RuffDraft's Rough Draft of Hip Hop - School's in Session...

[RuffDraft]

CYNE - Cultivating Your New Experience.

CYNE are a hip hop group from Florida, they've never really broke through into the mainstream, but they're incredibly talented. Made up of two emcee's (Cise Starr and Akin) as well as two producers (Enoch and Speck), they produced one of my favourite albums of 2005 in 'Evolution Fight', but the tracks below are from their Time Being album, which I believe was a Japanese only release.

[video=youtube;Mg7E96VG7pk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg7E96VG7pk[/video]

[video=youtube;i-OkwhQ6O2g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-OkwhQ6O2g&feature=related[/video]

On their follow up album, Evolution Fight, CYNE took it to a new level with tracks discussing losses whilst questioning life's ills. An incredible album with varied production, EF saw Cise Starr and Akin in the form of their life, trading bars and life's lessons and questions within the same songs. Some of my favourites:

[video=youtube;rP2ISUThbcQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP2ISUThbcQ[/video]

[video=youtube;IZROFPUlfqY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZROFPUlfqY[/video]

I did an Artist of the Month thread about them if you'd like to learn more… click here.

 

[RuffDraft]

CunninLynguists

CunninLynguists are a group from Kentucky and Georgia, they contain my favourite producer, KNO and have two great emcee's in Deacon the Villain and Natti. They recently released Oneirology, a concept album about dreams; but they're no strangers to a concept or three.

Early in their careers, they released Will Rap for Food, which contained some of their classic tracks including Lynguistics and Mic Like A Memory. They went on to produce a classic record in A Piece of Strange as well as SouthernUnderground, Dirty Acres and more…

Some of my favourite tracks from them:

[video=youtube;GK9EmWZNPpo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK9EmWZNPpo[/video]

[video=youtube;YjlgZaqaLyU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjlgZaqaLyU[/video]

[video=youtube;_76WM3YI5yk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_76WM3YI5yk[/video]

[video=youtube;aZ6UDw5ova0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ6UDw5ova0[/video]

If you'd like to learn more about them, visit my Artist of the Month in The Essence here.

 

[RuffDraft]

k-os

k-os (an acronym for 'knowledge of self'), is a Canadian emcee/singer/producer and a talented three at that… he is my favourite emcee that resides in Canada and has a classic record in Joyful Rebellion, which contained such great records as The Love Song, Man I Used to Be and Dirty Water. Always covering a variety of topics and switching up his sound, k-os has continued to release some of the nicest hip hop in recent years, more recently with Yes!

[video=youtube;OjVT-SKAxUs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjVT-SKAxUs&feature=player_embedded[/video]

[video=youtube;VTixTI8XSAk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTixTI8XSAk&feature=related[/video]

[video=youtube;lRlzM4a1ll0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRlzM4a1ll0&feature=related[/video]

[video=youtube;8iUdXA9n8aM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iUdXA9n8aM&feature=related[/video]

To find out more about k-os, visit my Artist of the Month thread in the Essence, here.

More to come...

 

[twentyfivelighters]

I can vouch for Cunninlynguists! One of my favorite groups as well.

 

[RuffDraft]

I can vouch for Cunninlynguists! One of my favorite groups as well.

Props :tu Oneirology is incredible…

Phonte

Originally a member of Little Brother with 9th Wonder and Big Pooh, 'Te has been making timeless music for a while, no matter if it was with his original group, The Foreign Exchange or more recently, by himself. Crafting a number of great albums with LB including The Minstrel Show and the Listening, 'Te went on to create more experimental releases including Connected, which was produced by Nicolay at a time where they hadn't even met in person, yet still created a classic. They continued their work together and as such, Phonte has continued to become more diverse with his outreach into R&B. Yet more recently, 'Te reminded us all that 'Charity Starts at Home' returning to his roots with a number of tracks produced by 9th. Some of my favourite tracks:

[video=youtube;fy2RjQvBeL4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy2RjQvBeL4[/video]

[video=youtube;asjY35vP6AQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asjY35vP6AQ&feature=related[/video]

[video=youtube;9WnVDQvGD2I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WnVDQvGD2I&feature=related[/video]

[video=youtube;rSVUPMccM8c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSVUPMccM8c&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLAB46EA3F969F4E2F[/video]

 

[RuffDraft]

Pigeon John

A California based emcee, Pigeon John is the light-hearted non-serious emcee that everyone should love. With four studio albums in the past ten years, Pigeon John hit his finest moment with 'Pigeon John and the Summertime Pool Party', a great record that really showed off his lyricism as he was joined with the likes of Brother Ali and J-Live with beats from RJD2. If the name isn't enough to show you what he's like on the mic, such album titles as 'Pigeon John is Dating Your Sister,' will surely help. A gifted emcee capable of reminiscing as brilliantly as he's able to have fun, he's an artist not to be missed. Some of my favourites:

