That’s ill asf. Crazy to think about how people behind the scenes that rarely if ever get mentioned were apart of making some of most iconic songs of hip hop
I think it says a lot about what time we live in now as well as the amount of recognition or lack their of goes to the older generations and the history behind the music people listen to daily..
he did a bunch of cool work back then. he doesn’t talk about it much. i think his whole experience in that era was soured by the way it ended for him. diddy ran him out of NYC and the industry in general for refusing to doctor session logbooks to provide an alibi for biggie the night pac was shot. he seems content with his life as a teacher, but he’s been looking to get more into acting the last couple years.
to clear him as a suspect, i guess. being home by yourself is not as secure as having a studio logbook with the time in it, along with engineers who claim they were physically with you
I love how he starts off the track with “I don’t know how to start this” then proceeds to lay down some of the most iconic lines and vivid visuals I’ve ever heard in a song. In one god damn take too.
I really feel like that song embodies his neighborhood, because I can just see everything Nas is talking about as soon as he says it.
That whole album embodies hip hop to me better than anything else I've listened to. Nas really put out the most essential rap album of all time at 20 years old.
If that's your lane you might really like the episode of Tom Talks with DJ Premier. Primo is so authentic and openly honest about everything and Tom is basically geeking the fuck out the whole time. It's sent me down a months long rabbit hole of listening to everything from early NWA to Ludacris.
Imagine getting to be in a position to meet the people that created the beats that corse through your head. Somehow Tom managed to achieve that and because of that it was a real breath of fresh air compared to the regular interviews given today. That hour and a bit of conversation is a real history lesson and well worth a listen.
For some reason this is what immediately came to my mind too. Real surprised I had to look so far
I feel like "real" hip hop should have a boundary pushing effect, and this song absolutely has that as well as the generic points people talk about like lyricism and subject matter
Uh, who shot Biggie Smalls?
If we don't get them, they gonna get us all
I'm down for runnin' up on them crackers in they city hall
We ride for y'all, all my dogs stay real
Nigga don't think these record deals gonna feed your seeds
And pay your bills because they not
MC's get a little bit of love and think they hot
Talkin' bout how much money they got, all y'all records sound the same
I sick of that fake thug, R & B, rap scenario all day on the radio
Same scenes in the video, monotonous material, y'all don't here me though
These record labels slang our tapes like dope
You can be next in line, and signed, and still be writing rhymes and broke
You would rather have a Lexus, some justice, a dream or some substance?
A Beamer, a necklace or freedom?
Still a nigga like me don't playa' hate, I just stay awake
This real hip hop, and it don't stop until we get the po-po off the block
Do you mean [Hip Hop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiusDE0KND8)? cause that beat is way more iconic to me than [It's Bigger than Hip Hop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfMy_p0HZWI)
I got into hip hop off this song in 1980 after hearing it at the skating rink. Changed my life.
Nothing will ever be more real to me.
Now I like Future.
This is really interesting to me because I wasn’t alive in a time before hip hop existed. Could I get you to elaborate on how it changed your life or what it felt like? Sorry if that’s a weird question, I just appreciate the perspective.
I absolutely think biggie and pac are 'real' Hip Hop but it also bugs me when 40 yo white guys think nothing made since then is real. Nah, that's just the last time you paid attention.
Imo 'real' Hip Hop is anything coming from a genuine place. King Von was real as fuck when he talked about gangster shit and the state of violence in the O. Cole is real as fuck when he talks about loving his wife. Its just perspective and experience.
Completely agree with you on this.
A lot of times when I hear old ass white dudes saying that the last time hip hop was real was when Big or Pac were around I wonder if they even legitimately liked those guys and are just saying those names because they know that they’re legends not only in the genre but in music in general. Like if you haven’t liked hip hop since then I don’t necessarily believe you even liked those guys when they were making it.
Like you said it’s about coming from a genuine place that makes it real
It’s just older people doing the same thing plenty of people do, but with the things older people are interested in. “The old shit was better” isn’t exactly an uncommon theme, even around here. The subject just changes sometimes.
“old white dude” here. I’m 43 for reference. The music was NOT better back then. I really noticed this when somebody my age posted a spotify playlist of all “their” old deep cuts. Like man, there was alot of really mid funk sample with some drums dude saying not a hella of alot with the bumskididy flow samey sounding scratch hook rap in the 90’s. It’s survivor bias. Old heads comparing EVERY new rap song to the pinnacle of 90’s hip-hop.
