British hip hop from an American's perspective

lalanana · Post by **lalanana** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:46 pm

I know this might sound ridiculous, but as an American I just cannot understand British rapping. Maybe it's the accent, or maybe the different slang, but all british rapping sounds horribly goofy to me. Example, I think Tempa T - next hype is the goofiest rap I have ever heard, and then I find out that it's popular in England. And that intensive snare song by plastician, all i could think was why is this rap in here? "Are you stupid in the face"?????? what kind of 3rd grade line is that? Even the streets, who had some success in America, just doesn't do it for me.

Does anyone else feel my pain? Does anyone else cringe when they hear a voice over the beats? What I would love is a flow like Nas or Guru or Ghostface or GZA or KRS or MF or even (I hate to say it, but he used to be fire) Wayne over a grimey beat.

I know this is a bit of a rant, but can anyone change my mind?

cooper · Post by **cooper** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:01 pm

I've got a mate from LA who thinks the same thing. My theory is that Americans aren't as used to inner city British accents and slang as British are to the American versions of this. There's also bound to be more good mcs in the US than the UK as there are more people... Also, we can't forget that it's subjective.

sirsnaf · Post by **sirsnaf** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:12 pm

could be - but tehn, the examples of stuff youve heard is not what i would call the best examples.... they are grime tracks which isnt the most accessible of genres to new comers.

for actual british hiphop that is unarguably great, then you have to look towards the big names in the uk scene over the last twenty years....

before you decide you cant stand british hiphop, listen to these ppl... in my opinion, all will be accessible, lyrical or possess a solid flow that you can appreciate (even if dont like the beat)

Phi Life Cypher

Roots Manuva

Ty

Rodney P

Task Force

Braintax

Lewis Parker

there are more, of course, and i may have missed some obvious ones out, but if dont rate at least some of these, then maybe british rap is not for you. this is a broad over view of some of the best artists we have produced and solid introduction to proper british hiphop, Not grime.

Matt3r · Post by **Matt3r** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:28 pm

sirsnaf's right, that other shit isn't representative of british hiphop

this is british hiphop

spiro · Post by **spiro** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:56 pm

Matt3r wrote:sirsnaf's right, that other shit isn't representative of british hiphop

this is british hiphop

any way to get this without registering on another site . . . [just too many]
and for the americans: a lot of american rap music don't sound like rapping either . . .

How about this: http://postbocks.com/uploads/spiro-hows-life-london

Im not british but I'v loved the britcore stuff since i first heard gunshot back in the eary 90's . . .

Matt3r · Post by **Matt3r** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:01 pm

we had an issue with bots registering and taxing the bandwidth hence the need to register to download. it's a 30 sec job and we've sent out about 3 emails in 5 years, if you're worried about that kind of thing.

spiro · Post by **spiro** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:29 pm

Matt3r wrote:it's a 30 sec job

I was just lazy, but it don't look like it was that easy as always . . .
still waiting for that confirmation mail . . . whatever, im not in a hurry

Looks like you got some proper mixes up on your site . . .

miscreant · Post by **miscreant** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:01 pm

yeah those are probably the songs i would be least likely to show an american wanting to hear british hip hop.

Check out Jehst, Chester P & Klashnekoff as well as some of the other names mentioned!

Matt3r · Post by **Matt3r** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:55 pm

this dood has produced a clutch of tracks, ep's and a couple of lp's already with some of the best british hiphop on i've ever heard

http://www.myspace.com/musicbyghost

hear today · Post by **hear today** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:52 pm

I know this might sound ridiculous, but as an American I just cannot understand British rapping. Maybe it's the accent, or maybe the different slang, but all british rapping sounds horribly goofy to me. Example, I think Tempa T - next hype is the goofiest rap I have ever heard, and then I find out that it's popular in England. And that intensive snare song by plastician, all i could think was why is this rap in here? "Are you stupid in the face"?????? what kind of 3rd grade line is that? Even the streets, who had some success in America, just doesn't do it for me.

Does anyone else feel my pain? Does anyone else cringe when they hear a voice over the beats? What I would love is a flow like Nas or Guru or Ghostface or GZA or KRS or MF or even (I hate to say it, but he used to be fire) Wayne over a grimey beat.

I know this is a bit of a rant, but can anyone change my mind?

As much as we all love the early work, in hindsight Guru's a bit shit mate.... sorry I mean he's Goofy??? Did i use that right??

godflesh fiend · Post by **godflesh fiend** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:19 pm

I'd recommend Pitman's "It Takes A Nation Of Tossers".......this is the greatest rap album of all-time.

He's not internationally known, but he's known to give a dog a bone.

Matt3r · Post by **Matt3r** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:16 pm

guru is not shit. period. did I say that right?

86. · Post by **86.** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:42 pm

hear today wrote:
I know this might sound ridiculous, but as an American I just cannot understand British rapping. Maybe it's the accent, or maybe the different slang, but all british rapping sounds horribly goofy to me. Example, I think Tempa T - next hype is the goofiest rap I have ever heard, and then I find out that it's popular in England. And that intensive snare song by plastician, all i could think was why is this rap in here? "Are you stupid in the face"?????? what kind of 3rd grade line is that? Even the streets, who had some success in America, just doesn't do it for me.

Does anyone else feel my pain? Does anyone else cringe when they hear a voice over the beats? What I would love is a flow like Nas or Guru or Ghostface or GZA or KRS or MF or even (I hate to say it, but he used to be fire) Wayne over a grimey beat.

I know this is a bit of a rant, but can anyone change my mind?
As much as we all love the early work, in hindsight Guru's a bit shit mate.... sorry I mean he's Goofy??? Did i use that right??

guru's interesting. i love all his solo albums as well...i think he's always been backed by sick production so they're all enjoyable. without that.....

saba · Post by **saba** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:48 am

My pomme mate says the same thing about Aussie Hip Hop, finds it goofy!

lalanana · Post by **lalanana** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:57 am

Ok, so I listened to some of the tracks posted, and I gotta say I'm enjoying it.

Thanks for helping me see the light. And the thing with Guru is that yes, he always has good production behind him, but he always adds something to the track, his voice becomes another instrument, as it should be with all rappers.

formzee · Post by **formzee** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:52 am

Roots Manuva says no

sirsnaf · Post by **sirsnaf** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:00 am

some more classic british hiphop and a few new bits as well... hope its a good education.... enjoy

skitz ft roots manuva - inner city folk

Jack Flash - intoxicating

Ghost & verb t

pneumatic and sloth

verb t & harry love

taskforce - butterfly concerto

and just because Life MC has the sickest flow of any rapper here or anywhere yet remaisn criminally overlooked - heres loads more Phi Life Cypher....

Pedro Sánchez · Post by **Pedro Sánchez** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:09 am

The average British rapper (Not Grime) is better than Lil' Wayne and some were considering him the greatest rapper

.

tuss04@hotmail.com · Post by **tuss04@hotmail.com** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:49 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxmcFgQnM4A

hoya · Post by **hoya** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:20 pm

I think it's a matter of dialect and flow suiting tempo.

For example, in general, US MCs sound better on 85-100 bpm type tracks, where as UK guys sound better on the 70/140 mark. Put a US MC on a grime beat and then you get goofy.

British hip hop from an American's perspective

British hip hop from an American's perspective

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