[video=youtube;EQIQJy6QTxw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQIQJy6QTxw[/video]

[video=youtube;dcCZovhBGIk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcCZovhBGIk&feature=related[/video]

[video=youtube;m3osK-YCzS4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3osK-YCzS4&feature=related[/video]

[video=youtube;2FMtt38kZjQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FMtt38kZjQ&feature=related[/video]

 

[RuffDraft]

Nujabes

No RuffDraft thread would be complete without some Japanese Hip Hop, Nujabes was a gifted producer from Tokyo, Japan. Working closely with some of the greats from the underground in the States, Nujabes kept a low profile until his untimely death last year. Destined to last, his music is something to be treasured. With some of the greatest instrumentals of the 00's, Nujabes crafted beats for Anime as well as hip hop heads and can't really be faulted. From Metaphorical Music to Modal Soul, he had it all. Some of my favourite tracks:

[video=youtube;g8wxfuTmq_I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8wxfuTmq_I[/video]

[video=youtube;_qU2MXeAz1E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qU2MXeAz1E&feature=related[/video]

[video=youtube;TuvKDNOVfJk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuvKDNOVfJk[/video]

[video=youtube;ta7q15OZg4c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta7q15OZg4c&feature=related[/video]

 

[RuffDraft]

Apollo Brown

Apollo Brown has been producing for many years, but more recently his music has become more and more popular in the underground. From 'The Reset' to 'Gas Mask' last year and from 'Clouds' to 'Daily Bread' this year, Apollo Brown has showcased that he's in fact a better producer than most, if not all in terms of volume and quality. Four albums in two years is an incredible pace… with very little, if any, throwaways… he's a genius on the boards.

[video=youtube;bj7LL3Ra0DQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj7LL3Ra0DQ&feature=player_embedded[/video]

[video=youtube;ztCwfNJpdeY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztCwfNJpdeY&feature=player_embedded[/video]

[video=youtube;NyBwRB3kACY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyBwRB3kACY&feature=player_embedded[/video]

[video=youtube;44mb4lNXt8k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44mb4lNXt8k&feature=player_embedded[/video]

 

[RuffDraft]

Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar will be a 'more-known' artist than most on this page, after a more recent co-sign from Dr. Dre and co. as the new King of the West coast. But it's been a long road for Kendrick to reach that level, starting off his career as K.Dot and eventually changing to his Government name so that people could get to know him better. It was with this first step that we were blessed with the Kendrick Lamar EP. A truly brilliant EP filled with honesty and laid-back west coast flow. Kendrick has never looked back since with O.D. receiving favourable reviews as well as this year's Section 80, which needs no introduction here. If you'd like to find out all there is to know about Kendrick Lamar, visit the stickied Artist of the Month thread in The Essence, here.

Some of my favourite tracks:

[video=youtube;xgfY_9rXlZE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgfY_9rXlZE&feature=related[/video]

[video=youtube;QjlFqgRbICY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjlFqgRbICY&feature=related[/video]

[video=youtube;C7LzgKaou4U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7LzgKaou4U[/video]

[video=youtube;QHJaqvz28ng]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHJaqvz28ng&feature=related[/video]

 

[RuffDraft]

Masta Ace

Masta Ace should need no introduction, although I fear he probably will for most heads here as it's been a while since his last popular release, A Long Hot Summer, which dropped in 2004. Ace has been around since '88 but has continually released music of high quality. From the old Take a Look Around to Slaughtahouse and Sittin' On Chrome, Ace struggled as an artist throughout the '90's and it wasn't until his Disposable Arts gained recognition that he was established as an artist, back in 2001, which he stated would have been his final release had it flopped in sales. He followed up Disposable Arts with one of the greatest concept records of all time, A Long Hot Summer. Ace deserves your ear, so get familiar if you're sleepin'!

[video=youtube;QgMtF7x8hno]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgMtF7x8hno[/video]

[video=youtube;kjL0Di8o2bw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjL0Di8o2bw[/video]

[video=youtube;zdHZJIpif6c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdHZJIpif6c[/video]

[video=youtube;JUaFMOlPvgQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUaFMOlPvgQ[/video]

 

[RuffDraft]

Fashawn

Fashawn was born in sunny CA and released his debut album in 2009, entitled 'Boy Meets World'. The entire album was produced by up and coming producer, Exile who had already produced for fellow West Coast emcee, Blu on the now classic, Below The Heavens. Fashawn's effort was no different, with tracks touching on everything from God to questions of life on 'Why' and continued with this theme on 'Life as a Shorty' where 'Life shouldn't be so rough.' Overall, this LP was a personal classic, from the lyrics to the production, it was outstanding in 2009 and still is today. After working with the likes of Blu, Evidence and J. Cole, Fashawn looks one to watch for the future… 2012 should see the follow up, The Ecology, which will also be produced by Exile. Some of my favourites:

