Categories of Hip Hop?
 

So I'm new (don't kill me) but I was wondering what you think about the genre of hip hop/rap today. I see topics that have to do with Biggie, Eminem, and Jay-Z but then there is another group of artists that are a little different from the artists above in my mind but together are sort of similar. Artists like Jurassic 5, Black Eyed Peas, and Dilated Peoples. Any thoughts on categories of hip hop out there right now? Oh yeah, and who can forget Outkast when talking about different styles of rap. :P

I think there are three categories of hip hop right now. There's mainstream (Jay Z, Nas, etc.), there's underground (Jurassic 5, Atmosphere, Aesop Rock, Dilated Peoples, etc.), and there's hip-pop (Twista, 50 Cent, Ja Rule, etc.).

I agree on those grouping of artists. So I'm into underground hip hop? Rock on! I feel so cutting edge. :p:

Those groups were way more underground in their earlier days, but I do think they've kept most of their music like it was. An exception would be Black Eyed Peas who has gone a bit more pop.

Well I agree they have gotten a lot more popular in the mainstream since the 'Request Line' off the Bridging the Gap album but I don't think they've changed their sound much since then. That's why I was interested in the categories... I mean I've heard those groups boxed under the Underground heading before or even as Urban but exceptions like you just said kind of break the definitions. I still think the sound of BEP is like J5 and Dilated Peoples but if there is the opinion that they are more pop or mainstream they really can't be underground. Just a brain fart...

Their sound is definitely a lot similar to J5 and Dilated. I actually was at J5's tour like 2001 I think it was. And they all played together with MC Supernatural too. So, yeah, they're a lot alike because they travel together and they're all good friends. I just think that BEP is probably the most well known right now (appeared on Saturday Night Live, etc.) and are throwing a little bit more pop in their album. I'm not saying I don't like it, but I think they're losing their underground feel.

Yeah I'll agree with you on that.

So I was interested and checked out Aesop Rock and Atmosphere. I mean I started with Dilated, J5, and BEP... so I thought it might be the same sound... :yeah:

I might have to play some on my show tomorrow night. :p:

BEP is definitely goin poppy...and rocka you are dead on with your descriptions of hip-pop. :)

What? Twista is about as far away from "hip pop" as you can get, and that's a ****ing ridiculous term to begin with.

Ja Rule's just a ***.