I’ve said this here before but I learned more about rap in my first year or two of blogging than I did in the 20 previous. Sites like Somanyshrimp and Gelandweave were covering C-Murder and Camu Tao in the same breath. The Houstonsoreals and GovernmentNames were shining all kinds of light on unheard local artists while not alienating outsiders.

I don’t see that diversity of opinions and taste and ideas in rap blogs in 2009. Everyone has gone off and formed their little tribes, simply reaffirming what they already know and patting each other on the backs for it. I don’t get the idea that anybody really wants to be exposed to anything that doesn’t fit their particular world view which is why a list like this is pretty much pointless.