When choosing a new hip hop album how do you pick ? Do you go by internet reviews for new artists , buy something recommended by your friends or trust your instincts ? I look for artists people are talking about on social networks , listen to tracks they might have uploaded there and then make up my mind.How about you ?

Me? I decided by, if it's in the Hip Hop section, I don't buy it. *giggle* *wanders off to the metal section*

For me personally, not for DJ'ing, I buy a lot of stuff off iTunes. So I will sample things, goto artists I like, then see what others bought and look at those.
Sometimes I ask others if they have heard anything good lately.

Sometimes I will hear something on the radio or online and I just have to research and check it out. Then of course I check with all of my music buddies and see if they know anything about the artist/band. I do a ton of research before hand, I hate to find a good song, and then find out that the rest of the album sucks. :(

I know that feeling :mad: They should upload the best and the worst tracks so the listeners know what they are getting themselves into. :nunchuck: Sometimes, I snoop at hip hop forums to get the inside stuff to avoid a raw deal.Been relatively lucky so far.
lol @Chique .I always carry my best earplugs when patrolling the metal section.

I depend on friends with eclectic taste, haha. Most of the time I'm too busy with other things to actively look for good hip hop. So I listen to what I occasionally get from my friends, and quite often, they'll have something I really like, and go for. I was only recently introduced to Immortal Technique, now I love it.

I normally hit up some friends of mine who are seriously into the hip hop scene and have friends in the recording industry. They can normally score some sweet singles for me to play with. Most times they are pretty good stuff. Sometimes I hear songs on th radio and check them out too.

If it's a rap album sold in your average store, it is pretty much assured to suck.

Read reviews online, try to hear some samples or full-length tracks. Never trust the mainstream media to find you something good.

Hear it for yourself, and DECIDE for yourselves what you like or not.

Personally I don't like rap, but if it is a popular song, and not to offensive, I might get it off of iTunes.

I research all albums(of any genre) before I buy them, and Rap is no exception.

Hell, that's always the wisest decision if you ask me!

Better safe than sorry, especially with the prices albums cost these days :swear:

I think I go by my gut more so, it seems the more I see advertised, the less I want to buy it. I see a ton of hype and that for some reason doesn't sit well with me.

I subscribe to some magazines and also lookout for online reviews for new hits. Sometimes, I just buy an album of an upcoming artist on an impulse. It's exciting to see a new singer rise.

Most hyped up albums turn out to be complete garbage too!

That's why you never go by sales figures alone. Do your research so you won't be pissed off in the end. Tons of terrible unoriginal albums still sell well, despite how much they don't deserve to!