The Irish Hip Hop Discussion Thread

conor.hogan.2

Mod Edit: I've copied over a discussion from another thread to start a new thread about Irish Hip Hop.

So, Irish Hip Hop. Discuss.

Boom_Bap

TheBza

mufcboy1999 wrote: »

This is not a dig of any kind but you listen to Irish hip hop which is for the vast majority utter rubbish IMO and 99 % of the hip hop community's. The album with Royce and recovery are better than anything you'll ever hear from this country as in regards to hip hop.

Ahhh man, there is a load of rubbish IHH, but have you even tried listening to LD50 part 2 by lethal dialect?, nowhere near rubbish, its incredible, production and lyrics are the best iv heard, sh1ts all over them em albums you mentioned, and all that 50cent muck. Just because its irish doesn't mean its rubbish, your just being bigoted, not given it a chance because its irish, if anything you should be appreciating it, home grown talent that is well more relevant to you than listening to american artists. The crap defiantly outweighs the good in irish hip hop (theres well more ****e than good), but the good irish hip hop holds it own and is really special stuff. The irish stuff i listen to, i dont class "irish hip hop", its just hip hop.

http://lethaldialect.bandcamp.com/track/the-sermon

If you dont like that i dont know whats wrong with ye mate.

mufcboy1999

Na not for me , dictionary rap in an accent that's not one bit rhythmatic at all. That program that was on rte a while ago just shows how much of a laughing stock it is. I wouldn't disregard someone's opinion because they don't like the songs you've just posted either, trust me man just because there trying to come across like they have it hard and know the ins and outs of what ever conspiracy theory your man is sh*tting on about or how hard life is on the dole doesn't mean it's any more hip hop than a successful American rapper spitting painfully commercial lyrics or how hard he has it in his hood etc.

Conor I could literally be hear all night quoting bad lines if I wanted too. IHH has no identity , at least the uk scene is unique ours just sounds cringey and American like wannabes.

And being Irish myself has nothing to do with it, good music is good music your nationality doesn't come into it.

The accent could very well be IHH's downfall because I belive you there more then likely is some talented lads out there but there's a reason why nobody really cares about it and its the same reason why records labels Won't back the sub genre that is IHH... It doesn't make good listening and there's always that smell of cringe in the air.

TheBza

"trust me man just because there trying to come across like they have it hard"
Out of them three song i posted you there how is he trying to come across like he has it hard?

"dictionary rap in an accent that's not one bit rhythmatic at all"

What are you on about? Lyrics, flow, production is all very "rhythmatic", what's dictionary rap? being intelligent i'm guessing?

"That program that was on rte a while ago just shows how much of a laughing stock it is."
That was embarrassing yes, but rte done that purposely for ratings, they made it into a complete joke, when they could of done something productive and showcasing some irish talent, but instead had people on it that shouldn't been there, and edited the actual talented ones and made them look like scumbags.

"IHH has no identity"
Exactly cause people like you knock it before even given it a chance. That RTE program as well didn't help.

"at least the uk scene is unique"
Hows that, give me some of examples of unique uk artists, or "uk hip hop".

"ours just sounds cringey and American like wannabes."
Your telling me them songs i just posted sound American? Get your ears tested, that's a Dublin accent.

"And being Irish myself has nothing to do with it, good music is good music your nationality doesn't come into it."
You just contradicted yourself and that post there.

Fair enough you dont like it, but with other people that ive showed that album to that dont like it, have a bit of constructive criticism, like not liking the accent etc. but they appreciate the content and production at least and can see for what it really is. He not just some wannabe wigger that put on an american accent or talks about nonsense, he's talking about politics, friendship, emigration, death, stuff thats affecting the irish nation at this present time. You've painted a completely different picture there, the opposite of the message he's trying to get across, i don't mean to be arguing, just baffled.

Boom_Bap

I've started this thread so that we can include all discussions on Irish Hip Hop in one place. I've merged in a few posts from another thread to get the ball rolling.

se02orqua5xz9v

<mod snip> this is not a discussion thread on race </mod snip>

MOD NOTE for FootieFan2012 -> This is the second time that you have tried to get this discussion up an running. It's not going to happen so please do not post that video again. This is a hip hop thread, not a discussion forum for ethnicity

Bobby Baccala

I'm not mad about irish hip ho as far as the actual rapping goes, I like some of the production though, I like the experts stuff. I also tolerate the accents when I'm watching battles, there's some comical stuff in them, bit of a dfi fan

floggg

Just can't get past the accent. A thick north side accent just doesn't work for raps.

