Is there any 'conscious' hip-hop that's FUN?

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Until a few months ago, I had never really loved hip-hop. Since I was mostly an indie kid, all I had ever invested time listening to was 'conscious'/'positive'/undie hip-hop and it had never really struck me.

My hip-hop revelation came as part of my slow rediscovery of pop music: whereas Jurassic 5 had always been smart but boring, Jay-Z (for instance) was smart and absolutely fucking wonderful to listen to. When it came to chart/mainstream hip-hop, the production, the personality, the amazing sample-hook-climax-party of the songs... suddenly I was hearing this thriving, astonishing, masterful music that was wild with a sense of play.

And while I've spent the past several months gorging on a decade + of fan-fucking-tastic music, I'm still sometimes bothered by the misogyny/violence/mammonism in some of these artists' work. It's a turn-off for my white middle-class humanist values: as I'm blown away by "99 Problems," I just kinda wish that hov didn't need to talk about bitches.

On the other hand, when my friend lent me a Common record this week, I couldn't get over how dead the tracks were, how much they pretty much sucked.

So can people recommend some artists/albums that come closer to the lyrical content of 'conscious' hip-hop, but are actually good? The closest stuff I can think of right now is Eminem's 8 Mile work, The Streets, and MF Doom's King Geedorah record... Although there are (obviously) songs that meet my requirements on albums by jay-z/nas/biggie (Missy's "Wake Up" comes to mind), I'm looking for whole albums that meet these stipulations.

Some stuff I don't much like:
Jurassic 5
Anticon records I've heard
De La Soul
Aesop Rock
Common

Some stuff I do like:
Jay-Z, The Blueprint / The Black Album
Outkast, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
King Geedorah, Take Me To Your Leader
Nas, Illmatic
Cee-lo, Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections
50 Cent, Get Rich or Die Tryin
Mr Lif, I Phantom
Ghostface Killah, Supreme Clientele (though I'd like it more if I could actually understand him)
Bubba Sparxxx, Deliverance
Panjabi MC, Beware
Tribe Called Quest, Midnight Marauders (though it could be better)
Biggie, Ready to Die
The Streets, Original Pirate Material

― Sean M (Sean M), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 21:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Talib Kweli - Quality

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 21:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, and I'm not asking about 'conscious' stuff because I intend to stop listening to 50 Cent - but sometimes I'm not in the mood for king-of-the-streets, owner-of-caddies, fucker-of-bitches rhetoric, and I don't really know what to turn to...

― Sean M (Sean M), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 21:57 (twenty-two years ago)

A Tribe Called Quest - _The Low End Theory_

Which De La Soul did you hear? The first two are straight up party jam albums with hidden secret messages.

Also, KRS-One "Black Cop" and "Sound Of The Police". And, of course, late 80s/early 90s Public Enemy.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 21:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Lyrics Born "Later That Day"

Also, try that De La Soul singles record - it's really great.

― Not That Chuck, Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:00 (twenty-two years ago)

o yeah, sound of the poice. you get to go "whoop whoop" as the chorus!

― mullygrubber (gaz), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, Jeru the Damaja.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:02 (twenty-two years ago)

you can't stop the prophet!

― mullygrubber (gaz), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Not really 'conscious', but not ballin'-bling-bling-hey-mami stuff either:

Jaylib, and other Madlib and Jay Dee stuff
The Coup
The Alkaholics
Binary Star
Styles of Beyond
Jigmastas
Del and Hieroglyphics

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:09 (twenty-two years ago)

i'll 2nd kweli's quality; the black star record w/ mos def is usually cited as a touchstone but sadly it really doesn't do much for me (yet). i'm also a fan of his reflection eternal collabo w/ hi tek, but it's not on the same level as quality.

also, the gang starr catalog isn't probably quite "conscious" (although what the hell do i know), but there's some good stuff there. speaking as another evolving indie kid, the only hip hop album i really got into between high school days (the chronic) and this year was kool keith/dr. octagon - dr. octagonecologyst, for what that's worth. the new atmosphere album is pretty. the advance leak of kanye west's college dropout is too fine, and not really gangstered up at all.

― andrew s, Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Jungle Brothers, Straight Out The Jungle. You could skip everything above and just buy this, and be fine for the rest of your life.

