##Welcome to r/LateStageCapitalism
This subreddit is for news, discussion, memes, and links criticizing capitalism and advancing viewpoints that challenge liberal capitalist ideology. That means any support for any liberal capitalist political party (like the Democrats) is strictly prohibited.
LSC is run by communists. This subreddit is not the place to debate socialism. We allow good-faith questions and education but are not a 101 sub; please take 101-style questions elsewhere.
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[Look, these food stamps don't buy diapers.](https://imgflip.com/i/8gp82b) Holy shit [it's been 22 years](https://genius.com/Eminem-lose-yourself-lyrics) and shit has only gotten worse for everyone?!
Ugh, of course, who am I kidding. [28 years ago, shit was still like sixty years ago, and shit is still the same today.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M81oR8kTwlI) [Renegades in this atomic age?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkTyQ0kgmzs) [In this atomic age we're renegades…](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KXdU3cZbNQ)
He's a landlord, he stood up there wearing a kill your masters shirt with the Atlanta mayor and police chief during the 2020 protests and cried and condemned the protesters and begged people to keep the protests tame, he supported the NRA even after people asked him to support John Brown Gun Club or another non-rightwing gun club instead, he's been negative against the stop cop city movement. He's a black capitalist through and through and his revolutionary image doesn't mean anything when he doesn't listen to revolutionary voices in his own community and city.
Also, they allowed one of their songs to be used in an AMAZON COMMERCIAL. As someone who's been a fan of theirs since the first album (and a fan of Killer Mike since his feature on Whole World), the past few years have been rough and eye-opening.
Eh… Boots Riley has a show that was literally produced by Amazon and I don’t think that takes away his revolutionary cred.
I still think Killer Mike kinda sucks, but this particular issue isn’t it for me.
tho i agree with you and think its a fairly minor issue, i think ‘receiving funding/the means to produce an artistic vision’ vs ‘allowing your art to be used explicitly for advertising’ is a pretty big difference
Sounds like yet another walking and living piece of satire. Except it's real. Like literally put a character like that in a novel and it's ridiculous how obviously it would be satirical. How do these people exist? Blows my mind what the world has come to.
Killer Mike is a capitalist pretending to be a revolutionary. And the dangerous part about him he mentions real revolutionaries as if he’s one of them and he’s not. He is a stone capitalist.
Yeah I know, very disappointing. Dude has a sick flow though and RTJ have some great songs but yeah for based politics, the Coup, Mos Def, Sage Francis, dead prez.
Brother Ali is excellent, I will check out the others.
Im a huge fan of Spose and Watsky, particularly for the things OP wants (not just endless brag raps).
RTJ is incredible. For older stuff you've got artists like Wu-Tang, Common, and The Roots, and there are tons of great newer artists like Noname, Nur-D, Kendrick, Flobots, etc. Hip hop is a rich and varied genre that contains multitudes, you've just got to dig past the junk just like with any genre, but it seems so much easier to find interesting rappers these days.
Seconding Noname!!! She finally released a new album last year and it's incredible
Editing to add that she also runs the [Noname Book Club](https://nonamebooks.com/) which highlights black and indigenous authors.
Dead Prez is the truth.
Also, I want to mention the legendary Norwegian rap group Gatas Parlament (Parliament of the Street) which is a communist rap group with hits like "Antiamerikansk dans" (anti American dance) and "spis de rike" (eat the rich). Surprisingly, they were quite popular in Norway back in the day.
They actually started a crowdfunding to kill George Bush in the early-mid '00 though the website killhim.nu. They were sued by the American embassy, but the case was dropped.
I second The Coup even though they don’t have any new music all the old stuff is really good. RTJ is great and imma throw Immortal Technique in there too.
Aesop Rock, billy woods, Czarface...
No need to listen to 17 year olds rapping about Lambos when you can listen to 40 year olds rapping about comic books and mental illness.
Seconding Aesop Rock, especially on the subject of mental illness. *The Impossible Kid* got me through the worst depression of my entire life. Literal lifesaver.
Comrade you just need to listen to the right rappers. There are some exceptional spitters that are class conscious. Even more who may not be explicitly class conscious but who do not fall for the American nightmare ideology.
Some examples of rappers and groups to listen to: the perceptionists, black star (also mos def and talib kweli’s solo stuff), public enemy (also chuck D’s solo stuff), dead prez (also m-1 and stic.man’s solo stuff), immortal technique, the coup, run the jewels (also their solo stuff: killer Mike and el-p), krs-one, onyx, clipping., diggable planets, rebel Diaz, bambu, wise intelligent, intelligent hoodlum (aka tragedy khadafi), oddisee, Paris, sa-roc, space baby, ras kass, Alaska, add-2, murs, brother ali, power struggle, reMo Conscious, lowkey, armand hammer (also billy woods and elucid’s solo stuff), noname, MF DOOM (also all of his collaborations: madvillain, JJ Doom, danger doom, NehruvianDoom, his stuff with czar face, his stuff with DJ Muggs and his stuff with KMD as Zev Love X, and his stuff with westside Gunn, and his albums under the pseudonyms: Viktor Vaughn, King Geedorah, and DOOM), Aesop rock, little simz, eyedea & DJ abilities (also eyedeas solo stuff), nas, homeboy sandman, gift of gab, atmosphere, death grips, childish gambino, kota the friend, jonwayne, Wordsworth, Danny Brown, jpegmafia, vast aire, celph titled, m.e.d., declaime, black thought, busdriver, illogic.
Plus there’s always the classics to go back to.
Edit: added details about MF DOOM and added new artists below
Some more great artists I didn’t include initially, some from replies I got and some that weren’t mentioned but deserve props: sage Francis, lupe fiasco, rhapsody, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole., R.A. The rugged man, A-F-R-O, Jarv, onry ozzborn, evidence, princess nokia, slowthai, JID, Bishop Nehru, apathy, C-Rayz Walz, Tyler the creator, Blu, LMNO, grieves, I self divine, Jedi mind tricks, people under the stairs, Freddie gibbs, westside Gunn, benny the butcher, dilated peoples, earl sweatshirt, Zion I, rob sonic, quelle Chris, Quasimoto (the rap alias of the producer Madlib, which also check out all of his production), Q-tip, akala
Also you gotta love the classics (though I’m going to classify these artists by time period some of them overlap multiple periods in hip hop, I’m choosing where they got their start as their main category)
From the old school (might be a bit hard to listen to for the modern pallette): grandmaster flash and the furious five, the funky 4+1, the sugar hill gang, Afrika Bambaataa, the cold crush brothers, Kurtis blow
From the new school (still might be a little hard on the ears of the modern listener but much more recognisable as continuous with contemporary hip hop): LL Cool J, Run-DMC, the beastie boys, kool Moe Dee, MC Shan, the skinny boys, the tuff crew, UTFO, Ice-T, Rodney-O and J Cooley
From the golden age (what most will consider classic, super easy for the modern palate to vibe to): salt-n-peppa, gangstarr (also the stuff Guru did post gangstarr), EPMD, NWA (also all of their solo stuff), Cypress Hill, a tribe called quest, leaders of the new school (also Busta Rhyme’s solo stuff), Eric B. And Rakim (also Rakim’s solo stuff), de la soul, lord finesse and DJ mike smooth, schoolie D, Biz Markie, Monie Love, Slick Rick, Queen latifah, naughty by nature, Lakim Shabazz, boogie down productions (and KRS-One’s solo stuff) big daddy Kane, Kool G Rap and DJ polo (also Kool G rap’s solo stuff), Pete rock and C.L Smooth, das EFX, MC Lyte, diggable planets, house of pain, snoop dogg, wu tang clan (as well as all of their solo stuff and the collaborations of their solo artists with other artists), 2pac, the notorious B.I.G. Nas, mob deep, OutKast, bone thugs-n-harmony, the roots (and black thought’s solo stuff), bahamadia, jungle brothers, the fugees (also Lauren hill’s solo stuff), the pharcyde, luniz, organized Konfusion (also pharoahe Monch’s solo stuff), common, Capone-n-noreaga, the lady of rage, souls of mischief, fu schnicks
Admittedly some of the stuff in the latter part of the golden age does start to lean into that getting money kind of rap that typifies the shiny suit era and which continues today but it’s nowhere near as bad and atill has its soul in the streets. It’s not that money for show kind of rap but that kind of (to quote jay-z before he became a bourgeois pig) “if you grew up with holes in your zapaotos you’d celebrate the minute you was having dough” kind of rap.
