Rap, politics, and social consciousness

[tamago23]

I was, back in early high school, into rap music. What I was into then was the usual stuff that was big in the mid-90's: Snoop Dog, Warren G, LL Cool J, Coolio, etc., as well as the originals like Grandmaster Flash. A lot of rap back then had a socially conscious message - for example, think of Coolio's "Fantastic Voyage":

I'm trying to find a

Comments

[arnajade]

I really like this post and agree with what your saying.

I also turned off rap music for a while, alot of it lost heart and gained attitude for the sake of $$$$. I like local rap now, seems the ones less famous have a lot to say and its their only way of saying it.

Go Obama!!

[michaelvacant]

Just to save you the time of searching for socially conscious rap in the future if you so desire: Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco, and some Common are a good place to start. Lupe is a unique combination of originality in delivery as well as relevant lyrics.

[tamago23]

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll have to check them out. :) I don't have anything against the standard non-socially-conscious rap (hell, "Gin and Juice" is one of my favorites of all time) but with a few exceptions*, it doesn't move me enough to listen to a lot of it on a regular basis. It's nice to know there's alternatives available if/when the current batch of societal consciousness gives way to crap again. ;)

* Estelle being one of these exceptions. She's this British rapper and she sings pretty much exclusively about relationship stuff, but I like it because 1) it's missing all the misogyny that's in a lot of material written by/for male rappers, and 2) she's got a gorgeous voice.

[tehjos]

Go check out Ink Operated- they're from BC, and they're entirely responsible for restoring my faith in hip hop. Seriously.

[tamago23]

Thanks for the rec! :)