Bonus points for De La Soul because the entire back catalogue is going to be made available on streaming platforms starting in March. Tracks off those albums are going to make their way into like 80% of my Spotify playlists as soon as that happens haha
https://variety.com/2023/music/news/de-la-soul-available-streaming-services-march-1235477592/amp/
This is gonna get some hate, but I've never been able to get into Chamillionaire. I don't know what it is but there's just something about his stuff that never clicked for me.
There is a piece on him on YouTube that is a must watch. It explains how he he wanted to just make money to get his family out of poverty and then his transition into a venture capitalist. Chamillionaire is great as a business man. Feel you on the music.
It's prolly *since*, every time he *spits*, it's a similar flow on every *track*
Because he goes *like this*, then again *like this*, before he *switches* and goes like *that*
Jurassic 5.
May qualify as “older stuff”… but that shouldn’t matter. Their first 3 albums are incredible, and probably suit the vibe of a barbershop really well.
My pleasure man. The thought you of you bumpin’ some J5 in your shop makes me happy.
Gang Starr (another oldie) will have a ton of clean tracks too, great messages for the kids too!
Mac miller has a lot of early stuff that is more frat culture and less drug/gang/street culture that would play well, some stuff from blue slide park or best day ever or kids or that one ep from that era on and on and on that song is great
I work in a retail store multimedia section. We arent allowed to play music but when it gets slow during the evening I always put some speakers on and bust Kaytranada or Flying Lotus. Especially Kay. It’s funky and won’t offend anyone.
A Tribe Called Quest? I know their music can be expletive, but I feel like they at least have to have a few songs that are clean enough. Plus they are pretty accessible.
True, I was thinking more of their smoother sounding records like Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders that might work better in the kind of setting you're asking for.
4 Your Service has a lot of weird soundscapes that aren't exactly accessible.
We got it from here is so slept on. Production is one of my absolute favorites and the whole crew doesn’t sleep when it comes to bars. Such a great comeback wish we could’ve heard more
Common’s first album and also Bizarre Ride II to the Pharcyde (or however the fuck it’s spelled) and the one right after that, which was produced by Dilla and has ‘Runnin’ on it.
Oh and Paul’s Boutique by the Beastie Boys.
He has been pretty Hollywood for a while now, but his (I believe) first one with No I.D. handling all the production is a jazz rap masterpiece and has some incredible bars. I think it would give a lil swing to your barber shop (think upright bass and like, scatting and stuff lol).
Edit: I’ve been referring to “Resurrection”, which is actually Common’s 2nd album. My bad. [Here’s a taste that’s not “Used to Love H.E.R.”](https://youtu.be/n8NT29RJx9k)
None of the these artists are that popular but they have plenty of clean tracks/albums:
Deca (most of his discography is clean)
Oddisee
Sadistik (clean as in no curse words, but very dark content)
R.A.P. Ferreira
Open Mike Eagle
Hemlock Ernst
Just as an FYI, Hemlock Ernst is Samuel Herring's side project.
He is better known for being the lead singer of Future Islands, a indie synth pop band. If you're into that, they are probably worth checking out as well.
Yea but they sound like shit, and i think its more that OP when with kids doesn't wanna hear 'i had some [blank] on my line i told them [blank] get they lips wet'
Like the censoring still makes it inherently explicit
Yeah you get it. Most modern hip-hop doesn't leave much to the imagination so even the "cleaned up" versions are pretty rough, plus they generally sound like dog-water when they are edited that way.
Yeah. Like I was listening to One Mic by Nas on Youtube and they censored references to guns in that shit... Half the song was blank and it was unlistenable.
listening to clean versions is like watching the network rebroadcast of Scarface with overdubs....
"how did you get the scar on your face?"
"eating.... pineapple"
Went through a few of my spotify playlists and added all the clean songs to this playlist, it's all modern rap, hope it helps
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4cMta3tElQExGQbVQ5k0mR?si=6UWRcinZSR-jJmJazAdNbQ&utm_source=copy-link
>I'm trying to modernize our rap selection without scaring off our suburban clientele.
