Help me I hate: Rap/Hip Hop

I've noticed a fair few people around me bemoan having to listen to Rap music on the radio and television. The funny thing is, not all of these people are elderly, it seems that the terrible rap and hip-hop I complain about on this blog has driven an entirely new generation away from the genre[s]. 

Now, this is something I can actually understand, as when I was a teenage lad, I HATED Rap and Hip-Hop (except, as all my generation, for the occasional Eminem song) and would avoid it at all costs. However, as I grew, my tastes matured and now I find myself a major proponent of this music in my circle of friends. 

So, my challenge for today is to provide five songs that will hopefully make you reconsider your hatred of Rap and Hip-Hop. 

Now, I know that Rap and Hip-Hop are actually separate genres, but this is not something my 15 year old self cared about, as far as I was concerned, it was all shit I didn't want to hear. Accordingly, I'm playing it a bit fast and loose with genre here, as I'm guessing I have my work cut out for me. 

One further note before we get going, R&B is often misused to classify "softer" Hip-Hop, what Rhythm and Blues actually is is an early Motown style best exemplified by Ruth Brown: 

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout. 

1. Intergalactic - The Beastie Boys 

Ok, so this one's a bit of a cheat, but it is interesting to note that the Beastie Boys enjoyed a huge international hit with this song, charting on Billboard, Triple J and the UK charts. Originally, this song was a collection of unused samples and rimes that only got recorded on a whim, but that didn't stop it from becoming a massive hit. Intergalactic is classic Beasties, the MCs take turns on the mic and come together on the last word in a line (a style pioneered by RUN DMC) bouncing from thought to thought without too much cohesion. I think Intergalactic owes its success primarily to its beat; it's easy to dance badly to and doesn't do anything particularly out there compared to other Beasties songs. Its on this list because I'm pretty sure you've heard it before and harbor a secret affection for it.

2. Matisyahu - Jerusalem 

Zionist, Orthadox Jewish Hip-Hop anyone? Yes, this is real. Matisyahu has been pretty big in the Underground Rap scene for at least a decade now, with his fast flow and zeal for the Zionist cause, this unique MC carved himself a place in the hearts of proto-hipsters everywhere. The main reason I've included Matisyahu on this list is because I really wanted to stay away from the Guns, Bitches and Bling end of the Rap spectrum. Whilst I may not fully agree with some of the stances of Zionism, I really like Matisyahu's music and I think it's the kind of thing that could get more people into Underground Rap and Hip-Hop. 

3. Ray Charles - Chiddy Bang

Yes, ok, I blog about Chiddy Bang too much, but it's not my fault that they're awesome and practically unheard of. In one of their latest offerings, Chiddy and Jones kick it oldskool with some Hip-Hop that draws upon the work of one of the greatest African American musicians the world has ever seen. This song has the feel of a Motown number with the fresh flow of Chiddy mixed in for good measure. It's just a good Hip-Hop song; fun, fast and easy to enjoy. Maybe it's not to your tastes, but I'd find it hard to believe that too many people truly hate it. 

4. White and Nerdy - Weird Al Yankovic 

"This can't be a rap song, because Weird Al isn't a rapper!" Bullshit. If there's one talent that Weird Al has demonstrated in spades over the years, it's adaptability. In White and Nerdy, instead of sounding like MJ or Don McLean, Weird Al puts on his wigger cap and drops some mad rimes. Much like Matisyahu, I chose this song to demonstrate that a Rap or Hip-Hop song needn't be about selling drugs or killing whitey. Before anyone asks, yes, there's a line or two in this song that apply to me, as I am definitely white and nerdy. A fun song with some good flow from a guy who makes his money riffing on pop music. 

5. Bust A Move - Young MC 

Another song chosen because I'm pretty sure you like it already and I'm trying to trick you into admitting you love Hip-Hop. Dig that slap-Bass line, that funky sample, sexy backing vocals. Add in guest shots in Futurama and Scrubs and you have a Hip-Hop classic for the ages. This song enjoys a rebirth every few years when it gets sampled for an inferior song by some flash-in-the-pan wannabe DJ. This party classic is beloved by many and you should be one of that many. 

If I've piqued your interest about Rap that doesn't cover Guns, Bitches and Bling, there's plenty more out there to check out, so here's a few more: 

Thou Shalt Always Kill - Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip (a rant against pop culture) 
911 is a Joke - Public Enemy (Ghettoisation and racisim in the emergency services)
Bodhisattva Vow - The Beastie Boys (Buddhism and enlightenment) 

Hat Guy - Why you buggin? 

Best Acts You Never Heard: Pour Habit

Considering that my favorite new song of 2012 was from Pour Habit, I figured I better talk about the band a little. 

I first saw Pour Habit as a warm-up act for the Bad Religion/NOFX double bill tour in 2009 where they blew NOFX away and held their own against BR, the Grandaddies of modern Punk Rock. Despite the fact that these guys had essentially no presence in Australia at the time, the crowd loved them; although it probably helped that Chuck Green lived up to his name during "Against Me": 

Yes, that's actual footage from that night, I was there and it kicked arse. A bit later I picked up their first album, Suiticide (2008) and have been a fan ever since. 

PH clearly have a metal influence, using a double-kick drum and complex guitar riffs in a lot of their work, as evidenced in the following song from their 2011 album, Got Your Back: 

Pour Habit has attracted a lot of anger from Metalheads because of their use of these techniques, which I find endlessly funny. It is, of course, impossible and ridiculous for one genre of music to lay claim to a technique that anyone is physically capable of using. 

Lyrically, Pour Habit isn't overly different from Bad Religion or NOFX, firing off rapid, politically-charged rants in short bursts and relying on pretty basic rhythmic structures. Still, Pour Habit is probably the best new Punk band to hit it big in the past few years, their live gigs are highly energetic and well worth checking out. 

Take away my right to live and I will choose to fight! - Hat Guy