LC1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rluU6BGpKw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z51mbVAgAlk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdRUMqds5r8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR2w-TROUQ0

And there's also good hip hop coming out of UK....I like this guy at the moment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wzWMWiT848 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvrr554NavQ

@Underling Thanks for the post, some great OG hip hop there! The first tracks I posted are all contemporary, not sure of exact dates but all latter 2000s. I feel what you're saying about falling out of love with hip hop, it has certainly changed over the years, as is natural. I think you're right that the 4 elements of breakin' grafiti, DJ & MC are no longer present as they once were. But on that note, as an aside, here is a track you might like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXtJRv36ttU But what I don't like is this idea that "hip hop is dead" (not saying you think this). What a joke! It's evolved, like things always do. Technology clearly plays a part in this. Personally I don't mind if a beat has been cooked up in the lab on a computer, or whether it's played with a live orchestra - I love tunes that use either method, as long as the beats get your head bobbing and the lyrics are meaningful. You mention that 'hip hop' became 'rap', but I don't see it like that. Rap, to me, is the posturing hard-man, drug dealing, glocks and 9s, hos and whips, all that nonsense! I do have a weakness for some of that when it is done well (and we all know it's mostly BS anyway), I'm thinking of classics like Illmatic by Nas. But I'm mostly into the vibe that resonates with the OG hip hop artists who used to rap with humour, or political and social commentary without the gangsta BS. There are tons of MCs doing this today, and tons of producers making killer beats. I love the classics, like Sugarhill, Run DMC etc. Then the likes of tribe called quest, Eric B & Rakim, Blackstar, de la soul etc. For me, there was a point where I felt that perhaps hip hop had indeed lost its way and the old stuff would never be matched again. It was all this east coast/west coast gangsta rubbish. But a pivotal album for me was Train of Thought by Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & DJ HI-Tek) in 2000. If you haven't heard it then I really recommend it. Some gangsta references but almost tongue-in-cheek, and some sincerely soulful and beautiful lyrically-driven tracks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIH32mSOx58 Talib Kweli remains for me one of the strongest lyricists around, but there are many more. I love hip hop for its continued ability to engage people with a social & political consciousness. Much like reggae did in the 70s and 80s, and still does today for those who care to listen (many people likewise think that reggae died with Bob Marley/Tosh etc.) But JA is an island of immense musical genius, and there is tons of great contemporary roots reggae, even though the beats are often largely synthetic nowadays! Some of it retains the original vibe of 70s and 80s reggae, but it has a distinctiveness of its own too, which I really love.

@Underling Thanks for the post, some great OG hip hop there! The first tracks I posted are all contemporary, not sure of exact dates but all latter 2000s. I feel what you're saying about falling out of love with hip hop, it has certainly changed over the years, as is natural. I think you're right that the 4 elements of breakin' grafiti, DJ & MC are no longer present as they once were. But on that note, as an aside, here is a track you might like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXtJRv36ttU But what I don't like is this idea that "hip hop is dead" (not saying you think this). What a joke! It's evolved, like things always do. Technology clearly plays a part in this. Personally I don't mind if a beat has been cooked up in the lab on a computer, or whether it's played with a live orchestra - I love tunes that use either method, as long as the beats get your head bobbing and the lyrics are meaningful. You mention that 'hip hop' became 'rap', but I don't see it like that. Rap, to me, is the posturing hard-man, drug dealing, glocks and 9s, hos and whips, all that nonsense! I do have a weakness for some of that when it is done well (and we all know it's mostly BS anyway), I'm thinking of classics like Illmatic by Nas. But I'm mostly into the vibe that resonates with the OG hip hop artists who used to rap with humour, or political and social commentary without the gangsta BS. There are tons of MCs doing this today, and tons of producers making killer beats. I love the classics, like Sugarhill, Run DMC etc. Then the likes of tribe called quest, Eric B & Rakim, Blackstar, de la soul etc. For me, there was a point where I felt that perhaps hip hop had indeed lost its way and the old stuff would never be matched again. It was all this east coast/west coast gangsta rubbish. But a pivotal album for me was Train of Thought by Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & DJ HI-Tek) in 2000. If you haven't heard it then I really recommend it. Some gangsta references but almost tongue-in-cheek, and some sincerely soulful and beautiful lyrically-driven tracks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIH32mSOx58 Talib Kweli remains for me one of the strongest lyricists around, but there are many more. I love hip hop for its continued ability to engage people with a social & political consciousness. Much like reggae did in the 70s and 80s, and still does today for those who care to listen (many people likewise think that reggae died with Bob Marley/Tosh etc.) But JA is an island of immense musical genius, and there is tons of great contemporary roots reggae, even though the beats are often largely synthetic nowadays! Some of it retains the original vibe of 70s and 80s reggae, but it has a distinctiveness of its own too, which I really love.

Ah, sorry, hadn't read the whole thread! Great video on the Amen break.... Before I loved the Amen in Hip Hop I loved it in tunes like these: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJcZMLV3quw&feature=player_embedded#! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSS8Zxuzmkw&feature=player_embedded#! Hope they haven't been posted already?!

Love this tune, especially at 1.26.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxZuq57_bYM

You use the 'insert media' icon that looks like 3 Polaroid photos.

For a rainy sunday morning.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQpvCiYVvOc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLu63qHDubM&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL584251628304EC7A

Thanks for the welcome. That reminded me a bit of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akKZip3IO0M

My favourite albino Hip-Hop artist! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46l236O7Iv8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m59xiuE9fkg

A couple from Dutch duo Pete Philly & Perquisite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qXGIxf2ISI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di19v_XSxxM

May I join this thread please? Some Swedish Hip-Hop for you.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtmKuWPpjG0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcOvr8yG2BM