idk if you can help me, or if this is an impertinent question from a nonblack person asking for musical enlightenment from a black person. but i pretty much exclusively listen to soundtracks, because lyrics have never been a draw to me in the least. so genres of music like rap and hiphop that DO rely more on lyrical talent than would be typical of other genres have been especially foreign to me. i have started to branch out more, and enjoy really manic artists like Oingo Boingo, Jhariah, and Will Wood. do you have any off-the-wall artist recommendations along those lines, or perhaps something more 'orchestral' like a soundtrack would be?
"impertinent" 🤣 What am I? A Duke? An Emperor? Ngl, I've never heard of a single artist you listed, but I'm listening to Jhariah's RISK, RISK, RISK as I'm writing this. I like it, so what you're talking about is polyrhythmic songs. Pieces that layer lotsa different sounds on top of each other. Most Rap and Hip-hop focuses on lyrical intensity over the beat itself, so many songs are sonically simpler in that regard. Having listened to two songs by Jhariah as I get to this point in my response, off the top of my head I'd say Kid Cudi would be a good fit for your sensibilities. And first I'd rec this recent song of his: Grave.
Next, try Bodies by Offset, JID. JID in particular is known for his unique flow, switching between rapping in thirds to fifths, meaning how many syllables one says over one beat in the song; thirds meaning three syllables on one beat. Rap is often thought as just talking over a beat, but there is a science to this art, if you wanna learn more I'd suggest watching a rap breakdown video, such as this one
Next Imma reccomend Like That by Future, Metro Bommin, Kendrick Lamar, only because I'm a hater and this song really started off that beef
I'd be remiss if I didn't put you on to Cash In, Cash Out by Pharrel Williams, 21 Savage, Tyler the Creator which has one of the coolest videos I've seen in recent years
Another JID song is 151 Rum, his flow really pushes the beat, mirroring its pace.
Next try out Sacrifices by Dreamville cuz I like it.
I think you'll like this song (How Could Anyone) Feel at Home by Open Mike Eagle and you might like his work in general
If you're looking for a more manic song there's HOPE by NF who's like a far less angry Eminem. This song in particular is polyrhythmic, polyphonic even.
And another obligatory whiteboy is Definition of a Rap Flow Contest Entry by Jarv who also raps in thirds (why is this title so long, lmao?)
Uproar by Lil' Wayne, Swizz Beatz cuz that's enough white rappers
Proud of U by Earthgang, featuring Young Thug
And of course the classic Touch It-Remix by Busta Rhymes. There's like four versions of this remix.
And that's all the audio posts that tumblr will let me put in one post
