"srsly poptimists need 1x CRASH COURSE in contemporary hip-hop"

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

(That's the Lex speaking)

1. Do we? Or "Do you?" I should say, since we're a loose clumping of individuals innit.

2. GO ON THEN! What's the best hip-hop you've heard this year?

Comments

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

Do poptimists listen to that much US music generally though? We're fairly UK-centric I think, although possibly that's wrong and obviously it's a bit narrow perhaps but US music, with a few notable exceptions, seems to be getting increasingly alien to me. That said, three of your recs are very liable to end up in any sort of end-of-year list I make (Diddy, Trina, Eve) and a few of the others'd probably be hovering around the edges. Except 'White Girl,' which I find offensive on behalf of humanity.

Everyone's been rather excited re: Timbaland&Keri&DOE though, haven't they? I suppose that's proof that if hip-hop gets radioplay, people aren't averse to it, it's just that it doesn't get over here.

I am not awake yet, please excuse the total lack of sense above.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

The whole Timbaland album is really surprisingly consistent and good, at least until he remembers that he's "into rock", but all that stuff is at the end.

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

I really like a lot of it- I listened to it loads on my way to and from work over the summer, along with the Diddy album; I actually really like the OneRepublic song, but yes, the rest of the 'omg u guyz, look, rock and hip-hop working together god knows what will happen next!!!111' bits can probably fvck right off.

'Scream' is absolutely ace, also 'Miscommunication,' 'Bounce' and 'Kill Yourself.' Other moments he seems to get a bit confused about what Timbaland brings to the Timbaland sound.

[infov0re.livejournal.com]

Oh, gosh, I really didn't like Shock Value at all. Found it pretty weak, tbh, although I did enjoy the FOB collaboration. That might not necessarily be because it's any good, though.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

> The whole Timbaland album is really surprisingly consistent and good

!!!

Dude we must be listening to a different album!

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Well that's why it was surprising! Everyone was saying it was rub - I like its chilliness.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I've never seen anyone actually talk about 'The Way I Are' but simultaneously it's been the most ubiquitous song of the year anyway! I'm not even sure if I have anything to say about it - I don't even know why I love it so much, above and beyond a thousand Timba productions in the same vein.

You're right that people round here don't seem to take much interest in US music - this annoys me a great deal esp given the effort I see made to go after terrible Scandipop like Jens Lekman et al.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

"The Way I Are" is one of the tracks that makes me want to really push people to go back and look at what they ticked on the year in pop charts - it was a total sleeper I'm sure. I can actually never remember how it goes unless I'm listening to it mind you.

(also I want them to do this because I am a stats menk obviously)

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Easy way to remember how Way I Are goes: hum the bassline to Salt n Pepa's 'Push It' but in a comedy trumpet voice.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Also I hate Jens Lekman too but the amount of actual fuss and talk made on Poptimists about Scando is VERY SMALL so I fear this is becoming a bit of a straw man!

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

It's an eighties rock song. Well maybe not eighties, whenever Marillion were kicking about originally.

Jens Lekman is pants. :( My ex-bf was quite into him.

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

"a thousand Timba productions in the same vein"

this is exactly the pop that bores me right now, and perhaps why i'm not so fond of the britney album.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

But the Britney album doesn't really sound anything like the Timba productions I'm talking about? it's grainy and distorted and stuttery, whereas 'The Way I Are' et al make a point of being smooth and tasteful and classy. I'm definitely bored by that particular Timba formula which is why I can't really explain my adoration of 'The Way I Are'. Also, not as bored as I am by the Girls Aloud formula.

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

ok, but 'gimme moar' sounded just like 'the way i are' to me.

(i know i have a 'tin ear' on these things cos i don't like it all that much, so, you know)

if anything i like way i are a tad more if anyone cares :-)

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I am totally not comprehending this! 'The Way I Are' = smooth, soaring, very pure vocals (from Keri anyway), clear-headed devotion, melodic, all about the treble; 'Gimme More' = grainy, static, chopped and distorted vocals, druggy haze, barely any tune, all about the bass!

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Agreed that Gimme More = very blurred around the edges [OMG perhaps it is actually a subtle comment on ROHYPNOL???] and that the execution/composition on Way I Are is much better. But I've heard the latter SO MANY TIMES seriously it is this year's Hips Don't Lie in terms of the Jebus I'm Totally Sick Of This factor.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

More like an unsubtle comment on crystal meth.

I think the great thing about the ubiquity of 'The Way I Are' is how many times it's popped up incompletely unexpected places (techno, bassline, grime sets &c). I still don't know how/why I'm not sick of it!