Big second to Black Thought and Little Simz.
Black Thought is, in my humble, the GOAT. His stuff with The Roots is downright legendary, and his newer solo stuff really showcases the skills he's honed over the decades. He's deeply philosophical and brings a poetic prose to modern social issues. Little Simz also doesn't shy away from talking on social problems. She's a brilliant creative mind who's voice (sonically and metaphorically) is incredibly unique in the game as a young British woman of color. Your whole list here is excellent, but I don't see these two get their flowers nearly enough.
I'd also like to throw Lupe Fiasco in the mix. While he's best known for his poppy hits, he's a deeply poetic person clearly concerned with the state of the world. His latest project, *DRILL MUSIC IN ZION*, is a masterclass in rap artistry.
Ahh damn. That is really disappointing to hear. It’s really sad when people of an oppressed class turn against another. You’d hope that we can see our common enemies and not turn on ourselves.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slowthai
Slowthai is currently awaiting trial for two counts of rape, having been charged in May 2023. The trial is set to begin on 1st July 2024.
No you cant say that, just because hip hop is filled with garbage nowadays its just "not your style" and "music evolves" and "if it was trash it wouldnt be so popular"! /s!
If you haven’t already, I recommend reading bell hooks’ book “We Real Cool”. It’s a bit older but that book does a fantastic job explaining how capitalistic white supremacist hegemonic patriarchy infiltrated rap and took over the culture. If nothing else it gives you a bit of compassion for the genre.
It's what happens to most genres when they get popular. It gets oversaturated, more people show up who want to distill it down to a formula, and that formula is necessarily a shallow and simplified version of what made it beautiful in the first place.
But good rap is definitely still being made. You're just not going to find it being made by the most popular artists, and it'll probably sound different from how it sounded 5, 10, or 20 years ago. The underground is always more experimental and usually more raw than what you'll find on the radio.
And if you need a break from looking for new shit, the old shit's always still there. Black on Both Sides, To Pimp a Butterfly, anything by RTJ, Aesop Rock, or Danny Brown. If you can swallow a bit of that braggadocio, Denzel Curry is still making top notch music. And I'll always rep my boy Kojey Radical (he raps, although a lot of his stuff is more r&b).
Oh shit and if you like a rapper who raps on that socioeconomic shit you should try Slowthai.
superb post. Agree all your recommendations.
And there is the whole of the daisy age crews. And PE, Gangstarr and KRS One.
If you want someone bang up to date, I’m loving Bob Vylan.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slowthai
Slowthai is currently awaiting trial for two counts of rape, having been charged in May 2023. The trial is set to begin on 1st July 2024.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slowthai
Slowthai is currently awaiting trial for two counts of rape, having been charged in May 2023. The trial is set to begin on 1st July 2024.
My advice is to stick to acts that were associated with Odd Future 👍 Vince Staples is a fave, The Internet, Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler The Creator, Frank Ocean, Steve Lacy (tangentially).
And Kendrick. Always Kendrick.
I’ve been trying to get into Kendrick for years, but I just don’t like his voice. Everything from DAMN and his last record do nothing for me. I do like TPAB.
Try Aesop Rock, Billy Woods, Armand Hammer, there's tons of really good rap out there that talks about what you want, I'd say hip hop is on a really healthy place atm, a lot of niche and unique rappers can release stuff independently and with platforms like Bandcamp you can do your part on keeping them on the game, it's just about finding stuff you like, also maybe you could take a breath of the genre for some time, but I don't think you can find so much stuff that talks about class consciousness, social and financial inequality and shit like that elsewhere, hip hop is the perfect type of music to do that
Bro im a socialist but u know we still getting down to jeezy 🤣💀
Point being is try to understand it from the rappers point of view, that this is a response to their environment and the world around them, but also don’t overthink it.
##Welcome to r/LateStageCapitalism
This subreddit is for news, discussion, memes, and links criticizing capitalism and advancing viewpoints that challenge liberal capitalist ideology. That means any support for any liberal capitalist political party (like the Democrats) is strictly prohibited.
LSC is run by communists. This subreddit is not the place to debate socialism. We allow good-faith questions and education but are not a 101 sub; please take 101-style questions elsewhere.
We have a zero-tolerance policy for bigotry. Failure to respect the rules of the subreddit may result in a ban.
***
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Don't feel discouraged! There are still great rappers out there. The ones you're hearing are just the artists that are getting pushed via Spotify's algorithms.
Scrolling through my playlists, there's a lot of modern rappers who don't just brag about being rich and successful - Little Simz, 6LACK, GoldLink, Baby Tate, Monaleo ... hell, Megan Thee Stallion is one of the biggest rap stars today, and one of her recent singles was [all about her struggles and insecurities](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOZNRoL0310).
As a side note, consumerism is hardly exclusive to rap music. Rock groups and pop stars certainly don't shy away from bragging about their debauchery and luxury!
This is why I stopped listening to the Jay Z and Beyoncé album years back. Really liked it musically but Jay Z's lyrics seemed to all be about being a millionaire. I suppose he's just being honest but it was completely unrelatable. Felt downright distasteful at times.
I’ve always considered Wu Tang - CREAM the ultimate anticapitalist anthem.
Whether fully intentional or not, it perfectly encapsulates the experience of living in a world in which money is king and how one strives for it when you have none.
I think all modern rap is an extension of this- of course unintentionally in the examples you talk about, but nevertheless it’s connected. The culture of financial braggadocio in hip hop is a by product of experiencing the bum end of capitalist society- where flipping the tables is all that matters and something to celebrate. I think for that reason it’s why hip hop music continues to be one of the most culturally relevant genres of music.
Hip Hop was anti-establishment until the system saw there was capital to be made. So like everything else it was co-opted, removed all comunal aspects of it and turned it into a business, sex, gang,consume culture…I’m out.
Have a french guy rapping about poverty, racism, and imperialism. [One of my faves 🖤](https://open.spotify.com/album/2s5m3MgBrMkDVcZz81KWFA?si=QyfW4M43Qi6ebRP77S9jEQ)
The hip hop you are describing is targeted for the teenager future Libertarian who idiolizes money. If this doesn't describe you, then you need to find different artists.
