RZA

Masamune

Masamune

Jedi Council Member
Here is a song from RZA featuring Tekitha called Build Strong. Bobby Digital is the aspect of RZA's self which likes drugs, sex, and money and Prince Rakeem is his higher nature.

*Explicit Lyrics*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm9GKaYI3vI

I feel a little f'd up right now and ish like, mad pain, mad pain inside a nigga's heart, all this drugs, money, sex it ain't fulfilling me, I lost a lot of things, I lost the closest thing to me, and that kinda broke me down a lot, and I'm trying to hold on, i don't really know which way to really go, right left up down back forward, I feel like a motherless child, I know I got a lot of weight on my head, I know I got the weight of the world on my shoulder, and I just want to rise, but I don't know what the f man, I'm trying to add things up, trying to do things right, trying to build, the gods is teaching me they trying to tell me yo Bobby you gotta study god, I don't know what to study I don't know what to be, I don't know what to do

yo yo confused but yet wise my problem surrounds me
A lot of things upset me as my soul rejects me
enemy of my self physical.....listen, let me tell you about..
yo yo confused but yet wise my problem surrounds me
A lot of things upset me as my soul rejects me
enemy of self
physically enslaved by the luxuries of this world
so I behave like a man inside the grave
who's life is lost
I want the promised gold
but can't afford the cost
or could I?
I know the prescribed laws
any effect is a result of the cause
of lies and illusions to myself I have lied
burning inside wanting to open wide
and scream
the name of the supreme
but I'm trapped in this world
lusting for girls
therefore I imagine a genie and a wish
and searching for things that just does not exist
but in my midst there's the answer for which i have searched
cause from me springs divine Prince Rakeem
and that is me the master of equality
with the ability
to set myself free
from B.o.b.b.y
he don't want to die,
he don't want to die he don't want to try
so I'm forced to cry
and get trapped up for living my life inside a lie
these problems surround me
a lot of things upset me
as my soul rejects me
enemy of my self physically enslaved
by the luxuries of this world so I behave
like a man inside the grave
who's life is lost
I want the promised gold but I can't afford the cost
or could I, I heard of the prescribed laws
any effect is a result of the cause
of lies and illusions to myself I have lied
burning inside and wanting to open wide
and scream
the name of the supreme
but I'm trapped in this world
I'm lusting for girls
therefore I imagined a genie and a wish
and I'm searching for things that does not exist
but in my midst there's the answer
for which i have searched
cause from me springs the divine Prince Rakeem
and that is me the master of equality
give myself the opportunity
and set free and be all I can be
be all I can be
not a nigga just trapped up in luxury

yo Bobby Digitial got to get knowledge of his self right now,
as we go through the struggle of life we got to go from boy to man
we start off as sperm to baby baby to man from man to dead man
and from dead man back to sand
all praises due to allah the most high word up
I got to be free I got to be free I got to break free
I got to break free I got to break free I got to break.....
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I never heard of this guy before. Really good timing too, I was pretty bummed with the Roots selling out and playing Jimmy Fallon, and was wondering if there was any deeper hip hop out there. Thanks!
 
Hesper said:
I never heard of this guy before. Really good timing too, I was pretty bummed with the Roots selling out and playing Jimmy Fallon, and was wondering if there was any deeper hip hop out there. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Just FYI he is a member of the Nation of Gods and Earths and that ideology runs through most of his lyrics. I have learned a lot from him but a lot of his stuff is off. I liked the song above that he did though.

I have been also looking for some knowledgeable, conscious hip hop artists but most of the ones I have found are all associated with this organization such as Canibus, Killah Priest, and Ill Bill. Tupac was one of the few that I liked who wasn't a five percenter. If anyone knows of any I would be interested in hearing about them.
 
Some conscious hip hop artists: De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Black Star, Reflection Eternal, Queen Latifah, Black Sheep, Leaders of the New School, Prince Paul, Slum Village, The Beatnuts, Nas (his first album primarily), and The Jungle Brothers. I would also recommend artists like Blackalicious, Atmosphere, or Jedi Mind Tricks.
 
Yeah RZA! Good ol' Wu Tang Clan.
I liked him in Funny People too. Apparently Seth Rogen was really nervous to act with him being a big Wu Tang fan.

But seriously, many of the groups and individuals listed above are the glimmers of hope in an otherwise dark dark industry.
 
I think Immortal Technique, a talented and intelligent rapper, should be added to that list as well. Alot of his lyrics focus on controversial topics such as global politics, religion, racism, etc.. He also helped build an orphanage with his profits in Afghanistan.

