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Forum nameThe Lesson
Topic subjectDoes Ludacris Rhyme style sound dated to you?
Topic URLhttp://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=2993479
2993479, Does Ludacris Rhyme style sound dated to you?
Posted by Buddy_Gilapagos, Wed Dec-31-69 07:00 PM
Heard this remix with Luda and Gucci and I couldn't tell if Luda sounds dated or if it's just a matter of thinking of Luda as an early 2000s MC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZnVGkRZCRE

Do rappers reach a point where no matter how hot the track is they are just going to sound dated because of either the way the rhyme or who they are?

Is it possible for Chuck D to spit a hot 16 in 2017 or is that just not possible because it's Chuck D?

Jay-Z didn't sound top of his form on 4:44 but is that because he can't spit like he use to anymore?

Nas, on the other hand sounds as good as ever right?


What yall think? Does Rapping have a shelf life?

Poll question: Does Ludacris Rhyme style sound dated to you?

Poll result (14 votes)
Yes (6 votes)Vote
No (8 votes)Vote

  

2993481, Chuck D still sounded good to several people in this post
Posted by c71, Mon Jul-17-17 02:29 PM
about the latest PE album:

http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=2992356&mesg_id=2992356&page=3


So the question is:

can people of one generation really understand how the next generation "can't perceive" what we perceived as "hot" or "good"?

bearfield in one of your other posts compared Rakim to Chuck Berry as far as seemingly "uninteresting" to modern ears (most modern ears who like rock would presumably find Chuck Berry "uninteresting"):

http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=2983098&mesg_id=2983098&listing_type=search#2983801


So...

Unless, bearfield is really stretchinggggggggggggggg.......some new jacks think someone who blew away my generation (Rakim) is just doing some "uninteresting" stuff.


That's mindblowing to many of us...but a part of life is not being able to perceive what the next generation perceives.

A very "twilight zone" situation.


Ludacris sounds ok to me on that Bruno track.
2993482, extremely. used to be a big luda fan but his whole swag is cringe now.
Posted by BrooklynWHAT, Mon Jul-17-17 02:53 PM
2993483, you're cringing because you expected him to change or what?
Posted by c71, Mon Jul-17-17 02:56 PM
?
2993484, cringing because i've changed.
Posted by BrooklynWHAT, Mon Jul-17-17 03:41 PM
2993486, I'd have to know more about the kind of past and present rappers
Posted by c71, Mon Jul-17-17 03:45 PM
that are presently "cool" with you to understand why a certain bragging rapper would be not anymore agreeable to you.

2993531, its not the content, its his voice and delivery.
Posted by BrooklynWHAT, Tue Jul-18-17 02:13 PM
2993559, For me it's content. Busta too old to rhyming about being up in da
Posted by Buddy_Gilapagos, Wed Jul-19-17 02:31 PM
club. But pass the Cavosier(sp) was my joint back in the day.



>that are presently "cool" with you to understand why a
>certain bragging rapper would be not anymore agreeable to
>you.
>
>


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"
2993485, Feel like you answered "Does rapping have a shelf life" with Nas
Posted by amplifya7, Mon Jul-17-17 03:44 PM
Nas sounds good as ever, I think there are a good number of rappers around with 20+ year careers who sound as good or better than ever, Aesop Rock, Killer Mike, Tonedeff, Blueprint, OneBeLo are a few others that come to mind
2993581, Can't believe Black Thought didn't immediately come to mind
Posted by xangeluvr, Thu Jul-20-17 06:42 AM
You left him off your list. Smh.

>Nas sounds good as ever, I think there are a good number of
>rappers around with 20+ year careers who sound as good or
>better than ever, Aesop Rock, Killer Mike, Tonedeff,
>Blueprint, OneBeLo are a few others that come to mind
2993622, You're right, my bad.
Posted by amplifya7, Fri Jul-21-17 08:54 AM
Haven't had any Roots albums in rotation for at least a month, maybe I need to fix that
2993489, RE: Does Ludacris Rhyme style sound dated to you?
Posted by Manuels Burrito, Mon Jul-17-17 05:06 PM
I think Luda's style was destined for a shorter shelf-live. That's just my interpretation. I was not a fan of his back when he was popular.