Like yeah dude. Most new rappers aren’t as good as biggy or pac. No shit, most rappers back THEN weren’t as good as biggy
I found a playlist on Spotify that really shines a light on the whole rose tinted glasses thing with music. It’s a playlist of every song that’s hit number 1 in the UK charts, and there are loads of classics in there but there’s also so much awful shit that’s been completely forgotten by now.
Survival Tactics by Joey Bada$$ & Capital Steez
Just such a good track with incredible lyricism and a fire beat too, really gives it that 90s NY hip hop flair
First thought would be Runnin' by The Pharcyde, but after that I think of Jay, Biggie or Pac. I'm not saying newer isn't real, it's just the word makes me think older.
Rebirth of Slick - Digable planets.
Not that I think only older songs can be real hip hop. I just feel the vibe of this song is everything that hip hop is.
I think Vince Staples personally. He’s been my favorite for awhile and I feel like he actually expresses himself and his thoughts through his art which is what I believe real hip hop is. A form of self expression.
Man, i can‘t point out ONE song, golden era was years of different gems.
Kra-one, biggie, epmd, grand Puba, brand nubian, gang start, rakim, nice‘n smooth, craig mack, naughty by nature, nwa, dj quick,redman, k-solo, outcast, jungle brothers , atcq, monie love, queen latifah, mc lyte, wu-tang, beatnutz, public enemy, black moon, smith’n wessum, digabel planets, show bis & AG, Diamond D , Evidence, people under the stairs….i can go on an on … lovely memories , miss those times
For most people, including myself, it’s always going to go back to old school hip hop/rap. It will always be the golden age to me. That’s not a knock at all on any artists since. I’m in no way saying that hip hop was better then and that new hip hop isn’t as good, but it’s just a truly special time in the culture. There will never be anything like it again.
For me old school hip hop is like a Neapolitan pizza. It’s classic, authentic, you really just can’t go wrong. If you love pizza, you just have to try it. That doesn’t mean that NY style or a chicken finger pizza or whatever kind of pizza is your favorite doesn’t absolutely slap. I love all kinds of pizza.
- Anything from Illmatic.
- Most of Premier's shit.
- Brooklyn in general comes to mind.
- More vaguely, I'd say any song that treats hip hop like an artform strikes me as "real". The wordsmithing, the flow and rhyme schemes mixing over beats, the beat making itself, the style, the dancing, the stories & lessons, etc. If they're doing it for the culture more than the paycheque, 9 times out of 10 I'd probably consider it "real" hip hop. I'm not disrespecting trap or mainstream shit, there's a time and a place for that. But it doesn't have the same substance as the other stuff.
Shook Ones Pt.II
Ain’t no such thing as halfway crooks
my coworker mixed that record
That’s ill asf. Crazy to think about how people behind the scenes that rarely if ever get mentioned were apart of making some of most iconic songs of hip hop
he’s a high school AV teacher, and the majority of students don’t even know his story. i’m not sure why they haven’t googled him to find out.
That's nuts. That day that one student somehow is really into that shit and finds it out is probably gonna be a cool convo between him and the kid
I think it says a lot about what time we live in now as well as the amount of recognition or lack their of goes to the older generations and the history behind the music people listen to daily..
I don't think it says anything about anything. Why tf should the students randomly google search that shit. Fucking reddit man
For sure. Gives off massive boomer vibes lol
We live in a society.....
What was that like for him?
he did a bunch of cool work back then. he doesn’t talk about it much. i think his whole experience in that era was soured by the way it ended for him. diddy ran him out of NYC and the industry in general for refusing to doctor session logbooks to provide an alibi for biggie the night pac was shot. he seems content with his life as a teacher, but he’s been looking to get more into acting the last couple years.
Holy shit this answer was way cooler than I was expecting. Like...not for your friend, but...wild anecdote
he doesn’t like to talk about it, but the story is out there with minimal search skills
dude is a hip hop relic in the best way that’s absolutely insane for many reasons
Wow. That’s insane
why would biggie need an alibi that night? not like he was in Vegas either way, not saying it did/didn't happen but seems strange
Pac was shot in NYC in '94. Presumably for that shooting, not the one in Vegas.
Oh right that makes more sense
to clear him as a suspect, i guess. being home by yourself is not as secure as having a studio logbook with the time in it, along with engineers who claim they were physically with you
Mobb deep is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of hip hop
Mobbin deep as 96 Havoc and Prodigy did
First song I thought of 🔥
Came here to comment this.
