Looking for some easy-going, up-beat hip-hop similar to Can I Kick It and other songs by Tribe. Most of the hip-hop I know/listen to is more "gangster" (not really sure of any other way to put it) that just doesn't really fit a laid back mood for me.
A-Z upbeat hiphop making you love life! I chose laid-back over get-hyper and a mix of old and new. If an artist was too obvious, there's another one in brackets. 2pac - California Love (9th Wonder - Never Stop Loving You) A Tribe Called Quest - Whatever (Atmosphere - Yesterday) Big Boi - Apple of My Eye (Blackstar - Definition, Brother Ali - Take Me Home, Big Sean - Guap) Common - Be (Intro) (Cunninlynguists - Beautiful Girl) De La Soul - Grind Date Eric B. & Rakim - Don't Sweat the Technique Fort Minor - Believe Me Gang Starr - Work Hoodie Allen - Long Night Ice Cube - It Was a Good Day Jay-Z - Heart of the City
(Jurassic 5 - A Day at the Races, Ja Rule - Race Against Time pt. 2) Kanye West - We Don't Care
(Kendrick - Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe) Ludacris - Area Codes Method Man - Pt II Nas - As We Enter (Nappy Roots - Good Day) Outkast - The Whole World (Obie Trice - Got Some Teeth) Pharell - Frontin' Q-Tip - Gettin Up The Roots - The Seed 2.0 Shad - I Get Down Twista - Sunshine UFO Yepha & Natasja - Hængekøjen Remix Wu-Tang - Gravel Pit Xzibit - Alkoholik Y - Can't recommend either Yelawolf or Ying-Yang Twins. Zion I - Coastin'
Have you listened to any J Dilla? Dilla produced a bunch of Tribe stuff which might help you get into his stuff. He was 100% about music, no time for gangster stuff. I don't say that it's all easy going tribe style but it's not commercial manipulation of image like lots of the more boastful tough act hip hop stuff. Slum Village, Fantastic was the his first album. Donuts is probably his most well know but it's all instrumental. I like the album "Ruff Draft" but I can't find a full album version on you tube. I like a bunch of other stuff in this vein but Dilla is really the my favorite.
Wolf in Sheeps clothing? Been a loony time since I've heard that album. Good stuff, for sure. edit: Haven't listened to this in forever -The Choice is Yours
Th Roots, Common, Digable Planets, Kanye's first 2 or 3 albums.
I would suggest the following for "laid back" hip-hop: Blackalicious - Broken Arrow is a really solid album Heiroglyphics - (also check out Del the funky Homosapiens stuff Deltron 3030 is a good place to start) Pharcyde is also quite good. I'd start out with "Runnin" if you want a particular song to start out with.
How about De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising is a great album. I also agree with those suggesting The Roots.
You should check out Binary Star - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnD_CXnXEB8 edit:link was coming up wierd.
You might enjoy the podcast I did the Hip-Hop appreciation week! https://soundcloud.com/kinetics/kinetics-20-minute-rundown Edit: Post the wrong link, fixed.