For comparison, I think E-40 is still fresh, and key elements of his style have not changed since the 90's. In fact, I am a bigger fan of his now than I was then.
2993502, E-40's flow is all over the place, yet it can ALWAYS find a place
Posted by -DJ R-Tistic-, Mon Jul-17-17 07:43 PM
So he can get on the biggest hit of today, and still sound regular and modern on it.
2993494, I think if they have a ''stylized' flow it can make them sound dated
Posted by Ishwip, Mon Jul-17-17 05:48 PM
Hate to use the word gimmick, but I guess that's what I mean.

What sounds cool at the time because it's different and distinct is probably going to peg it with that era. Someone like Nas or Black Thought who have more or less a "normal" dope flow will survive the various trends.


__
I don't like the beat anymore because its just a loop. ALC didn't FLIP IT ENOUGH!

Flip it enough? Flip these. Flip off. Go flip some f*cking burgers.(c)Kno

Allied State of the National Electric Beat Treaty Organization (NEBTO)
2993498, I agree with your first point but ...
Posted by Brew, Mon Jul-17-17 06:55 PM
>What sounds cool at the time because it's different and
>distinct is probably going to peg it with that era. Someone
>like Nas or Black Thought who have more or less a "normal"
>dope flow will survive the various trends.

^^ to this point, I think it'd be more accurate to say that BT and Nas are simply more versatile and able to change up their styles which results in their not being tied to any particular "gimmick" or era.
2993503, Halfway, but Nas's flow has just never been extreme in that way either
Posted by -DJ R-Tistic-, Mon Jul-17-17 07:46 PM
It's actually a much more detailed discussion, but based on the era that certain rappers came in, there's some who's flow will never sound totally outdated, while there's some eras where the flow will barely adjust at all.

Thinking back, the ONLY rapper who was truly active in the 80's who's flow still sounded decent within the last ten years is probably LL. Cube's flow sounded decent at times in 2006, such as "Why we thugs," yet it actually sounded dated to some folks in 99-2000.

For the 90's, Busta's flow and style was extremely dynamic, yet he developed so many flows, he was always able to fit on anything thrown at him. Luda was very similar, but something about Luda's style tends to date him in my eyes. Busta really had the hottest verse in 1991 AND 2010-2011, which was remarkable and a testament to him being able to switch his style up.
2993499, Good Point. I was listening to early Kanye and it sounded dated.
Posted by Buddy_Gilapagos, Mon Jul-17-17 06:57 PM
Actually I was listening to older Childish Gambino where he was sounded like Kanye and it sounded dated as hell because of that drawl Kanye use to rap with

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwUug-ucBLc



>Hate to use the word gimmick, but I guess that's what I mean.
>
>
>What sounds cool at the time because it's different and
>distinct is probably going to peg it with that era. Someone
>like Nas or Black Thought who have more or less a "normal"
>dope flow will survive the various trends.
>
>
>__
>I don't like the beat anymore because its just a loop. ALC
>didn't FLIP IT ENOUGH!
>
>Flip it enough? Flip these. Flip off. Go flip some f*cking
>burgers.(c)Kno
>
>Allied State of the National Electric Beat Treaty Organization
>(NEBTO)


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"
2993501, THISS!!!!! Think about it! Mystikal. DMX. Nelly. Ja Rule. Versus...Fat Joe.
Posted by -DJ R-Tistic-, Mon Jul-17-17 07:43 PM
Even Das EFX. Bone to an extent.

Whenever you hear any of these rappers...you immediately feel like you're listening to whenever their prime was. Their flows and styles sounded groundbreaking at the time, but they all sound dated now, just because they were so stylized.

Versus...Fat Joe, who's flow and style was seen as extremely normal and regular in the 90's and early 2000's, yet he can still sound just as normal and regular in 2017 on a track like "All the way up."

2993497, He didn't sound dated on his last album to me.
Posted by phemom, Mon Jul-17-17 06:49 PM
Ludaversal was a damn good record....that dropped a week after To Pimp A Butterfly, so no one listened to it.

I think songs like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv0AjpJmER4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqhNN0SprZw

....did not sound old to me. Then again, the record he tried with Ty Dolla $ign this year, Vitamin D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4dPrjh9wCc

....sounds like he re-used a song from the Red Light District sessions and sounds hella dated.

To me Luda sounds like someone who doesn't keep his sword sharp more than anything else. Compared to someone like T.I. (who almost raps too much with his solos,features and Hustle Gang stuff) who when he needs to can hit you with a great 16 because Tip seems ready to switch flows (even if it doesn't sound good). Luda sounds like he jumps on the field with no practice time, and while he's talented enough not to make a fool of himself (like LL does sometimes) it's not as good as he could (or should) be given his years in the game.

