2011 Rap Special
| featured episode |
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In this episode, Codeine Drums looks back on the year so far in American rap in terms of up-and-coming artists, slept-on mixtape joints, remixes and some of its biggest (and most controversial) hits. Rap is at the heart of the show, and the genres burgeoning diversity and ability to re-invent itself only seems to grow year after year. As well as letting the music speak for itself, Lauren and Jamie discuss the appearance of rappers at Occupy Wall Street, the disparity between their motivations to be seen as part of the movement and their creative output, the use of 'The N Word' by white rappers and the shock near-death of Rick Ross. |
| episodes | |
|---|---|
| 31st May 2013 1500-1600 | |
| 3rd May 2013 listen | |
| 19th April 2013 Rays Of Light listen | |
| 5th April 2013 From The Ground Up listen | |
| 22nd February 2013 Astral Planes listen | |
| 8th February 2013 Rumbling Waves listen | |
| older Codeine Drums episodes | |
Codeine Drums // 1300-1400 17.10.11
2011 rap special
Rather than align ourselves with the a-typical hoards of hip hop fans around the world who seem to be constantly mourning the 'death of rap', year in, year out, we believe that the past 12 months has been great for rap music.
The classic criticisms of rap - shitty mixtapes, an over-saturated market, weighted emphasis on materialism and general rap beefs showing otherwise talented artists to be narrow-minded and discouraging of new faces - are being tackled in 2011 with much success thus far.
Mixtapes are constantly improving. Their quality as a serious promotional tool, as well as providing a more immediate and DIY approach to releasing music, has shone through in recent months. There's far less DJ shout-outs and more attention to detail. We can only welcome this move.
In terms of people to watch, Kendrick Lamar is doing great things, Yelawolf's debut album 'Radioactive' drops this November, and even Kreayshawn is featured on the cover of Complex. Wut. Rap is certainly more diverse than it's ever been. Beef still goes on though. Kreayshawn vs Rick Ross seems to be alive and well(and thankfully so is Rick Ross himself). Seriously though - Kreayshawn, back off girl. Ross is boss.
On the commercial angle of rap, the Occupy Wall Street protests have attracted U.S. rappers like Talib Kweli, Immortal Technique, David Banner and Kanye West to the streets. But how can the often materialistic lyrical content of some American rap level against the public mood of today? Russell Simmons was boo'ed on camera in NYC this week as being 'part of the problem'. Hmmm.
2011 is shaping up to be a fire year for rap.
Shout out to Into The Swamp for some of these tracks.
Posted at 14:44, 17th October 2011
playlist
| Forever On Some Fly Shit | |
| Nipsey Hussle | White Label |
| For Certain | |
| Oddisee ft. Diamond District | Mixtape rip |
| A.D.H.D. | |
| Kendrick Lamar | Universal |
| Corvette Doors | |
| Curren$y | White Label |
| The Greatness | |
| Pac Div | White Label |
| Zap | |
| Danny Brown and Black Milk | Fat Beats |
| Initiation (Chopped 'n' Screwed) | |
| The Weeknd | White Label |
| Outro | |
| Lil' Wayne and Busta Rhymes and Nas and Shyne | Cash Money |
| Daddy's Lambo | |
| Yelawolf | Interscope/Shady |
| Niggas In Paris (T.I. Remix) | |
| Jay-Z and Kanye West | White Label |
| Michael Jackson | |
| Das Racist | Greedhead |
| 48 Bars | |
| Mic Strange and Sebastian Cayne | White Label |
| Who Da Neighbours | |
| Juicy J | Mixtape rip |
| Pandemonium | |
| Meek Mill ft. Rick Ross and Wale | Maybach |
| Gucci Gucci | |
| Kreayshawn | White Label |
| I Love My Bitches | |
| Rick Ross | Maybach |