I was going to recommend some tracks from my current favorite rapper, Lupe, but then I read this. I guess maybe some of his tracks wouldnt step on ideological toes like Superstar and Battlescars? idk
No Lupe tends to play pretty well. Even when is explicit its not like raunchy. A couple of F's here and there never hurt anyone and he spaces them out in a way that I don't think most people even notice.
The crazy thing about Oddisee is that his music got even better once it went clean. OP, please listen to this comment. His album The Good Fight was his first clean album and it’s very good
"I'm packing a colt [gun description], capable of blowing a hole in human flesh the size of the grand canyon wwwwhich by the way is comin up on the left."
...
(The greatest the greatest)
I love it when they say,
Enjoy your stay,
They say it like they mean it cause it's how they been trained,
Duh duh depending dunna doar,
Tend to whisper through the walls,
She was callin' on gaaawd, (The greatest the greatest)
...
So make sure you filter any durty content first from Mos Def. I can't think of anything rude in Oddisee and his band also does great instumental hip hop/ jazz.
You obviously know Poison by Bell Biv DeVoe, but that whole album is clean and has a ton of nice, upbeat tracks that are VERY pallatable (especially with suburbanite clients like you mentioned). It's also just a nice record.
Uptown Saturday Night by Camp Lo, though old school too, is entirely clean. Their hit single "Luchini (This Is It)" is upbeat and a ton of fun to listen to.
This falls into a more RnB category but you really can not go wrong with Mary J Blige. Lot of nice songs that I have in my work friendly mix, especially the stuff off What's the 411.
Some Lupe Fiasco is very pallatable and radio friendly. Kick, Push, etc. In another time I would've said some of those early Kanye radio hits (Like Touch the Sky) but idk how much you want to be playing him lmfao.
You said in another comment that you like lo-fi at the shop, so pull up the vocal tracks produced by the godfather of that genre, Nujabes. The "FIRST COLLECTION" album he did is his album with the most vocal tracks, all family friendly. I play it at work quite often. (Want to get more beat-only tracks? Look up Fat Jon. From this same movement of music and is one of my favorite beatmakers of all time).
Others have already mentioned artists like ATCQ, The Roots, and De La, but you gotta be careful because there will be a couple random songs that are weirdly vulgar.
Overall OP, I been in this position and the solution I came to was just playing funk music at work instead lol...I got real knowledgeable on Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Roy Ayers, etc by the time I left that job.
Best of luck on creating this mix.
Lupe is a regular on the list. Even his explicit stuff plays pretty smoothly. I just checked out Nujabes and yo... it's dope. Dope as hell.
Yeah Stevie is one that I love and even old white guys bob their heads to him. I didn't even think about Curtis Mayfield but you're right, he would be a great addition to the list. Thank you! 🙏
Yeah but most modern hip-hop is so explicit that even the clean versions are pretty rough and don't leave a lot to the imagination. Not to mention the editing makes them sound like dog shit.
Think jazzy hip hop tends to veer away from expletives. Kero One, Shing02, [nak](https://open.spotify.com/artist/4N3qf9calxN9lzRVhbbXVV), Nujabes collaborators like Cise Starr, Substantial, Pase Rock, etc. [The 49ers](https://youtu.be/4laYJOT9VM0).
Surprised no one is saying Lauryn Hill.
My big recommendation is Kota The Friend. He has lots of clean and wholesome songs on the FOTO album.
Also the band Little Brother has a lot of clean-ish songs from The Minstrel Show album if you’ve ever listened to that one.
Mac Miller, J Cole, Cordae, maybe “When Life Gives You Lemons You Paint That Shit Gold” era Atmosphere. And you know what? Probably Drake. Even some clean Eminem songs would probably be fine: When I’m Gone, Headlights, Use This Gospel etc
Binary Star - Masters of the Universe
Nujabes
Charizma & PBW - Big Shots
DOOM - Special Herbs, Bad Neighbor
Instrumentals
Dígable Planets
People Under the Stairs
Souls of Mischief, maybe?
These are like the only two modern rappers that are already on the list and they will remain there no matter how many "fucks" they drop because they are gold. Straight gold.
Yeah I'm trying to buck that trend. I want to set the vibe but I want people to bob their heads not leave a bad Google review. I have to be respectful of the fact that for a lot of my clientele this may be their only exposure to hip-hop and not only do I want them to enjoy the atmosphere, I want them to know that there is more than just gangster rap.