Well, I could anyway.

― Phil Freeman (Phil Freeman), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:12 (twenty-two years ago)

The praise that Quality gets truly baffles me.

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:13 (twenty-two years ago)

My favourite hip hop album of last year is Cunninlynguists' "Southernunderground", it's underground but the production is really playful & the lyrics are great.

― Jim Janse, Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:14 (twenty-two years ago)

also the jb's "done by the forces of nature" is good.

― mullygrubber (gaz), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:14 (twenty-two years ago)

those two Jungle Bros records seconded

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Mike Ladd's Majesticons? I never ended up actually getting that.

I apparently stopped listening to conscious hip-hop at some point. I blame ILM.

(I do love Quality though)

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree with all these.

Also, the original S/T Latyrx album (not so much the comps/remixes) and the Blackalicious A2G Ep.

Gravediggaz is *way* fun IMHO.

― Dale the Titled (cprek), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:16 (twenty-two years ago)

For some light-hearted, party-rockin' jams that have more funk than you can handle, try...
Pharcyde- Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
Digital Underground- Sons Of The P

― Dave Segal (Da ve Segal), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Also the best stuff I ever heard from the Blackilicious crew is on the Soulsides 2cd comp, some of the shit is really raw and funky. (now they're smooth and boring)

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:19 (twenty-two years ago)

The praise that Quality gets truly baffles me.

oops, I kiss you.

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:19 (twenty-two years ago)

"Jams" seem dime-a-dozen: but what about pop?

― Sean M (Sean M), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:19 (twenty-two years ago)

(also: thanks for the tips!)

― Sean M (Sean M), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I kiss you too Jordan

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Edan
Beatnuts
Keith Murray
KMD (Doom's group with his bro---RIP)
Freestyle Fellowship, esp Innercity Griots

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:23 (twenty-two years ago)

It's all a bit boring, I'm afraid.

― Fatal Beret (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Also: http://www.poemcees.com

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:24 (twenty-two years ago)

a lot more light, but (if you can find them) K.M.D.'s "Mr Hood" and the U.M.C.'s "Fruits of Nature". Also, Leaders Of The New School's "Future Without A Past" (not that any of these are going to be featured on a comp I'm working on or anything)

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Also seek out Organized Konfusion and Son Of Bazerk.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:25 (twenty-two years ago)

haha

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:27 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't think talib qweli, jigmastas or binary star are *fun*. they're lightly funky, but that's about it. (oh, and i don't think the jungle brothers are conscious or fun. just crap. here's who i'd recommend for underground but fun:

Wu Tang's "enter 36 chambers"
Kardinal Offishal "Quest for Fire"
Jean Grae "Bootleg of the Bootleg"
Gravediggaz' "niggamortis/6 feet deep"
Eastern Conference Allstars comps 2 & 3
Soundbombing 2
Slum Village "Trinity"
Prince Paul "Prince Among Thieves"
Goodie Mob "Soul Food/World Party"
Pharoahe Monch "Internal Affairs"
Dungeon Family "Even in Darkness"
Pharcyde "Bizarre Ride 2..."
MF DOom "Operation Doomsday"
All Natural "Second Nature"
Mathematics "Love, Hell or Right"
Big Gipp "Mutant Mindframe"
Dr Octagon album
High n Mighty "Home Field Advantage"

― paulhw (paulhw), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:28 (twenty-two years ago)

And how could I forget the one and only album by Son Of Bazerk Featuring No Self Control And The Band?

And I reaaaally want to hear Main Source's "Breaking Atoms", but alas, it's viciously hard to find now.

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:28 (twenty-two years ago)

(damn, Dan beat me to Bazerk)

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Burnt Batch---Produce Aisle Lp. probably impossible to find though
Brand Nubian---whatever the first album was called. Grand Puba=greatest mc who never gets mentioned anymore

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Black Moon
Diamond D

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:34 (twenty-two years ago)

the roots "do you want more"
digable planets "reachin'"
black sheep "a wolf in sheeps clothing"
pharcyde "bizarre ride II"

and not quite in the same vein but...

epmd "strictly business"

― metfigga (metfigga), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Queen Latifah - _All Hail The Queen_

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:44 (twenty-two years ago)

3rd bass - cactus album

― mullygrubber (gaz), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:50 (twenty-two years ago)

thanks paulhw! those look great.

