OK hip hop newbs, here's some tracks to get you started...
Non-Prophets - Damage, The cure
Cunninlynguists - Halfanimal, Lynguistics, Southerunderground
Sage Francis - Vonegut Busy, Majority Rule, Climb Trees
The Underacheivers - The Proclamation, Herb Shuttles
7L and Esoteric - Axe Hurlers
Atmosphere - Scapegoat, Godlovesugly, Lovelife
Eminem - Infinite, 313, Renegades (with Jay-Z)
Kendrick Lamar - Money Trees, mAAd city, f@#! your Ethnicity
Come on back once you've given those a listen...