I could probably get into a posh Southsider with decent rhymes and flow easier, if only because their accent is so more comprehensible.

TheBza

When i first started listening it, took me a while to get past the accent, when i started to listen to what they're saying though i really started to appreciate and relate to it. Now i love it, and cant think of anything better then hearing my favourite genre in a Dublin accent. LD 50 part two in particular, that changed the way i listened to hip hop completely, i was hooked, i couldn't listen to any american hip hop for months after and ive been listening to rap/hip hop since i was a nipper. Got me through some bad times as well. You can get it here free if anyone is interested. Has gotten a lot of top reviews and recognition from hotpress and a good few papers.

http://lethaldialect.bandcamp.com/album/ld50-part-ii

I highly recommend giving it a chance, try and get past the accent, and give it a proper listen, the production in itself is amazing, and the lyrics are quality, scary talent. If there was one album to be the voice of "irish hip hop" this would be it, my opinion of course.

TheBza

and of course theres more Irish hip hop being produced outside of dublin, if you cant get by the dublin accent, maybe you's would be more suited for this.

Waterford based Sons Phonetic

I just feel, finally we have homegrown hip hop artists that are producing hip hop that actually hold its weight with hip hop in general, its gone past the stereo type, cringey stuff and is taken a lot more seriously, you can tell they get their inspiration from proper hip hop, and really appreciate the art. Every other country has there own respected hip hop, why cant we?

another free download
http://sonsphonetic.bandcamp.com/album/twelve-labours

TheBza

If anyone else likes the stuff heres more respectable artists. Apologies for spamming, but am just passionate about this stuff.

mufcboy1999

Fair enough you dont like it, but with other people that ive showed that album to that dont like it, have a bit of constructive criticism, like not liking the accent etc. but they appreciate the content and production at least and can see for what it really is. He not just some wannabe wigger that put on an american accent or talks about nonsense, he's talking about politics, friendship, emigration, death, stuff thats affecting the irish nation at this present time. You've painted a completely different picture there, the opposite of the message he's trying to get across, i don't mean to be arguing, just baffled.

im not going through your whole reply simply because there's no point, your not going to change my mind and vice versa. Iv been in this discussion a few times down through the years here on this forum so this is my last post on it because i honestly have no desire to discuss IHH hence my negative opinion of it.

i literally have no interest tbh in those 2 songs. I couldnt even bring myself to listen to both tracks in their entirety, i heard bits and just switched it off. Id honestly have to be stoned out of my head, 16 or p*ssed to listen to it and the majority of IHH. Its not ignorant , its not that im not giving it a chance because trust me i stopped listening to IHH when i was around 18 which was 6 years ago. I use to listen to siyo "fresh out the gaf" etc then i just grew out of it and saw it for what it was just bad music and a bad sub-genre for the best part.

People cant be saying so and so is the worst thing to happen to hip hop or this person has a bad taste in hip hop because he likes this album etc... Lads if you really are going to bash mainstream hip hop and legends like eminem with no bother at all and defend this tripe, i really dont know what to think. Is it bitterness that IHH will never take off or are ye stoned out of your tree's living at home with mammy on the dole like the boy's on the rte show? As harsh as that sounds , thats the shoe on the other foot so i wouldnt be so quick to bash people like eminem and try come across as know it all's because you listen to IHH because if anything is up for debate as in regards to having a bad taste in music its the lads who listen to IHH.

just because something is underground and not mainstream, doesnt mean it defines hip hop either. Hip hops a culture not just music, ireland is just not that urban of a county so when you have a few lads trying to be eminem because really hand on heart , i say he's half the reason this country has an obsession with hip hop, em has had without a doubt the biggest impact on this generation of hip hop fans more so than any other artist. He was truly the first ever real global hip hop star.... just pushed the genre into overdrive imo.

the uk scene originated from garage/dance/grime ... it has its own sound and doesnt come across as bad as IHH imo.

conor.hogan.2

The points people bring up here are exactly the same ones people bring up about hip-hop as a whole, it is stupid and ignorant.