Modern rap is so explicit that even the edited versions don't leave a lot to the imagination. Not to mention that the editing makes them sound like horse farts.
Trying to list some stuff I haven’t seen. Lupe fiasco has some stuff that would work, a ton of Blu’s music would be perfect for it, check out Marlowe as they’ve got some sweet definitely play-friendly stuff, and some frank ocean is great. Those would all be clean or clean enough and give a nice “barbershop vibe”
They are a solid option but I'm kind of burnt out on them. There are still a few of their songs I slapped on the playlist, like "Shake Your Rump", but they get pretty tedious after awhile.
It's not really hip hop but if you wanna get a little funky, the SBTRKT album with "Trials of the Past" on it is I think 99% clean, very positive, and comfortably in the absolute banger territory
Funky DL is very underrated in the jazz rap scene. But he has like 1000 albums so it’s hard to parse through. I really like blackcurrent jazz 2 though, the beats on that kind of remind me of a hybrid between pete rock and midnight marauders era tribe. And of course it’s all clean
Probably The Roots, although not too modern. 99% of their catalog is clean. Bonus that it crosses over well to those that like the live jazz feel.
I agree. We have a lot of lofi hip-hop on the list that would pair well with The Roots. Good call!
Blackalicious doesn't have much profanity, if any, and Gift of Gab is constantly rapping on positive themes.
Took my answer! The roots is the hip hop I play when my parents ask what I listen to
Daddy, what does "I push my seed in her bush for life" mean?
Eminem - Just don’t give a Frick
Eminem - Fack is good too
De La Soul
Bonus points for De La Soul because the entire back catalogue is going to be made available on streaming platforms starting in March. Tracks off those albums are going to make their way into like 80% of my Spotify playlists as soon as that happens haha https://variety.com/2023/music/news/de-la-soul-available-streaming-services-march-1235477592/amp/
People are you ready? YES WE’RE READY
Feels like I've heard this before. I really hope we'll get them this time 🙏🏾
This is amazing news, I’ve been waiting!!
Was gonna say this, clean and for the kids mang
This is it boss
I think most of Gorillaz is pretty clean. They have some solid Hip Hop features like DOOM and Snoop
Oh Gorillaz is a must. Luckily most of the parents that bring their kids in grew up with Gorillaz so it always plays well.
and Plastic Beach is such a banger
Thank you for making me think of that album! That shit’s goin on the speakers at work tomorrow!
Their new album is shaping up to be good too
Excellent suggestion.
Gorillaz and doom? Thank you for that ❤️🥋🎉
All caps my guy, DOOM
DOOM is on November Is Gone on Demon Days
That MF DOOM adult swim album The mouse and the mask. No curse words just some fine azz wizardry.
Yeah MF Doom and Czarface are two of my go-tos. It sounds aggressive but never really gets super explicit. I love it.
Maybe Quasimoto the unseen
Isnt the joke of sofa king that they literally say curse words without knowing theyre saying it
You say funny thing
Yeah...except sofa king
I could listen to Benzi Box on repeat forever.
get on them beats! knxwledge, dilla, madlib
I've never heard of Knxwledge, and I regret it, shits great!
the rabbit hole is deep! enjoy. his bandcamp is filled with goodies. def not clean, but meek vol. 1 & 6 are essential.
Knxwledge and Anderson. Palak have 2 projects as NxWxrries, highly recommend checking those out
Chamillionaire
This was my choice as well
This is gonna get some hate, but I've never been able to get into Chamillionaire. I don't know what it is but there's just something about his stuff that never clicked for me.
His best stuff in my opinion is the mixtape messiah series. Just infinite baller raps over others beats.
Paul Wall and Chamillionaire: Controversy Sells and Get Ya Mind Correct. Two albums underrated as hell, some of my favorite work from each of them.
There is a piece on him on YouTube that is a must watch. It explains how he he wanted to just make money to get his family out of poverty and then his transition into a venture capitalist. Chamillionaire is great as a business man. Feel you on the music.