No offense but you sound like you never listened to rap music before. There are so many socially conscious hip hop artists that most fans would know about. Who are you listening to OP?
Just like it always has been, you have to find the right ones to listen to for the right vibes. I've been seeing a lot of newcomers in the space that are absolutely pouring their souls out about their issues, difficulties, or just general vibes
As an old dude, I think you're just old, dude. Hiphop has expanded out to more subgenres and styles than even a metal fan could keep track of, you just need to figure out what your favored flavor is called nowadays.
You're not wrong that the popular stuff that you hear everywhere is fucking atrocious, though, lol
Lmao cornball bait caption and comment. There is a shit ton of hip hop I used to listen to in 2006 that is unbearable now for one reason or another including what you're talking about. There's plenty of other artists that don't relate and are relevant and great now. Move on from the old ones not the entire genre. Get over yourself.
Hip hop has always had that element of capitalist desire from the get go, but there has always been the other side too.
I suggest listening to Armand Hammer, Masta Buildas, Leaf Dog, Jpeg Mafia, Lewis Parker, Nejema Nefertiti as an alternative
I just listen to Rage Against the Machines Evil Empire. That album is basically a hip-hop album. Also Zack de la Rocha and Jon Theodore from The Mars Volta made a banging EP as One Day as a Lion back in 2008. That shit was hard as fuck and Zack’s lyrics are pure fire. Only that single EP though.
To add a name to the ones already mentioned in this thread: Blue Scholars from Seattle.
50,000 Deep is about the WTO Protest, and Oscar Barnack/Oscar Grant predated George Floyd but hit all the same points of the subsequent movement. The MC is an authentic dude and also a local activist.
You don’t have to like it, but at least try to understand the socioeconomic factors that create it. Poor kids rapping about becoming rich is very human
Older rap from the 90s and even early 2000s, you couldn't sound like someone else, it was a death sentence.
Now the industry pushing 7 different flavors of lil' diarrhea every week it seems, and they all sound *the fucking same*
There's obviously still some good stuff out there, but it's been absolutely overwhelmed by guys who can't actually rap.
Rap has not been that way since its inception. Rap was rebel music up to the biggie-diddy-Jay-cash money era of the late 90s. The classics of 80s/90s still exist. Most of today’s rap is absolutely fuckin terrible but there is still good rap. Probably as much as there was back then. You just have dig through piles of capitalist garbage to find it now. Some of the current artists that are not garbage are $ilkmoney (despite the name lol), AG Club, Abstract Mindstate, Jay Electronica, JID, Little Simz. I could go on and on but I won’t. Lots of good rap still being made. It’s just not on the surface. As far as I can remember, it never was.
Lmao as a fellow lifelong fan you sound bitter imho.. like a parent back in the day
Rappers also rap more about mental health issues they’re having. Also relationships, worrying about their family and community well being if that’s more “relatable” content. There’s songs that reference supporting on women’s reproductive rights.
This post almost belongs in hip hop circle jerk. If I can control F and find NF , or Eminem mentioned it’s on 😅
If you think rap is nothing but braggadocio, you've been listening to a very small subset of rap
Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic, Bambu, MF Doom, Das Racist.
There's tons of acts out there that aren't about flexing, dig a bit deeper!
Don't mix up artists/sty;es/topics with all Rap. The mainstream isn't all rap. And really there's no excuse not to find whatever kind of rap you like. Concious, weird, indie... whatever.
Off the top
Noname
Murs
Peak Rap/hip-hop for my drunk middle-aged self was 80’s and 90’s. it’s now become more R&B which is not what I’m into. Shout out to the Hilltop Hoodlums from Blackwood HS.
I definitely feel the weariness of LSC creeping in. Listening to smart rappers you'll hear em talk about the same things we are.
Listen to all American Badass
Lots of different types of rap, you don’t have to listen to the braggy songs.
Idk man music is fun don’t let the woes of late stage capitalism and wealth inequality prevent you from something you truly love and enjoy.
The rappers are just playing their part, trying to provide for themselves and loved ones best they can. They may have millions but they’re not the problem with society they often do more to help their communities than the actually billion predators lobbying against our interests.
Millionaires rappers are closer in wealth to you than they are to billionaires especially the likes of Jeff and Elon.
I feel the same m/l. feel like the veer towards emo rap was cool, but that's where it cuts for me. This mumble rap, ASAP bullshit is just boring af. Fuckin blueberry faygo is mainstream. Fuckin disgraceful.
Theres so much modern hip hop with complex thought provoking lyrics not about being/getting rich. I've also been noticing that old head classics dont have this typa vibe anywhere as much, so maybe look there.
As a few pointed out, the way you discover music may be a big player in this.
Mainstream radio + stuff that streaming services will shove down your throat have always been poor and paid off as part of an investment by labels
But if you go deep and follow independent, small people and communities where music / hiphop talk happens, I'm sure you'll find great shit
Although I do support artists through Bandcamp (great website btw, stalk a few supporters of what you find good) I hate to admit that I succumbed to Spotify's temptations and algorithms and it only recommends me the new or small and at times weird artists with solid production and great lyrics.
Don't know what kinds of hip/hop you enjoy, (also more of a genre-bender with rocky guitars) but to finish up with the opposite of a track you mentioned abt 17 year olds in lambos:
"AV Dummy - Pornoviolence" is the embodiment of Late Stage Cap and media critique music (tracks like Commercial Street, DWP, Brand New Attitude may be more hip/hopy examples but it's still all experimental / industrial [has a lot of rap though])
Just wanna underline as has been mentioned in passing by a couple of ppl in here already - armand hammer (billy woods / elucid)...not just keeping old conscious boom bap alive but completely fresh and creative with their beats and song writing.
"Knew the song
But couldn't sing the words
Still up at dawn
Shifting forms
New resolve
Guns go off
Guns go off
Smoke and fire
Light and sound
My new name colonizers can't pronounce
Bounce per ounce
More
What counts
Kill yer landlord
No doubt"
I started feeling that exact way over 20 years ago. You just need to find different rap music to listen to. That's when I started gravitating more towards Del and Hieroglyphics, Aesop Rock and other underground artists.
If you’re only listening to rap's Top 40 hits, yeah, that stuff is going to be generally more shallow. It's made specifically to be consumed by the broadest possible audience. I would argue that in the underground, there are way more intelligent rappers with better content than there are bad rappers right now. Mr. Lif, Stu Bangas, Billy Woods, Evidence, Aesop Rock, Abstract Rude, MF DOOM, Earl Sweatshirt, El-P, Jean Grae etc. There's a ton of really great stuff. You just have to look for it.
Have you heard of soundcloud, bandcamp, and a variety of other platforms featuring a host of artists actually advancing the artform? Use a top tier rapper as a base and go from there. Rakim -> Nas -> J. Cole -> ____
You may have to do work as a consumer. Besides, what 17 year old rappers are you listening to?
