Top products from r/hiphop101
We found 20 product mentions on r/hiphop101. We ranked the 26 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
5. Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) [Expanded Edition] [Explicit]
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
7. Lucy Ford: The Atmosphere EP's [Explicit]
Sentiment score: 0
Number of reviews: 1
9. Thizz Nation, Vol. 18: Starring Mistah F.A.B. & G-Stack
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
11. MXL Mics 770 Cardioid Condenser Microphone
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
Multi-purpose condenser microphoneExcellent for vocals, pianos, stringed instruments, and percussionBalanced bass response with high end clarityLow frequency roll-off to reduce unwanted rumbleLow noise FET preamp with balanced, transformerless outputPatented designVersatile for streaming and podcast...
12. Holler If You Hear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
13. 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of Eric B & Rakim
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
Shrink-wrapped
Chronological order!
Start with the mixtapes DJ Screw was making with the Screwed Up Click and the affiliated members' projects. From there move into early Swishahouse tapes by Mike Watts that were coming out of the northside. Then, and you'll "see" it happen, follow some of OG Ron C's projects. From there, find a few of the Rap-A-Lot DJs' album work for artists signed with them. Here's part of the story in a song Chamillionaire put out: H-Town Dreams If it's worth anything, this link was my last edit. I forgot about the song until just now, but I like the parallel in the links.
SUC Era: DJ Screw started as a battle DJ so heavy cuts and scratches show in his mixing work. For an example of his style before "screwing" it up, check out Botany Boys - Botany Is The Block from the group which featured not only his little bother Al D, but also 1 or 2 other crucial members of the S.U.C. I can't find a link to the Screwed version of the song, but it appeared on their double-disc album "Thought of Many Ways", which, if you ask me, is a highly underrated classic.
Similar to how the Botany Boys featured a Screwed version of a hit on their album, first did ESG on his 1995 album "Sailin' Da South" with his hit "Swangin' and Bangin'". Screwed. ESG was largely responsible for validating freestyling on albums and was the crowned freestyle king until Lil' Keke came on the scene. He also wrote Wanna Be A Baller after this beat debuted, but was in prison so Lil' Troy and Fat Pat did it. Lil' Flip, who raps on the last link for 7 minutes straight, was eventually crowned the freestyle king of Houston.
Now watch this video to understand how freestyling plays a huge part in Houston's rap culture and to see a few of the prominent members of the SUC. This is the kind of shit they did every day.
The major influences on Houston came from the Bay Area on account of the drug trade. So when the Screw tapes started coming out, they featured artists like Spice 1, Ant Banks, Too Short, and E-40 alongside national acts. If you think you can deal with freestyles and funky gangsta rap, then listen to Chapter 1: Done Deal. The chaptered Screw Tapes are referred to as the "Diary of the Originator". For a more polished and "deep" album, 3 'N The Mornin' part 2: Blue. ...Red Features more Cali rappers over Houston rappers. The cover on the "...Red" link is wrong, FWIW. "...Blue" hasn't left my deck in my car[s] for over a decade. I hear something new every time I hear "Elbow's Swangin'".
Surprisingly, there weren't a lot of official Screwed and chopped versions of early SUC rappers' albums made. Mostly, their songs featured on Screw's mixtapes and they put verses down on the instrumentals he let ride, but he did hold special sessions or make special tapes for people like D-Mo's famous June 27th tape. The "screwed and chopped" disc 2 era was at the end of Screw's life and is what Mike Watts capitalized on. That being said, keep a pen handy and make a list of featured Houston artists and freestyle guest spots on the DotO tapes. Just to throw some names out there: Al-D, C-Note, E.S.G, Lil' Keke, Big Moe, Fat Pat, HAWK, Lil' Flip (his freestyling on tapes was fun, his albums not so much...), Z-Ro, Big Mello, Los, Grace, PSK-13, Point Blank, and a bunch more.
There was also a presence in South Park, most notably the South Park Coalition; they were more about following the Geto Boys' style than the Screw movement, though some members did appear on Screw tapes or existed in both spheres.
On to...
