Top 10 Rappers: #4

#4: De La Soul

They're the real deal and some of the most underrated rappers of all time.  Started in 1987, De La Soul would eventually prove crucial in influencing some of the biggest players in the game today like Mos Def and The Black Eyed Peas, placing them among the godfathers of modern rap, while garnering heavy criticism and marginal, fluctuating success themselves.  The best thing about Posdnuos, Trugoy, and Maseo is that they continue to update their sound and style with every new album.  They rarely retread over old material.  With their debut album 3 Feet High and Rising and lead single "Me Myself and I" you get the classic late 80s/early 90s, sing-songy, Fresh Prince style, which is so laughable now but still cool in a retro way.

There's some of the same on their sophomore De La Soul is Dead.  "Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)" is in the same vein as "Me Myself and I" but they also come out of the gates with "Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa." It's an amazing song about a girl that gets abused by her father and plots to kill him.  Very creative and nuanced (he volunteers at Macy's as Santa, thus the title).  That was 1991 and that sh*t sounds like it could have been released tomorrow.

Then it's Buhloone Mindstate, which starts to incorporate some new jazzy sonic architecture and is one of my favorite albums.  It even features a full instrumental sax solo (no rapping) called "I Be Blowin,'" which yall should grab and drive to (preferably in the early morning or late night) immediately.  Or listen to "I Am I Be," because it's just poetry:

But it's a must to decipher one's queen 

from a worm who plays groupie and spreads around the bad germ

I cherish the twilight 

I maximize, 

My soul is the right size 

I watch for the power to run out on the moon 

(And that'll be sometime soon)

This song is one of De La's most introspective and my favorite on the album.  You should also check out the lead single "Breakadawn" with the MJ and Smokey samples to make you jizz your pants.

With their 4th LP, Steaks is High, the modern sound briefly encountered in "Millie" is expanded and becomes De La's definitive sound.  Good god, all you need is the title track (produced by J DIlla!!!).  I'm gonna say it again: sounds like it was released tomorrow.  "ITSOWEEZEE (HOT)" is a mixture of People Under the Stairs (on the verse) and Kid Cudi (on the chorus).  And, again, this is '96!  Listen to that sh*t! It's crazy. Did Cudi just hear this song and try to build a career off it???  Pay some homage, man!

And then we got the two AOI albums and The Grind Date.  I don't even need to tout these albums; if you're a real hip-hop fan you already know how good they are.  But check out "Oooh" and "Thru Ya City" (another Dilla jam) off Mosaic Thump, "Held Down" off Bionix, and "Rock Co. Cane Flow" off Grind State.

De La Soul are amazing lyricists and producers.  But what makes them so good is their fearlessness in trying new ideas and new sounds.  It pays off in a big way.  


Rock Co. Kane Flow
 Rock Co. Kane Flow-De La Soul by TheBoyandColors 

Top 10 Rappers: #6

#6: People Under the Stairs

As a native Angelino, I might be a little biased, but PUTS is where it's at.  Like Kanye and Dre, Thes One and Double K are rapper/producers.  They're decent lyricists, but not amazing.  Instead, their appeal lies in their deference to the hip-hop styles and artists that came before them, as well as their unique production.  PUTS is one of the few groups these days spouting true hip-hop.  You won't find any Daft Punk samples here.  Thes and Double throw down chilled out, jazz-influenced grooves and beats similar to De La Soul circa Buhloone Mindstate while rapping in classic Nice & Smooth throwback essence, yet still maintain their own modern sound.  The "O.S.T." is their masterpiece and features Sugar Hill Gang-esque "Hang Loose," Tribe Called Quest tribute "The Outrage," the chillest song on earth "Montego Slay," Los Angeles love "L.A. Song," and, of course, "Acid Raindrops."  They cover so many different sounds and genres, adding their own flavor and using L.A. as the glue that holds it altogether.  The "O.S.T." is a must-have for Los Angeles residents.  

Montego Slay

 Montego Slay-People Under the Stairs by TheBoyandColors