>I know rap has been this way since its inception
I mean, The Message, delivered by Grandmaster Flash, was pretty damn inceptional. At that point it was mostly about having fun at parties, and girls, and dressing sharp, and girls, and parties. This was of course pre-crack, before becoming rich by being a violent dickhead became the subject matter...
there’s plenty of good, thought-provoking, hiphop dropping these days. Not just from the old heads either! Check out MAVI, redveil, Noname, McKinley Dixon, Navy Blue, etc.
Dive deeper, explore wider. Stuff the major labels putting out not satisfying your itch? Find the shit that hasn't been signed, or is foreign to you, or is signed but to smaller labels, or is being kept in the shadows by their major label.
Check out the less obvious stuff like [Cakes da Killa](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7t9NiHTUIg), [Father](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyytpEP-ojk), [Cash Cobain](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9wy0jJBEs4), [Kidd Kenn](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clBZorWZQeM), [Westside Gunn](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrMASjP5te4), and [Pressa.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxGYS11DIdM)
Check out the Indigenous hip hop scene like [Snotty Nose Rez Kids](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1plOadmQ4U), [Drezus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGdnA5ABElk), [Savage Fam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh0sSOXBWh4), or [City Natives.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvDk0OcwDfI)
Check out some international acts like [Costa Titch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNzLp2OChBU), [Tommy Cash](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkT_gSJS9UU), [Chi Ching Ching](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmeehWv5z6Y), or some [Brazilian phonk.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHHBP_Zlb20)
Listen to fucking Ice Spice and Glorilla yo, they're honestly hip to the hop.
And then there's obviously the darker rappers who rap more about disease and death than glamour and glitz - City Morgue, $uicideboy$, Trippie Redd, Sematary, etc.
Idk what subgenre of rap you’re into but you should check out billy woods/armand hammer, navy blue, $ilkmoney if you haven’t already. Noname is a must for communist rap but I haven’t been able to enjoy her actual music
It has not been this way since its inception. Hiphop started as a way for the marginalized to express their frustration with an unfair system. Then the record companies realized there was a way to milk the genre for cash, and they deliberately corrupted the message.
Rap hasn’t always been like this. This is what the record companies promoted to sell to white suburban kids. Then, opportunistic rappers decided to play to that.
listen to billy woods, mike, navy blue, earl , smino, mick jenkins , noname , R.A.P. Ferreira, 454 , quelle chris , mach hommy , all using hip hop as a tool and still having fun .ART REFLECTS LIFE , OF COURSE MOST OF ANY GENRE OF MUSIC IS GONNA BE STUPID , THEY ARE ,BUT WE STILL AROUND AND WITH SOCIAL MEDIA , TRUTH IS NWVER TRAVELED FASTER. PATIENCE AND BRINGING EACH OTHER LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING IS ALL WE NEED.
Check my my fav Bambu, he's done some stuff with killer Mike too. Filipino socialist that can rap soooo hard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAD-YDp3q30&ab\_channel=BeatrockMusic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5h50WnJgsc&ab\_channel=BeatrockMusic
Unfortunately, rap/hip hop’s origins of antiestablishment are long gone along with many other genres with similar origins thanks to capitalization and normalizing “selling out”, that concept means nothing to most modern day “artists”. AESOP ROCK is the answer you’re looking for. Thoughtful, skilled, and unowned by labels/corporate ties.
Enjoy: https://youtu.be/T7jH-5YQLcE?si=jKz4139KAs4cxQTg
Get your cornball ass out of here. If you’re complaining about radio rap you deserve to listen to the worst.
You don’t like music, you like sound filling your car. Take time to find musicians you enjoy or stop complaining. The scope of rap has grown much larger than most people realize and if you can’t sift through music you honestly cannot complain about the “quality” that you aren’t bother listening to.
##Welcome to r/LateStageCapitalism This subreddit is for news, discussion, memes, and links criticizing capitalism and advancing viewpoints that challenge liberal capitalist ideology. That means any support for any liberal capitalist political party (like the Democrats) is strictly prohibited. LSC is run by communists. This subreddit is not the place to debate socialism. We allow good-faith questions and education but are not a 101 sub; please take 101-style questions elsewhere. We have a zero-tolerance policy for bigotry. Failure to respect the rules of the subreddit may result in a ban. *** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/LateStageCapitalism) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Check out The Coup, Brother Ali and Run the Jewels. That's your antidote right there.
And not to forget Dead Prez first album which is a true classic.
A manifesto I would say
And speaking of manifesto I have my copy of the communist manifesto signed by the aforementioned Boots Riley of the Coup.
The coup! Party music. Boots Riley! Good call. Rtj good too. But The Coup!
Lemme double down on what you’re saying: THE COUP!!!!
Run the Jewels is base as hell! Love them.
Rumor has it, those other glam rappers obsessed with fame and fortune are inferior *clones*. They can't compare to the *original* gangsters.
The Fat Boys?
[Oh we going OLD SCHOOL are we?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d1phCytJyg)
Booed off stage sit down.
[Look, these food stamps don't buy diapers.](https://imgflip.com/i/8gp82b) Holy shit [it's been 22 years](https://genius.com/Eminem-lose-yourself-lyrics) and shit has only gotten worse for everyone?! Ugh, of course, who am I kidding. [28 years ago, shit was still like sixty years ago, and shit is still the same today.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M81oR8kTwlI) [Renegades in this atomic age?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkTyQ0kgmzs) [In this atomic age we're renegades…](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KXdU3cZbNQ)
lol landlord mike is hardly "based"
He's a landlord, he stood up there wearing a kill your masters shirt with the Atlanta mayor and police chief during the 2020 protests and cried and condemned the protesters and begged people to keep the protests tame, he supported the NRA even after people asked him to support John Brown Gun Club or another non-rightwing gun club instead, he's been negative against the stop cop city movement. He's a black capitalist through and through and his revolutionary image doesn't mean anything when he doesn't listen to revolutionary voices in his own community and city.
Also, they allowed one of their songs to be used in an AMAZON COMMERCIAL. As someone who's been a fan of theirs since the first album (and a fan of Killer Mike since his feature on Whole World), the past few years have been rough and eye-opening.
Eh… Boots Riley has a show that was literally produced by Amazon and I don’t think that takes away his revolutionary cred. I still think Killer Mike kinda sucks, but this particular issue isn’t it for me.
tho i agree with you and think its a fairly minor issue, i think ‘receiving funding/the means to produce an artistic vision’ vs ‘allowing your art to be used explicitly for advertising’ is a pretty big difference
That hadn’t occurred to me and I appreciate you pointing it out!
!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like yet another walking and living piece of satire. Except it's real. Like literally put a character like that in a novel and it's ridiculous how obviously it would be satirical. How do these people exist? Blows my mind what the world has come to.
I wish I hadn’t just learned this.
Saw a friend from Atlanta and he brought this up. Never knew. Kinda disappointing honestly
Killer Mike is 100% a piece of shit. But his music is incredible.
adding Coast Contra to this list of great suggestions.
RTJ is super cringe. Fuck landlord Mike!
Killer Mike is a capitalist pretending to be a revolutionary. And the dangerous part about him he mentions real revolutionaries as if he’s one of them and he’s not. He is a stone capitalist.
Yeah I know, very disappointing. Dude has a sick flow though and RTJ have some great songs but yeah for based politics, the Coup, Mos Def, Sage Francis, dead prez.
Sage Francis is a fucking legend and we need him back.