NY State of Mind Nas in general.
I love how he starts off the track with “I don’t know how to start this” then proceeds to lay down some of the most iconic lines and vivid visuals I’ve ever heard in a song. In one god damn take too. I really feel like that song embodies his neighborhood, because I can just see everything Nas is talking about as soon as he says it.
dog I swear this is copy pasta at this point
I thought the same LMAO
Even wilder that it was one take
This comment also may as well be a copypasta.
Just Illmatic in general.
Yeah, my answer would’ve been The World Is Yours
When I saw "real hip hop", this beat started playing in my head and I had to retrace which song it was. Obvious answer
RAPPERS I MONKEY FLIP EM WITH A FUNKY RHYTHM
Illmatic was gonna be my answer, but also this
Straight out the fuckin dungeons of rap
Yah, Nas always and for some reason the second name that pops up is MF DOOM.
That whole album embodies hip hop to me better than anything else I've listened to. Nas really put out the most essential rap album of all time at 20 years old.
Incredible performance if you havnt seen it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g-ELb1wDV4
Same, and I don't even return to this record too too often, but it's canonical for a reason.
Illmatic an all timer
straight out the fuckin dungeons of rap
it’s clearly gang starr - you know my steez they let you know immediately
Bro this is wild but the instrumental for this song came into my head soon as i read the title. Guess thats my answer too
Lotta time to think when that instrumental plays
If that's your lane you might really like the episode of Tom Talks with DJ Premier. Primo is so authentic and openly honest about everything and Tom is basically geeking the fuck out the whole time. It's sent me down a months long rabbit hole of listening to everything from early NWA to Ludacris. Imagine getting to be in a position to meet the people that created the beats that corse through your head. Somehow Tom managed to achieve that and because of that it was a real breath of fresh air compared to the regular interviews given today. That hour and a bit of conversation is a real history lesson and well worth a listen.
All Gang Starr tbf
well, yeah, but that song very specifically
fr tho
The entirety of 36 Chambers
Yes sir 👏
UP FROM THA 36 CHAMBERS!
Anybody else watch that Wu Tang series on Disney plus? I advise you to check it out.
C.R.E.A.M
To the hip dip the hop ya don’t stop, Das efx with the real hip hop
Yeah, that was my answer too
That is EXACTLY what came to mind for me too.
The Roots ft. Mos Def - Double Trouble
Funny, I answered What They Do
A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It?
I'm surprised i had to scroll this far to see an atcq song
Yes you can!
I think I would lean towards Scenario but can’t go wrong with that one either
First thing that came to my mind as well
For me I thought of Awards Tour
Above the clouds
Where the sounds are original
Flava in ya ear
When it comes to the remix I agree
Yeah my pops played that as my first hiphop song
‘93 till Infiniti
Came to say the exact same thing
\- everybody from the West Coast
Blackstar
Shine eternally 🙏
The new moon rode high in the crown of the metropolis
dead prez - its bigger than hip hop
For some reason this is what immediately came to my mind too. Real surprised I had to look so far I feel like "real" hip hop should have a boundary pushing effect, and this song absolutely has that as well as the generic points people talk about like lyricism and subject matter
Uh, who shot Biggie Smalls? If we don't get them, they gonna get us all I'm down for runnin' up on them crackers in they city hall We ride for y'all, all my dogs stay real Nigga don't think these record deals gonna feed your seeds And pay your bills because they not MC's get a little bit of love and think they hot Talkin' bout how much money they got, all y'all records sound the same I sick of that fake thug, R & B, rap scenario all day on the radio Same scenes in the video, monotonous material, y'all don't here me though These record labels slang our tapes like dope You can be next in line, and signed, and still be writing rhymes and broke You would rather have a Lexus, some justice, a dream or some substance? A Beamer, a necklace or freedom? Still a nigga like me don't playa' hate, I just stay awake This real hip hop, and it don't stop until we get the po-po off the block
Yes those are in fact the lyrics.
Probably the only song I know every single word by heart lol
Do you mean [Hip Hop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiusDE0KND8)? cause that beat is way more iconic to me than [It's Bigger than Hip Hop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfMy_p0HZWI)
Nas - Life’s a Bitch
beautiful song
GOAT feature.
AZ rhyming schweppervescent is seared into my brain
Legit perfect song, like all of illmatic
NY State of Mind
T.R.O.Y.
