I've seen alot of good hip hop bands. Many of them just back-up groups for headlining artists but with the talent to be their own entity. I was always disheartened that an equalizing style like go-go never really took off as an artform the way hip hop did. I think the rapper's ego never allowed for the musicians to become equals. Likewise, the industry turned it's back on musicians preferring to treat us like slaves rather than commodity.
Saw a few really good examples of legit hip hop bands years ago with some unique spins on the style: all-female band, A band called Flack which was a funky group of black and filipino rappers and musicians. They rocked. Another band mixed go-go/reggae/rapping/toasting but with real songs rather than just some grooves.
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