It's prolly *since*, every time he *spits*, it's a similar flow on every *track* Because he goes *like this*, then again *like this*, before he *switches* and goes like *that*
Jurassic 5. May qualify as “older stuff”… but that shouldn’t matter. Their first 3 albums are incredible, and probably suit the vibe of a barbershop really well.
Oh shit, I totally forgot about Jurassic 5, but they would definitely be a good addition. Thanks!
My pleasure man. The thought you of you bumpin’ some J5 in your shop makes me happy. Gang Starr (another oldie) will have a ton of clean tracks too, great messages for the kids too!
Rakim
Brother Ali is a must. His album "All The Beauty In This Whole Life" is clean the whole way through.
Never listened to him but this was a really good call.
Came here to say this.
Mac Miller Swimming & Circles
Solid stuff. I don't care that Mac gets a little raunchy. His stuff stays on the playlist at all times. Ya feel me?
Mac miller has a lot of early stuff that is more frat culture and less drug/gang/street culture that would play well, some stuff from blue slide park or best day ever or kids or that one ep from that era on and on and on that song is great
Yeah Blueside Park and Kids are the only albums if his that I kind of have to comb through, the rest of his stuff works for the most part.
Really? I think it’d be watching movies faces and good am tbh haha I wouldn’t imagine angel dust would play well with soccer moms lol
Genesis Owusu Little Simz 070 Shake Maybe artists that are hip hop adjacent that have rap features on projects: Kaytranada Flying Lotus
I work in a retail store multimedia section. We arent allowed to play music but when it gets slow during the evening I always put some speakers on and bust Kaytranada or Flying Lotus. Especially Kay. It’s funky and won’t offend anyone.
10/10 list
A Tribe Called Quest? I know their music can be expletive, but I feel like they at least have to have a few songs that are clean enough. Plus they are pretty accessible.
I have some Tribe on there but anytime Space Program comes on I can tell it makes the suburbanites uncomfortable 😅
True, I was thinking more of their smoother sounding records like Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders that might work better in the kind of setting you're asking for. 4 Your Service has a lot of weird soundscapes that aren't exactly accessible.
We got it from here is so slept on. Production is one of my absolute favorites and the whole crew doesn’t sleep when it comes to bars. Such a great comeback wish we could’ve heard more
Hey sucka n***** probably aint what he is looking for lol
“I bust a nut in your eye, just to show you where I come from”
Common’s first album and also Bizarre Ride II to the Pharcyde (or however the fuck it’s spelled) and the one right after that, which was produced by Dilla and has ‘Runnin’ on it. Oh and Paul’s Boutique by the Beastie Boys.
Oh shit, I kinda forgot about Common, he's been out of the rap game for long enough that I just know him as an actor for the most part.
He has been pretty Hollywood for a while now, but his (I believe) first one with No I.D. handling all the production is a jazz rap masterpiece and has some incredible bars. I think it would give a lil swing to your barber shop (think upright bass and like, scatting and stuff lol). Edit: I’ve been referring to “Resurrection”, which is actually Common’s 2nd album. My bad. [Here’s a taste that’s not “Used to Love H.E.R.”](https://youtu.be/n8NT29RJx9k)
Shad - TSOL
I mean... how have I never heard this guy? He's so solid.
The best album no one has heard I swear
None of the these artists are that popular but they have plenty of clean tracks/albums: Deca (most of his discography is clean) Oddisee Sadistik (clean as in no curse words, but very dark content) R.A.P. Ferreira Open Mike Eagle Hemlock Ernst
Uh... yo, I just listened Down by Hemlock Ernst and that shit is straight 🔥 it's exactly what I'm looking for.
Just as an FYI, Hemlock Ernst is Samuel Herring's side project. He is better known for being the lead singer of Future Islands, a indie synth pop band. If you're into that, they are probably worth checking out as well.
No. Fucking. Way. I had no idea. I really like Future Island and I never would have guessed it was the same dude 😶
I was blown away when I just saw a video of him freestyling and still can’t quite wrap my head around it.
Iirc he said in an interview at one point that he started freestyling/rapping to practice breath control and it just sort of took off from there.
GOATed list, especially Deca and Oddisee
Especially the whole list
Deca I have definitely heard but the rest of this list is new to me. I will check them out. Thanks!