― Sean M (Sean M), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 22:53 (twenty-two years ago)

You might also want to enjoy this thread: Who are the best/most important underground hip-hop artistes?

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 23:00 (twenty-two years ago)

The problem, Rockist Scientist, is that I've found most of the popular underground hip-hop artists have great lyrics, but little-to-no sense of pop play, hooks, and radio-worthy tunage. My friends are all undie listeners, but their favourite artists put me to sleep. (Which is why I'm approaching some of the recommendations here with caution.)

― Sean M (Sean M), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 23:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Fisticuff, "Turn My Headphones Up"

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 23:33 (twenty-two years ago)

most of the popular underground hip-hop artists have great lyrics, but little-to-no sense of pop play, hooks, and radio-worthy tunage.

I dunno, half the stuff on Bazooka Tooth is more poppy and catchy and upbeat than, say, "Stand Up" (tho not "P-Poppin'")

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 23:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh come now, Nate.

I like both records, but even though it's poppy for Ace Rock, it's still buried under a layer of fuzz and the bad kind of syncopation. He's also somehow learned the art of staccatto mumbling on that album. (um, but I do like it, honestly)

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 23:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually now that Grand Puba has been mentioned, his first solo album, Reel to Reel is pretty good, too.

So is the second Brand Nubian record.

Also, POOR RIGHTEOUS TEACHERS!!!!

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 00:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, Real 2 Reel.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 00:11 (twenty-two years ago)

agreed on all three points.

also, you should definitely check out all of Outkast's previous albums, Sean.

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 00:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Sean M, from what little I've heard, I tend to agree.

I'm pretty tired of the sound of rapping anyway, but I have to admit that the MCs who sound the best to me tend to be the ones I just don't want to listen to, thanks to the lyrics. Consequently, I stay away from hip-hop almost completely. But anyway, I thought you might want to see some of those other suggestions.

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 00:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah OK I'm being mostly facetious. I'm tired of the "where is the ~~love~~ fun?" grousing about underground hip-hop -- it's sort of like asking where all the Bollywood dance scenes are in Blade Runner. But I get the gist of the thread (why do the thugs have all the best beats?) and I know that even the less-esoteric/less-preachy MCs (Akrobatik, f'rinstance) can kind of drag for a while. I don't picture El-P going all uncharateristically goofy all of a sudden (though more stuff like the second half of "Return of the B-Boy" under some big stoopid party jams wouldn't hurt), but maybe someone'll come around and bring the party thing back without sounding overly earnest and corny.

Joe Budden's "Pump It Up" is pretty much free of gats and bitches and whatnot, if that helps. And Del's Both Sides of the Brain has some great great hilarious/bumping stuff ("If You Must", "Soopa Feen", the Domino remix of "Phoney Phranchise"). Lyrics Born is a mixed bag but oh man "Hott Bizness" is like damn.

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 00:16 (twenty-two years ago)

You might want check out Britain's current premier rapper, Dave Benson Phillips, at www.mathsmachine.com

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 00:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Both sides of the brain also has the video game rap classic Proto Culture.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 00:25 (twenty-two years ago)

oh oh oh! Murs is U&K.

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 00:39 (twenty-two years ago)

which common did you listen to? he used to *really* be able to spit.

Pharcyde, beatnuts, digable planets, organized konfusion all seconded although you may be bored by monach's solo stuff.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 01:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Monch, you mean? As in "SIMON SAYS GET THE FUCK UP"?

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 01:05 (twenty-two years ago)

How in the world are the Beatnuts "concious?"....the Reign of the Tec, anyone? Their old stuff is pretty violent and knuckleheaded (albeit in a over the top and kinda silly way)

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 01:06 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah nate, as in typo.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 01:09 (twenty-two years ago)

The Fugees!
*ducks*

But yeah, Outkast, Tribe, Gang Starr. And I like Mos Def/Black Star (*ducks*). He makes some good beats, that DJ Hi-Tek. Handsome Boy Modelling School is lots of laughs, too.

― sym (shmuel), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 01:11 (twenty-two years ago)

oh fuck yeah black star how could we all forget!? the black star album was so great, tho mos really fell off after that.

you might like solo q-tip though too?