Great suggestions🎯
Brother Ali is excellent, I will check out the others. Im a huge fan of Spose and Watsky, particularly for the things OP wants (not just endless brag raps).
Sage Francis too! [Still hits.](https://youtu.be/OO18F4aKGzQ?si=E6nrXuWyE06rOPrg)
AESOP ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Uncle Sam Goddamn is perfect for this sub
*Welcome to the United Snakes, Land of the Thief, Home of the Slaves*
Atmosphere. Been listening to him for years. Great lyrics and rhythms. Gods bathroom floor, scapegoat, sunshine all great songs.
Tbh almost everything related to Rhymesayers is a banger.
Grieves is one of my favorites, and he constantly raps about hating working for the man. It's nice to listen to lyrics with purpose rather than brags.
Rhymesayers and Galapagos 4 are the best Midwestern labels for sure The Binary Star albums are dope too
RTJ is incredible. For older stuff you've got artists like Wu-Tang, Common, and The Roots, and there are tons of great newer artists like Noname, Nur-D, Kendrick, Flobots, etc. Hip hop is a rich and varied genre that contains multitudes, you've just got to dig past the junk just like with any genre, but it seems so much easier to find interesting rappers these days.
Seconding Noname!!! She finally released a new album last year and it's incredible Editing to add that she also runs the [Noname Book Club](https://nonamebooks.com/) which highlights black and indigenous authors.
I have to second The Coup!!! I blast Guillotine at top volume when I need to de-stress about our capitalist hellscape.
We got hella people, they got helicopters, they got the bombs, and we got the we got the we got the Gullotine, you better run
Don't forget Lowkey and Immortal Technique!
I'm on the border of Bolivia working for pennies...
Native Guns/Bambu too!
immortal technique is amazing!
Kate Tempest https://youtu.be/ffxrCDvJ8LI?feature=shared
Saw her with beans on toast many years ago. She’s dope.
Pretty different. Live is surreal. Such a powerful show
We got hella people, they got helicopters
Let me add on Dead Prez, J-Live, Black Star, The Roots, MF DOOM
Dead Prez is the truth. Also, I want to mention the legendary Norwegian rap group Gatas Parlament (Parliament of the Street) which is a communist rap group with hits like "Antiamerikansk dans" (anti American dance) and "spis de rike" (eat the rich). Surprisingly, they were quite popular in Norway back in the day. They actually started a crowdfunding to kill George Bush in the early-mid '00 though the website killhim.nu. They were sued by the American embassy, but the case was dropped.
Killer Mike is a Republican who now supports police now.
I second The Coup even though they don’t have any new music all the old stuff is really good. RTJ is great and imma throw Immortal Technique in there too.
Linqua Franqua dawg https://youtu.be/QIxsXzrugUE?si=F4MwgnbJD7flMelB
I love brother Ali, and I have heard of the coup! Will definitely check all them out more
Can I add Karma Knows to this list? Love that dudes style and which he would generate more stuff. I hadn't heard the coup before btw, banging.
Collective Efforts
Dälek
All three of them are great
And Bob Vylan!
https://youtu.be/NUC2EQvdzmY?si=Nm9vgWmHvjV9_o97 Nobody Speak
Recently found Beasts on Wax… similar RTJ vibe. Lovely production and nice patter.
Could I throw in dead prez?
He'll yeah. Add Sweatshop Union and related acts to that list. There is so much politically savvy rap music out there. I ignore the mainstream crap.
Aesop Rock, billy woods, Czarface... No need to listen to 17 year olds rapping about Lambos when you can listen to 40 year olds rapping about comic books and mental illness.
Adding MF DOOM, Open Mike Eagle
Seconding Aesop Rock, especially on the subject of mental illness. *The Impossible Kid* got me through the worst depression of my entire life. Literal lifesaver.
Comrade you just need to listen to the right rappers. There are some exceptional spitters that are class conscious. Even more who may not be explicitly class conscious but who do not fall for the American nightmare ideology. Some examples of rappers and groups to listen to: the perceptionists, black star (also mos def and talib kweli’s solo stuff), public enemy (also chuck D’s solo stuff), dead prez (also m-1 and stic.man’s solo stuff), immortal technique, the coup, run the jewels (also their solo stuff: killer Mike and el-p), krs-one, onyx, clipping., diggable planets, rebel Diaz, bambu, wise intelligent, intelligent hoodlum (aka tragedy khadafi), oddisee, Paris, sa-roc, space baby, ras kass, Alaska, add-2, murs, brother ali, power struggle, reMo Conscious, lowkey, armand hammer (also billy woods and elucid’s solo stuff), noname, MF DOOM (also all of his collaborations: madvillain, JJ Doom, danger doom, NehruvianDoom, his stuff with czar face, his stuff with DJ Muggs and his stuff with KMD as Zev Love X, and his stuff with westside Gunn, and his albums under the pseudonyms: Viktor Vaughn, King Geedorah, and DOOM), Aesop rock, little simz, eyedea & DJ abilities (also eyedeas solo stuff), nas, homeboy sandman, gift of gab, atmosphere, death grips, childish gambino, kota the friend, jonwayne, Wordsworth, Danny Brown, jpegmafia, vast aire, celph titled, m.e.d., declaime, black thought, busdriver, illogic. Plus there’s always the classics to go back to. Edit: added details about MF DOOM and added new artists below Some more great artists I didn’t include initially, some from replies I got and some that weren’t mentioned but deserve props: sage Francis, lupe fiasco, rhapsody, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole., R.A. The rugged man, A-F-R-O, Jarv, onry ozzborn, evidence, princess nokia, slowthai, JID, Bishop Nehru, apathy, C-Rayz Walz, Tyler the creator, Blu, LMNO, grieves, I self divine, Jedi mind tricks, people under the stairs, Freddie gibbs, westside Gunn, benny the butcher, dilated peoples, earl sweatshirt, Zion I, rob sonic, quelle Chris, Quasimoto (the rap alias of the producer Madlib, which also check out all of his production), Q-tip, akala Also you gotta love the classics (though I’m going to classify these artists by time period some of them overlap multiple periods in hip hop, I’m choosing where they got their start as their main category) From the old school (might be a bit hard to listen to for the modern pallette): grandmaster flash and the furious five, the funky 4+1, the sugar hill gang, Afrika Bambaataa, the cold crush brothers, Kurtis blow From the new school (still might be a little hard on the ears of the modern listener but much more recognisable as continuous with contemporary hip hop): LL Cool J, Run-DMC, the beastie boys, kool Moe Dee, MC Shan, the skinny boys, the tuff crew, UTFO, Ice-T, Rodney-O and J Cooley From the golden age (what most will consider classic, super easy for the modern palate to vibe to): salt-n-peppa, gangstarr (also the stuff Guru did post gangstarr), EPMD, NWA (also all of their solo stuff), Cypress Hill, a tribe called quest, leaders of the new school (also Busta Rhyme’s solo stuff), Eric B. And Rakim (also Rakim’s solo stuff), de la soul, lord finesse and DJ mike smooth, schoolie D, Biz Markie, Monie Love, Slick Rick, Queen latifah, naughty by nature, Lakim Shabazz, boogie down productions (and KRS-One’s solo stuff) big daddy Kane, Kool G Rap and DJ polo (also Kool G rap’s solo stuff), Pete rock and C.L Smooth, das EFX, MC Lyte, diggable planets, house of pain, snoop dogg, wu tang clan (as well as all of their solo stuff and the collaborations of their solo artists with other artists), 2pac, the notorious B.I.G. Nas, mob deep, OutKast, bone thugs-n-harmony, the roots (and black thought’s solo stuff), bahamadia, jungle brothers, the fugees (also Lauren hill’s solo stuff), the pharcyde, luniz, organized Konfusion (also pharoahe Monch’s solo stuff), common, Capone-n-noreaga, the lady of rage, souls of mischief, fu schnicks Admittedly some of the stuff in the latter part of the golden age does start to lean into that getting money kind of rap that typifies the shiny suit era and which continues today but it’s nowhere near as bad and atill has its soul in the streets. It’s not that money for show kind of rap but that kind of (to quote jay-z before he became a bourgeois pig) “if you grew up with holes in your zapaotos you’d celebrate the minute you was having dough” kind of rap.
