Rap is undoubtedly the hardest genre of popular music to get into. I've
met plenty of people who love music but absolutely hate rap, and I
can't say I blame them. To the uninitiated, who have only heard mainstream rap on the radio, it all seems like nothing
more than people throwing around rudimentary rhymes on the tired topics
of sex, drugs, and money over a soulless, repetitive electronic beat.
To counter this, rap fans consistently suggest a litany of socially conscious, lyrically dense rappers. (Nas, De La Soul, Immortal Technique, Black Star, and Brother Ali are a few of the most common.) However, this is a completely incorrect way to approach the issue. Sure, all these rappers are incredibly technically accomplished, and they talk about interesting topics over soulful beats, but their music is incredibly inaccessible. Their lyrics are so dense it takes numerous listens to parse them out, and the music is consistently completely devoid of any clear melody. It's the equivalent of trying to introduce someone to rock music by having them listen exclusively to late era Bob Dylan. Sure, the music is good, but it's just an idiotic place to start. It's music for true fans, not neophytes.
A proper introduction to rap should have songs that are interesting and technically competent, but also understandable and melodically memorable. It has to be the sort of music someone who has never heard rap can quickly and easily comprehend, respect, enjoy, and remember. Below, I've put together what I hope is a very manageable one-hour-long playlist of songs that fits the bill. There's no particular science to the order; the artists are just in alphabetical order. Also, here's a Spotify playlist, though B.o.B's Wonderland, Example's Stay Awake and 2Pac's Dear Mama are unfortunately missing.
To counter this, rap fans consistently suggest a litany of socially conscious, lyrically dense rappers. (Nas, De La Soul, Immortal Technique, Black Star, and Brother Ali are a few of the most common.) However, this is a completely incorrect way to approach the issue. Sure, all these rappers are incredibly technically accomplished, and they talk about interesting topics over soulful beats, but their music is incredibly inaccessible. Their lyrics are so dense it takes numerous listens to parse them out, and the music is consistently completely devoid of any clear melody. It's the equivalent of trying to introduce someone to rock music by having them listen exclusively to late era Bob Dylan. Sure, the music is good, but it's just an idiotic place to start. It's music for true fans, not neophytes.
A proper introduction to rap should have songs that are interesting and technically competent, but also understandable and melodically memorable. It has to be the sort of music someone who has never heard rap can quickly and easily comprehend, respect, enjoy, and remember. Below, I've put together what I hope is a very manageable one-hour-long playlist of songs that fits the bill. There's no particular science to the order; the artists are just in alphabetical order. Also, here's a Spotify playlist, though B.o.B's Wonderland, Example's Stay Awake and 2Pac's Dear Mama are unfortunately missing.
- B.o.B - Wonderland
- Eminem - Stan
- Eminem - Cleanin' Out My Closet
- Eminem - Sing for the Moment
- Eminem - Lose Yourself
- Example - Stay Awake
- Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
- Lupe Fiasco - Kick, Push
- Lupe Fiasco - Hip Hop Saved My Life
- The Notorious B.I.G. - Juicy
- OutKast - Ms. Jackson
- Talib Kweli - Get By
- 2Pac - Dear Mama
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