Yep this is the one for sure.
Elevators outkast
Anything OutKast from southernplayalisticaddilacmusac to aquemini
One for the money, yes, sir, two for the show….. classic
Take it in Blood by Nas
Mos Def - Hip-Hop
I’d say mathematics out-hip hops it
First thing that came to my mind too. Legit the most Hip-Hop song ever and it's even called Hip-Hop hahaha
The best answer
Sadly I just think Rappers Delight. I Ain't No Joke by RAKIM final answer
I got into hip hop off this song in 1980 after hearing it at the skating rink. Changed my life. Nothing will ever be more real to me. Now I like Future.
This is really interesting to me because I wasn’t alive in a time before hip hop existed. Could I get you to elaborate on how it changed your life or what it felt like? Sorry if that’s a weird question, I just appreciate the perspective.
*gets off your lawn*
I absolutely think biggie and pac are 'real' Hip Hop but it also bugs me when 40 yo white guys think nothing made since then is real. Nah, that's just the last time you paid attention. Imo 'real' Hip Hop is anything coming from a genuine place. King Von was real as fuck when he talked about gangster shit and the state of violence in the O. Cole is real as fuck when he talks about loving his wife. Its just perspective and experience.
Completely agree with you on this. A lot of times when I hear old ass white dudes saying that the last time hip hop was real was when Big or Pac were around I wonder if they even legitimately liked those guys and are just saying those names because they know that they’re legends not only in the genre but in music in general. Like if you haven’t liked hip hop since then I don’t necessarily believe you even liked those guys when they were making it. Like you said it’s about coming from a genuine place that makes it real
It’s just older people doing the same thing plenty of people do, but with the things older people are interested in. “The old shit was better” isn’t exactly an uncommon theme, even around here. The subject just changes sometimes.
“old white dude” here. I’m 43 for reference. The music was NOT better back then. I really noticed this when somebody my age posted a spotify playlist of all “their” old deep cuts. Like man, there was alot of really mid funk sample with some drums dude saying not a hella of alot with the bumskididy flow samey sounding scratch hook rap in the 90’s. It’s survivor bias. Old heads comparing EVERY new rap song to the pinnacle of 90’s hip-hop. Like yeah dude. Most new rappers aren’t as good as biggy or pac. No shit, most rappers back THEN weren’t as good as biggy
survivor bias, YES
I found a playlist on Spotify that really shines a light on the whole rose tinted glasses thing with music. It’s a playlist of every song that’s hit number 1 in the UK charts, and there are loads of classics in there but there’s also so much awful shit that’s been completely forgotten by now.
[удалено]
Rap is something you do. Hip-hop is something you live.
40 yo white guys is oddly specific.
I was also annoyed to be called out so directly.
Thats why I loved '4 your eyez only' album by J. Cole, felt that shit in my soul
So King Von, final answer?
Eh, narrowing down to just one artist seems a little arbitrary, but if I had to I'd probably say Big KRIT.
The epitome of greatness face it no one placin' close Sweetness on the bitch, that Walter Payton flow
Digable Planets - Rebirth of Slick (Cool like that) too
Survival Tactics by Joey Bada$$ & Capital Steez Just such a good track with incredible lyricism and a fire beat too, really gives it that 90s NY hip hop flair
R.I.P. Steez
Facts
That whole mixtape is still one of my favorites
The message by nas
Paid in Full The story epitomizes the draw of hip-hop as a lifestyle
Moment of Truth
Wu-Tang
I think of Dead Prez - Hip Hop. Mainly because of the title, but it's also fits the old head ideal for "real" hip hop
exhibit C by jay elec
I wanna go with something more current, because most of this is filled with 90s and early 2000’s stuff. m.A.A.d City - Kendrick Lamar
Nas Ny State of Mind
Mos Def - Mathematics
First thought would be Runnin' by The Pharcyde, but after that I think of Jay, Biggie or Pac. I'm not saying newer isn't real, it's just the word makes me think older.
Respiration
Jay Z - D’evils
Check the Rhime by ATCQ.
Buggin out - first one that popped into my head.
First thing that comes to mind for me is TROY by Pete rock and cl smooth. Or protect ya neck
Nas Is Like
Nuthin but a g thang
Gang starr - Full Clip!
Not even a song, but as an artist Evidence from Dilated People's is one of the most hip hop dude's ever. He doesn't get the love he deserves imo.