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 01:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I was trying to remember Handsome Boy Modelling School!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 01:13 (twenty-two years ago)

It seems like Def Jux is trying to bring the fun to undie hip-hop (S.A. Smash, etc.), with horrific results.

Xpost, yeah, Handsome Boy Modelling School is great! 'The Truth' so classic (but not fun).

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 01:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Sean M, have you heard that Red Hot + Riot tribute to Fela? It's got kind some undie/nu-soul type people on, but overall it's quite good, I think. It's not really straight ahead (?) hiphop though.

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 01:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Mos didn't make any albums after that...

― sym (shmuel), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 01:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I was pretty disappointed by the MURS album. Put me off of buying any more 'undie' stuff. (ugh i actually used that term). Didn't buy any til I got Jaylib for Xmas, which underwhelmed me at first listen but sounds really good in my car.

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 01:30 (twenty-two years ago)

whatever happened to Camp Lo? they rhymed "sarafina" with "thumbelina" once.

― scott seward (scott seward), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 01:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Non-Phixion!

"Concious" and fun but also really dark and grimey. The Future Is Now is one of my favorite albums.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 01:35 (twenty-two years ago)

(btw, I'm reading this thread thinking "'conscious' doesn't necessarily mean 'mellow')

And that reminds me: Goodie Mob.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 01:36 (twenty-two years ago)

that non-phixion album made my top ten a year or two ago. i dunno why exactly. but it did. i still listen to it occasionally. i probably just like it cuz when i pull it out i think it's a voi vod album and then i'm just in a really good mood.

― scott seward (scott seward), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 01:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Anybody still listen to The Goats - Tricks of the shade? I still love this record. And about the only record with interludes that don't become distracting.

― tipustiger, Wednesday, 14 January 2004 01:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Mos Def's "Black On Both Sides" - no, really - where is the love?

― nader (nader), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 03:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Outkast manage to split the difference between "conscious" and "bling" pretty well. You should really check out ATLiens. Kinda lo- fi compared to the last three. Far and away my favorite of theirs (though I don't own Aquemini)

― Will (will), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 04:44 (twenty-two years ago)

it's my fave too (atliens). and then aquemini.

has someone already done the ilm no-brainer thread of last 2 outkast=last 2 flaming lips-vs-their earlier funnier albums critical beatdown thread. seems like a natch. and it's kinda scary how my brain is starting to think in terms of possible thread ideas. i take it that's a natural occurence. but really, i feel like such a caveman sometimes when i think that all i really need in my life is atliens and oh my gawd..era lips.

― scott seward (scott seward), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 05:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Is someone going to argue that there isnt as much misogyny/violence/mammonism in mainstream hip hop as people say? Not that I particularly agree, I was just surprised that nobody has done it yet.

― David Allen (David Allen), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 05:53 (twenty-two years ago)

seward, trife has been going on about outkast and the flaming lips ever since hey ya dropped.

i've always been partial to a velvets analogy myself, since sb/tlb is obv. lr/vv although maybe squeeze works too!

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 05:59 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, i figured someone had brought it up, sterl. i musta missed it.

― scott seward (scott seward), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 06:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Is someone going to argue that there isnt as much misogyny/violence/mammonism in mainstream hip hop as people say? Not that I particularly agree, I was just surprised that nobody has done it yet.
I don't really agree either. But according to Jay-Z, 99 Problems isn't really about women. The word 'bitch' refers to other things. OTOH, it's not as if you have to dig far to find misogynistic Jay songs.

― sym (shmuel), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 08:02 (twenty-two years ago)

i got a ho from the east, got a ho from the west
got a ho that like to jack it off and rub it in her chest
got a ho from the north, a ho from the south
a ho that likes to suck it long and hold it in her mouth
i got a bitch with hair
a bitch with none
a bitch with a knife
a bitch with a gun
a bitch with a ass big as a tv set
and there's a bitch over there-- hey, the one I'm gonna get
but yo maybe not-- she might not like me though
no sweat to a vet, i'll slam a sista though-- word
ice in the whole damn herd
i fuck them all and leave them on the curb
i got a bitch with a mink, who rocks a fat gold link
who likes to fuck me with her ass up on the kitchen sink
got a bitch with tits
a bitch with ass
a bitch with none but hey I give her a pass
and I love them all, i love them crazy
and they love me back, that's why they stay with me
so if you havin girl problems, i'll be there for you, son
got 99 problems and a bitch ain't one

nah, a bitch ain't one

― cloverlandthug, Wednesday, 14 January 2004 08:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Those aren't the Jay-Z lyrics!