If you don't like it you don't like it but saying it is something you grow out of it or that they or people who listen to it are wannabe "anythings" is re-hashed.

TheBza

Im just trying to show people something they might of missed and might actually like, and show that hip hop in Ireland has advance a lot in 6 years, you didn't even bother to give them songs i showed you a chance.

You don't know nothing about me!, saying I'm living with the folks on the dole, your coming across as a right prick, i have my own apartment and plenty of qualifications on my back. Listen to what ever you want, sorry for trying to show you something, if you think eminem was the first global hip hop star, you really don't no much, yea, hip hop is a culture, the majority if not all of mainstream artist today share none of the elements of hip hop, if you even know what they are, I couldn't give a toss about your opinion, done talking to muppets like you, not going to waste another second on you.

Boom_Bap

TheBza wrote: »

Im just trying to show people something they might of missed and might actually like, and show that hip hop in Ireland has advance a lot in 6 years, you didn't even bother to give them songs i showed you a chance.

You don't know nothing about me!, saying I'm living with the folks on the dole, your coming across as a right prick, i have my own apartment and plenty of qualifications on my back. Listen to what ever you want, sorry for trying to show you something, if you think eminem was the first global hip hop star, you really don't no much, yea, hip hop is a culture, the majority if not all of mainstream artist today share none of the elements of hip hop, if you even know what they are, I couldn't give a toss about your opinion, done talking to muppets like you, not going to waste another second on you.

@TheBza - You're pretty new around here, but under no circumstances are you allowed to insult other posters on the forum. Discuss the topic without getting personal.

TheBza

Sorry, didnt like that comment implying i'm on the dole living of my mother.

baddebt

personally I like what I've heard from some Irish hip hop artists
Terawrizt , Lethal dialect , bitter rocc , all produced excellent albums in recent times , and hats off to them ,
Tera's new album silence is consent is very good
and looking forward to hearing Lethals new album 1988 due out later in the year
listened to some of rejjie snow aka lecs luther stuff , not quite as good as the above , but at least the youtube versions come across better than his performance at Kendrick lamar gig last week
I think these guys deserve a bit of credit ,

(people always say , nah , I don't want to listen to some rapping about dublin city ...................emm ain't no different than someone from LA rapping about compton , or south central

TheBza

Exactly, the content in the Rhymes of late, are quality, all relevant stuff thats happening on our door steps. Im not mad on Lecs luther myself, the accent doesn't appeal to me at all.

Andy_rse

I really only listen to Terawrizt/Class A'z, I'll check out some of the stuff posted here, but the main thing that people like to bring up with me is taking the piss about hip hop in an Irish accent :rolleyes: I'd rather hear an Irish rapper rapping in an Irish accent than an Irish rapper rapping in an American accent.

Tera's last album is still in heavy rotation with me and this song is genuinely one of the best I've heard in a long time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL5NPeuLlUw

Shout out to Tony Mahoney on the beat, check out more of his stuff!

TheBza

Spot on about the accents man, i could never really get into the likes of terawritz, redzer, siyo and them boys, im more in to the Workin Class Army lads, sons phonetic, RiRa and that, picked up a Scary Eire album today i was looking for, class hearing stuff of that quality coming out of Ireland from the early 90s.

DyldeBrill

Irish rap just aint for me at all! Have to say I think Sons Phonetic could do quite well, as there style is somewhat different to most of the Dublin rap I've seen. A lot of the accents do seem like they've been been made harder and stronger just because they are rapping about hard times in the mighty hard Dublin City.

Theres been nothing class released as of yet, and I'll listen to just about anything as I'm open minded when it comes to music , but I just can't relate to the Irish hip hop scene.

The majority of the songs are terribly depressing, you'd swear they've never seen a happy day! Why don't they take a tribe called quest point of view and CHILL

TheBza

There's been plenty of class released, your just not into it, LD 50 part II got great reviews as did Costello's album, Sons Phonetic's album 12 labours, that's class. Whatever your into

Boom_Bap

A few recent Irish Hip Hip releases:

GI - Black Tuna instrumental Album

http://giofficial.bandcamp.com/album/black-tuna

GI & Costello - Mary Jane

http://gicostello.bandcamp.com/album/maryjane

TheBza

Bought Mary Jane Last night, been dying for it for ages, its spectacular!!!!!!!!!!