Mike Watts and the northside rap cliques:
So Michael "5000" Watts and OG Ron C both DJ'd on 97.9, a radio station that catered to rap fans, before teaming up and giving the northside rappers a camp. Watts said he could screw and chop too and so started releasing mixtapes featuring northside rappers, either with a few screwed and chopped tracks or as 2 disc releases, the second being screwed and chopped. The Choppin' 'Em Up series has a good selection of freestyles over 9 installments. It's important to note that Watts, more so than Ron C, was inclined to show off his chopping prowess more so than to slow songs to the tempo that Screw had. Personally, I don't like it, but with the sea change in hip hop that was happening, it gave people something unique that could be played in clubs. Remember, they were radio DJs. Ron C was releasing his "Fuck Action" (18) mixtapes at the same time, which were mostly screwed and chopped R&B. Other series include: The Day Hell Broke Loose ( 2 disc), Before The Kappa, and After The Kappa. They've done a good job keeping their tapes off of youtube. Check out Somethin' to Smoke to if you can find it.
What was important was that Swishahouse specialized in remixing entire albums, even for artists that weren't in the camp. Rap-A-Lot artists got their artists' albums remixed before they had really developed in-house talent for the job. Notable musicians of the Swishahouse era include: Mike Jones, Magno, J-Dawg, Archie Lee, Coota Bang, Slim Thug (formerly a southside rapper who worked with ESG), and Lil Keke, who signed on to the camp in the mid 2000s. Chamillionaire and Paul wall were in and out of the camp at different times, but got their start together, along with Cham's brother and a few others, as the Color Changin' Click. Both Watts and Ron C remixed albums and freestyle mixtapes by the CCC. There were a lot of collaboration projects going on in Houston at this point in time.
Paul Wall, in his movement into the production side of music, screwed and chopped a few albums. He touched Lil' Wayne's "Dedication 1" and Ron C did Dedication 2.
It's worth mentioning that some of the members of the SUC managed to produce remixes as the "Wreckshop" to entire albums of SUC members before and in the wake of Screw's death. DJ D-Reck was responsible for most of it. This freestyle did not appear on the original City of Syrup but is a perfect example of the southside style surviving the death of Screw, thanks to Wreckshop. I think it's one of the best throwback tracks out there.
Eventually...
The Rap-A-Lot camp started remixing albums by their artists. DJ Domo and DJ D have screwed and chopped for Rap-A-Lot, but they also work independently. DJ D did a good remix of "The Foundation" by the Geto Boys and a lot of Devin The Dude's work has been remixed by Rap-A-Lot.
Final note: The Mo' City camps like to screw whole albums and do no chopping. They pitch control and bass boost for the S(low) L(oud) A(nd) B(angin') remixes. A lot of Trae and Assholes by Nature and Guerilla Maab stuff gets the treatment. This is a big south (Hiram Clark) and south west (Mo' City, Stafford) trend because we just like slowed music. The record shop I used to hang at in The 'Clark would get people askin' to slow a whole tape they brought in. 10 minute job, $10 a tape. No DJing.
~~
Summary:
If you want music that could be in the background but tells enough of the DJ's own story through the loops and track selection, bang DJ Screw. He really was the best. Whole tapes/albums only.
If you want Screwed and chopped culture in your raps, and can dig freestyles but want something to actively engage you, Mike Watts makes edgier, albeit less cerebral mixtapes and remixes of whole albums. His cross fading isn't spectacular because he tries to cut viable remixes of single, popular songs.
If you want something more like DJ Screw but focused on one or a few artists and not as slow, an OG Ron C remix of an album is where it's at. He's the middleground between "cool" artist DJ Screw and business man Mike Watts. Singles and whole albums.
If you want to hear the DJ express himself as if he were a slightly different version of the original artist, pick up something done by Rap-A-Lot. Whole albums.
If you want to knock pictures off the wall, SLAB remixes.
All you need is Eric B and Rakim's greatest hits buy the one you find....
