Is there such thing as prog hip-hop? - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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Svetonio

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 00:22

Yes, there is such thing as prog hip-hop :) and I'd like to recommend two great prog hip-hop albums released in 2014:

New York Telephone by Uncommon Nasa http://uncommonrecords.bandcamp.com/album/new-york-telephone

"If there's anything common about the prog rap evil genius, it's his consistent honesty and passion for the art of music, and his city"

Favourite track: Curmudgeon

...and Hands Of Gold Are Always Cold by Gajah http://uncommonrecords.bandcamp.com/album/hands-of-gold-are-always-cold

Favourite track: Hot Pants

Edited by Svetonio - April 16 2015 at 04:11

freudiana

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 00:55

How about Dalek, Flying Lotus, and Deathgrip?

Hot Rat '69 View Drop Down

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 02:01

I'd say Lotus probably counts. Outlast's double album?

Hot Rat '69 View Drop Down

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 02:03

Outkast damn autocorrect

octopus-4

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 03:06

I don't dislike Outkast but it's a rare exception. Years ago I've heard somebody rapping on the intro of Renaissance's "Can You Understand". It's HATEFUL!

New generations may never know what the originall was, they may think that it's somebodyMC's stuff.

Has anybody heard the cover of Comfortably Numb?

The only good thing I know is that an Italian rapper some years ago declared to have discovered AREA while searching for tunes to use as base and started geting interested in their music.

Apart of this, I would forbid it, especially when it's clear that the artist(?) doesn't understand anything of what he's chattering on. It's not like Herbie Hancock making disco music. I don't like it but he's still an artist.

The only prog-rap I'm aware of is an excellent song from the Avant band Quintorigo: "Rap-tus". It requires a translation from Italian to be completely appreciated because it would be a masterpiece even just as novel.

Curiosity killed a cat, Schroedinger only half.
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Manuel

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 09:25

The fact that hip-hop artists have used some prog for samples, does not make for prog hip-hop. Prog is more of a "listening experience", while hip-hop us more on the "dance music" side, so they don't really aim at the same audience nor level/intent of composition.

hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 09:28

This more or less : AKT. BLEMEBAYA / DI VENTO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl-cxVsZidM

ExittheLemming View Drop Down

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 09:36

Manuel wrote:

The fact that hip-hop artists have used some prog for samples, does not make for prog hip-hop. Prog is more of a "listening experience", while hip-hop us more on the "dance music" side, so they don't really aim at the same audience nor level/intent of composition.

Right on the money. Sampling say, a sax and splicing same into any genre of music does not somehow miraculously make it jazz. Texture does not equate to content. I know practically squat about dance music but would guess that unlike Trance, Techno and House etc Hip Hop and Rap are not really dance centric genres?
(Yes that's correct, I'm old, white and talking s.h.i.t.e. Wink

)

MattGuitat View Drop Down

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 12:38

Interestingly enough, a friend and I had been thinking about this in relation to Kendrick Lamar's new album To Pimp a Butterfly. I myself have come to find the album only okay and a pale sophmore release to Good Kid Maad City, but nevertheless it is an interesting album that I would reccomend anyone on this site to at least check out, if only to see what "prog-hop" might sound like. I mean hell, he raps over a 60's post-bop jam on the second track, that at least warrants a chance. But even for non-prog listening, go listen to GKMC. If nothing else, there is a fantastic 12-minute track on there that absolutely crushes the 12-minute track on TPAB.

(I swear I'm not a rep from Kendrick's label)

omphaloskepsis View Drop Down

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 12:53

Not a fan of Hip Hop...If I had share my limited priggish Hip Hop collection I like these two lyrically deep Hip Hoppish tunes. Both are from the 90's.