Camac Hibs

GI instrumentals album is a beast

TheBza

Its f*cking quality!

TheBza

I don't understand how the likes of gi & costellos new album gets completely unnoticed on this forum, the lyrics are pure and emotional and the beats are absolutely scandalous, stupid the way an accent puts people off pure talent, songs are better than half the sh*t I've seen posted on boards.ie!

Boom_Bap

TheBza wrote: »

Bought Mary Jane Last night, been dying for it for ages, its spectacular!!!!!!!!!!

I've just finished listening to it. I wouldnt call it spectacular but's a decent album. It starts off strong but after a few songs, it all starts to blend in on itself. There is some more 'upbeat' production tracks (Rock Sh*t Scandalous - dope beat though) which doesnt quite suit Costello and GI, I think they sound best over moody gloomy beats. It has a really strong finish, the last 2 tracks which stray away from the formula of 3 hooks and 3 verses fit very nicely. More of a moodier soundscape is painted and there isnt a reliance to fill all the track with a hook or lyrics, the beat is allowed to be part of the track.

Overall, a bit too long as well.

Camac Hibs wrote: »

GI instrumentals album is a beast

It's excellent. Best instrumental album I've heard so far this year (not just Irish Hip Hop, globally).

TheBza wrote: »

Its f*cking quality!

Damn right it is.

In relation to Irish Hip Hop in general going un-noticed here, it mostly does but there are times when it gets brought up when there are some decent releases. I think that even Costello and Lethal Dialect used to post here, as did Collie, Redzer, Nugget and NuCentz....and we cant forget about Shapey.

I think that people are normally attracted to this forum for a general hip hop discussion, rather than focusing just on music from Ireland.
There is also a more prolific forum specifically for Irish Hip Hop that attracts a bit more discussion on local matters. There are a few members of boards that also are regulars over there.

TheBza

Ye, i know what you mean boom bap, was a bit tipsy writing that last night, I cant get enough of Mary Jane man, absolutely love it, cant really fault it myself, but i have an unhealthy obsession with the working class army :P, you ever check out the doppelgangaz?, they're from new york, along with their main albums they have two instrumental albums, beats for brothels vol.1 & 2, if you love that GI album, they're worth checking out

http://thedoppelgangaz.bandcamp.com/album/beats-for-brothels-vol-2 (Scroll down a bit)

http://thedoppelgangaz.bandcamp.com/album/beats-for-brothels-vol-1

Bobby Baccala

Black Tuna is fúckin great! just listened to it there, loving it, big ups to GI, very very impressed.

LUPE

DyldeBrill wrote: »

Irish rap just aint for me at all! Have to say I think Sons Phonetic could do quite well, as there style is somewhat different to most of the Dublin rap I've seen. A lot of the accents do seem like they've been been made harder and stronger just because they are rapping about hard times in the mighty hard Dublin City.

Theres been nothing class released as of yet, and I'll listen to just about anything as I'm open minded when it comes to music , but I just can't relate to the Irish hip hop scene.

The majority of the songs are terribly depressing, you'd swear they've never seen a happy day! Why don't they take a tribe called quest point of view and CHILL

Each to their own obviously but a few strange points here.

e.g. the accents - generally not true but even if it was, how do you know the same is not the case in the UK/US?

Being able to relate - again, in relation to the UK/US surely it is easier to relate to. Same language and phrases we are used to etc. Perhaps it's the familiarity which makes it seem less exotic. I can definitely relate to people rapping about life in Dublin than I can about life in Queens or Brixton.

Re themes: Rapping about their environment more than anything, there will always be elements of depression in all music coming from Dublin/Ireland in general. It's the basis of a huge amount of traditional irish music really, ballads and so on. I would disagree that it is all depressing, some of it is dark and serious but never overly depressing.

Genuinely, Lethal Dialect's LD50 Part II is an incredible album all round. From production to lyrics, it is all top notch, no filler. I would put it up there with nearly everything I have listened to over last couple of years.

