Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artists, Bands, or Groups of the Decades

[BJ]

I wish that more "musicians" would get involved in hip hop. I would like to see people pick up instruments again instead of thinking that you have to have an MPC-2k and some samples to make hip hop. I have nothing but respect for the roots and bands that are trying to make new music as opposed to stealing hooks from 80s records and using samples. I know that this was standard practice in the 90s. But even then there were creative people using samples and making them into original music.(dust brothers and bomb squad are a prime example) this business of taking a 1:1 sample and modifying the hook slightly is just plain retarded.(eh hmm Pdiddy)

But back to my original point- why are hip hop artists afraid to play instruments? It blows me away that flavor flav was a classicly trained pianest, and could play 17 instruments but is reduced to saying "YEah boooyyeee" on PE records.

This goes farther than just hip hop, I wish that all genres would make the music biz about the music again...

the roots sample all the time, check out lou rawls - dead end street, when you get further into that song youll notice they took it for "the seed 2.0".

[Shifrin]

In no particular order...

YZ, Tribe Called Quest, Grand Daddy I.U., Ugly Duckling, People Under The Stairs, Busdriver, Freestyle Fellowship, Public Enemy, Quasimoto

Shif.

[Kriminal]

Paris

[CypherOne]

Roots Manuva
Rodney P

[Stupid American Pig]

I wish that more "musicians" would get involved in hip hop. I would like to see people pick up instruments again instead of thinking that you have to have an MPC-2k and some samples to make hip hop. I have nothing but respect for the roots and bands that are trying to make new music as opposed to stealing hooks from 80s records and using samples. I know that this was standard practice in the 90s. But even then there were creative people using samples and making them into original music.(dust brothers and bomb squad are a prime example) this business of taking a 1:1 sample and modifying the hook slightly is just plain retarded.(eh hmm Pdiddy)

But back to my original point- why are hip hop artists afraid to play instruments? It blows me away that flavor flav was a classicly trained pianest, and could play 17 instruments but is reduced to saying "YEah boooyyeee" on PE records.

This goes farther than just hip hop, I wish that all genres would make the music biz about the music again...

the roots sample all the time, check out lou rawls - dead end street, when you get further into that song youll notice they took it for "the seed 2.0".

True- but they at least do have capable musicians that can and do play live...