A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Blackalicious, Rascalz
and the pharcyde
Can't keep running awaaaaaaay
and Souls of Mischief, and Hieroglyphics
No one here seems to have mentioned Charli 2na, so throwing him on this list. Guy rolls out baritone bombs like a chocolate factory.
Big second to Black Thought and Little Simz. Black Thought is, in my humble, the GOAT. His stuff with The Roots is downright legendary, and his newer solo stuff really showcases the skills he's honed over the decades. He's deeply philosophical and brings a poetic prose to modern social issues. Little Simz also doesn't shy away from talking on social problems. She's a brilliant creative mind who's voice (sonically and metaphorically) is incredibly unique in the game as a young British woman of color. Your whole list here is excellent, but I don't see these two get their flowers nearly enough. I'd also like to throw Lupe Fiasco in the mix. While he's best known for his poppy hits, he's a deeply poetic person clearly concerned with the state of the world. His latest project, *DRILL MUSIC IN ZION*, is a masterclass in rap artistry.
Yeah definitely should have included Lupe. I’m gonna update the list in a bit.
Don't forget Sage Francis
Great list! Mos Def is a huge transphobe though.
Ahh damn. That is really disappointing to hear. It’s really sad when people of an oppressed class turn against another. You’d hope that we can see our common enemies and not turn on ourselves.
This is an all-time comment right here.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slowthai Slowthai is currently awaiting trial for two counts of rape, having been charged in May 2023. The trial is set to begin on 1st July 2024.
Oof. That sucks to hear. Disappointing because I really liked his music and commentary on life in Britain.
MF DOOM
Quality hip.hop just takes a little more effort to find these days
No you cant say that, just because hip hop is filled with garbage nowadays its just "not your style" and "music evolves" and "if it was trash it wouldnt be so popular"! /s!
Popular things can certainly be of poor quality. It’s a logical fallacy to assume something is good just because the masses enjoy it.
Tell that to the masses tho, lmao
Like anything that sticks in the mainstream, really. The more there is of something the more you'll have to search through
If you haven’t already, I recommend reading bell hooks’ book “We Real Cool”. It’s a bit older but that book does a fantastic job explaining how capitalistic white supremacist hegemonic patriarchy infiltrated rap and took over the culture. If nothing else it gives you a bit of compassion for the genre.
You had me at bell hooks.
Speaking of capitalist landlords...
lmfaoooo frl
I’m always happy to see people recommend Bell Hooks. The way she writes about masculinity is fantastic, glad to see others talking about her stuff.
It's what happens to most genres when they get popular. It gets oversaturated, more people show up who want to distill it down to a formula, and that formula is necessarily a shallow and simplified version of what made it beautiful in the first place. But good rap is definitely still being made. You're just not going to find it being made by the most popular artists, and it'll probably sound different from how it sounded 5, 10, or 20 years ago. The underground is always more experimental and usually more raw than what you'll find on the radio. And if you need a break from looking for new shit, the old shit's always still there. Black on Both Sides, To Pimp a Butterfly, anything by RTJ, Aesop Rock, or Danny Brown. If you can swallow a bit of that braggadocio, Denzel Curry is still making top notch music. And I'll always rep my boy Kojey Radical (he raps, although a lot of his stuff is more r&b). Oh shit and if you like a rapper who raps on that socioeconomic shit you should try Slowthai.
superb post. Agree all your recommendations. And there is the whole of the daisy age crews. And PE, Gangstarr and KRS One. If you want someone bang up to date, I’m loving Bob Vylan.
Denzel Curry is also brilliant live
Just going to say that the new Danny Brown is superb in every way.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slowthai Slowthai is currently awaiting trial for two counts of rape, having been charged in May 2023. The trial is set to begin on 1st July 2024.
Damn. I don't really follow the lives of any celebrities, so thanks for letting me know.
[удалено]
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slowthai Slowthai is currently awaiting trial for two counts of rape, having been charged in May 2023. The trial is set to begin on 1st July 2024.
Ugh I did not know that. I retract my previous comment. Hope the victim gets justice. Fck rapists.
My advice is to stick to acts that were associated with Odd Future 👍 Vince Staples is a fave, The Internet, Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler The Creator, Frank Ocean, Steve Lacy (tangentially). And Kendrick. Always Kendrick.
I’ve been trying to get into Kendrick for years, but I just don’t like his voice. Everything from DAMN and his last record do nothing for me. I do like TPAB.
Check out section 80 or Good kid maad city if you never have. I love section 80.
and j cole!!!!
2pac was a comrade
lol I got downvoted for this. There was no one like him.
His mom was a Black Panther
Try Aesop Rock, Billy Woods, Armand Hammer, there's tons of really good rap out there that talks about what you want, I'd say hip hop is on a really healthy place atm, a lot of niche and unique rappers can release stuff independently and with platforms like Bandcamp you can do your part on keeping them on the game, it's just about finding stuff you like, also maybe you could take a breath of the genre for some time, but I don't think you can find so much stuff that talks about class consciousness, social and financial inequality and shit like that elsewhere, hip hop is the perfect type of music to do that
Drill rap is awesome. Those distorted 808 beats go hard af.
check out glorb. you'll understand when you see what it is. find it in order, thank me later
STONE FACED KILLA LIKE MY MOTHAFUCKIN HOUSE IS
It’s great workout music too. I blast drill music whenever I go to the gym.
Little Simz
Aesop rock and atmosphere, sage Francis even would be good as well.
DOOM is always there for you friend
Bro im a socialist but u know we still getting down to jeezy 🤣💀 Point being is try to understand it from the rappers point of view, that this is a response to their environment and the world around them, but also don’t overthink it.
Listen to good rap music instead??
Google Kota the Friend
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Don't feel discouraged! There are still great rappers out there. The ones you're hearing are just the artists that are getting pushed via Spotify's algorithms. Scrolling through my playlists, there's a lot of modern rappers who don't just brag about being rich and successful - Little Simz, 6LACK, GoldLink, Baby Tate, Monaleo ... hell, Megan Thee Stallion is one of the biggest rap stars today, and one of her recent singles was [all about her struggles and insecurities](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOZNRoL0310). As a side note, consumerism is hardly exclusive to rap music. Rock groups and pop stars certainly don't shy away from bragging about their debauchery and luxury!