― sym (shmuel), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 08:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Jaylib, and other Madlib and Jay Dee stuff

for me, Jaylib is perhaps the least enthralling madlib stuff to date... get Quasimoto's 'the unseen' instead - crazy, scrambled jazz beats, enigmatic glitches and segues, and 'lib imbibing helium before going scattershot on the mic.

― stevie (stevie), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 11:45 (twenty-two years ago)

seward, trife has been going on about outkast and the flaming lips ever since hey ya dropped.
i've always been partial to a velvets analogy myself, since sb/tlb is obv. lr/vv although maybe squeeze works too!
-- Sterling Clover (s_clove...), January 14th, 2004. (later) (link)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

yeah, i figured someone had brought it up, sterl. i musta missed it.
-- scott seward (skotro...), January 14th, 2004. (later) (link)

Wow Scott, hope you fully recovered from your coma. (but I kid)

What about Buck 65? I'm wondering what the countryfied hick areas of Canada are that would spawn his likes, since I was listening to "Wicked and Weird" last night and the phrase "SCTV Bubba Sparxxx" kept coming to mind.

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 12:47 (twenty-two years ago)

buck 65 makes me want to go for long quiet drives: ie, it is not the zing-pow i'm searching for.

― Sean M (Sean M), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

fun stuff. from 2003 has to be Kid Acnes Council Pop album .. love that .. old school vibes with very entertaining lyrics ..
also .. other uk rap stars .. honky's first album (ZTT!) was a great party/fun hip-hop album .. with some seriously catchy pop hooks (the whistler) ..

― mark e (mark e), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 14:01 (twenty-two years ago)

What else? Try:

Automator's "A Much Better Tomorrow" (with Kool Keith)
Deltron 3030 album
Cocoa Brovaz "Rude Awakening" (gun music, but underground)
Big L isn't exactly conscious, but he's a lot of fun...
Count Bass D's "Dwight Spits"
Freeway is on the right side of fun, and not totally unconscious
Jedi Mind Tricks "Violent By Design" is dark fun (Non-Phixion-ish)
Weathermen "The Conspiracy"

― paulhw (paulhw), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 15:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow Scott, hope you fully recovered from your coma. (but I kid)

Hey! i iz a little slow iz all. my mom sez i am "special".

― scott seward (scott seward), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 16:37 (twenty-two years ago)

MC Paul Barman is fun.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 17:07 (twenty-two years ago)

but crap.

― paulhw (paulhw), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 17:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Couple of other newbies that haven't been mentioned yet:

Danger Mouse and Jemini - Ghetto Pop Life
Little Brother - The Listening
Diverse - One AM

― Josh Love (screamapillar), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 19:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I would call MC Paul Barman a lot of things, for good or bad, but I don't recall him having any particularly "conscious" lyrics save one*: "you make my karma puke/you who would refuse to disarm a nuke".

*which happens to be my favorite line from the only song on Paulellujah I can bring myself to listen to.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 19:32 (twenty-two years ago)

he had that one line about "my dandy voice/can make the most anti-choice/granny's panties moist" which is sorta "pro-choice" I guess.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I used to like All Natural (broken up) a bit. Capital D was the main man and is still keeping on.

― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 20:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Are Fun Lovin Criminals not conscious? Or are they not hip-hop?

― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 20:49 (twenty-two years ago)

correct

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 20:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Or reach back for Atmosphere's "Guns and Cigarettes," which swings and is hilarious.

Hey, where's the new Biz Markie?

― Pete Scholtes, Wednesday, 14 January 2004 21:01 (twenty-two years ago)

barenaked ladies - 'one week'
lfo - 'summer girls'
len - 'steal my sunshine'

― cloverlandthug, Wednesday, 14 January 2004 21:13 (twenty-two years ago)

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