5 Encouraging Signs There’s Hope For New York Rap – U.N.I.T.Y.

 •  Bloggers  •  by XXL Staff  •  26 Comments

I is for identity
If there was one particular impact the success of Southern rap had on New York rap was that it forced NYC artist out of their sonic comfort zone. The vintage boom bap was no longer mainstream friendly. Rappers had to get familiar with 808-heavy beats if they wanted to notch serious airplay. The idea worked for Fat Joe as he scored two chart-topping hits with Terror Squad’s “Lean Back” and his own “Make It Rain,” but it did not prove winning for all New York MCs. Now, with music in a place where there is an obvious void in aggressive content, NYC rappers are getting back on their “New York shit,” sounding off on sample-laced, turntable scratching joints that recall a sound of yesteryear. Which brings a smile to the faces of the city’s hip-hop dissidents.

Fat Joe “No Problems”

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  • Anonymous

    nas and 50 collabo wud b perfect now!!!

  • Blaze

    Yall still dont get it do you?? Let me help you out NY hopefuls: Jay Z 50 Cent Nas Camron Dipset Wu Tang Fabalous D Block LLoyd Banks…what do they all have in common?? With the exception of MAYBE banks and juelz THEY ALL OLD!!! Where is the new blood?? Where is the new artists thats gonna take NY rap past 2k10?? Answer You all got nobody cause NY is like the Jungle, you all eat your young!!! Your egos are so big you all snuff out attempt to snuff out of block any new blood that you all deem as a threat to yall limelight. Go ahead and deny it but u know in your hearts its true…..

    • El Tico Loco

      If you follow the pattern of NY rappers, the young cats have to take or earn their spot, and always had to. I wouldn’t say is eating the young, is more like the young expects a handout while the predecesors been busting their ass grindin all these years. What’s wrong with having a long career?

    • the1987kid

      There is new blood in NYC, you have Tanya Morgan, Skyzoo, Sha Stimuli, Torae, Vado, Roc Marciano, Jean Grae is still fresh, Ruste Juxx, Freck Billionaire, Jae Millz, Paul Cain etc. just to name a few, But there is alot of new mc’s in NYC but most people that listen to radio wont know that cause they base who they know off the radio but nonetheless their is plenty of talent check them out sometimes.

  • Jhon da Analyst

    Damn XXL……Eyedea gets no love?! R.I.P. Eyedea……

    • David Edwards

      eyedea isnt “Street” enough for XXL. Its a shame

  • ff1one@yahoo.com

    i’m from the south by way of NJ. LOOOK. NYC got Vado charles hamilton mickey factz and a few other cats. The problem isn’t youth. the problem is lyrical content and relevance in today’s hip hop world.

  • Dick B.

    Vado joint is tight, he had a good verse on whatever cypher he was on. All those other joints aren’t making New York any better. New York is not as good as it used to be and everybody who is good in NY is underground. Right now I would say Wu Tang is underground. So as DJ Premier, Sean Price, ect.
    Since New York music is not on the radio up there hip hop will continue to be in a cycle of bad music and quick hits. Its hard to even say that hip hop is even on the radio right now.

  • Dick B.

    Vado joint is tight, he had a good verse on whatever cypher he was on. All those other joints aren’t making New York any better. New York is not as good as it used to be and everybody who is good in NY is underground. Right now I would say Wu Tang is underground. So as DJ Premier, Sean Price, ect.
    Since New York music is not on the radio up there hip hop will continue to be in a cycle of bad music and quick hits. Its hard to even say that hip hop is even on the radio right now.

  • Anonymous

    i’m blaze and im from ny and i’m fan of all those vets but the “next generation” of ny hip hop hasn’t done ish.

  • Anonymous

    i’m with blaze on this one and im from ny and i’m fan of all those vets but the “next generation” of ny hip hop hasn’t done ish.

  • ogf89

    FUCK EVERY1 DAT AINT FROM NY I HOPE EVER1 N EVERY OTHA CITY DIES 4 BEIN FROM A FAKE ASS TOWN

    BX FUCK NIGGAZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Anonymous

      i agree excpet for da part about bx cuz im a brooklyn nigga an we da realest borough bar fuckin none pussy

      come out to bk get robbed pussy niggas i put that on allah nigga i swear itt

      • 77th

        Fuck both a you its Jerz nigga

  • Reg

    Fred the Godson is the hottest new one to bring ny bad not the best looking guy but that song too fat that i just herd on radio is crazy…

    • render

      fred the godson one weird looking nigga, and I don’t know if that’ll fly in this mtv generation, but I aint mad at him…I’m pullin for the kid myself

      Problem with NY rap these days is that most these cats comin up all sound the same. No one (or very few ppl) is breaking new ground in terms of style or delivery or flow or content or any of that

      Wacka Fuckin Lame has no talent but at least his down syndrome ass grunt no-rhyming rap is something semi-original and he’s got a following off it…maybe a bad way to make my point but still

      • Afi K. James

        The reason why NY Rap is not poppin anymore, is because nobody in NY Rap cares about this genre, it’s all about egos, beefs, hate for other regions and disrespect for NY Rap’s founding fathers.

        They don’t care about their love for the genre anymore.

  • Simple like ABC, 123

    Boom-Bap, Scratch & Loop Sample = New York Shit!

    The big problem of New York Rap (East Coast) is IDENTITY!!!

  • chris

    Im from jersey and i love east coast rappers in general I like Vado but by Far Fred Da godson is the nicest new mc i have herd in a long time and i gave up on good NY hip hop along time ago. Mickey Facts i think he missed that whole kid cud wale movement. So shout out to the youngins Vado & Fred thats our best hope

  • Anonymous

    fuck yall aint shit wrong with ny its da rest of u niggaz dats got it all wrong

    bow down to the empire state u fuckin faggets

  • NY K

    Its all about Lloyd Banks right now he is gonna kill NY 11/23 HFM2

    Vado is up next we all fuck Slime Flu SLLLIIMMME

    • ||||||||||||||||

      fuck nigga u aint from ny quit the fakin bitch

  • newyawka631

    Papoose….Papoose….Son shoulda been da king of this hip-hop shit…..Fucking label politicz….Word upp…..Who agrees wit da propa promotion, he would have this rap shit on lock????/ Cause I do……..

    • og bobby j

      papoose….papoose…

      you dead right…

      but, time has passed…its on to Joell

      YAWAAAHHHH

  • pharoethegreatest

    I’m just gonna throw this out there please correct me if I’m wrong.

    Why is the south the only region where the old and young cats embrace and collaborate with each other to make chips, but the north, midwest and westcoast, the young cats hate on the old heads and the old heads hate on the young cats?

    Seems like niccas ego trippin everywhere but the south. I haven’t seen a version of Bun B comin outta NY.

  • pharoethegreatest

    I’m originally from Cleveland (midwest) and I haven’t seen cats like Bone collaborate with Ray Cash, Kid Cudi, Myron(Avant), Al Fatz. Haven’t seen any of them cats collab with each other either.

    I know cats from the south have egos too but from the outside lookin in them south cats seem to have more polish than cats from other regions.