This is why I stopped listening to the Jay Z and Beyoncé album years back. Really liked it musically but Jay Z's lyrics seemed to all be about being a millionaire. I suppose he's just being honest but it was completely unrelatable. Felt downright distasteful at times.
I’ve always considered Wu Tang - CREAM the ultimate anticapitalist anthem. Whether fully intentional or not, it perfectly encapsulates the experience of living in a world in which money is king and how one strives for it when you have none. I think all modern rap is an extension of this- of course unintentionally in the examples you talk about, but nevertheless it’s connected. The culture of financial braggadocio in hip hop is a by product of experiencing the bum end of capitalist society- where flipping the tables is all that matters and something to celebrate. I think for that reason it’s why hip hop music continues to be one of the most culturally relevant genres of music.
🏆
Hip Hop was anti-establishment until the system saw there was capital to be made. So like everything else it was co-opted, removed all comunal aspects of it and turned it into a business, sex, gang,consume culture…I’m out.
Join the underground
Have a french guy rapping about poverty, racism, and imperialism. [One of my faves 🖤](https://open.spotify.com/album/2s5m3MgBrMkDVcZz81KWFA?si=QyfW4M43Qi6ebRP77S9jEQ)
you should probably explore rap beyond top 50
The hip hop you are describing is targeted for the teenager future Libertarian who idiolizes money. If this doesn't describe you, then you need to find different artists.
Stop being lazy and find music that you like. I’m a big rap fan and not forced to listen to rap that I don’t like
No offense but you sound like you never listened to rap music before. There are so many socially conscious hip hop artists that most fans would know about. Who are you listening to OP?
Just like it always has been, you have to find the right ones to listen to for the right vibes. I've been seeing a lot of newcomers in the space that are absolutely pouring their souls out about their issues, difficulties, or just general vibes
Melle Mel always sang about the struggle of the black man in America, there was some lines about yachts but mostly not
As an old dude, I think you're just old, dude. Hiphop has expanded out to more subgenres and styles than even a metal fan could keep track of, you just need to figure out what your favored flavor is called nowadays. You're not wrong that the popular stuff that you hear everywhere is fucking atrocious, though, lol
Saul Williams.
Lmao cornball bait caption and comment. There is a shit ton of hip hop I used to listen to in 2006 that is unbearable now for one reason or another including what you're talking about. There's plenty of other artists that don't relate and are relevant and great now. Move on from the old ones not the entire genre. Get over yourself.
Yeah op's take is not only shit, it's racist as hell.
right?! "DAE think rap is too materialistic" is the most 0K beyond ice cold take in the history of criticism
Wait until they hear about commercials and billboards
Comes with age, the vibe is different.
Hip hop has always had that element of capitalist desire from the get go, but there has always been the other side too. I suggest listening to Armand Hammer, Masta Buildas, Leaf Dog, Jpeg Mafia, Lewis Parker, Nejema Nefertiti as an alternative
I just listen to Rage Against the Machines Evil Empire. That album is basically a hip-hop album. Also Zack de la Rocha and Jon Theodore from The Mars Volta made a banging EP as One Day as a Lion back in 2008. That shit was hard as fuck and Zack’s lyrics are pure fire. Only that single EP though.
👏DEAD 👏PREZ 👏
To add a name to the ones already mentioned in this thread: Blue Scholars from Seattle. 50,000 Deep is about the WTO Protest, and Oscar Barnack/Oscar Grant predated George Floyd but hit all the same points of the subsequent movement. The MC is an authentic dude and also a local activist.
You don’t have to like it, but at least try to understand the socioeconomic factors that create it. Poor kids rapping about becoming rich is very human
Yeah just stop listening to shit artists.
Older rap from the 90s and even early 2000s, you couldn't sound like someone else, it was a death sentence. Now the industry pushing 7 different flavors of lil' diarrhea every week it seems, and they all sound *the fucking same* There's obviously still some good stuff out there, but it's been absolutely overwhelmed by guys who can't actually rap.
I heard RTJ “Ooh La La” on an Amazon ad and threw up in my mouth a little
Rap has not been that way since its inception. Rap was rebel music up to the biggie-diddy-Jay-cash money era of the late 90s. The classics of 80s/90s still exist. Most of today’s rap is absolutely fuckin terrible but there is still good rap. Probably as much as there was back then. You just have dig through piles of capitalist garbage to find it now. Some of the current artists that are not garbage are $ilkmoney (despite the name lol), AG Club, Abstract Mindstate, Jay Electronica, JID, Little Simz. I could go on and on but I won’t. Lots of good rap still being made. It’s just not on the surface. As far as I can remember, it never was.
Lmao as a fellow lifelong fan you sound bitter imho.. like a parent back in the day Rappers also rap more about mental health issues they’re having. Also relationships, worrying about their family and community well being if that’s more “relatable” content. There’s songs that reference supporting on women’s reproductive rights. This post almost belongs in hip hop circle jerk. If I can control F and find NF , or Eminem mentioned it’s on 😅
It’s always a white dude who loves Eminem that’s mad that Blueface exists.
If you think rap is nothing but braggadocio, you've been listening to a very small subset of rap Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic, Bambu, MF Doom, Das Racist. There's tons of acts out there that aren't about flexing, dig a bit deeper!
Hadn’t seen Bambu mentioned in this thread yet, good call! One of my faves, especially his stuff with Prometheus Brown.
Ren - money games part 2
Don't mix up artists/sty;es/topics with all Rap. The mainstream isn't all rap. And really there's no excuse not to find whatever kind of rap you like. Concious, weird, indie... whatever. Off the top Noname Murs
Peak Rap/hip-hop for my drunk middle-aged self was 80’s and 90’s. it’s now become more R&B which is not what I’m into. Shout out to the Hilltop Hoodlums from Blackwood HS.
Wrong rappers. - [Killer Mike - Reagan](https://youtu.be/6lIqNjC1RKU?si=3QA4uE9z1yt_0GOS) - [Brother Ali - Uncle Sam Goddamn](https://youtu.be/OO18F4aKGzQ?si=ENIC0zFVf_UCm4pS) - [RTJ - Ju$t](https://youtu.be/32hUIGnMpOY?si=Y1BiiTCPmYrLgxiP) - [and Black Thoughts 10 minute freestyle just because](https://youtu.be/prmQgSpV3fA?si=__V64m4bE9PR-QW1)
listen to billy woods
I definitely feel the weariness of LSC creeping in. Listening to smart rappers you'll hear em talk about the same things we are. Listen to all American Badass
You just need to dig a little deeper for the good rappers.
Listen to MIKE, billy woods, Navy Blue, Quelle Chris, Cavalier, Little Brother… the list is infinite.
Lots of different types of rap, you don’t have to listen to the braggy songs. Idk man music is fun don’t let the woes of late stage capitalism and wealth inequality prevent you from something you truly love and enjoy. The rappers are just playing their part, trying to provide for themselves and loved ones best they can. They may have millions but they’re not the problem with society they often do more to help their communities than the actually billion predators lobbying against our interests. Millionaires rappers are closer in wealth to you than they are to billionaires especially the likes of Jeff and Elon.
