Hip Hop isn't dead it's just malnourished and underfed

About a week ago I was having a conversation about music. There hard been a miscommunication of sorts. She was under the impression that I listen to mostly punk. Now I will be the absolute first to let you know that I don't have the most genre specific music tastes. I constantly have my iPod on shuffle sliding from genre to genre with no real connection between the over 7,000 songs that I have in my collection. However I will say that my first love is and always will be hip hop. Well when she heard this in an effort to get back at me for calling her favorite band mediocre she called hip hop "crap". Now this isn't a comment that I have never heard. Shoot they even worked int into a wrestling angle in WCW where Jeff Jarrett wrote a country song called "Rap is Crap". I think Jeff is working on a gimmick infringement lawsuit on Cassie as we speak over these comments. In response I simply said "that's only because you haven't heard the good stuff yet.". So after a little bit more talking we made a deal that she would create a CD of punk songs that I would enjoy and in return I would school her in the good hip hop. Apparently she didn't think I would be done with mine in two days. Here is my playlist for you guys to look at and gain a proper appreciation for all things hip hop. I had a hard time coming up with a proper order to put the songs in so I decided to go with Alphabetical just because it seemed to work. I've included youtube videos so you can listen to the songs too, though I will warn you there will be swearing so listen at your own risk.

B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad) - Outkast
I needed an Outkast song for the mixtape. It was either this one or Miss Jackson. I decided the very explosive antiwar song would win out on the apologetic song about divorce and the effects on the family.



Bleed Slow - Atmosphere
I dare you to find a better ode to the death of a love one.



Brenda's Got A Baby - Tupac
The effects of teen pregnancy in the ghetto. This is why we miss Tupac.



C.R.E.A.M (Cash rules everything Around Me) - Wu Tang Clan
The story of a youth's understanding as to how the drug game has destroyed his life and why he felt there was no way out of it.



Fight the Power - Public Enemy
One of my comments to Cassie was that she would be surprised with how much Punk and Hip Hop have in common. If this mix tape only consisted of this one song she would still have to agree with me. (also the man is evil and needs to be stopped)



G.O.D. (Gaining One's Definition) - Common
When I need a reminder as to why I go through all the crap I do in my life and that I still have things to give in this life I listen to this song.



Hip Hop - Dead Prez
Quite simply this song is the very essence of Hip Hop. It's angry, neglected people reaching out to share their message to educate those who have been blinded by the disaster that is popular music.



The Inkwell - Blue Scholars
This song made me love Seattle. There is so much out there that slips through the cracks that you have to find and cherish.



Katrina Klap (Dollar Day) - Mos Def
Hurricane Katrina was a horrible disaster, however it led to many of my favorite hip hop songs ("That's life" by Killer Mike and "Georgia... Bush" by Lil' Wayne are a couple others I suggest you listen to, well unless you liked GWB). Some will think of Mos Def as just an actor but this song will remind you just how good of an MC he is.



Keep On Rockin' - Asheru
I just found this song on Saturday and I already think that Asheru is my new favorite underground rapper.



Little Girl Gone - Devin The Dude
There is so much emotion and love in this song that it makes me wish I could find this lost little girl and save her.



Little Weapon - Lupe Fiasco
The snare drum alone makes this an amazing song but when you combine it with Lupe's delivery and the symbolism to his lyrics it becomes truly EPIC.



The Message - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
The sad part of this song is that while it should have served as a time capsule of the 80's and led to the clean up of the ghettos, it instead is a timeless classic that is STILL culturally relevant.



Mr. Wendal - Arrested Development
I can't not give at least my spare change to a homeless person thanks to this song.



The Nature - Talib Kweli
Perseverance and growth in the face of our problems and an ode to changing the nature of our lives and help those that are in worse conditions than we are.

Talib Kweli (Feat. Justin Timberlake) - The Nature from The KatyCapsule on Vimeo.

Sound of Da Police - KRSOne
Just in case Fight the Power left you asking more questions than it answered here comes the great KRS-One to make it a little clearer that the Man is evil. His verse comparing the slave Overseer and Officers is especially moving and poignant.


Soundtrack 2 My Life - Kid Cudi
I think I like this song mostly because I identify with it so it obviously becomes a favorite.



Turn Off the Radio - Dead Prez
Dead Prez are the only group to show up twice and with good reason: they're amazing. I chose this one showcases exactly why pop music is horrible and the only proper solution to getting rid of it is to turn it off. I haven't listened to the radio in years and I am quite proud of it.