a few good albums (I have to keep this short, Halfvalue wont let me write too much)

All Eyez on Me by 2pac, so many classics.

The Chronic by Dr. Dre, the beats on this are ill.

Straight Outta Compton by NWA, the lyrics on this are the best on any other gangster album.

Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang, a classic, the album that started it all.



Underground. Underground is my favorite type of hip-hop. There is so much raw talent. You have to know what you like because there is stuff that one person may like and someone else might not. There is so much I'm gonna break it in to more categories.



Hieroglyphics. They have made many good albums. These are my favorites. Deltron 3030 by Delton and Dan the Automater. This it one of the most different albums I have ever heard, but the beats on this CD are the third best on any CD next to Do You Want More?!?!!?? and Mecca and the Soul Brother by Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth. 93 'Til Infinity by Souls of Mischeif, which is pretty much Hieroglyphics. Its a little dated but still amazing. 3rd Eye Visiona quality CD with many good songs. Not as good as the other 2.



Definitive Jux. They have easily the strongest collection of artists than any other label. El-P the rest of Company Flow, Aesop Rock, Mr. Lif, Cannibal Ox, Murs, RJD2, and more. All of the beats on the next 4 albums are produced by El-P. The beats are all really different so not everyone will like them. The first CD I'll mention is Funcrusher Plus This albums is mad nice. Beats and lyrics are both real good. Really raw. I Phantom by Mr. Lif, by boy from Boston. It has a story behind it, really interesting and well done. Labor Days by Aesop Rock. The lyrics are so fast and complex that it takes like 3 or 4 times sometimes to understand them. The Cold Vein by Cannibal Ox. The lyrics and beats are really good. Another quality release.



MF Doom. He is my favorite underground MCs but not everyone will like him. His rhymes and different character are close to impossible to decipher. This is some of the most creative stuff in the Underground, but a lot of people find his rhymes and characters just stupid. My 2 favorite CDs by MF is Vaudeville Villain an underground classic. Madvillainy the best album of 2004, a collaboration with Madlib. MM..Food? is not his best but still good. AlsoOperation: Doomsday, his first solo album, is supposed to be good but I couldn't find it anywhere for less than 100$ and I don't have close to that money for 1 Cd.



The rest of the underground. Shadows On The Sun by Brother Ali. Lyrically he is really nice. He raps about all topics from battle raps to looks, specifically being an albino. Revolutionary, Vol. 2 by Immortal Technique. He is one of the best lyracists out there. The beats are pretty bad but the lyrics mostly political are sick. Violent by Design by Jedi Mind Tricks. This CD is just raw hip-hop. This is defiantly a must have. All of the Above by J-Live. Another sick lyriacist. Here Come the Lords by Lords of the underground. Good lyrics and beats, the only problem is that they talk a little too much about keeping it underground. Word...Life by O.C. It is a very over looked album almost as good as Illmatic. O.C. has a similar lyrical style to Nas. Breaking Atoms by Main Source headed by Large Professor. Blazing Arrow and Nia are both really good CD's by Blackalicious. The first time I listened to these CD I didn't think much of them, but on 2nd or 3rd listen I realized how good they were. The beats are up-tempo and melodic and the lyrics are quick and smooth. A Prince Among Thieves by Prince Paul. Has a story line and the beats and guests are ill.



Miscellaneous. Power in Numbers and Quality Control by Jurassic 5. Headed by Chali 2na's baritone flow, catchy hooks, and nice beats by nu mark and cut chemist both of these are good. ATLiens by Outkast is almost as good as Aquemini, it is less upbeat and more melodic. < ASIN: B00005A09L> by the Pharcyde is a classic.



I couldn't put all the CD's I wanted to on this list. I even had to cut the Old School section because Halfvalue wont let me write too much, but these CD's are a start. Decide what you like, don't go with what others say like including me. This is just advice. You might not like all these CD's but you won't know until you listen.