20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of Eric B & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim - Gold
Either one covers all the hits you need BUT Gold does have Mahogany on it, Classic hip hop love song GREAT Al Green sample. I'm assuming you know that Eric B was Rakim's DJ/Partner back in the day and when they went there seperate ways he hasn't really been the same . Check this post from Grownheadz that talks about the god Rakim 5 Reasons Rakim Has Lost The Crown
Plenty of great suggestions in here...
Me personally? I would start here With Licensed to Ill.
This is going to give you a little bit of musical familiarity while you get acquainted with some of the more "high energy" rap out there...
If the high energy moves you along with the "grungy/rock" edge that the Beastie Boys have, move on to The 36 Chambers This is going to keep that edge and get you a little more lyricism. From there, if your still enjoying yourself, the Wu Tang tree will give you plenty to move to.
This should get you moving in both the right direction and various different directions. Pay attention to some liner notes... see who the albums feature on top of the original artists, pursue the ones you like from that lot... now we're growing a tree rooted in hip-hop.
Let's figure some ways to handle your problems currently. What DAW are you using? I'm assuming Reaper or Fruity Loops, considering how well everything is synced on your beat. You said elsewhere you're an Aussie? Why don't you exagerrate that for your sake, because your accent makes you sound like East Coast suburban white kid, and you don't want that in hiphop.
Do you have a job? If you do, try and save up for this interface and this mic for your raps. These are cheap, but for the mic there are some cheaper mics. Try not to use a USB though.
That's all I have to offer for your vocal confidence and equipment. Good luck.
I forgot to do FAB. I'm not too up on his recent shit (the last few years or so) and I only have 3 of his CDs. Fab is dope but I'm not too big on the straight hyphy dumb shit him and the Federation be doin sometimes.
Nig-Latin 2003
He's Sick
Damn that's the only track I can find on youtube off Nig-Latin lol
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/nig-latin/id275204986
Son of a Pimp 2005
This the one right here
Streets of the Bay ft PSD this my shit right here
Super Sic Wit It ft Turf Talk, E-40
Hoodlife ft Harm
N.E.W. Oakland ft G-Stack, Bavgate
This Is How The Game Goes ft Mac Dre, Miami
Kicked Out The Club
Da Baydestrian 2007
Sideshow remix ft Too Short, Keak
Race 4 Ya Pink Slip ft Keak, Spice 1
Get This Together
100 Bars
He's got hella mixtapes that I ain't even heard. His newest one is Hella Ratchet but I ain't heard that yet. You can download it there at that link tho.
Oakland that track came off a Thizz Nation CD and is one of my favorite FAB tracks. Which reminds me he's got 2 of his own Thizz Nation CDs.
Thizz Nation Volume 8
Hallways ft Gorilla Pitts
I'm Rich ft Bavgate, Keak Da Sneak
Damn Dumb ft Yukmouth
Throw It Up ft The Mossie
Don't Know
Thizz Nation 18
Couldn't find tracks on youtube but amazon.com got previews on there. Thizz Nation 18 is a G-Stack and Mistah FAB collab. G-Stack is a vet from old school Oakland group The Delinquents
Holler If You Hear Me by Michael Eric Dyson. AMAZING and truly captures Pac's personality away from the limelight.
You'd love this book then here
Eyedea and Abilities. Try sampling some of it on youtube. A fantastic album.
"God Loves Ugly" & "When Life Gives You Lemons" are the two albums you should start with.
I would then grab the "Lucy Ford: The Atmosphere EPs"
The rap yearbook by Shea Serrano
• Pete Rock & CL Smooth - [Mecca and The Soul Brother] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mecca_and_the_Soul_Brother)
• Freestyle Fellowship - [Innercity Griots] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innercity_Griots)
• Blackalicious - [Nia] (https://www.amazon.com/Nia-Blackalicious/dp/B00004KD4V)
• Hieroglyphics - [3rd Eye Vision] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_Eye_Vision)
• Souls of Mischief - [93 'til Infinity] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/93_%27til_Infinity)
• Organized Konfusion - [Stress: The Extinction Agenda] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress:_The_Extinction_Agenda)
• Digable Planets - [Reachin'] (https://www.amazon.com/Reachin-Digable-Planets/dp/B000000W31)