Immortal Technique - Point of No Return _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Igt-jW4e8ts

Immortal Technique - Leaving The Past _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjp8yuEBjxs&feature=related

Immortal Technique - The Cause of Death _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWh077_Ed3w&feature=related
 
Absolutely Immortal Technique should be given a nod. While his overall is definitely that of revolution, some of his more extremely violent lyrics are meant to shake up the rap industry.
I find him effective though not for the weak of stomach.

Saw him (them) live a few years back. Incredibly intense. Shut up some of the annoying drunk people there. Sobered everyone right up. :)
 
A Short List of 'Conscious' Hiphop Artists

When I say 'conscious artist', I mean artists whom, for the most part, create works to inspire, educate and uplift, and shift thoughts and being to greater levels of awareness and living (not getting into their personal life choices, just artistically). Often in Hiphop, artists who do not talk about sex, drugs and violence every song are often considered to be "conscious" and that is not the case most of the time. The Native Tongues artists weren't necessarily "conscious", they just weren't really brag rappers or "gangster".

IMO, these artists have, through time, shown to fit the criteria of trying to inspire and uplift people:

Wise Intelligent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8-Uig2IlDw
Pharoahe Monch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG_iDZbSZ3I
Jay Electronica: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNgYIjjyeEE
Talib kweli
Mos Def
Dead Prez
Zion I
Nas (progressively became more conscious thru his career. His first album Illmatic is an undisputed classic in Hiphop, but it's not an uplifting socially aware album. In fact, none of his 90's albums could be considered conscious uplifting albums though they had some potent aware songs sprinkled throughout. Nas didn't really begin to focus his lyrics more on being uplifting until the album Stillmatic in 2001, culminating his growth in uplifting music with last year's release with Damian Marley, Distant Relatives.)
Lupe Fiasco
Common
Ceelo Green
Blitz The Ambassador
Nneka
The Roots (They haven't "sold out" by any means and it was a smart move on their part to do the late night thing. Their last 2 albums were dope Rising Down and How i Got Over)

The Rza is definitely on it when not in Bobby Digital mode.

This list could triple if we went through the underground.
 
I'd like to add Epik High to the list - a South Korean group who have put out some songs in English as well. Their front man Tablo graduated from Stanford with a BA in English Literature and MA in Creative Writing and it were his English lyrics that I took interest in. Epik High produce music through their own label nowadays as well as performances with other (usually Asian/Asian-American) artists.

and my recommendation:
_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXGqilWk9sE
Epik High - Excuses (Feat. MYK)

Education is killing my religion.
Intuition is killing my religion.
My religion is killing your religion.
My religion, your religion.

[MYK]
Lungs blackened from this filth that I'm breathing.
Polluted phrases are the kill of the season.
My ears bleed and in turn I speak treasons,
weaving through a system that dubs realists as heathens.
Like the cigarettes I'm 'chained' to,
wicked words are the devil in disguise
that thrive off of maiming you.
But who's blaming who?
Never are we the ones.
We point the finger at the skies and the chosen 'son'.

Who's to blame?
No remedy to cure this pain.
No remedy to cure this pain.
Cause I believe there's nothing there for me.

All my senses are killing my innocence.
Cruel inventions are killing my innocence.
No innocence is killing your innocence.
My innocence, your innocence.

[Tablo]
Blame it on terror. Computer error.
The East and West coast and the post-consumer era.
The mayor, the president, the air, the elements.
Whatever's relevant but never look into your mirror.
What you want, what you need is to be blameless.
Don't blame the DJ, it's the playlist.
Cause blame is a slutty word;
Ex-planation, ex-ecution, ex-cuse share the same 'ex'.

Who's to blame?
No remedy to cure this pain.
No remedy to cure this pain.
Cause I believe there's nothing there for me.

[Mithra]
You don't wanna know the sinner.
You don't wanna know the killer.
Because it's you.

Television is stalling evolution.
Medication is stalling evolution.
Evolution is stalling revolution.
Evolution, revolution.

Collaboration, the start of revolution.
My decision, the start of revolution.
Revolution, the start of evolution.
Revolution, evolution.

Who's to blame?
No remedy to cure this pain.
No remedy to cure this pain.
Cause I believe there's nothing there for me.

Blame yourself.
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PitchBlackGold - Smoke and Mirrors

Here's a remake of the hit rap song, "Black & Yellow", i did recently:

http://soundcloud.com/pitchblackgold/smoke-and-mirrors

Lyrics;

Chorus:

Uh huh, you know what it is
Everything I do, is for the kids...
Screamin' "they is lyin'"
When I'm scopin' out the world
I'm 3rd eyein'...

