[macintologist]

I'm looking for some good rap songs or rap artists, classic or contemporary, that have good lyrics that mean something, like how life in the ghetto is tough, being black is tough, etc etc..not niggaz bitchez drugz and that b.s.

For example, this song was recently a free song on iTunes, I was impressed with the lyricz

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/M...amp;i=79566852

[cjrivera]

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/M...&i=1636774

[macfantn]

How about Keep Ya Head Up by Tupac?

[macfantn]

Some say the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice
I say the darker the flesh then the deeper the roots
I give a holler to my sisters on welfare
Tupac cares, if don't nobody else care
And uhh, I know they like to beat ya down a lot
When you come around the block brothas clown a lot
But please don't cry, dry your eyes, never let up
Forgive but don't forget, girl keep your head up
And when he tells you you ain't nuttin don't believe him
And if he can't learn to love you you should leave him
Cause sista you don't need him
And I ain't tryin to gas ya up, I just call em how I see em
You know it makes me unhappy (what's that)
When brothas make babies, and leave a young mother to be a pappy
And since we all came from a woman
Got our name from a woman and our game from a woman
I wonder why we take from our women
Why we rape our women, do we hate our women?
I think it's time to kill for our women
Time to heal our women, be real to our women
And if we don't we'll have a race of babies
That will hate the ladies, that make the babies
And since a man can't make one
He has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one
So will the real men get up
I know you're fed up ladies, but keep your head up

[Chorus]

Keep ya head up, oooo child things are gonna get easier
ooooo child things are
get brighter [2x]

[Verse Two:]

Aiyyo, I remember Marvin Gaye, used to sing ta me
He had me feelin like black was tha thing to be
And suddenly tha ghetto didn't seem so tough
And though we had it rough, we always had enough
I huffed and puffed about my curfew and broke the rules
Ran with the local crew, and had a smoke or two
And I realize momma really paid the price
She nearly gave her life, to raise me right
And all I had ta give her was my pipe dream
Of how I'd rock the mic, and make it to tha bright screen
I'm tryin to make a dollar out of fifteen cents
It's hard to be legit and still pay tha rent
And in the end it seems I'm headin for tha pen
I try and find my friends, but they're blowin in the wind
Last night my buddy lost his whole family
It's gonna take the man in me to conquer this insanity
It seems tha rain'll never let up
I try to keep my head up, and still keep from gettin wet up
You know it's funny when it rains it pours
They got money for wars, but can't feed the poor
Say there ain't no hope for the youth and the truth is
it ain't no hope for tha future
And then they wonder why we crazy
I blame my mother, for turning my brother into a crack baby
We ain't meant to survive, cause it's a setup
And even though you're fed up
Huh, ya got to keep your head up

[Chorus]

[Verse Three:]

And uhh
To all the ladies havin babies on they own
I know it's kinda rough and you're feelin all alone
Daddy's long gone and he left you by ya lonesome
Thank the Lord for my kids, even if somebody else want em
Cause I think we can make it, in fact, I'm sure
And if you fall, stand tall and comeback for more
Cause ain't nuttin worse than when your son
wants to kno why his daddy don't love him no mo'
You can't complain you was dealt this
hell of a hand without a man, feelin helpless
Because there's too many things for you to deal with
Dying inside, but outside you're looking fearless
While da tears, is rollin down your cheeks
Ya steady hopin things don't all down this week
Cause if it did, you couldn't take it, and don't blame me
I was given this world I didn't make it
And now my son's getten older and older and cold
From havin the world on his shoulders
While the rich kids is drivin Benz
I'm still tryin to hold on to my survivin friends
And it's crazy, it seems it'll never let up, but
please... you got to keep your head up

[IceEnclosure]

Matisyahu, on Jay Leno right now.

[IceEnclosure]

MF Doom.

[IceEnclosure]

Search for Blackstar, that'd be Mos Def and Talib Kweli together. Their latest solo works I don't like so much, but they're two of the best lyricists in the game. Intelligent and insightful.

Common tells it like it is too. Gangstarr. Jurassic 5. Beastie Boys.

[Jim Paradise]

I'll second MF Doom, but in particular the Madvillainy CD.

A lot of great tracks on Black Star's album such as Brown Skin Lady.

[centerchannel68]

Jurassic 5. Period. Everything else is trash.