Camac Hibs

Some of the Workin Class stuff over the past year or two is up there with the best hip hop globally in the same period, GIs production being the common highlight throughout.

I think LD50 Part II has been the strongest release as a complete album but all of those MCs are capable of a killer verse and every release has been pretty strong.

The Sons Phonetic album Twelve Labours was also quality and there was a release recently by Bit Rocc (?) with beautiful production on it.

Boom_Bap

Bitter Rocks Cold City album is great. I probably hold it in higher esteem than the Working Class albums. He is also releasing a new EP very soon.

DyldeBrill

LUPE wrote: »

Each to their own obviously but a few strange points here.

e.g. the accents - generally not true but even if it was, how do you know the same is not the case in the UK/US?

Being able to relate - again, in relation to the UK/US surely it is easier to relate to. Same language and phrases we are used to etc. Perhaps it's the familiarity which makes it seem less exotic. I can definitely relate to people rapping about life in Dublin than I can about life in Queens or Brixton.

Re themes: Rapping about their environment more than anything, there will always be elements of depression in all music coming from Dublin/Ireland in general. It's the basis of a huge amount of traditional irish music really, ballads and so on. I would disagree that it is all depressing, some of it is dark and serious but never overly depressing.

Genuinely, Lethal Dialect's LD50 Part II is an incredible album all round. From production to lyrics, it is all top notch, no filler. I would put it up there with nearly everything I have listened to over last couple of years.

Just to add, I wouldn't be a fan of UK rap at all, thats my opinion.

Again, it all depends on what type of rap that your into, and for me it would mainly be the likes of The Pharcyde, A Tribe Called Quest, Gangstarr and whatnot. The point is, is that I feel that these artists and their songs ooze utter class in their lyrics, something that I have not yet seen from any Irish rapper that has won me over. I respect that they are using the Dublin, Cork or whatever accent that they are using but I haven't quite clicked with their flow and maybe thats my lack of understanding on the whole concept, but it is what it is.

I'm all for Irish rap doing well and would like to see some of the lads/gals do well but like I said I just find it very hard to listen to.As I said I'd listen to Sons a bit and really like what they've got going.

I've found that a lot of people that have been raving about the Irish rap scene have been personally involved in it themselves or know someone that is partaking.There's a reason why it hasn't taken over globally!

I don't mind a bit of depression laced in songs either, its just that there is far too much of it.I have listened to songs however with a lighter tone to them that I've actually quite liked.People need to be cheered up in these times!

Personally I hate ballads, but in regards to traditional music, I'd actually find the majority of it very upbeat and this is from someone who comes from a backround of Irish traditional music (I am not claiming to be an expert on the genre).

I wish the artists well, but as I've said its just not for me

Stooped

The only Irish hip hop I really listen to is the Class A lads and all the other Dublin ones like Nugget and Siyo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrAAvVkICmg

I also watch DFI on YouTube and some of them are pretty good. My least favourite rapper is most likely MC Dubh :rolleyes:

Boom_Bap

Stooped wrote: »

My least favourite rapper is most likely MC Dubh :rolleyes:

I wouldn't even call him a rapper.

conor.hogan.2

In fairness to him he is better than the assassin.

TheBza

Not really into the DFI battles or the class a lads myself, find both tacky.

Boom_Bap

The DFI battles are OK, i got bored of them very quickly as there are too many 'in' jokes and they got quite repetitive. That's not just for the Irish league, but the overseas ones as well. I think the battles have had their moment and are nto getting any better. I would watch the occassional one now depending on if there was something significant in it. But fair play to the lads for keeping the events going and going international.

As far as Class A's, I used to really not like them. It stemmed back to seeing them play live before i really heard their music and they were dreadful live. Aboslutely shockingly dreadful, I think it was in Crawdaddy.
They fumbled around the stage, forgot lines, stumbled through songs and laughed and joked all the way.
I checked out their music after that and thought it was better than how they delivered it live, but it was fairly rough. From there on, their music has consistently gotten better and the quality of production has significanlty improved. So they have started doing things right.

Stooped

Yeah I saw a video of them performing Sin City live. They just did not sound right.