Thats funny.

The first single i ever purchased of any musical genre (remember cassettes?) was Young MC's "bust a move".

B-side was "I got more rhymes"

Posted by sebstar:

Posted by SupremeCommander:

I was always curious how the pure hip hop heads grade G. Love (& the Special Sauce)

And while we're at it, please grade Pharrell (of N.E.R.D. if you prefer)

Oh and how about Aesop Rock

(that style of music played big in the sk8 scene when I wasn't scared of breaking my arm)

Not really a fan of G Love and the special sauce. They tried to be a hybrid band and they did neither particularly well. Just my opinion tho. I remember I hated that joint my girl's got sauce.

Wouldn't really grade Pharell because he isn't much of a rapper. His rapping is all about self-aggrandizement and getting his face on camera. He's in the same league as Puffy; he talks to a beat more than he raps to a beat. His beats have really fallen off since the Neptunes kinda split. Chad seemed to be the creative center of that production team.

Aesop Rock. To be honest I'm not that familiar with his work. I've heard a lot about him, and a few of my boys are fans, but some of the music I have heard from him didn't motivate me to press deeper into his catalog. Rock is like the stereotypical underground white rapper. Weird beats, abstract lyrics, an overall an inaccessible style. I cant really feel his music and it doesnt speak to me.

I kind of thought that'd be the reaction... the one thing I give G Love/Pharrell all the credit in the world is it was great transition stuff. I used to hear, say, Biggie --> G Love/Pharrell (produced or N.E.R.D) --> Weezer it and flowed. I definitely started off on alt and punk and those guys made it easier to delve into a whole new genre... but that doesn't necessarily mean they're great rappers. I probably overrate them from personal experience. I would suggest listening to G Love's I-76 though... that happens to be one of my favorite songs period

As for Aesop Rock... ****ing awesome. He kinda of reminds me of the TV series "The Wire" in that everyone that watches/listens says the music/show is some of the best ever seen/heard only no one's really watched it and the only time that happens is organically. I'd suggest giving him a go

special ed: (B) strength:talk about clever lyrics, special ed has it. a sick flow that would cause anyone to rewind a bar back. one of the greatest story teller. proficient vocab and a classic wordsmith. one of the most underrated rappers ever.

weakness: a classic case that the production skill doesn't mesh with the rappers skill. howie tee was not a good fit for most of ed's tracks. he also didn't evolve with the game

lauryn hill: (B+) strength: one of if not the best female rapper ever. multi talented. could sing just as well as rap. very good voice and flow.

weakness: mental insanity. started saying and doing off the wall crap. music suffered.