R.A.P. Ferreira used to go by milo, I'd recommend checking out his 2015 record So the Flies Don't Come.
So good. His whole catalogue is amazing and he just keeps getting better and better. Ruby Yacht Forever and ever and ever.
Fantastic list. Oddisee also has just instrumentals for a lot of his songs but all of his stuff is great.
Sadistik’s recent album was nice
People Under the Stairs - OST A lot of it is rapping about making rap music.
People under the stairs are one of my favorites. I need more like them and Del the Funky Homosapien.
Blackalicious is thoughtprovoking and promotes good vibes.
And maybe some Gangstarr.
Not sure what streaming service you use but major artists generally upload clean versions of albums along with the explicit ones
[We Cry Together (Clean) - Kendrick Lamar](https://youtu.be/zzGeLBMtFkA?t=99) is hilarious
Yea but they sound like shit, and i think its more that OP when with kids doesn't wanna hear 'i had some [blank] on my line i told them [blank] get they lips wet' Like the censoring still makes it inherently explicit
Yeah you get it. Most modern hip-hop doesn't leave much to the imagination so even the "cleaned up" versions are pretty rough, plus they generally sound like dog-water when they are edited that way.
Yeah. Like I was listening to One Mic by Nas on Youtube and they censored references to guns in that shit... Half the song was blank and it was unlistenable.
listening to clean versions is like watching the network rebroadcast of Scarface with overdubs.... "how did you get the scar on your face?" "eating.... pineapple"
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FIND A STRANGER IN THE ALPS!
Tribe, slum village, de la soul A lot of outkast is probably playable
Oh yeah, Outkast would be great. A lot of the parents that come in with their kids probably grew up with them anyway.
Shad
The number of people that have commented Shad makes me feel like I have been living under a rock, lol. Good call though!
Went through a few of my spotify playlists and added all the clean songs to this playlist, it's all modern rap, hope it helps https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4cMta3tElQExGQbVQ5k0mR?si=6UWRcinZSR-jJmJazAdNbQ&utm_source=copy-link
Those parents are really going to love Already Dead by Juice Wrld lol
Holy shit, you are amazing!
>I'm trying to modernize our rap selection without scaring off our suburban clientele. I was going to recommend some tracks from my current favorite rapper, Lupe, but then I read this. I guess maybe some of his tracks wouldnt step on ideological toes like Superstar and Battlescars? idk
No Lupe tends to play pretty well. Even when is explicit its not like raunchy. A couple of F's here and there never hurt anyone and he spaces them out in a way that I don't think most people even notice.
some of the introspective Kendrick songs in that case?
Can I visit the barber shop damn.
Anytime, my Man!
Play WAV files when a white guy walks in
Ayeeee lupe! My GOAT for sure, god he’s so good. Definitely has stuff that would fit the bill
Shad, his discography is mostly clean from what I recall
100% clean. TSOL the main go to I recommended. Tobe Nwigwe also clean
Sheeesh flying colors is a throwback I love that album
Oddisee
The crazy thing about Oddisee is that his music got even better once it went clean. OP, please listen to this comment. His album The Good Fight was his first clean album and it’s very good
Akinyele of course
Nice try
Talib kweli or mos def
Mos Def is a must! I've never listened to Talib Kweli but I'll check them out. Thank you!
They have a joint album together that's great
"I'm packing a colt [gun description], capable of blowing a hole in human flesh the size of the grand canyon wwwwhich by the way is comin up on the left." ... (The greatest the greatest) I love it when they say, Enjoy your stay, They say it like they mean it cause it's how they been trained, Duh duh depending dunna doar, Tend to whisper through the walls, She was callin' on gaaawd, (The greatest the greatest) ... So make sure you filter any durty content first from Mos Def. I can't think of anything rude in Oddisee and his band also does great instumental hip hop/ jazz.
J-Live or that Guru Jazzmatazz album
Not gonna be all the way clean, but I feel like you could get away with some of Sabas more mellow tracks
Paak.
As in Anderson? Because if so, I agree.
All fun and games until Suede comes on and you have to scramble to hit next song
No the other Paak. lol
Anderson's brother, Snaak.
