Good rap music: Bahamadia MP3s

As promised here, I'm back to provide some tracks from Bahamadia's new and utterly under-the-radar Good Rap Music. The album, as expected, is a fairly organic continuation of the earnest, conscious themes and straightforward beats laid out on Kollage and BB Queen. In fact, so little has changed that it sounds more like a throwback at times, some unreleased output from the mid-'90s finally surfacing. For fans of positive, celebratory rap in the vein of Queen Latifah, of the kind of music that isn't heard much anymore outside of Jean Grae, that's a welcome return to form. The one drawback to Good Rap Music is that it often takes the adjective in its title too literally. So much on this album is extolled, from Philadelphia to God to Bahamadia's mother to hip hop. Bahamadia has already demonstrated on songs like "Beautiful Things" that she wants to keep it positive, but the subjects of admiration she picks here have all been praised before at length. When she does switch it up, as on the rousing ghetto eulogy "Buck Season," I immediately find myself drawn in more. Still, no matter the subject, her flow thankfully remains as distinct and tight as ever, her syllables stringing together into a sharp and natural cadence. It's also evident how much joy and respect she invests in making her music. And most importantly, Bahamadia continues to follow her own muse at the deliberate expense of marketability, a choice that's as worthy of receiving praise as the people she's honoring. You can stream more songs at Bahamadia's MySpace page. * MP3: "Culture Cut" - Bahamadia from Good Rap Music * MP3: "Buck Season" - Bahamadia from Good Rap Music [Buy it] * Artist MySpace: Bahamadia Tags: Bahamadia, BB Queen, hip hop, Good Rap Music, MP3