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try out high focus records. got some of the best uk hiphop around
http://www.high-focus.com/home/

Quoted from basshead

great example of killer mike and el-p here: http://youtu.be/OQ5rI461KNE

Oh fuck yeah, didn’t even know about this Run the Jewels project! Thanks! Cancer 4 Cure and R.A.P. Music were great.

Quoted from Konfy

CunninLynguists

This so many times.

Rap is probably my favorite genre of music, but I don’t want to just recommend the standard “great” albums in the pantheon of rap, as a) most of them have been mentioned already and b) they’re pretty easy to find out about, just go to rateyourmusic and some shit.

Instead, here are some albums I feel are somewhat underrated and deserve your attention nearly as much as the illmatics and 36 chambers of the world (note, some of these are still reasonably famous underground classics, and some are more obscure):

(1) Masta Ace- Disposable Arts: I know a few people mentioned Masta Ace already but I figured I’d give an actual album recommendation. A Long Hot Summer, the eMC stuff, and even his early albums are all great as well, but I think this is the best place to start. It’s sort of a concept album, so keep that in mind. Masta Ace may be the most underrated rap artist of all time, he’s so consistent and has such a great catalog.
Sample song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6dxaRlOiUY

(2) Smif n Wessun- Dah Shinin’: If you’re into gritty, hardcore east-coast rap from the mid 90s, Boot Camp Clik albums are for you. I think this album showcases the best production from Da Beatminerz, it’s consistently dark and atmospheric.
Sample song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw5V2k_SMh0

(3) Black Moon- Enta da Stage: Probably the other best Boot Camp Clik album, just very consistent all the way through.
Sample song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k6Ry8mSt_k

(4) Cannibal Ox- The Cold Vein: Next to Illmatic, probably my favorite rap album. El-P produced the whole album and it has an incredibly consistent sound, cold and electronic. Vast Aire, despite his relatively simplistic flow, is one of the best emcees of all time, simply because he has probably the best lyrics I’ve ever heard. Truly an example of lightning in a bottle.
Sample Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwbmFuHxjWo

(5) Elzhi- Elmatic: Creating a fitting tribute to (in my opinion) the greatest rap album of all time is not easy, but Elzhi somehow pulled it off. The production, done by studio band Will Sessions, is all live-performed version of the original beats, and Elzhi writes original verses that are still tied to the subject matter and structure of Nas’ masterpiece. Elzhi is, in my opinion, the best rapper ever from Detroit, a true virtuoso.
Sample song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrQSg9cp7MM

(6) Billy Woods- History Will Absolve Me: probably not the most accessible rap release of the past few years, but worth the effort. Much like Vast Aire, Billy Woods’ lyrics are fucking mindblowing; I have no idea how he comes up with some of the shit he says. Dour Candy, the follow-up to this album, is also great.
Sample song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQOGBHcqQQs

(7) The Juggaknots- s/t: A sort of “lost classic” from the mid-90s, this album wasn’t quite released properly if I recall correctly, but we have it now and it’s totally genius. Consistently dark and intelligent, one of the best.
Sample song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mMfavxyFUI

(8) The Doppelgangaz- Lone Sharks: One of the strangest and yet most charming groups in rap, The Doppelgangaz have some of the wackiest lyrics you’ll ever hear. They have a pretty simple formula- bizarre multisyllabic rhymes over amazing production. Hark, their new release, is very good too. Also, they wear cloaks, so you know they’re badass.
Sample song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyGWrvFiFvE

(9) Melanin 9- Magna Carta: Since this is etf2l, here’s by far the best U.K. rap album I’ve ever heard (and it’s by a black dude- probably not a coincidence). M9 is a really captivating emcee, his lyrics are fiery and political and his flow is amazing. The production is very moody and beautiful. The guest appearances are tasteful and appropriate. Please give this a chance, euros!
Sample song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knOD9LtuFd4

(10) Blu and Exile- Below the Heavens: If anyone thinks the west coast is under-represented on this list, here’s an amazing album to rectify that. If you like Kendrick Lamar, Fashawn, Aloe Blaccc, etc.,you will love Blu as a rapper. Exile’s production, as per usual, is fucking incredible.
Sample song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEIsr8hTikA

(11) Dr. Octagon- Dr. Octagonecologyst: Kool Keith’s concept album about a horny space alien who becomes a gynecologist…yeah, you read that right. One of the best ‘weird’ rap albums ever, don’t take it too seriously and you’ll love it.
Sample song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9VYzNUXGDA

(12) Jeru the Damaja- The Sun Rises in the East: this album is a complete underrated classic, for two main reasons. First, Jeru himself. Jeru, a Rastafarian dude from Brooklyn, is a really interesting emcee, with a relatively unique type of flow that’s kinda hard to explain. Second, and more important, the entire album is produced by DJ Premier! That’s pretty hard to top!
Sample song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBQDWsBewSs

(13) Big L- Lifestylez ov da Poor and Dangerous: I’m amazed no one’s mentioned Big L yet, he’s not even that underrated anymore! Anyways, the highlight of this album is obviously Big L himself, imo the greatest rapper of all time in terms of flow. He sounds like the beat is building itself around his rapping, not the other way around. Buckwild’s production is pretty good too. Pls also check out any other Big L stuff, his catalog is pretty small for obvious reasons (rest in peace).
Sample Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWMjRMJ0dTI

(14) Organized Konfusion- Stress: The Extinction Agenda: The group where Pharaoh Monch began, another absolute classic of the mid-90s from New York. The production is gritty and Monch and Prince Po can fucking RAP.
Sample song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf6MdR-zSxA

(15) J-Live- The Best Part: Man oh man, if there’s one guy in the industry who hasn’t gotten his fair shake, it’s J-Live. The dude is incredibly talented, but has been dicked around by one record label after another. Whatever the case, this album is fantastic, as is the rest of the dude’s catalog.
Sample song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amOGnQpYWmM

(16) The Coup- Genocide and Juice: Oakland’s The Coup combine two things that you wouldn’t necessarily associate with one another- g-funk and Marxism. Yeah, you read that right, Marxism. This album has a few filler songs, but the ones that hit REALLY hit. The production is all done with live instrumentation, and Boots Riley KILLS it on the mic. The first three songs (not including the intro skit) are a perfect triumvirate of awesome.
Sample song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f18N1VwPPv8

real thugs use one of those 2 trackers beginning with a w

try to actually buy some of your shit too, yo

Quoted from WOODY[

try out high focus records. got some of the best uk hiphop around
http://www.high-focus.com/home/

dirty dike is cool, although didnt listen to anything from them in the last 2 years or so

just a few favs from 2k13

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl_z_yRrRAQ (Pusha T)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FcDXL5Aw0o (Earl Sweatshirt)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQhH_A2hGV0 (Denzel Curry)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMgkt9jdjTU (Yung Lean)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG1xKOG7mLY (Drake)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tovscaS3Qo (Frank Ocean / JayZ)

Death grips album was cool aswell, female albums i’d say Ciara, M.I.A are worth a mention.

Quoted from kKaltUu

[…]
what waffles?

waffles.fm and what.cd

i have waffles personally :>

if you don’t have an invite, you can always just use a simple google search, ie “site:mediafire.com rar *name of album*”, that often works pretty well if you try a few different upload sites

Quoted from WOODY[

try out high focus records. got some of the best uk hiphop around
http://www.high-focus.com/home/