I Need a Mixtape....
 

I want to make a rap CD for someone who doesn't like rap, to show them it isn't all that bad. Any suggestions?

anything by blackstar, rjd2, cunninlynguists, jurassic 5, dj shadow, j-live, little brother, soul position, blackalicious, common, diverse, mr lif, cannibal ox, nas (illmatic), outkast, the roots, pete rock and cl smooth, pharcyde, gangstarr, sage francis, and really, i could go on for a lot longer.

GOOD LUCK! Most people who don't like rap aren't easily swayed!
Myself included. Don't take this wrong, it's just like trying to someone who doesn't like opera, like opera.

Shakkazombie - "Siroi Yami No Naka"

Also, Aesop Rock. Labor Days is the only rap CD I own out of over 150 CDs.

You might have to go old school....
Run DMC - Tricky, Walk this way(aerosmith) bounce
Slick Rick - Bedtime story
Appache INdian - Sunshine (rasta)
Snow - informer
House of Pain - Jump Around
yOUNG bLACK TEENAGERS - tAP THE BOTTLE
Tag Team -whoomp

I suppose what it is they don't like about rap... the beat, the lyrics or the image....

All Outkast (ATLiens especially), 2pac, Wu Tang, The Roots
You have to have artists that has something to say. Not just, bitch, hoes, money, and cappin a mo' fo', because im sure thats the reason why your friends is turned off to rap...

Grandmaster Flash! "The Message" is a classic.

what he said. people who criticize rap turn to the old standards of violence, sex, and drugs. which is true of a lot of rap that's out now. but there is good and peace in the world. blackstar, blackalicious, and the roots are the easiest groups to turn someone to a rap fan.

aesop rock, black star, blackalicious, jurrassic 5, cannibal ox, el-p, company flow, gil scott heron, madlib, quasimoto, madvillian, mf doom, viktor vaughn, mr lif, bus driver, the goats, digable planets, gang starr, binary star, peanut butter wolf, soul position, deltron 3030, kool keith, dr octagon, black elvis, del the funkee homosapien, handsome boy modeling school
just check out a few tracks by any of these guys...

instrumentals:
you gotta include rjd2, id say "smoke & mirrors" and "good times roll part 2"
kid koala - basin street blues

It depends on what they ALREADY like. Chances are they like either Country of Rock, cuz if they like Pop music I'd assume they would already like some rap.

Also, as has already been mentioned you'll probably want to stay away from the "gangsta's" and "bitches & hoes" stuff.

Anyway, a few songs

Outkast - Bombs Over Baghdad
Bubba Sparks - Deliverance
LL Cool J - I Need Love
Public Enemy & Anthrax - Bring the Noise
House Of Pain - Shamrocks & Shenanigans

I don't listen to a lot of rap, but I love Jurrasic 5 and A Tribe Called Quest. Make sure to include them.

I'm definitely not a rap fan, but even I listen to Will Smith and Lauryn Hill occasionally...Miami and That Thing in particular.

I'd definitely go with 80's rap long before I tried modern rap. Don't get me wrong, I don't like rap at all, but I can tolerate 80's rap. Today's rap is (c)rap.

Try for the happier sounding rap. Today's rap artists all sound exceedingly pissed off, even when they're talking about being rich and getting the girl of their dreams.

And even rap haters don't mind the occasional will smith number - hell start your friend out with Fresh Prince. I've even caught my wife chanting that one, and she's pretty much a jazz and blues only girl.

Hehe, I don't think those count :D .


Here is what was just in my playlist

DMX - Slippin
Mystical - I smell smoke
Do or Die - Smoke and Ride (People who don't like rap usually don't mind Do or Die)
Twista - Overnight Celebrity (New song)
50 Cent ft. Eminem - Patiently Waiting
Lil Flip - I shoulda Listened
Southpark Mexican - I must be high (Great chill song)
Bizzy Bone - Fried Day
Lil Troy - Still a bitch in my book (not very rapish, but fun)
Ludacris - Growing Pains
Nas - One Mike
Youngbloodz ft. Outkast - 85
Ruff Ryders - Down Bottom
Tech N9ne - TX9 (about drugs so...)

This list is more of a party selection, where some people might know some of the songs.

A lot of the artists already posted such as Talib Kweli, Mos Def etc, while excellent, can become monotonous to the casual listener IMO.

i'm not a rap fan, but i think 2pac's 'god bless the dead' and 'i ain't mad at ya' are interesting and deep tracks, so i'll recommend those.

Besides a few of those you named, who are they? Are they your friends? Black Elvis, bus driver, cannibal ox, those are some crazy names.

cannibal ox rules, the cold vein is awesome. and i just want to make sure, kool keith = dr oct = black elvis right? kinda like mf doom = vik vaughn = king geedorah.

as for hip hop virgins, can ox isn't probably the best pick. el-p's beats are good for sure, but kinda out there.

nope not my friends
just good underground hip-hop

correct
and quasimoto = madlib = yesterday's new quintet

id disagree... theres some "easy" tracks on there
id just let the dude download some stuff and see what he thinks

THE STREETS

everyone loves the streets!

fair enough, really depends on what kind of musical tastes these people have had before. and i think rjd2's remix of "the f word" would be a big hit with all audiences.