That, or Deltron 3030.

[- - e r i k - -]

Lupe Fiasco

[Kerrigan]

Originally Posted by macintologist 

I'm looking for some good rap songs or rap artists, classic or contemporary, that have good lyrics that mean something, like how life in the ghetto is tough, being black is tough, etc etc..not niggaz bitchez drugz and that b.s.

I don't know if this is what you are looking for, but this Big Daddy Kane song is a good example of lyrical talent.

YouTube - Big Daddy Kane - Ain't no half steppin

Of course what really stands out here is his voice and the sounds of the words, IMO.

[IceEnclosure]

"You can't see me like.. B.I.G. on CMT, did a little bit of time on BMG, but this right here, homie, this_all_me"

Lupe, reppin' Chicago's Westside.

[PlacidTubs]

Sage Francis - A Healthy Distrust

[zerostar]

Pretty much anything by the Three 6 Mafia is top-notch entertainment.

[No Time 4 Love Dr. Jones]

I judge good lyrics by the amount of "I'm a pimp/bitchez 'n' hoez/look at my bling". Most modern rappers fail this test miserably; mastery of words beyond the four-letter, which further narrows it down in today's market is key for me. Rhymes tempered with intelligence are what attract me to an artist.

Among the "name" groups, A Tribe Called Quest, Mos Def, Jurassic 5, Public Enemy, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Jeru the Damaja, 3rd Bass, Digable Planets, Black Star, and The Roots are all aces. Unfortunately, many of these groups no longer exist. There are a slew of underground artists, too.

But I'll admit I love a little old school Snoop Dogg or Too Short now and then, lol

[OAW]

Mos Def
Talib Kweli
Blackstar (The two above as a duo)
Common
The Roots
Nas
Outkast
Lupe Fiasco
The Fugees
Wyclef Jean
Lauryn Hill


OAW

[His Dudeness]

Busta Rhymes has some good ****, or so I hear from the jail cell he's in right now.

[Peter]

eminem

[::maroma::]

Originally Posted by IceEnclosure 

Search for Blackstar, that'd be Mos Def and Talib Kweli together. Their latest solo works I don't like so much, but they're two of the best lyricists in the game. Intelligent and insightful.

I second Mos Def and Talib. They are amazing lyracists. Mos Def's first solo album is also incredible. He rarely raps about meaningless bravado. Usually he has something meaningful to say.

[Nodnarb]

Murs...seriously check this guy out, was underground for a while now getting a little more popular. Awesome stuff.

[Dakar²]

I have to plead mostly ignorance on the subject, but I'm surprised no one has mentioned Asheru. At the very least his piece for the Boondocks was good.

[iREZ]

murs
mos def (1/2 blackstar)
kweli (1/2 blackstar)
common
roots
lupe fiasco
blackalicious
immortal technique (VERY political and extreme)
del the funkee homosapien
defari
dialated peoples
fugees
hieroglyphics
jill scott
lauren hill
mhz
jurrasic 5
soul position
wyclef jean

thing with rap music is that even those that are hype artists (your jay z, T.I., eminem, kanye, etc..) have songs that cover the issues you want to hear with good lyrics...you just got to listen to them beyond their crappy singles.

[el chupacabra]

To da left to da left, To da left to da left, To da left to da left, To da left to da left,
To da left to da left, To da left to da left, To da left to da left,

Its a girl rap song that deals with relationships that are tough because men don't treat women like they should. Because as we know women are so much more mature, deep and caring than men.

[andreas_g4]

I vote for Devastatin' Dave – The Turntable Slave.

ZIP ZAP RAP

[IceEnclosure]

Originally Posted by Dakar² 

I have to plead mostly ignorance on the subject, but I'm surprised no one has mentioned Asheru. At the very least his piece for the Boondocks was good.

Asheru's nice.

[IceEnclosure]

"I'm on TV talkin' like it's just you and me.. I'm just sayin how I feel man, I ain't one of the Cosbys I diin't go to Hillman"

YOU CAN'T TELL ME NOTHIN.

Kanye's new album's out sons.

Big Brother is a sick sick song on his new album, cop it.



edit: 7 month old zombie thread aint so bad

[SpencerLavery]

What are some good rappers that have good lyrics?

Me

Phobea: Rapper producer musician from Bognor Regis, England

[slpdLoad]

dead prez