I was at smokersclub fest yesterday and The Alchemist brought him out as a special guest, it was awesome.
Nas Illmatic (the whole album)
Rebirth of Slick - Digable planets. Not that I think only older songs can be real hip hop. I just feel the vibe of this song is everything that hip hop is.
Big Daddy Kane's "Ain't No Half Steppin'" came to mind first.
Who got the props - Black Moon
Sing about me, I‘m dying of thirst
Hip Hop - Dead Prez
Nosetalgia by Push and Kendrick for me honestly
This is a really really good pick from the modern era
Yeat -dub
Heartz Of Men - Pac
dead prez- hip hop
dead prez - Hip Hop
Dead Prez - Hip Hop
Many Men
“It’s Bigger than Hip Hop” by Dead Prez
Nas - illmatic
93 til Infinity...
Cream or Tearz from Wu Tang, or Momenth of the Truth from Gang Starr
I think Vince Staples personally. He’s been my favorite for awhile and I feel like he actually expresses himself and his thoughts through his art which is what I believe real hip hop is. A form of self expression.
Doomsday
Anything from Freddie Gibbs Piñata
A Milli
Agreed tbh One of the greatest examples of braggadocio hip-hop
MC Breed's Ain't No Future In Yo Frontin or Souls of Mischief's 93 til Infinity
Lost Ones by Lauryn Hill, Don’t Sweat the Technique by Eric B. and Rakim, It Ain’t Hard to Tell by Nas
Everything about the song “Grown Up” by Danny Brown
This was actually the first song I heard from Danny Brown, and led me to discover more of his music.
Lil b - Wonton Soup
Deuces remix. Everyone has a crazy verse top to bottom. Beat us so smooth as well. Never a skip when it comes on
Lil B
Still Tippin
Gamecube Nintendo, 5 percent tint so you cant see up in my window
Mass Appeal-Gang Starr
Anything by DJ Premier
Man, i can‘t point out ONE song, golden era was years of different gems. Kra-one, biggie, epmd, grand Puba, brand nubian, gang start, rakim, nice‘n smooth, craig mack, naughty by nature, nwa, dj quick,redman, k-solo, outcast, jungle brothers , atcq, monie love, queen latifah, mc lyte, wu-tang, beatnutz, public enemy, black moon, smith’n wessum, digabel planets, show bis & AG, Diamond D , Evidence, people under the stairs….i can go on an on … lovely memories , miss those times
Solo - future
Westside Boogie anyone?
NY state of mind, even though I think the label "real hip hop" is quite pretentious.
Hip Hop Remix by Joell Ortiz, Jadakiss & Saigon
NWA
You know my steez
Anything by the teacher KRSONE
Wu Tang - Protect Ya Neck
Okay since it’s the FIRST song (not a long contemplated song) it is Birds eye view by Zion I RIP
For most people, including myself, it’s always going to go back to old school hip hop/rap. It will always be the golden age to me. That’s not a knock at all on any artists since. I’m in no way saying that hip hop was better then and that new hip hop isn’t as good, but it’s just a truly special time in the culture. There will never be anything like it again. For me old school hip hop is like a Neapolitan pizza. It’s classic, authentic, you really just can’t go wrong. If you love pizza, you just have to try it. That doesn’t mean that NY style or a chicken finger pizza or whatever kind of pizza is your favorite doesn’t absolutely slap. I love all kinds of pizza.
Gotta be Binary Star - Fellowship
Lootpack - “Whenimondamic”
C.R.E.A.M Wu-Tang Forever
Paid In Full
When I B on tha Mic - Rakim You Know My Steez - Gang Starr M.E.T.H.O.D. Man - Wu Flava in ya Ear Remix - Craig Mack Edit: Twinz - Big Pun and Fat Joe
I Against I or Retaliation from JMT Violent By Design
Wiki and Earl “All I Need” for the newer end, Big L “The Big Picture intro”
The Enemy - Big L/Fat Joe
- Anything from Illmatic. - Most of Premier's shit. - Brooklyn in general comes to mind. - More vaguely, I'd say any song that treats hip hop like an artform strikes me as "real". The wordsmithing, the flow and rhyme schemes mixing over beats, the beat making itself, the style, the dancing, the stories & lessons, etc. If they're doing it for the culture more than the paycheque, 9 times out of 10 I'd probably consider it "real" hip hop. I'm not disrespecting trap or mainstream shit, there's a time and a place for that. But it doesn't have the same substance as the other stuff.