Who would you name as a true musical genius of our time?

Submitted by aardvarkarmour t3_10pvazd in Music

Ive come up with my list of the true geniuses of our time - wondering if you guys have others to add?

(Note im missing out a few biggies like eminem and kanye west because they're already solidified greats and a little before the time im focussing on)

  1. Mike Skinner - no words needed for this guy!
  2. Dave - think hes one of the most lyrically gifted artists around at the moment.
  3. Mura Masa - wide range of talents and genres
  4. Sam Fender - his political lyrics with melancholic sounds are sick
  5. Beardyman - this beatboxer has branched out and is proving how versatile he can be
  6. RAY BLK - she has to go on the list, her lyrics hit hard for anyone who's been through struggle
  7. CADET - RIP this guy but his rapping hit a certain spot for some of us man

As you'll have guessed I'm British biased (or just truthful?)

What are your additions? Particularly interested in none british and female artists.

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tanknav t1_j6mh3wf wrote

I can only think of one living musician whose name will be known in a couple hundred years. John Williams.

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Slight_Purpose_9092 t1_j6msqhj wrote

I don't know if people will be listening to the Beatles or citing them as an influence in 200 years, but people will absolutely still know Paul McCartney's name for his historical significance alone.

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sorengray t1_j6mke9e wrote

Do you mean mostly rappers? I would use the term "Lyrical Genius" more than "Musical Genius"... (Also the word "genius" is overused, when people really mean "talented")

Currently, I'd add Kendrick Lamar

And Lil Yachty's brand new album puts him in the running.

But if you're asking for actual musical geniuses of the past 40years...

Prince

Frank Zappa

David Bowie

Paul McCartney...

To name a few key actual musical geniuses.

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pEppapiGistfuhrer t1_j6mnfx9 wrote

I hope lil yachty will fire up a new trend of experimental hip hop psyche rock fusion

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tonyciccarone t1_j6n1zzw wrote

Per this comment, I'm listening to this Lil Yachty album right now. I dig it, thanks for the recommendation!

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aardvarkarmour OP t1_j6mnwpz wrote

David Bowie and all the rest of the greats, are obviously up there now, but i mean those artists who aren't yet solidified into the hall of fame but are doing special things right now. Kendrick Lamar is a big one I've missed, hes more than a rapper, his videos and dance moves tell as much of a story as his songs almost.

If this was a discussion of ALL of the musical geniuses, it would be quite long - as it happens, music is one of those things where its accessible to so many people that geniuses are everywhere, and may not be so easy to spot, im kinda looking for these sorts of answers!

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Twarper t1_j6mk3pv wrote

Steven Wilson. Best known for the prog-rock band Porcupine Tree, but he also made solo albums and has been in a few other bands. He is also a producer. His discography is quite large as he seems to never run out of inspiration and creativity and is always busy with something.

Thom Yorke from Radiohead is also an genius in my book.

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AgreeableAd2365 t1_j6mnc0h wrote

Brian Wilson of the beach Boys

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Because_I_Cannot t1_j6nbmpf wrote

I love Brian Wilson, but I don't think he's of "our" time. The last music of any influence that he wrote/produced was about 50 years ago

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DitaVonFleas t1_j6mp3dj wrote

Bjork. Other artists seem to like her and Europe seems to appreciate her but she's just under-appreciated in the "5-eyes" countries. In a way it's probably a good thing she never broke into the mainstream and stayed there. She's purely art for art's sake. She's remained completely true to herself and never sold out her artistic integrity or her values for money. She's done everything on her own terms and everyone who knows her work respects her for it. Being Icelandic seems to help immensely.

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FunkIPA t1_j6nhy2i wrote

Stevie Wonder.

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YvanehtNioj69 t1_j6mp4co wrote

Björk - I mean she's been around a long time but her most recent album was a few months ago - extremely talented and creative lady I'd say.

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benneb15 t1_j6nhn0p wrote

Nick Cave and Tom Waits. Both have been making music since the 70’s and are still as creatively relevant.

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a1ana2ana t1_j6ojnl5 wrote

Coltrane, Bill Evans, Miles, Chick Corea

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hairijuana t1_j6o6m6t wrote

Richard D. James aka Aphex Twin.

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No-Needleworker5764 t1_j6mdmhq wrote

Frank Turner

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aardvarkarmour OP t1_j6mdr6e wrote

Just listening to him now, got tears in my eyes already! Thankyou, id never heard of him.

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ThunderDoom1001 t1_j6p4ovj wrote

Incredible artist and a wonderful person. Long story short - I met him many years ago at a record store show and told him I was bummed I couldn’t get tix for his show in Orlando. He gave me his email and hooked me and my wife up to tix for Tampa the next night.

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Penisfullofpromises t1_j6mkidm wrote

Max Martin. Like his music or hate it, 30 years, 25 US number one hits.

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TheDustMice t1_j6mmcsh wrote

Mark E Smith.

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RIP.

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aardvarkarmour OP t1_j6mncgo wrote

He's sat there next to johnny cash and many others right now. He's not from Bury!

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ejcampf t1_j6mmg0g wrote

Tipper

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IamUsernamed t1_j6n1xi3 wrote

Tipper is a mad scientist. You should check out Spoonbill if you aren't already aware of him.

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ejcampf t1_j6n9tnk wrote

Being at a Tipper set is like becoming a marionette and watching your puppeteering handler command the entire crowds energy as he pleases through sound.

The mf maestro

Spoonbill is dope too. So much creativity coming from that spehere of influence

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[deleted] t1_j6mdd4m wrote

[deleted]

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aardvarkarmour OP t1_j6mdfe1 wrote

Not quite this generation is he haha i would have included bob dylan otherwise

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MrBigsand t1_j6mg2e2 wrote

Really happy mike skinner is first on the list here, original pirate material is a fucking banger end to end, hahaha. As for my pick, i would say jacob collier, even though its kinda overstated by now, and im not the biggest fan of his music, he has an undeniably firm grasp of music, and can do the craziest fucking things

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pEppapiGistfuhrer t1_j6mnkrm wrote

Michael gira and swans have had an incredible run in the 2010's, with a new album releasing this year.

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Karljohnellis t1_j6mo4d4 wrote

Will putney, the things that guy has done for metal over his career is incredible

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ianrayc t1_j6mu024 wrote

Certainly Jon Bellion

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SerenaSurf1 t1_j6nne09 wrote

I feel like there are so many and so many factors to take into consideration ha

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uSeeSizeThatChicken t1_j6o2brl wrote

Marshall Mathers is arguably the finest poet of our generation. His verses are worthy of study at prestigious universities.

I wonder what Mike Skinner is up to these day. I haven't listened to the Streets in a hot minute.

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DcMango t1_j6ofu67 wrote

Aesop Rock - He's really learned to paint a picture with his lyrics. Pizza Alley is a great example of this. His wordplay and descriptions of things are just next level.

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Ok-Building-712 t1_j6oqdk9 wrote

NERO. 100% They are a dubstep trio, and they are classically trained. They're lyrics and vocals are splendid, along with absolutely tremendous beats and whatnot. NERO is what keeps me going on my bad days

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Traditional-Shoe-199 t1_j6mcue0 wrote

Linkin Park - Literally all their songs

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aardvarkarmour OP t1_j6mcwnn wrote

Yo definitely agree man they captured a lot of what we were going through at that age

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