I think a Luda x Organized Noize album should happen....a one producer record would prolly bring the best out of Luda IMO.
2993553, I love his verse on cee lo's child's play
Posted by makaveli, Wed Jul-19-17 12:23 PM
i know that song is old but I just wanted to add that.
2993560, does Charlie Brown from LONS sound dated???
Posted by My_SP1200_Broken_Again, Wed Jul-19-17 02:46 PM
2993587, That ain't right bruh
Posted by handle, Thu Jul-20-17 11:20 AM
That's low.

Luda doesn't sound like someone randomly stuck a push pin in his ass every third verse.
2993595, or Akinyele when he was cold cuttin up brothers like a DELI...
Posted by My_SP1200_Broken_Again, Thu Jul-20-17 02:03 PM
..keeping his cool like Arthur FONZARELLI

2993722, I laughed HARD at this reply
Posted by 13Rose, Mon Jul-24-17 02:55 PM
Just wrong. Leave Ak alone man.
2993582, Just sounds tailor made for late 90s Timbaland beats...
Posted by Boogie Stimuli, Thu Jul-20-17 08:07 AM
which I guess would make it sound dated at this point.

If you check his timing and how he speeds up
for the 3/4 count, that's exactly where Timbaland
beats used to go into double kicks... which I'd
say it why he was the man around the same time
Timbaland was at his rap radio play peak.

I do find myself wishing he'd change his flow
when listening to him on newer beats.
Unfortunately, he just has a flow that strongly
reflects a window in time.

2993618, lotta guys from thatbera didn't make it, creatively
Posted by Garhart Poppwell, Fri Jul-21-17 07:29 AM
and he's one of them. I don't think he's bad but he doesn't leave a lot to the imagination and that's where he differs from someone like Redman, for example. They both don't have a wide range of topics but Redman superior from a lyrical and technical standpoint, so even when it feels like he's coasting his sword is still sharp. Ludacris never had that. But he came up in an era of supernovas that qorked hard to get to a certain point, then that was it once they got rich and started dabbling in other things.
2993623, Luda is in those super successful street racing movies right??
Posted by My_SP1200_Broken_Again, Fri Jul-21-17 09:14 AM
...dude must be ULTRA paid for life off that shit alone
2993652, Luda must rap for fun because he's multimillionaire off movies
Posted by dafriquan, Fri Jul-21-17 09:48 PM
his flow on this record sounds very dated.
but there are other beats where you he flows less gimmicky so you wouldn't notice.

it's a trade off. a very distinct style is less likely to age well.
Luda's signature style was very "of the moment".
he might have spent his whole life developing it but it was good for 2 or 3 summers max. i also associate his voice with alot of wack fashion we used to rock...lol...so that's not helping with how i absorb this. like i will never be nostalgic for south pole and only one of ecko jackets made it through the style cleanse.

andre 3000 on the other hand is an anomaly. his style must have been ahead of his time back then because everytime he drops a new verse now, it sound very contemporary.

what do you guy's thinking of the evolution/devolution of kanye's flow?
he often sounds sloppier than ever but it seems to work now better than it ever did. is the bar lower? or has he dragged us down to where he wants us?




2993655, Yes, because he has his own style and doesn't sound like this....
Posted by DJR, Fri Jul-21-17 11:00 PM
http://youtu.be/g0OdmRtuQew

If you're not rapping like that and have your own style, you're dated. And that's fine. I'll take dated.
2993661, I never like Luda
Posted by SpaceBullets, Sat Jul-22-17 07:48 AM
You can predict half the stuff hes about to say.

Check KRS-1's new album The World is Mind. Hes still getting better although he just got over a slump with this album.
2993733, him and meth have the same problem
Posted by Bblock, Mon Jul-24-17 09:00 PM
meth still flowin' like this 96-97
on every beat
it's almost to melle mel levels now
2993738, Jay's flow was occasionally off, but his subject matter was top of form
Posted by justin_scott, Tue Jul-25-17 02:31 AM
at least for me
2993743, Big Boi has been sounding dated to me lately.
Posted by SP1200, Tue Jul-25-17 10:02 AM
A legend, but his flow doesn't work for me how it used to. But some
flows are just timeless. I'd put Luda in that category and some
others. David Banner has basically the same flow, but it sounds better
to me now than it did back then. I aged well. MF Doom & Nas = Timeless
flow.