Great hiphop? Help me

[chookie]

Eminem's Mosh blasted my eyes and ears open to hiphop. I was ignorant and didn't know what it had to offer.

I really live on the margins of popular culture and have pretty esoteric taste, and i just don't know what's going on, but I really want to hear more. It's like this is the only relevant art happening now!

People have said Eminem is just one piece of hiphop.

I want to explore this stuff. Who are the great artists? What are the great works?

[KingChicken]

1. Tupac

Tupac may be dead but just about every song he wrote and performed in his last two years alive 1994-1996 was filled with very deep philosophical messages, he would have been great!

[BoX o BooX]

2. My nephew swears by OutKast.

I let him Play "AtLiens" for me, and it was not wholly disagreeable... there was a bit too much "nigger" in it for me, but if it speaks to the youngsters, it's a valid art form.

[seventhson]

3. Mos Def and he has a new CD The New Danger

highly recommended

his first CD may be even better. It is non-gangsta political and NYC (Brooklyn) style hot shit with very cool political philosophy.

[GHOSTDANCER]

4. here

<http://www.ratm.com/>
<http://www.corporateavenger.info/>
<http://www.jedi-mind-tricks.com/>

[reprehensor]

5. Seminal albums.

Compton's Most Wanted: It's a Compton Thing

De La Soul: De La Soul is Dead

Jungle Brothers: Straight Out the Jungle

[bettyellen]

6. rock box by run run run d d m m c c... a short history for ya:

this is a short history of the last 20 years best:
mary j blige what's the 411
public enemy takes a nation of millions
dr dre the chronic
bone thugs and harmony for when you wanna be mellow but thuggish
:smoke:

[dpt223]

7. illmatic

Here are some good albums:

Nas-Illmatic
Public Enemy-It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Public Enemy-Fear of a Black Planet
Common-Ressurection
Common-Like Water for Chocolate
Blackstar
Mos Def-Black on Both Sides
Talib Kweli-Reflection Eternal: Train of Thought
The Roots-Things Fall Apart
Dr. Dre-The Chronic

[Tom Kitten]

8. I know very little about hiphop...

and this will date me but Public Enemy's "Fear of a Black Planet" I liked a lot!

Also they're long gone but I liked the Disposable Heroes of Hiphopracy...

[JVS]

9. Gotta have old school stuff. Go get "Grandmaster flash"

[ghostsofgiants]

10. Here we go...

Some varied styles here but...

Sweatshop Union
Atmosphere
The Roots
Blackalicious
Non Prophets
Hangar 18
Mr. Lif
El-P
Compay Flow
Aesop Rock
Eyedea and Abilities
Buck 65
Sage Francis
Busdriver
Dead Prez
Edan
Jedi Mind Tricks
K-os
MF Doom
Moka Only
Murs
Reflection Eternal
Talib Kweli
Mos Def
Common
Pharoahe Monch
Warsawpack

[chookie]

11. Thanks to all who responded

I appreciate it. I need the oxygen....