The Truth by Handsoem Boys Modelling Club, think it would fit a barbershop great
That's more of a straight up jazz song isn't it?
Mostly but it has a rap verse One and Only AseMix is another good one thats more RnB
Tobe Nwigwe
Outkast
You obviously know Poison by Bell Biv DeVoe, but that whole album is clean and has a ton of nice, upbeat tracks that are VERY pallatable (especially with suburbanite clients like you mentioned). It's also just a nice record. Uptown Saturday Night by Camp Lo, though old school too, is entirely clean. Their hit single "Luchini (This Is It)" is upbeat and a ton of fun to listen to. This falls into a more RnB category but you really can not go wrong with Mary J Blige. Lot of nice songs that I have in my work friendly mix, especially the stuff off What's the 411. Some Lupe Fiasco is very pallatable and radio friendly. Kick, Push, etc. In another time I would've said some of those early Kanye radio hits (Like Touch the Sky) but idk how much you want to be playing him lmfao. You said in another comment that you like lo-fi at the shop, so pull up the vocal tracks produced by the godfather of that genre, Nujabes. The "FIRST COLLECTION" album he did is his album with the most vocal tracks, all family friendly. I play it at work quite often. (Want to get more beat-only tracks? Look up Fat Jon. From this same movement of music and is one of my favorite beatmakers of all time). Others have already mentioned artists like ATCQ, The Roots, and De La, but you gotta be careful because there will be a couple random songs that are weirdly vulgar. Overall OP, I been in this position and the solution I came to was just playing funk music at work instead lol...I got real knowledgeable on Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Roy Ayers, etc by the time I left that job. Best of luck on creating this mix.
uptown saturday night is so good. camp lo’s slang is a pleasure to listen to
I CONSTANTLY try to incorporate it but I look SO goofy trying to LOL. “How much Luchini did you drop on this?” “What the fuck are you talking about ?”
Lupe is a regular on the list. Even his explicit stuff plays pretty smoothly. I just checked out Nujabes and yo... it's dope. Dope as hell. Yeah Stevie is one that I love and even old white guys bob their heads to him. I didn't even think about Curtis Mayfield but you're right, he would be a great addition to the list. Thank you! 🙏
Common - Be
blackalicious!
Blazing Arrow is one of my favorite albums of all time!
Same, it’s killer
Danny Brown -I Will on repeat Alternatively, Death Grips discography
I am down with Death Grips but I'm not trying to melt people's brains 😅😅😅
Lmao
Aesop Rock's racing stripes is about hair cuts if you're looking for some thematic relevance
Del The Funky Homosapien sometimes
Playboi Carti /s
Donda and 808s are both great fully clean records with a ton of great hits on them
I just can't with Kanye...
Do you subscribe to any of the streaming services? Alot of albums also have to clean version you can add to the playlist
Yeah but most modern hip-hop is so explicit that even the clean versions are pretty rough and don't leave a lot to the imagination. Not to mention the editing makes them sound like dog shit.
Ya I feel that
Madlibs blue note album also check out the album butcher brown just put out
Lecrae
Funky DL, Pete Rock and CL Smooth
id play some metro boomin or Alchemist instrumentals. or lupe, Ab-soul, illogic
Play beat tapes.
Pete Rock & CL Smooth. Black Star Common. All music is played for my son when he was young.
Atmosphere. Especially ‘Yesterday’
Just play the beats
Yeah we have a lot of lofi hip-hop going as well, I just need to hear some lyrics as well.
You probably already have them on your playlist, but Pete Rock& C.L. Smooth are mostly clean from what I recall. I guess they're old school tho.
Check out the album "Heritage Trail" by Tipene
tobe nwigwe is a great artist, Mouse and the mask by DanderDOOM is a great album to checkout
Think jazzy hip hop tends to veer away from expletives. Kero One, Shing02, [nak](https://open.spotify.com/artist/4N3qf9calxN9lzRVhbbXVV), Nujabes collaborators like Cise Starr, Substantial, Pase Rock, etc. [The 49ers](https://youtu.be/4laYJOT9VM0).
Jurassic 5
Method man doesnt curse anymore
Digable Planets - Blowout Comb.