[video=youtube;NoLzPumZyrY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoLzPumZyrY[/video]

[video=youtube;QOeZro9Wq50]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOeZro9Wq50[/video]

[video=youtube;9yGzZ2dAeSk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yGzZ2dAeSk&feature=related[/video]

[video=youtube;83aNKRfi1SQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83aNKRfi1SQ&feature=related[/video]

 

[StillFaggyAF]

RIP Nujabes

 

[RuffDraft]

RIP Nujabes

No doubt, new album coming on the 3rd of December though!!! :tu

 

[RuffDraft]

RJD2

RJD2 is one of the best producers, period. Working with the likes of such as Copywrite, Cunninlynguists, Cage, DOOM, Diverse and Aceyalone; RJD2 has an endless list of collaborations with artists from Rhymesayers to Def Jux. My favourite album of his, Dead Ringer, is a mix of hip hop instrumentals, perfectly constructed with moments of solitude to all out anthem like speaker knockers. Some of my favourites below:

[video=youtube;SPuv6QE28yc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPuv6QE28yc[/video]

[video=youtube;rVqAdIMQZlk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVqAdIMQZlk[/video]

[video=youtube;Eq38_MFTEm0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq38_MFTEm0[/video]

[video=youtube;vVB6ZPlmCCc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVB6ZPlmCCc[/video]

 

[rip.dilla]

DOPE THREAD 'Draft

[video=youtube;GtFfI9syWss]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtFfI9syWss[/video]

 

[RuffDraft]

DOPE THREAD 'Draft

Thanks Dilla :tu

Binary Star

Made up of two truly gifted emcees, One Be Lo and Senim Silla met one another whilst serving time at Hiawatha Correctional Facility. Following a $500 budget album in Waterworld, the duo released Masters of the Universe in 2000. It was an album that would showcase their talents and more… a truly landmark album showing how chemistry on a mic can really take two cats to another level. From tracks like Reality Check to the Indy 500 and Why the Cage Bird Sings Parts 1 & 2, the album was filled with classic cuts and rhymes over great instrumentation. Not to be missed. Some of my favourites:

[video=youtube;FnD_CXnXEB8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnD_CXnXEB8[/video]

[video=youtube;v-hV5c92QgI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-hV5c92QgI[/video]

[video=youtube;nwORph-tRh0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwORph-tRh0[/video]

[video=youtube;ociEi0Q1VWs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ociEi0Q1VWs[/video]

 

[Lincoln]

I only recently started getting into Phonte, wish I would've listened to him earlier... Binary Star is super underrated, and I've never heard of the Pigeon John guy before, he reminds me of Buckshot kind of..

 

[RuffDraft]

I only recently started getting into Phonte, wish I would've listened to him earlier... Binary Star is super underrated, and I've never heard of the Pigeon John guy before, he reminds me of Buckshot kind of..

Buckshot's not as good, IMO. Pigeon John is well worth a listen, did you check the YouTube's?

Shame you never listened to Phonte earlier, but still, he's amazing and you haven't missed out at least!!

Binary Star are amazing, such a shame they broke up so early in their careers….

 

[satyrone]

this thread is full of real as talk. str8 up

 

[RuffDraft]

this thread is full of real as talk. str8 up

Props Satyr, who's your favourite posted so far?

Eligh (Member of the Living Legends)

As both a gifted emcee and producer, Living Legends member Eligh has had a mixed hip hop career with perhaps more in common with Amy Winehouse than Jay-Z. However, when it comes to down to artistry rather than what's happening in his personal life, Eligh has always been a solid artist and producer. He's crafted tracks for your favourite wrestler (John Cena) as much as he's produced for the aforementioned Pigeon John and Living Legends Crew. After outputting many albums, it was his follow up to 2005's Enigma that really caught ears last year. Grey Crow (2010) was his effort following addiction, but rather than being the depressed levelled artist lacking creativity following his move away from drugs, Eligh moved on a path of enlightenment and shed his soul on the road. A truly great album and my personal favourite of 2010, Grey Crow has solid production throughout and some truly outstanding tracks that are not to be missed.

[video=youtube;IkGQoEcseMo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkGQoEcseMo&feature=related[/video]

[video=youtube;RnjNylm3mtU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnjNylm3mtU[/video]

[video=youtube;DSccWJF2T1s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSccWJF2T1s&feature=related[/video]

[video=youtube;RMijUvKM6xY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMijUvKM6xY[/video]