R.A The Rugged Man

RA the Rugged Man is a MC based out of New York and currently has 4 official albums of which two are currently unreleased and he also has one album in the making. These albums are Night of the Bloody Apes (1994), American Lowlife (1999), Die, Rugged Man, Die (2004), Legendary Classics Vol 1 (2009), and then theres Legends Never Die which is set to be released some time later this year.

Trailer:

 RA is regarded by many in the "underground" hip hop scene to be one of the best rappers to ever exist and sometimes he's even considered the greatest of all time. He's done features with lots of big names in the rap game, such as Killah Priest, Notorious BIG, Masta Killah, Kool G Rap, and MF Doom. He is one of my personal favorites and has been for a while, he has one of the best flows I've ever heard and for the most part the quality always remains consistent. One thing that always comes to mind is what Biggie said when asked about RA "And I thought I was the illest". Something else to keep in mind about RA is he was rapping when hip hop was still a predominantly black art form. Now I suppose hes not as famous as people like Eminem for bringing white MCs to attention and showing that they can have skills too, though unlike Eminem RA has stuck true to his Hip Hop roots, you dont see RA doing songs with people like Rihanna and rapping about how he's not afraid and holding hands.

If you've never listened to RA before I suggest picking up a copy (legally, gotta support the artists!) of "Die, Rugged Man, Die" which in my mind is his best work to date and really shows off his skills with such songs as "Lessons" and "Chains" you cant go wrong! Especially when it has features with Masta Killa and Killah Priest! Now heres a link to listen to the album online for free but also buy it if you decide you like it, which I guarantee you will if you listen to it the whole way through.
http://naturesounds.bandcamp.com/album/die-rugged-man-die


"I made peace with myself now how bout that
I hated life I wanted to die a few years back
I was mentally ill it's hard to come back from that
But I got through it now I got my sanity back
Y'all are like H-B-O fighters get the money and fame
Get beat up like Klitschko and Sugar Shane
Or get beat like Vernon Forrest or Prince Naseem
And you all turn pussy when you get that green
I got love for Havoc from Mobb Deep
When I was broke sleepin' in the street
He hooked me up with a free beat
Alchemist you still my little buddy
Althought you stole that Royce the 5'9 +The King+ beat from me
I ain't down to sign autographs and shake ya hands
I don't want trendy ass followers as fans
I don't wanna sell records, I don't wanna be big
I don't want MTV runnin' up in my crib
I don't wanna be light in the music biz
I don't want fans that don't know who G Rap is"
-"Lessons" by RA The Rugged Man

Uncommon Valor

EL-P

I remember when Flossin was first introducing me to Hip-Hop (and what a world it is!) I was knockin on El-P thinking he was too weird and out there, but he grew on me after a while. I guess I shouldn't be so quick to judge artists and what they do before I give them a fair chance, cause he became one of my favorites. Both lyrically and as a producer, hes different and out there which I guess I kinda like. It gives a person a break from the typical looped beats or "candy ass beats" as I like to call them.

Big ups to El-P!

CAGE-HELLS WINTER

This is my favorite song off of Hells Winter, it shows Cages story telling abilities off, along with showing his typical morbid subject matter. He is one of my Favorite MC's and always remained consistent not considering his most recent album "Depart from Me" I also love the production (although I'm not sure who did it?). All in all a good song, a good beat, and good lyrics. Its often compared with this song by Atmosphere:

You tell me which one you prefer? The first is more dark and morbid the whole way through. The Atmosphere one is more abrubt and shocking.