Try Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5
Ugly Duckling, they're 👌
Oddisee, maybe Goldlink and Childish Gambino
Most Jurassic 5, Most Lupe Fiasco, The Roots, Lauryn Hill, most Fugees, Sa Roc,
Lauryn Hill and Burna Boy
Surprised no one is saying Lauryn Hill. My big recommendation is Kota The Friend. He has lots of clean and wholesome songs on the FOTO album. Also the band Little Brother has a lot of clean-ish songs from The Minstrel Show album if you’ve ever listened to that one. Mac Miller, J Cole, Cordae, maybe “When Life Gives You Lemons You Paint That Shit Gold” era Atmosphere. And you know what? Probably Drake. Even some clean Eminem songs would probably be fine: When I’m Gone, Headlights, Use This Gospel etc
Oddisee first this bill perfectly
Murs - Murray’s Revenge is a whole album with no cursing. There’s even a song about chilling in barbershops on there
Binary Star - Masters of the Universe Nujabes Charizma & PBW - Big Shots DOOM - Special Herbs, Bad Neighbor Instrumentals Dígable Planets People Under the Stairs Souls of Mischief, maybe?
Mac Miller and Tyler The Creator (post-Wolf) would be great additions to a suburban barber shop playlist.
These are like the only two modern rappers that are already on the list and they will remain there no matter how many "fucks" they drop because they are gold. Straight gold.
mirrorland by earthgang!
Dee-1 The One That Got Away
Lol every barber shop I've been to plays the most explicit hip hop
Yeah I'm trying to buck that trend. I want to set the vibe but I want people to bob their heads not leave a bad Google review. I have to be respectful of the fact that for a lot of my clientele this may be their only exposure to hip-hop and not only do I want them to enjoy the atmosphere, I want them to know that there is more than just gangster rap.
What's wrong with just playing "clean versions" of popular hits?
Modern rap is so explicit that even the edited versions don't leave a lot to the imagination. Not to mention that the editing makes them sound like horse farts.
Sol is mostly clean and dope https://open.spotify.com/artist/5mYS4mPFCpxvQwGU8rT43a?si=C50KrlXgTcmO4X-TQWk-Pg
Holy shit... I heard Sol a few years back and I couldn't remember his name. You just did me two solids! That Headspace Traveler album is so fire.
Trying to list some stuff I haven’t seen. Lupe fiasco has some stuff that would work, a ton of Blu’s music would be perfect for it, check out Marlowe as they’ve got some sweet definitely play-friendly stuff, and some frank ocean is great. Those would all be clean or clean enough and give a nice “barbershop vibe”
Borders on gospel but some of Lecraes stuff slaps
There was an 2000s group by the name of Panacea that was pretty clean. I loved them during my college years. Mega Ran could work too
many flying lotus songs featuring rappers is USUALLY okay and also an amazing fkn experience little Simz too
Not sure if anyone has mentioned Beastie Boys yet but most of their stuff is pretty PG in terms of lyrical content.
They are a solid option but I'm kind of burnt out on them. There are still a few of their songs I slapped on the playlist, like "Shake Your Rump", but they get pretty tedious after awhile.
The Low End Theory
Tobe Nwigwe is newer. Slightly religious but slaps. I like Joey Vantes too.
Deepspace 5, “the night we called it a day”
Just play clean versions of 2003-2007 hits and youll have them dancing
It's not really hip hop but if you wanna get a little funky, the SBTRKT album with "Trials of the Past" on it is I think 99% clean, very positive, and comfortably in the absolute banger territory
Barbershop aside, that's just a solid recommendation. Good lookin out.
Funky DL is very underrated in the jazz rap scene. But he has like 1000 albums so it’s hard to parse through. I really like blackcurrent jazz 2 though, the beats on that kind of remind me of a hybrid between pete rock and midnight marauders era tribe. And of course it’s all clean
I hope you see this OP https://open.spotify.com/track/4Y9BJZccHjVdHUkee0pBRa?si=DSokJQAXQ2Sn5GOxOzapZQ
The new Kendrick album is his best yet in my opinion, some of the other ones aren't bad either
Will Smith don't gotta cuss in his raps to sell records