I’ll start:
Coding (probably python) should be a mandatory subject in middle school and up.
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There is not a single rap artist who has debuted in the last 15 years that could stand up against the top 50 rappers that debuted in the 80s or 90s.
Not even Kendrick.
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That’s a very hot take. I love kdot so I have to disagree slightly but I definitely do need to get into more oldschool hiphop. recs?
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I’ll give you some album recs of my favorite 90s hiphop:
Tupac - Me Against The World
Tupac - All Eyez On Me
Tupac - Makaveli : The 7 Day Theory
Bone Thugs N Harmony - E1999 Eternal
Nas - Illmatic
Nas - It Was Written
Mobb Deep - The Infamous
Mobb Deep - Hell On Earth
A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
Gang Starr - Moment of Truth
Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle
DJ Quik - Safe & Sound
DJ Quik - Rhythm-al-ism
Big Pun - Capital Punishment
The Dogg Pound - Dogg Food
Dr Dre - The Chronic
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu Tang
DMX - It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot
Ice Cube - AmeriKKKaz Most Wanted
Public Enemy - Fear Of A Black Planet
Scarface - The Diary
Warren G - Regulate
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@simon That’s an interesting take. What would you say are the main factors that set rappers from this era apart? I don’t necessarily disagree, just curious to hear your thoughts.
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My feeling is that it kind of depends on the subject matter. I think, for example, there are several modern artists that do a better job of unpacking concepts surrounding gender and sexuality than a lot of rappers from the 80s and 90s. But I can also totally see where you are coming from because it’s different times and who knows how someone like Tupac would have grown as an artist by now.
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A few things.
First, overall, the quality is just lower these days, meaning there’s less competition, and competition is what makes people exceptional.
Secondly, even a lot of the emcees that are out there these days have no desire to actually write good lyrics or have original flows. See all the trap artists and mumble rappers. They actually aren’t trying to be good, they don’t rap live, they’re just interested in a vague concept of “vibes”. They also have virtually no input and don’t even care about the production, which is why a lot of the beats sound similar these days.
Finally, the 90s guys grew up in an era where the musical bar was a lot higher through the prevalence of bands that played funk and soul with extremely high musicianship. You find that most of those guys grew up as fans of say, Prince, James Brown, Sly Stone, George Clinton, etc. So that musicality bled through into their input on production and how they perfected their flow and original lyrics. Look at the cadence and tempo of how Tupac rhymes on a song like “If I Die 2Nite” for example, it’s absolutely razor sharp perfection. Someone like Scarface is even a highly proficient guitarist himself, or someone like Andre 3000 or Q Tip with huge knowledge of jazz and soul.
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Excellent points. I totally agree with you honestly, though I think there are a few exceptions to the original hot take. Anyways I know what I’m listening to while I work this week! 
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Hot take:
We will have bigger issues supporting the power requirements of producing AGI than actually getting to AGI
Additionally:
We don’t have enough data, currently, to reach the threshold we need to continue to exponentially increase AI capabilities to even get close to AGI.
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My school has mandatory C++ for several years. pretty cool.
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If applying ai to every industry production prices on products should go vastly down meaning future citizens can afford stuff like food and more and make products way more accessible.
Additionally
Healthcare should be a free benefit for everyone due to ai making healthcare more affordable to everyone regardless of the industry in the healthcare sector
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id disagree about the kendrick remark only. Got to see him last year live. completely blown away
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Me and you can agree on that, good to see you here br1ian
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To be clear, I like Kendrick a lot and I think he’s made some great stuff. Among this generation of rappers he’s probably the best.
I just think this generation of rappers as a whole is much worse, and isn’t anywhere close to the quality bar of rappers in the 90s.
50 was maybe pushing it to be fair, but I’m reasonably sure I could name at least 30 rappers from the 90s who I think are way better.
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DeLaSoul was robbed of greatness by not being available on streaming until very recently on Spotify
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Agreed. Love me some De La. I actually used to work with their live sound engineer - he was on my team at Twitter, working on Twitter Spaces.
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Would Eminem not be considered. Fantastic flow. Got to see him years ago.
Totally agree in theory that new rappers are almost all not even close to older generation.
I do consider Nas also to be one of the greatest. Not just because I saw him live as well but still fantastic
Simi side note, Lauryn Hill can be considered a rapper as well not just a singer. Her album got voted number one best album of all time on Apple Music. I got to see that album performed live in full in Dublin recently. Such a special concert
While I’m on the subject of people who could be considered rap and again a concert a saw live was rage against the machine. His flow is basically rap but I’m not sure what you might call the genre
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I consider Eminem a 90s era rapper since Slim Shady LP came out in 99 and was recorded throughout 97-98. And he is one of the all time greats for sure.
And Nas for sure. He’s in my Top 5. “Illmatic” is potentially the single greatest hip-hop album ever made.
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My Hottest take one I have been throwing out there an burning 
for years.
That Cannabis is a religious sacrament. 
Hottest - It should be EVERYONES.
- Sure I am Christian, believe it relates to the Anointing, etc and controversial but I can share that with this bit.
- Shiva brought us Cannabis. (India)
- The White Buffalo brought us Cannabis.
- Many other religions believe the gods brought it it.
- Cannabis is known scientifically to supplement the EndoCannaboid System one of the most important parts of your body.
Even if physical science based and faiths arn’t a thing, its important for the human body and we should get Cannabis out of the Drug War! It’s healthy on a nutrition stand point - one of the most important foods. (just called “hemp” then not really a cousin)
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Just to add on this.
My favourite DJ called ATB from Germany recently announced that after more tha 25 years in the business he will produce only one last album.
He will still play live shows, but he is tired of all the Spotify and co algorithms and will not longer fight them or try to produce music only to fit into the algorithm.
I’m still hoping he will release one last vinyl and that I will meet him at a show. For me personally this is a big loss.
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