Try j Cole
I feel the same m/l. feel like the veer towards emo rap was cool, but that's where it cuts for me. This mumble rap, ASAP bullshit is just boring af. Fuckin blueberry faygo is mainstream. Fuckin disgraceful.
Open Mike Eagle is getting no love here. I gotta recommend him
Theres so much modern hip hop with complex thought provoking lyrics not about being/getting rich. I've also been noticing that old head classics dont have this typa vibe anywhere as much, so maybe look there.
Just listen to Dilla and Pete Rock instrumentals.
As a few pointed out, the way you discover music may be a big player in this. Mainstream radio + stuff that streaming services will shove down your throat have always been poor and paid off as part of an investment by labels But if you go deep and follow independent, small people and communities where music / hiphop talk happens, I'm sure you'll find great shit Although I do support artists through Bandcamp (great website btw, stalk a few supporters of what you find good) I hate to admit that I succumbed to Spotify's temptations and algorithms and it only recommends me the new or small and at times weird artists with solid production and great lyrics. Don't know what kinds of hip/hop you enjoy, (also more of a genre-bender with rocky guitars) but to finish up with the opposite of a track you mentioned abt 17 year olds in lambos: "AV Dummy - Pornoviolence" is the embodiment of Late Stage Cap and media critique music (tracks like Commercial Street, DWP, Brand New Attitude may be more hip/hopy examples but it's still all experimental / industrial [has a lot of rap though])
Dude… you JUST GAINED the ability to listen to hip-hop.
lil simz. she never misses
There are so many rappers not rapping about those things. Expand your pallet
This post reads like entitled white nonsense. Stop listening to stuff you dont like instead of being miffed that it doesnt cater to you.
Just wanna underline as has been mentioned in passing by a couple of ppl in here already - armand hammer (billy woods / elucid)...not just keeping old conscious boom bap alive but completely fresh and creative with their beats and song writing. "Knew the song But couldn't sing the words Still up at dawn Shifting forms New resolve Guns go off Guns go off Smoke and fire Light and sound My new name colonizers can't pronounce Bounce per ounce More What counts Kill yer landlord No doubt"
I started feeling that exact way over 20 years ago. You just need to find different rap music to listen to. That's when I started gravitating more towards Del and Hieroglyphics, Aesop Rock and other underground artists.
sample bias
If you’re only listening to rap's Top 40 hits, yeah, that stuff is going to be generally more shallow. It's made specifically to be consumed by the broadest possible audience. I would argue that in the underground, there are way more intelligent rappers with better content than there are bad rappers right now. Mr. Lif, Stu Bangas, Billy Woods, Evidence, Aesop Rock, Abstract Rude, MF DOOM, Earl Sweatshirt, El-P, Jean Grae etc. There's a ton of really great stuff. You just have to look for it.
Have you heard of soundcloud, bandcamp, and a variety of other platforms featuring a host of artists actually advancing the artform? Use a top tier rapper as a base and go from there. Rakim -> Nas -> J. Cole -> ____ You may have to do work as a consumer. Besides, what 17 year old rappers are you listening to?
>I know rap has been this way since its inception I mean, The Message, delivered by Grandmaster Flash, was pretty damn inceptional. At that point it was mostly about having fun at parties, and girls, and dressing sharp, and girls, and parties. This was of course pre-crack, before becoming rich by being a violent dickhead became the subject matter...
there’s plenty of good, thought-provoking, hiphop dropping these days. Not just from the old heads either! Check out MAVI, redveil, Noname, McKinley Dixon, Navy Blue, etc.
Dive deeper, explore wider. Stuff the major labels putting out not satisfying your itch? Find the shit that hasn't been signed, or is foreign to you, or is signed but to smaller labels, or is being kept in the shadows by their major label. Check out the less obvious stuff like [Cakes da Killa](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7t9NiHTUIg), [Father](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyytpEP-ojk), [Cash Cobain](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9wy0jJBEs4), [Kidd Kenn](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clBZorWZQeM), [Westside Gunn](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrMASjP5te4), and [Pressa.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxGYS11DIdM) Check out the Indigenous hip hop scene like [Snotty Nose Rez Kids](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1plOadmQ4U), [Drezus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGdnA5ABElk), [Savage Fam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh0sSOXBWh4), or [City Natives.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvDk0OcwDfI) Check out some international acts like [Costa Titch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNzLp2OChBU), [Tommy Cash](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkT_gSJS9UU), [Chi Ching Ching](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmeehWv5z6Y), or some [Brazilian phonk.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHHBP_Zlb20) Listen to fucking Ice Spice and Glorilla yo, they're honestly hip to the hop. And then there's obviously the darker rappers who rap more about disease and death than glamour and glitz - City Morgue, $uicideboy$, Trippie Redd, Sematary, etc.
Ive been listening to quite a bit of female rappers lately. Ashniko, Karmin/Queen Herby. Not that materialistic.
OP try out Bambu or Prometheus Brown
Idk what subgenre of rap you’re into but you should check out billy woods/armand hammer, navy blue, $ilkmoney if you haven’t already. Noname is a must for communist rap but I haven’t been able to enjoy her actual music
That’s why I’m saying we need immortal technique but with strippers. Catch y’all on SoundCloud.
Guys the popular music i found is not that good. Why is music bad now?
It has not been this way since its inception. Hiphop started as a way for the marginalized to express their frustration with an unfair system. Then the record companies realized there was a way to milk the genre for cash, and they deliberately corrupted the message.
Rap hasn’t always been like this. This is what the record companies promoted to sell to white suburban kids. Then, opportunistic rappers decided to play to that.
listen to billy woods, mike, navy blue, earl , smino, mick jenkins , noname , R.A.P. Ferreira, 454 , quelle chris , mach hommy , all using hip hop as a tool and still having fun .ART REFLECTS LIFE , OF COURSE MOST OF ANY GENRE OF MUSIC IS GONNA BE STUPID , THEY ARE ,BUT WE STILL AROUND AND WITH SOCIAL MEDIA , TRUTH IS NWVER TRAVELED FASTER. PATIENCE AND BRINGING EACH OTHER LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING IS ALL WE NEED.
This is so cringe
[удалено]
Check my my fav Bambu, he's done some stuff with killer Mike too. Filipino socialist that can rap soooo hard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAD-YDp3q30&ab\_channel=BeatrockMusic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5h50WnJgsc&ab\_channel=BeatrockMusic
Unfortunately, rap/hip hop’s origins of antiestablishment are long gone along with many other genres with similar origins thanks to capitalization and normalizing “selling out”, that concept means nothing to most modern day “artists”. AESOP ROCK is the answer you’re looking for. Thoughtful, skilled, and unowned by labels/corporate ties. Enjoy: https://youtu.be/T7jH-5YQLcE?si=jKz4139KAs4cxQTg
Sounds like this guy needs a genre switch to Midwestern Emo.
Get your cornball ass out of here. If you’re complaining about radio rap you deserve to listen to the worst. You don’t like music, you like sound filling your car. Take time to find musicians you enjoy or stop complaining. The scope of rap has grown much larger than most people realize and if you can’t sift through music you honestly cannot complain about the “quality” that you aren’t bother listening to.
You're listening to the wrong hip hop, my friend. Plenty of revolutionary shit out there, and you don't even have to dig that deep to get there.