I was going through my cd collection the other day and realized that I have a very limited variety. I like some hip-hop artists, but I haven't had much exposure to the genre, since none of my friends really listen to it (or like it for that matter). The only real exposure I've had is from my roommate.

These are the artists I currently like (the most):
A Tribe Called Quest
The Roots
Jurassic 5
Gang Starr

Will someone suggest albums of their's, or tell me some similar artists that I also may like?

Thanks.

talib kweli

to your roomate.

to your friends.

Talib Kweli
Mos Def
Common
Musiqsoulchild / Musiq (more R&B)
Del the Funkee Homosapien
El-P
Cannibal Ox
MC Paul Barman
Aesop Rock
Jean Grae - Attack of the Attacking Things
Deltron 3030

Mileage may vary.

Can't promote these guys enough....

Atmosphere - check out Lucy Ford Album and God Loves Ugly.

Your hip hop tastes seem very close to mine. Based upon what you like, try something from Quannum, which is made up of DJ Shadow, Blackalicious and Latyrx. The entire crew's got an album out called Quannum Spectrum. Blackalicious has two full lengths out, and Latyrx's first album was just reissued. DJ Shadow's got three discs. He's a bit more abstract though.

You'd probably also like the Hieroglyphics crew (Del the Funky Homosapien, Souls of Mischief, Casual, Pep Love), Company Flow, El P, Ugly Duckling, Arsonists and Swollen Members.

I second third and fourth Blackalicious. Beats and rhymes are top-notch and that's what hip-hop is about.

One of my favorites from the past few years though is undoubtedly Kool Keith in his incarnation as Dr. Octagon--but the album is quite weird and somewhat smutty--pluses in this instance.

Oh don't worry, I like DJ Shadow a whole lot. And I like abstract/experimental music...trust me.

Thanks a lot for all of the suggestions.

Dialated Peoples
Goodie Mob
Camp Lo

Then, at the very least, you should pick up Quannum Spectrum...

I downloaded two Quannum songs: "Concentration" and "Extravaganza" and like both of them.

I like the Dilated Peoples song, "Worst Comes to Worst." I'll have to check out more of their stuff. I also like everything I've heard by Blackalicious so far.

I also downloaded a couple Atmosphere songs off of, "God Loves Ugly" and thought they were all pretty good.

Thanks a lot everyone.

Hell.
Yes.

These guys are freaking incredible!

Eyedea
Deep Puddle Dynamics
Swollen Members
Aesop Rock
Blackalicious
Handsome Boy Modeling School
Pep Love
Atmosphere

The more I listen to Mos Def, the more I like him.

There's also a cool artist named 'Analyst'. You can find some of his stuff on MP3.Com.

nobody's mentioned KRS-One yet and i'll second the endorsement of Talib Kweli.

Lemme see, I've readover the lists, and here is the ones I will recommend.

Tech N9ne
Aesop Rock
Atmosphere
Blackalicious
Black Eyed Peas
Latyrx
Eyedea

oh
pharohe monche is a beast

try oh no

Spaceman: Check out the song 'Tooley Crew Personified' -- not sure where it was released but I archived a copy of the CD Single and whenever I make a hip-hop compendium it inevitably gets included, as well as stuff by Mixmaster Mike and Dead Prez.

De La Soul-3 Feet High & Rising
Mos Def-Black on Both Sides
Pharcyde-Bizarre Ride II tha Pharcyde

Every Outkast album to here them grow from album to album is scary

Mos Def
Talib Kweli
Eyedea
Aesop Rock
Cannibal Ox
Eminem

All good.

Well im gonna sound like a broken record but if its hot its hot
Atmosphere
Blackalicious (great!)
Aesop Rock
Mos Def
Pharcyde (one of my fav)
Latyrx
Del La Soul
Black Eyed Pee's
pep love

Then some more gangsta is stuff would be
50 Cent
Clipse
57 Street Rogue Dogg Villians (tech n9nes group) only suggest first 2 cds though
tech N9ne but not his latest cd... it sucked....

Peace
Ron

Some good suggestions up there..

Only thing I might be able to add that I didn't see is Living Legends.

Any rapper that isnt obsessed about the size of his rims is considered decent this day and age. =)

a good dead prez song is dem crazy

DEAD PREZ - these guys are extremely political and talk a lot about issues affecting the black male.

CAMP LO - these two are funny as hell, southern boys and have a very 70's sound to their music.

PHAROAHE MONCH - he's terrific and can sing-song a verse in a way that's sounds really cool.

COMMON - he has a new album (Dec. 10) called "Electric Circus" that should be great and his flow is terrific and lyrics consist of "not just the b***hes and money".

SCARFACE - his latest album "The Fix" is outstanding. Just buy it because this has been around for a long time and put together some terrific personal tales on the record.

OUTKAST - you just can't lose here. They have four great albums and you can't just go by the radio hits because the albums are deep and you won't be disappointed.

NAS - he may be in a battle with Jay-Z but Nas can't be touched as far as lyrics go. He talks about everything in life and usually has DJ Premier and Large Professor do the beats. All of his albums are good except for the 4th one (Nastradamus) and his b-sides album "Lost Tapes" is worth paying full price for.

I hope that this helps find some great new music (as well as older albums by these artists).