From mltsnt Sent Fri, Sep 18th 1998, 05:59
From mltsnt Sent Fri, Sep 18th 1998, 05:59
At 11:45 PM 9/17/98 -0400, Jason J. Tar wrote: >I think the opposite (from my perspective). Too many US MCs get all caught >up in gangsta fronting and lack any true thought. Barely any intelligence >since the days of Ice-T (_OG_) and PE (_Nation of Millions_). Today's US >MCs haven't said a damn thing besides "40s, gats, and booty!". Bleah. If >the MC had a brain it might be worthwhile. (Bitter that X-Ecutioners >wasted their fine DJ talents by letting such crap MCs on top. Bleah!) >Many UK MCs on the otherhand, have their heads on straight. For instance, >there is Blade, Jupiter Jam, Toastie Taylor, Lewis Parker, etc. > >I will give props to Company Flow, but them chaps talk so fast you can't >tell what they're saying anyway. (The "gabber" of the Hip Hop community!) >Plus Sensational, but who can make out what that chap is saying either? He >puts the word "abstract" into lyrical quality. >[Saul Williams seems fairly intelligent too, but I know not from where he >hails, so.....). No offense, but you obviously haven't explored US hip hop very well, if you think that it's all about '40's, gats and booty'. I think several other American MCs can flow intelligently. Especially pick up Acecyalone's "A Book Of Human Language". Acey definetly knows what he's talking about. For that matter, the whole west coast project blowed/freestyle fellowship/Ocean Floor (AbRude, Mikah 9, etc.) scene is worth checking out. Then i can be hip and name drop rawkus for the east coast tip, but CoFlow (as you already mentioned) often does rock on the intelligent style, I also think Kweli can be quite good when he doens't slip into his 'punchline' mode. Mos Def has the charism and flow, but his content has yet to do anything for me. Also, try and get the Siah and Yeshua DapoED EP on Fondle 'Em, which i think is brilliant. Both Siah and Yeshua also put out solo 12"s but i've yet to give them a listen. BTW, Saul is from NYC, so mark another up for the US. Though i agree that there's some talent over the puddle, too. M