There are so many pitches, frequencies, mediums, distortions, effects, anything is possible through music. It can convey any emotion, it can paint any picture. The auditory painting is essential to experiencing life, to being alive. Music is what allows us to bask in our irrationality and balk at our rationality. Music brings people together. Music is beautiful.
Capital STEEZ
Steelo has done much with his music in his short time here. Kicking off this list at number seems suitable for one of the most underrated and overly talented rappers to have ever been alive. Steelo's claim to fame lies in being one of the founding fathers of the rap supergroup Progressive Era. He draws influences heavily from MF Doom, going as far as taking a direct sample of the beat from Doom's song Dead Bent, while quoting MF Doom (Who quoted Atlantic Starr) at the beginning of the song:
'Ooh you're like the Sun
Chasing all of the Pain Away
When you come around you bring brighter days'
She told me 'you're the perfect one
Me and you, forever we'll be'
I told her
'I will rock this microphone, Always...
STEEZ, while alive, only had one mixtape to his credit, Amerikkan Korruption, which classifies as an underground classic, although relatively new. I still remember the day I learned he killed himself, Christmas Eve last year. I lamented the fact my girlfriend at the time as soon as I learned, and didn't talk to her for a while after she didn't pay him the reverence he deserved. At the time, I had just learned of him, and was integrating myself with his music. He ended up being one of my favorite rappers. He was a rapper who was obsessed with the spiritual, I called him the "Ab-Soul of Pro Era." His songs have influenced me dramatically, especially Black Petunia, and Free the Robots. His delivery was pretty good, he had a decent voice, slightly above average wordplay, and reliably terrible production, yet there was always an undefinable element in his music that vaulted him above every other rapper.
Classics:
Infinity and Beyond
Dead Prez
Free the Robots
Black Petunia
Hard Times
Stars
Ab-Soul
A prominent member of the rap supergroup Black Hippy, he qualifies as a legitimately insane genius. Like Steelo, he is obsessed with the paranormal, maybe even a little more than Steelo was. He is a hardcore drug user, and he raps about his experiences with every type of drug from Promethazine (Mixed Emotions) to DMT (Pineal Gland). He seems to be very aware of history and conspiracy theories from every period of time, and does everything from claim the government is trying to overthrow us to maintain the existence of the Illuminati. Yet beyond this, he flashes occasional signs of vulnerability. He has had an incredibly difficult life emotionally; he may not have grown up on the streets of Compton, but he has been through so much that it's a miracle he even bothers waking up in the morning. He suffered through Steven-Johnson Syndrome as a child, and had the love of his life, fellow musician Alori Joh, kill herself, which he raps about in the song Book of Soul. His skills as a rapper are incredible. His ability as a concept rapper is unmatched by the rest of Black Hippy. He paints vivid pictures and tears them apart just as easily. He also dances on his words, his wordplay ability is fantastic. His flow is a little unorthodox, but it fits his style. He repertoire continues to grow as he advances as a rapper, and he is scheduled to release his second studio album soon. Beyond Control System, his mixtape Longterm Mentality 2 may also stand to be a great compilation of music.
Classics:
Bohemian Grove
Double Standards
Empathy
iLLuminate
Loosen My Tie
Mixed Emotions
Moscato
Terrorist Threats
The Book of Soul
Top Dawg Under Dawg
Danny Brown
Danny Brown is his own man. He does what he feels like. He's relatively new in the rap game considering his age, yet he brings a unique voice to the rap game. His style can at best be classified as unorthodox, his voice flies all over the place. and it takes time to adjust to his music. Yet, once one pries into the depths of the Detroit MC's rhymes, he will find some of the best lyricism rap has had in a while. He hails from Slim Shady's hometown, and in a way shares the latter's bravado. He crosses the line regularly in his songs, evidenced in Pac Blood
Tears to Mona Lisa, Medusa to Liquid
Flows can make Ghandi grab a heater, wanna shoot shit
Rhyme's that make the pope want to get his dick sucked
Had Virgin Mary doing lines in the pickup
Make Sarah Palin deepthroat until she hiccup
Had T.D. Jakes round this bitch doing stick-ups
Danny Brown has a tendency to take things to such ridiculous extremes that they end up being hilarious. When he's featured on a track, he has a tendency to take a track over, as he did in Ab-Soul's signature track Terrorist Threats, dropping a legendary line in the process
Feel my pain, going insane, I'm ashamed
Cause I ain't got shit but an EBT card from a fiendThat owe me and it's in his daughter name
How the fuck is they 'pose to eat?
How the fuck am I 'pose to eat?
Got a nigga in the streets, no health care
Tryna slang weed just to put shoes on his feet
He does the same in A$AP Rocky's supersong 1 Train, dropping the best verse on a song featuring Kendrick Lamar, Big K.R.I.T., Action Bronson, Joey Bada$$, and Yelawolf
That molly got me nauseous, aw shit, no off switch
Lawless, obnoxious, on that "suck my cock" shit
That is my synopsis, ostrich posh shit
Hoes on some God shit, stop it! You not this!
Novice, regardless, heartless and awkward
Cryin' tears of vodka prima donna at the concert
Adonis smokin' chronic 'bout to vomit gin and tonic
Just bein' honest, tell me, isn't that ironic?
Classics:
30
Die Like a Rockstar
DNA
Flight Confirmation
Outer Space
Party All the Time
Radio Song
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