When Rappers Sing

[isitme]

I've never really checked DMX out properly, when he came out there was loads of that shouty sort of stuff coming out

 

[strung out]

neneh cherry used to be a rapper but she's ok at singing

 

[isitme]

neneh cherry used to be a rapper but she's ok at singing

she was a singer who rapped

 

[strung out]

best song she ever did, she rapped in

 

[kained&able]

I've never really checked DMX out properly, when he came out there was loads of that shouty sort of stuff coming out

yeah thats beacuse he was selling well so everyone jumped on the bandwagon. Twats. You really should man. I refuse to belive you wouldn't love him.

Just don't start with year of the dog again.

dave

 

[El Jefe]

Queen Latifah did a soul album (Dana Owens) and it's absolutely wonderful

 

[Liveist]

Always thought Mos Def had a good singing voice on him

 

[Psychonaut]

Sage Francis

Slug (atmosphere)

 

[blairsh]

Slug (atmosphere)

Yes.

No one mentioned Jurassic5 yet? Think Soup is pretty good but they can all sing a bit.

 

[rover07]

It's always bad isn't it

Rappers are always bad

 

[Robstarr]

Rappers are always bad

No, not always and I'll happily show you


Aloe Blacc one half of Hip Hop duo 'Emanon'



rhymin'














singing

 

[pk]

I want him dead(commercially at last). Nothing to do with the wonderwall shite, just everything i hate in rap wrapped up into one annoying man.

dave

Exactly. Dave, you speaketh the sense.

I think it fair to say that when rappers sing it's just not as good as when Smokey sings.

Full Force were the first credible rap act to feature proper vocal parts, I might be wrong but I don't think I am. UTFO and the whole Roxanne saga carried that stuff through, but nobody wanted soul vocals, it was about destructive beats and rhymes and if you wanted vocals you'd listen to Whitney Houston.

I think vocal rap was not only nailed into the coffin but also dropped 500 nautical miles from the Bering Straits with scaffold poles strapped to it when that dippy fuckwit Mariah Carey though it might be a good idea.

And the Beyonce and Jay Z love in is as cringeworthy as Madonna and Timberlake.

So there it is and here we are.

 

[Robstarr]

some more



Phonte, emcee with the group Little brother, can sing too

Jazzanova - Look What You're Doin' To Me ft Phonte

www.youtube.com/watch?v=og4eNv9PtnQ

Liquid Spirits Feat. Phonte (of Little Brother) - 4Everyday




Pharaohe Monch



can even do Elvis


Devin the Dude






Mos Def




Lauryn Hill




Ceelo and Outkast

 

[pk]

That said, Pharrell can do a good vocal tune...

 

[pk]

Some very nice links there Robstarr...

In fact I take it all back, I'm talking bollocks...

I do think proper singing is not ghetto enough for the snarly gold tooth tigers but the funk will always prevail and there's naturally millions of underground artists who do it properly.

I guess there's no mainstream rap stars hitting the high notes.

Not the same thing I grant you.

Lauren Hill was a singer who happened to rap. You don't need singing lessons to do rap music.

 

[pk]

Though it helps if you are a rat.

 

[kained&able]

S

I guess there's no mainstream rap stars hitting the high notes.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XjicwamthoU&feature=related

cham does a fairly good job. Not a great song but only single example i can think of.

 

[Robstarr]

what about Estelle?


er, on second thoughts

she can't really sing at all

 

[stavros]

Missy can do both, although the singing is often done in tandem with guests.