Is there a particular reason everyone's avoiding mentioning Eminem. If relevant = sales then he still seems pretty relevant despite the Strut's loathing. Obviously if we're talking production wise, not so much.
Finally something I can cosign. Not that anyone of you care but I think for example A Tribe Called Quest and The Roots got their breakthrough in the Europe rather than in the U.S.
Without that support would they have got that far in the U.S?
Somewhat serious, I'm retelling what I've been told.
The Roots first real contract, wasn't that with an UK label, Talkin Loud and at that time they were somewhat popular in Europe (but largely unknown in the US). They got the contract with Geffen later on.
ATCQ, I think toured Europe with their first album before one of the singles blew up in the US (I could be wrong).
Some of you dudes are really not understanding the meaning of "relevant"
Hah! Masta Ace is still putting out enjoyable records, but when you spend half of your last album talking about how nobody gives a shit about your music in the mainstream, that's a pretty good tip off that you're irrelevant.
I think we do need a better understanding of the term "relevant" here though. I'd argue it's mainstream airplay and making records???now???that are influencing other artists.
ATCQ, I think toured Europe with their first album before one of the singles blew up in the US (I could be wrong).
They may have built more steam running thru the UK, but Q-Tip was already known from Red Alert's Radio show and appearences w/ The Jungle Brothers and De La Soul.
Description Of A Fool was played on NYC late nite radio.
I think we do need a better understanding of the term "relevant" here though. I'd argue it's mainstream airplay and making records???now???that are influencing other artists.
See also: club compliance, hot-in-the-skreets factor, and sizable non-white fanbase.
Is there a particular reason everyone's avoiding mentioning Eminem. If relevant = sales then he still seems pretty relevant despite the Strut's loathing. Obviously if we're talking production wise, not so much.
okay, I'll launch the predictable next salvo in a soulstrut Hip-Hop Street Cred thread:
maybe we could all just keep on enjoying the hip-hop that sounds good to each of us individually rather than submitting names for relevancy approval on a mostly white-collar (myself included) message board.
Many of the great artists discussed in the pages of Wax Poetics, for instance, wouldn't have passed the street cred/sales/relevancy tests of their time, but I hope that superficial criteria wouldn't have prevented from me from enjoying their music had I been around at the time.
Did someone say MF DOOM yet? I'm not sure how old he is, but regardless of your feelings about him, he's still releasing records people care about. Not to the degree he was a couple years ago, but combined with his releases, his peers being on his nuts (see: Mos Def) and his live show shenanigans, he's an old-school dude whose name is in a lot of people's mouths.
Did someone say MF DOOM yet? I'm not sure how old he is, but regardless of your feelings about him, he's still releasing records people care about. Not to the degree he was a couple years ago, but combined with his releases, his peers being on his nuts (see: Mos Def) and his live show shenanigans, he's an old-school dude whose name is in a lot of people's mouths.
LOLOLOLOL
Not even SoulStrut dudes are checking for him anymore
okay, I'll launch the predictable next salvo in a soulstrut Hip-Hop Street Cred thread:
maybe we could all just keep on enjoying the hip-hop that sounds good to each of us individually rather than submitting names for relevancy approval on a mostly white-collar (myself included) message board.
Many of the great artists discussed in the pages of Wax Poetics, for instance, wouldn't have passed the street cred/sales/relevancy tests of their time, but I hope that superficial criteria wouldn't have prevented from me from enjoying their music had I been around at the time.
Why does SoulStrut get its feelings so hurt over this subject?
It's no different from any other field of factual inquiry--one need not necessarily be of it to know of it.
okay, I'll launch the predictable next salvo in a soulstrut Hip-Hop Street Cred thread:
maybe we could all just keep on enjoying the hip-hop that sounds good to each of us individually rather than submitting names for relevancy approval on a mostly white-collar (myself included) message board.
Many of the great artists discussed in the pages of Wax Poetics, for instance, wouldn't have passed the street cred/sales/relevancy tests of their time, but I hope that superficial criteria wouldn't have prevented from me from enjoying their music had I been around at the time.
Why does SoulStrut get its feelings so hurt over this subject?
It's no different from any other field of factual inquiry--one need not necessarily be of it to know of it.
All I'm saying is, any music that moves me is relevant to me.
Comments
Keeping his swag turned on and kissing people through the phone.
epique lulz
He's got a guest appreance on Law&Order lined up....
Only Batmon and women over 40 think that dude is relevant.
Faux's list (wherever *that* is) will be final.
THAT IS ALL.
Oldest relevant Strut poster?
Finally something I can cosign. Not that anyone of you care but I think for example A Tribe Called Quest and The Roots got their breakthrough in the Europe rather than in the U.S.
Without that support would they have got that far in the U.S?
this has gotta be a joke..
The Roots first real contract, wasn't that with an UK label, Talkin Loud and at that time they were somewhat popular in Europe (but largely unknown in the US). They got the contract with Geffen later on.
ATCQ, I think toured Europe with their first album before one of the singles blew up in the US (I could be wrong).
Whatever.
Hah! Masta Ace is still putting out enjoyable records, but when you spend half of your last album talking about how nobody gives a shit about your music in the mainstream, that's a pretty good tip off that you're irrelevant.
I think we do need a better understanding of the term "relevant" here though. I'd argue it's mainstream airplay and making records???now???that are influencing other artists.
They may have built more steam running thru the UK, but Q-Tip was already known from Red Alert's Radio show and appearences w/ The Jungle Brothers and De La Soul.
Description Of A Fool was played on NYC late nite radio.
See also: club compliance, hot-in-the-skreets factor, and sizable non-white fanbase.
No longer relevant
maybe we could all just keep on enjoying the hip-hop that sounds good to each of us individually rather than submitting names for relevancy approval on a mostly white-collar (myself included) message board.
Many of the great artists discussed in the pages of Wax Poetics, for instance, wouldn't have passed the street cred/sales/relevancy tests of their time, but I hope that superficial criteria wouldn't have prevented from me from enjoying their music had I been around at the time.
LOLOLOLOL
Not even SoulStrut dudes are checking for him anymore
Why does SoulStrut get its feelings so hurt over this subject?
It's no different from any other field of factual inquiry--one need not necessarily be of it to know of it.
All I'm saying is, any music that moves me is relevant to me.
I think this question would be better posed as: what rappers over 40 are still relevant. And in that case:
Too $hort (born April 28, 1966)
E-40 (born November 15, 1967)
What's "relevant" on the rap music scene is a pretty definable thing.
I actually would consider MF Doom relevant. He's got his lane, it's not like "only knowed on the internet" or something.
37 this year: 1 year older than Bun B, 2 years younger than Scarface. According to wikipedia anyway.
However hogginthefogg's criteria cancels him out anyway.
I don't disagree, but it doesn't seem that well-defined in this thread so far.