For Those Who Listen to Hip-Hop/Rap...

[JuneJuly]

How important are the guests on the album? It seems as if on most hip-hop albums today, there are only two or three songs that aren't featuring other artists, so it seems like a big part of the album.

[Ari Christos]

Big collaborations sell songs. All about that paper.

[drevans18]

Big collaborations sell songs. All about that paper.

thats true. i also feel like having big name artists on your album will give you that chance to 'make it'.

[ThisIsNotDan]

I think an album stacked with collaborations isn't the artist's full work and shouldn't be credited as such (unless it's an intentional feature-based project). a few collabos on an album is good, not every rapper can carry a full album by just themselves. hell, even classics like Illmatic and Ready To Die had at least one guest verse

[Matt Chylak]

it's weird because you want a recognizable name on your album, but you don't want them to outshine you.

case in point, kanye west's diamonds are forever remix with jay-z

[Ari Christos]

Kanye kills on almost all of his guest verses.

[kbi the crowing]

Unless it's supposed to be a group record, I'd rather not have more than one or two, preferably no guests on an album.

[HometownHero]

To much is never a good thing imo. But some guest spots have been killer. Just depends on who and on what

[Cuddleworthy]

I think an album stacked with collaborations isn't the artist's full work and shouldn't be credited as such (unless it's an intentional feature-based project). a few collabos on an album is good, not every rapper can carry a full album by just themselves. hell, even classics like Illmatic and Ready To Die had at least one guest verse

those classics have much fewer guest verses than most albums today. if they had more it would have spoiled them

[Applebelly]

MF DOOM AND DANGERMOUSE. Perfect calloboration! Amazing

[yayitsjoe]

just got into this instrumental hip-hop artist, nujabes. and he has a lot of guest vocalists so there's someone rapping over his beats.

[Numero10]

The best rap albums have very few collabos. For example, Illmatic by Nas or AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted by Ice Cube

[yellowhouse]

The best guest verse I've ever heard is Slick RIck's verse in Mos Def's song "Auditorium." So sick.

And, yeah. Having guests on an album is cool, but you don't want it to be too bogged down with them either.

[CalRahhh]

Some guest spots are awesome, most just aren't necessary.

[theguy77]

i think originally it kind of stressed the brotherhood between rappers uniting on common issues black america faced in the early 90s. it didn't matter where you were from, if you were poor and black you were making music that talked about the same themes and issues.

[MADSTA]

Unless it's supposed to be a group record, I'd rather not have more than one or two, preferably no guests on an album.
My sentiments exactly.

[kbi the crowing]

My sentiments exactly.

Do you have/listened to Doomtree's self-titled?

[MADSTA]

Do you have/listened to Doomtree's self-titled?
I have. Many many times. I love that album.

[kbi the crowing]

I have. Many many times. I love that album.

Ok so it's good haha. I ordered it but I've only heard like 2-3 songs off of it. Good to know I'll be getting something awesome.

[MADSTA]

Ok so it's good haha. I ordered it but I've only heard like 2-3 songs off of it. Good to know I'll be getting something awesome.
Which songs have you already heard?

[kearn1tm]

Hip Hop has always been a very collaborative genre. That's awesome. If you look at a lot of contemporary electronic music, it too is pretty collaborative.

[ThisIsNotDan]

those classics have much fewer guest verses than most albums today. if they had more it would have spoiled them

yeah that was the point I was trying to make, but a bit poorly worded

[evvandflow]

69CMT63nz-c

[kbi the crowing]

Which songs have you already heard?

Drumsticks and Game Over are the only ones I can really remember.

[ohmessylife]

I, for one, love collaborations but could do without features. When devling into hip-hop collaborations you find some of the best music in the genre (e.g., Dangerdoom, Jaylib, Soul Position, Madvillian, Blu & Exile, etc). Having said that, I could really do without all these new artists who feel the need to have a feature on every single song; give it a rest.

[schaft]

it's weird because you want a recognizable name on your album, but you don't want them to outshine you.

case in point, kanye west's diamonds are forever remix with jay-z
Or Eminem on Jay-Z's "Renegade".
Do you have/listened to Doomtree's self-titled?
Doomtree is leading the front of underground hip hop right now. Their self-titled and False Hopes albums are awesome. And the stuff coming from Stophouse (Prof, St. Paul Slim) is definitely picking up, too.

Edit: As far as collaborations go, I think it can get a bit excessive at times for mainstream rap. Featuring an artist on every other song gets played out real quick for me. I prefer hearing the artist themselves, not hearing how they can go back and forth with another artist. That kind of stuff should be saved for freestyles and mixtapes.

[DrStrong]

Or Eminem on Jay-Z's "Renegade".

Doomtree is leading the front of underground hip hop right now. Their self-titled and False Hopes albums are awesome. And the stuff coming from Stophouse (Prof, St. Paul Slim) is definitely picking up, too.

