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Check out my first post here to get a feel on how I view the rap music: The Most Interesting Rappers Out Right Now Pt. 1
Here is Part 2
1) Rapsody
Remember the incredibly talented Kendrick Lamar from the previous post? Well, let me introduce you to his female counterpart. Hailing from North Carolina, Rapsody is poised to be a future forerunner in rap music and, after sampling just one track, you will know why. Her socially conscious lyrics and unwavering effort to preserve the essence of rap is reminiscent of Lauryn Hill and Queen Latifah. Her image is quintessential B-girl. And her motto is simple, yet poignant: "Culture Over Everything". Pick up a copy of her latest effort, The Idea of Beautiful.
**Must hear tracks: "The Drums" , "Kind of Love", "All Black Everything", and "In The Town"
2) Ab-Soul
Yet another member of the Black Hippy supergroup is on my list. Along with Kendrick Lamar and ScHoolBoy Q, Ab-Soul is West Coast rapper with unlimited talent. Ab-Soul was ostracized as a child due to a rare skin disease, but instead of allowing adversity to derail him from his dreams, he began actively pursuing a career in rap music, eventually signing with Top Dawg Entertainment in 2007. The 25 year old wordsmith is the heartbeat of his group and often displays his keen awareness of politics and social issues on his tracks. His latest body of work, Control System, is a must-have for any hip-hop fan and features vocals from his late girlfriend Alohi Joh, who sadly died from an apparent suicide earlier this year.
**Must hear tracks: "A Rebellion", "ILLuminate", "Nothing New", and "Terrorist Threats"
3) B.o.B.
As you can tell, I am not a huge mainstream rap fan, but B.o.B. has had my attention for the past couple of years. Born Bobby Ray Simmons, Jr. in North Carolina (we generally breed good people here), and raised in Decatur, GA, Simmons began playing several instruments as a child, including the trumpet and his now-famous guitar. A 2006 performance at T.I.'s Club Crucial soon led to a deal with Atlantic Records. Like most recent artists, his climb to fame started on the mixtape circuit in 2007 and 2008. His breakthrough freshman album, B.o.B. Presents the Adventures of Bobby Ray, took 2010 by storm. Several hits were spawned, including the inescapable "Nothing On You" featuring Bruno Mars. B.o.B. represents the lighthearted side of hip-hop as he effortlessly blends genres and generations of fans. If you think he's too mainstream, check out his recent mixtape F*ck Em We Ball and change your mind.
**Must hear tracks: "Nothin' On You", "Hell of a Night", "Out of My Mind", and "Arena"
4) Jay Rock
Don't judge me. Yes, I do have all 4 members of the Black Hippy movement on my lists. Jay Rock was, of course, a mixtape artist and caught the attention of Top Dawg Entertainment. In 2008, his debut single, "All My Life" was largely praised by the rap community and Jay Rock quickly earned a spot on several hip-hop "up and coming artist" lists. In 2011, his highly anticipated and well-received debut album, Follow Me Home, was released and solidified his presence as narrator and exceptional lyricist.
**Must hear tracks: "Hood Gone Love It", "Say Whassup", "All My Life", and "Kill or Be Killed"
5) Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino's road to rap success mirrors the ever present rapper Drake. An actor turned rapper, Gambino took the leap from TV to hip-hop and created an independent release in 2008 entitiled Sick Boi. His rap persona is all over the place: self-deprecating, humorous, braggadocios, introspective, and all around unique. For Childish Gambino, the genre box simply doesn't exist. He makes music on his own terms and plays by his own rules. Check out Royalty, his latest mixtape released on Independence Day of 2012.
**Must hear tracks: "Fire Fly", "Heartbeat", "Freaks and Geeks", and "UNtouchable"
Could there be a part 3???? Stay tuned and you will find out....
With Love,
T. Amour
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