When you see 'em on tv at they press conferences...
Smoke and mirrors x 4
They pass a bill and say it's for our own protection
Smoke and mirrors x 4

Verse 1:

I'm seein' through your politricks
Tryna bring apocalypse
Videos and photographs
I'm knowing that you doctored it
Psyops on the populace
Behind scenes they mockin' us
Stoppin' us from seein'
but I'm researchin' the documents
All up in the vault on this
Truth seeking mission
Kissin' knowledge once forbidden
Turnin' planet to a prison
Burnin' planet in the crystal ball
Strange how the missles fall
Sky dark for 3 days
What part will we play
3rd eye see greys manipulatin' DNA
CIA is workin' with 'em
Blow back the curtain
Sick em!
Psychopaths in suit an ties walk the path of fascist lies
Mind control collides
Man Osama been died

Chorus

Verse 2:

Feedin the trauma
Psychological drama
Out the window hope go
Vote fo' Pinnochiobama
When the wind blows
A thin glow may permeate the atmosphere
My kinfolks go vegan cuz the dairy has gone nuclear
The new fear cometh
And there's nowhere to runneth
How to maintain control
Be the topic at they summits
As the dollar value plummets
High price for a stomach full
Black op tactics
On citizens the gun is pulled

Chorus

Verse 3:

Cointelpro got a new age glow
Got these spiritual narcissists just tryna go with the flow
While these fascists go with a plan
These suckaz heads in the sand
On some hope stuff
High on some pretzel yoga and Oprah
The Secret was half told
I peeped it
It's so cold
How they misled the seekers into chasin' the fool's gold
Not facin' the fake roles placed by the predator's mind
Only the soul work will put you ahead of the times

Chorus

Peace and Truth 2 U
 
Masamune said:
I have been also looking for some knowledgeable, conscious hip hop artists but most of the ones I have found are all associated with this organization such as Canibus, Killah Priest, and Ill Bill. Tupac was one of the few that I liked who wasn't a five percenter. If anyone knows of any I would be interested in hearing about them.
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Conscious hip hop! What? :O

KRS-1 (from Boogie Down Productions)
Guru ((R.I.P) from Gang Starr)
Sadat X (from Brand Nubian)
Mr. Lif (from The Perceptionists)
El-P (from Company Flow)
Phonte (of Little Brother)

These are the major ones that spring to mind. Guru, in particular, is an interesting study as the final period of his life (after having left Gang Starr to pursue a solo career) seemed to be fully controlled by a shady character who can best be described as a psychopathic handler (long story, but: _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TNkP4pH6-0 is a great place to start if you're curious). Specifically, avoid spending your hard-earned money on "Guru's Jazzmatazz vol. 4" and up, as well as Guru's solo albums. All proceeds from these will go directly to the wrong person.
 
Atmosphere - God's Bathroom Floor

(chorus)

From a head full of pressure rests the senses that I clutch
Made a date with Divinity but she wouldn't let me f***
I got touched by a hazy shaded God help me change
Caught a rush on the floor from the life in my veins

I love that track.
 
The RZA has produced some legendary hip-hop in his career and done some excellent sountracks for films too. His opening verse in the tack "impossible" on Wu-Tang forever was well delivered & way ahead of it's time (1997).

As for uplifting hip-hop as someone mentioned already:

Mr Lif (live from the plantation or pretty much anything of the I-phantom album)

Binary Star (Masters of the universe album. Check out Onebelo's solo stuff too like the s.o.n.o.g.r.a.m album)

Some of Common's stuff is pretty good too. (Like water for chocolate album)

Tribe called quest. (A breath of fresh air. I always liked that they didn't need to act like gangsters and they don't often f and blind in their raps)

Gangstarr (when they wern't trying to be gangster. Moment of truth is a brilliant track)
 
There's lots of inspiring hiphop music from the uk, just to mention a few.

Producer: Chemo aka Telemachus, check out the track "the cause and the cure" ft. Jareth. so beautiful

Jehst - the sheltering sky and lots of other tracks

Fliptrix - actually all his lyrical output is just excellent and inspiring

Jam Baxter

US:

Diabolic

Chino XL - poison pen from 2006 + ricanstruction from 2012, both of them are nothing for you if you will not hear "bad" words.

both artists are on Immortal Techniques Label Viperrecords

Jedi Mind Tricks - Vinnie Paz

Trife Diesel

Copywrite - one of my all time favourite check out his later releases like the life and times of peter nelson or god save the king

Then there's the Juggaknots, who released 2 albums clear blue skies at the end of the 90s, and use your confusion in 2006.

there's lots of other great lyrical genius out there, like illogic who is in touch with copywrite.

I stay away from evil and putting it in the wrong direction just like jay-z does. kanye, drake, nikki minaj, basically liftet up by the industry to do their sh**
Rick Ross ain't real, too. But you know that. :lol:

peace
 
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