Edit: As far as collaborations go, I think it can get a bit excessive at times for mainstream rap. Featuring an artist on every other song gets played out real quick for me. I prefer hearing the artist themselves, not hearing how they can go back and forth with another artist. That kind of stuff should be saved for freestyles and mixtapes.
Really? Ever listen to MF Doom, Moka Only, Cage...I could go on.

[Ari Christos]

You know what was a refreshing return to form with very few guest spots and practically no choruses, just verses?

http://dew937.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/lil-wayne-no-ceilings.jpg

Shit bumps.

[schaft]

Really? Ever listen to MF Doom, Moka Only, Cage...I could go on.
Haven't heard much from DOOM these days, but also haven't really been looking/listening. As for the other two, haven't heard 'em before. I'll have to check 'em out.

Obviously, it's probably different based off locale. I think that, in the midwest, Doomtree is definitely on top right now.

[Stavie Steelo]

I don't mind it. Usually the rappers I like have guests that I like to.

[DrStrong]

Haven't heard much from DOOM these days, but also haven't really been looking/listening. As for the other two, haven't heard 'em before. I'll have to check 'em out.

Obviously, it's probably different based off locale. I think that, in the midwest, Doomtree is definitely on top right now.
I dont like Doomtree because of that chick in the group, she kills it for me.

Listen to Moka, hes got 20+ records under his belt under the names;
-Moka Only
-Torch
-Ron Contour
-Station Agent

All the same dude, just different types of beats in the backgroud, each album has a theme, its easier to hear it than for me to describe it.

As for Cage, hes been around since the late 80's, white dude from NYC. Forget about Aesop or Slug, this dude surpases them both easily.

Song clips for Moka
http://www.amazon.com/Vermilion-Moka-Only/dp/B000P46MM6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1273176571&sr=8-2

Song clips for Cage
http://www.amazon.com/Movies-Blind-Cage/dp/B002MD3UPK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1273176602&sr=1-4

[ohmessylife]

Haven't heard much from DOOM these days, but also haven't really been looking/listening.

DOOM dropped two albums last year: Born Like This and Unexpected Guests. He also has an EP coming out sometime this year called Gazzillion Ear. On top of all that he is releasing his sophomore album as the illest villian, Madvillian. That comes out relatively soon I think. Born Like This is worth a listen, and Madvilliany 2 is sure to be some hot shit, but i'd really love if he and Ghost would put out another Sniperlite album over some of Dilla's basement beats.

[captainamazing4]

basically collabing is fine unless done in excess or if it takes away from the song as a whole. if you put too many features on an album it makes it seem like you can't do it on your own. I thought this was obvious

[schaft]

I dont like Doomtree because of that chick in the group, she kills it for me.

Listen to Moka, hes got 20+ records under his belt under the names;
-Moka Only
-Torch
-Ron Contour
-Station Agent

All the same dude, just different types of beats in the backgroud, each album has a theme, its easier to hear it than for me to describe it.

As for Cage, hes been around since the late 80's, white dude from NYC. Forget about Aesop or Slug, this dude surpases them both easily.

Song clips for Moka
http://www.amazon.com/Vermilion-Moka-Only/dp/B000P46MM6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1273176571&sr=8-2

Song clips for Cage
http://www.amazon.com/Movies-Blind-Cage/dp/B002MD3UPK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1273176602&sr=1-4
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check them out. And if you don't like Dessa on the collaboration stuff, give a few songs off her solo album a shot. I've had a few people who didn't like her on the Doomtree albums but love her now after hearing her solo album.
DOOM dropped two albums last year: Born Like This and Unexpected Guests. He also has an EP coming out sometime this year called Gazzillion Ear. On top of all that he is releasing his sophomore album as the illest villian, Madvillian. That comes out relatively soon I think. Born Like This is worth a listen, and Madvilliany 2 is sure to be some hot shit, but i'd really love if he and Ghost would put out another Sniperlite album over some of Dilla's basement beats.
I'll have to look up those DOOM albums, too. Just guess I haven't been actively looking for news on him.

[DrStrong]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check them out. And if you don't like Dessa on the collaboration stuff, give a few songs off her solo album a shot. I've had a few people who didn't like her on the Doomtree albums but love her now after hearing her solo album.

I'll have to look up those DOOM albums, too. Just guess I haven't been actively looking for news on him.
im VERY particular with female vocalists in any genre. I dont know what it is, im not sexist or anything. The only female leads I listen to regularly are Tegan and Sara, and Eisley.

[The Indigo]

I like the concept of guest verses. Hip-hop, originally, was meant as a battle sport. I feel like an artist always goes harder when they've got a guest on the track with them or if they're a guest. Also, take a look at when an artist freestyles over another artist's track. Basically, anything that revives the sort of battle spirit of hip-hop is something I can get behind.