Quick, Before It Melts.

Stylistically, these two acts have little in common - they are influenced by two entirely different scenes, take different approaches to their methods, and really sound absolutely nothing alike. So, why are they together? Because, if we go back to the original post, I said that I would 'start with some acts I feel are easy for the standard indie fan to relate to.' After doing a bit of research, I discovered that these two acts are considered some of the best of their respective eras by indie publications (see: Paul's Boutique as #3 on P-fork's best of the 1980s - higher than any other rap album, and the presence of Original Pirate Material by The Streets at the #10 spot on both Stylus's top albums of 2000-2005 and that other site's best of 2000-2004, bested only by two and three other artists, respectively).

I'm not going to say that these artists don't deserve the accolades - I'm just saying that these indie folks, whose usual taste includes such non-funky bands as Animal Collective and Fennesz, are more likely to approve of a hip-hop act that is easier for them to relate to. Assuming that you, a reader of QBiM - the hottest indie blog in town - appreciate these non-funky bands as well, I think these two artists would best help you to enjoy hip-hop if you already do not.

So, without any more ado, The Streets.


The Streets, despite the plurality of the name, are the project of Mike Skinner, a UK-based rapper/producer. Beating the grime explosion of 2003 led by wunderkind Dizzee Rascal (more on him later) by over a year, The Streets debuted with Original Pirate Material in 2002, followed by A Grand Don't Come for Free two years later, and The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living last year.

As with any hip-hop artist, what makes Skinner so appealing are his unique beats and witty lyricism. His beats lay somewhere between grime and the straight-up indie hip-hop of MF DOOM (more on him later, too) and the like. This creative use of loops gives indie fans a reason to like him - 'it's not just an 808 - he uses cool house samples¹!' - as does his subject matter. If being British and whatnot didn't already help his alternative appeal (how many pasty Britons rap?), his topics make him more endearing to the indie crowd. Rather than talking about ice (like Clipse - more on them later as well), politics (like Public Enemy - them, too), partying (like 50 Cent - probably not), or cocaine (Clipse again), Skinner focuses on topics of everyday life and makes them seem important, and, most importantly, funny². Indie kids love funny/witty takes on things that aren't important (see: Art Brut - speaking of which, that new album is worth a look...).

My take: Once you get past the 'novelty' of Mike Skinner, he's witty and has some stellar beats. Is he one of the most ace hip-hoppers out there today? Perhaps. He certainly warrants the accolades that he receives, and is a great springboard for indie kids into the genre of hip-hop music.

Now for a look at The Beastie Boys


Long before the snoozefest that is The Mix-Up, the Beasties were a force to be reckoned with. Recording three critically adored albums over six years (Licensed to Ill, '86; Paul's Boutique, '89; Check Your Head, '92), they were one of the first hip-hop groups (along with Run DMC) to gain mass popularity. Ironically, they gained a lot of their popularity with fans of rock music who otherwise disliked hip-hop (speaking from experience, I knew tons of folks who knew every word to '(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!)' but wouldn't touch Run DMC). And so it went throughout the 90s, with the local 'alternative rock' station playing every Beasties hit and ignoring the existence of any other hip-hop group.

Paul's Boutique, which had them collaborating with The Dust Brothers, is often considered their highlight, many citing it as a landmark in sampling/production and hip-hop in general. Lead single 'Hey Ladies' - like most of their songs - sounds like Public Enemy if they weren't always angry about something³. That alone is an impressive feat - they essentially predated these hip-hop masters by two years. That said, Terminator X and the Bomb Squad took their style and amped it up, topping them quite soundly, even if they never really learned to have fun.

My take: You know all their singles. You've sung them, danced to them, cruised to them, etc. So how can you not like other 80s rap? Unfortunately, for them in specific, I've found the appeal a little thin when it comes to entire albums (maybe it's the nasally delivery).


¹Mike Skinner utilizes a ridiculous house-based sample on 'Blinded by the Lights,' a highlight off of his best album.

The Streets "Blinded by the Lights"

²'It Was Supposed to Be So Easy' shows Skinner's ability to rap about seemingly mundane things and make them not only interesting, but funny.

The Streets "It Was Supposed to Be So Easy"

³The lead single off the Beastie's critically lauded sophomore album.

Beastie Boys "Hey Ladies"