Ok, lets play another game, recommend albums to this guy :)

Ok, not sure what you like but here are soem recommendations from my MP3 folder ..

Big L - Lifestyez Ov Da Rich and Dangarus : If you can get by the horrid spelling of the title, you have a solid as **** rap album. Some tight beats and rhymes, very talented.
Unfortunately, Big L is also very dead. :(

Binary Star - Masters of the Universe - 2 very talented MCs in this group. Not for everyone, but they are above average in all aspects.

Aesop Rock - Labor Days : Not for everyone, but if you can get into his voice and beats, you're in for a real treat. This was my "gateway' album into his stuff, very talented.

Atmosphere - Lucy Ford : SnoopDogg could probably tell you more about these guys then I can. Slug is a great MC and I recommend these guys to anyone I can.

Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow : I'm not even going to begin commenting on this one..it's just about perfect.

DJ Shadow - Live at ICA : This was the first album I heard to get me into his stuff. It's an hour long track of him just laying down the beats. Very cool .

Eyedea & DJ Abilities - First Born : Some really great tracks from another great rapper. Abilities lays down some good beats, and Eyedea never fails to impress with the lyrics.

Jurassic 5 : I'm breaking my own rule here. ANy album is perfect musical bliss. Go enjoy now!

Latyrx - The Album : Another basically unheard of rapper in the "mainstream" world. Not sure what to say about his style other than its ****ing awesome.

N.E.R.D. - In Search Of : Neptunes at their finest. I love this album.

Quannum - Quannum Spectrum : This is a CRAZY CRAZY album. Beats by DJ Shadow, lyrics by assorted artists Blackalicious, J5 is there, Latyrx is there, and others. Great listening!

Tech N9ne - Absolute Power : Some won't like this, but I love it! Great tracks, great beats, cool theme.

N.E.R.D. is from Norfolk, VA (a city about 15-20 mins away from my hometown, Newport News).

I think I'm going to get...

DJ Shadow - Entroducing
Latryx - The Album
Quannum - Quannum Spectrum
Jurassic 5 - Power in Numbers
Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow
Atmosphere - Lucy Ford

It may be awhile though...I need to save my money for buying Christmas presents and stuff.

I suppose I throw in my 2 cents. I agree with most of the artists that have already been mentioned.

You my want to try any of the SoundBombing albums from the Rawkus label (it's more of Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, etc).

As for artists no one has mentioned:
Benzino
Clipse
GZA
Blackstar
The Beatnuts

Honestly, go for the detroit underground group, Level Jumpers. They're about the same style as the artists you have. Check out leveljumpers.com and look for their first album.

Latyrx = Lateef the Truth Speaker and Lyrics Born, not a single guy.

Watch out for Slug, he'll sleep with your girl.

Sorry sir!

dancinns: benzino is horrible. imho

El-P - Fantastic Damage......I think this album has the best beats and lyrics I've ever heard. Nothing short of amazing.

Get anything by Dan the Automator....his album "wanna buy a monkey?" or the stuff he did as Deltron 3030 and Dr. Octogon

MF Doom - also extremely good.

Let's put it this way, if you hear it on the radio, it's bad. The state of hip-hop (or pop-pop as I call it) is frightening pathetic. How many songs can I hear about "24s on my feets, oh yeah!" and bling this and ho that? Answer: Every song on the radio.....Wow, where do I sign up to hear that?!?!?!

Adios

It's all in taste. It's like how some people love 2Pac and other people are indifferent. I just happen to like Benzino. But this is for another thread.

download nail in the coffin and the sauce by eminem
:)

This is a mix CD (a mediocre one IMO), on which most of the songs are not his own.

True, to a certain extent....
 

The album is not the greatest thing in the world, but it's good to hear a bunch of different aspects of the music, then seek out the good individually (how I got into Compay Flow, then El-P and so forth). It's a decent starting point to take what you like. I like all of Dan's stuff (minus Gorillaz) and didn't have time to post his other stuff like Handsome Boy Modeling School and Lovage (with the almighty Mike Patton). Not sure if I would call Lovage hip-hop, more like sleazy, dirty lounge music (which is my cup ' tea).

Also, some other albums to get into:

Company Flow - Funcrucher +
Organized Konfusion - Stress "the Extinction Agenda"
MF Doom - Operation Doomsday
Lovage - Music to make to your Old Lady by
Cannibal Ox - A Cole Vein
Saul Williams - Amethyst Rockstar

I like "Wanna Buy A Monkey?", a mix disc to be sure (tracks either Automator produced or remixed), but more enjoyable than some of the Automator's latest exploits. Gorillaz and Lovage were mostly a bore. Anybody heard of
Murs - Another great artist from the Living Legends label (Mystik Journeymen Sunspot Jonz ahh), he released an album (with Slug from Atmosphere) this year called "Felt: A Tribute to Christina Ricci." I think we can relate. Also look for "Murs Rules The World" and "Varsity Blues". All nice.

:up: to alot of your guy reccomendations.

Some albums to add to the list:
Masta Ace - Disposable Arts
Atmosphere - God Loves Ugly
Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow
Dr.Octagon - Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Dooom - First Come, First Served
Kool Keith - Black Elvis, Lost In Space
Jedi Mind Tricks - Violent By Design
Non Phixion - The Future Is Now
Talib Kweli & Hi Tek - Reflection Eternal
Outkast - ATLiens

saul williams is tight
get twice the first time

I'm glad so many people are informed over the "true" hip hop acts.

There isn't a lot of "bling bling" involved with these guys, just skill..

I contributed to this thread a while ago, but here is a list of some other rappers not listed yet.

Sage Francis
Anticon
Sole
Murs
Oddjobs
Ugly Duckling
Zion I
Brother Ali

All very very good.