( How do you guy post videos? I can only post links to videos

MC 900 ft Jesus- The City Sleeps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTSbnQzl1LE

..and Consolidated by Consolidated

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FSOAFwkpqI

The later MC 900 ft. Jesus albums veered toward Hip Hop Jazz Fusion, but I can't help but like this funny tune ...Truth is Out of Style!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vgDpI8kU98

Edited by omphaloskepsis - April 16 2015 at 13:20

bucka001

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 14:47

https://youtu.be/2Ka3-F2yKTM

"Scarecrows" by Telemachus (aka Chemo) featuring Roc Marciano. The whole backing track is "Arrow" by Van der Graaf Generator (from the brilliant Godbluff album, their best). The vocals over the top are new and performed by the hip hop artist (unless Hammill has taken to using the N-word a lot lately). This was apparently a popular track, I hope VdGG got some money for it.

From Wikipedia:

"Telemachus (born in 2011) is a pseudonym used for Webb’s solo projects and to allow him to be “a little more artful.”.^[3] The debut release was a 7" Vinyl entitled ‘Scarecrows’ featuring Roc Marciano. This was taken from the ‘In The Evening’ album which was awarded album of the month by Q Magazine and named one of the albums of the year by The Quietus "

"David L.G. Webb, known professionally as Chemo is an English music producer and DJ. He has also released several albums under the pseudonym ‘Telemachus’. As a sound engineer he has worked at the forefront of the British Hip Hop scene, acting as chief engineer for YNR Productions and High Focus Records. Chemo was recognised by the Guardian newspaper as a man who “has helped British music move along more than most people will ever know”."

bucka001

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 14:49

...unrelated, but just as whacky, I know that Hammill was a backstage guest at Lady Gaga's London concert last year (or the year before) because VdGG is Lady Starlight (Gaga's best friend, mentor, designer, deejay)'s fave band.

What planet are we on again?

Hercules

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 15:43

Dean wrote:

Nope.

Double nope.

A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life.

Hot Rat '69 View Drop Down

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 16:35

The "dance music" vs. "listener experience" question is interesting. Funkadelic? The Roots? They strike me as straddling the two worlds in some ways. Also consider the genre of trip-hop as a whole that doesn't necissarily involve rapping but isn't EDM either.

The.Crimson.King View Drop Down

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 16:36

Hercules wrote:

Dean wrote:

Nope.

Double nope.

The only thing prog about hip hop is how it makes my headache progressively worse the longer I hear it Evil Smile

Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987

Hot Rat '69 View Drop Down

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 16:42

I came to the question while thinking about how people often complain that prog rock is too cerebral and cold--that it has no soul. I wondered if there any good examples to refute that stereotype?

Maybe this is a whole other thread...

twalsh

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 16:42

omphaloskepsis wrote:

Not a fan of Hip Hop...If I had share my limited priggish Hip Hop collection I like these two lyrically deep Hip Hoppish tunes. Both are from the 90's.

( How do you guy post videos? I can only post links to videos

MC 900 ft Jesus- The City Sleeps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTSbnQzl1LE

..and Consolidated by Consolidated

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FSOAFwkpqI

The later MC 900 ft. Jesus albums veered toward Hip Hop Jazz Fusion, but I can't help but like this funny tune ...Truth is Out of Style!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vgDpI8kU98

I would categorically say that i DO NOT like rap/hip-hop music. That said, Truth Is Out of Style is pretty cool! I don't hear any prog, but I like it. In regards to a few above comments, I don't think that samples of prog songs create progressive rap. I'm not yet sure what that might look like. Before assessing what progressive rap might look like, first one would have to know what non-progressive rap looks like. And I'm simply not interested enough to do the footwork. Any definition of progressive rap would have to come from within the rap/hip-hop community.

Except Roll The Bones; that's totally prog. Tongue

Edited by twalsh - April 16 2015 at 16:42

More heavy prog, please!

sublime220 View Drop Down

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Posted: April 16 2015 at 17:50

Only heard their first album but BadBadNotGood, a jazz/fusion band, collabed with Ghostface Killa on their newest album. But besides the Beastie Boys and Eminem, I don't listen to rap.

There is no dark side in the moon, really... Matter of fact, it's all dark...

Dekkhead

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