Top ten rappers of all time
 

This thread got me thinking:[url:10f7b]http://forum.ebaumsworld.com/showthread.php?t=68087&page=1&pp=15[/url:10f7b]

Now I'll be the first to admit that I don't know much about rap, it's not my deal, but a lot of people put the pop rappers, people like Jay-Z. I don't really understand that, because most of the guys I know who really know rap want to vomit on people like him. So what makes a rapper one of the top ten of all time? Is it the ability to come up with unique rhyming styles, or is it the cultural influence? A lot of people recognize Eminem's rhyming ability, for example, but don't like how he caters to the pop side. Others think guys like Dr. Dre, Snoop, BIG, and Tupac are better deserving because of their influence (east coast vs. west coast). Even some like 50 Cent because he has street cred. I really don't know, maybe Tripper can answer it.

1) Promoe
2) BIG
3) Mos Def
4) Dr.Dre
5) Tupac

Meh, the only ones I consistently like listening to.

Edit:

To take a swing at your question, it's all based on prefrence really. Some people think Jay-Z is a bad representation of Rap others like him more than say BIG, or Snoop. I think it's personal prefrence and whats "in".

IMO its all about lyricism. A good comparison would be Wu-Tang vs. Lil Jon and the East Side Boys. Wu Tang is derived on complex rhymes and great content while Lil Jon is derived on more simple and carnal matters, cliche mottos and sexual lyrics. Music like Lil Jon and Jay Z is nothing more than 'Pop' music, lyrics that are out there to please the masses and simple minded.

1.) saul williams

2.) ghost face killah

3.) cannibus

4.) methodman

5.) red man


i don't listen to much rap eek:

guru.


agreed

top ten oOo: 's of all time

1)_reiben

rock:

Its tough to put a list like that together..

notables IMO would be..
KRS-1
Black Thought
Tribe
De La Soul
Mos Def
Talib
Common

I'm sure there are plenty others that deserve a mention, but these are guys I have listened to extensively and feel they do things with the genre that others dont, with lyrics and beats and influence. So often I can reflect on their lyrics, its like a great painting... gives a new dimension to just listening to music.

Slug
Murs
Eyedea
MF Doom
Brother Ali

I'd put these guys on, I feel their lyrics are on par easily with the artists above, but I'm hesitant to put underground on the list especially since there are probably hundreds of guys just like these I've never heard of that are just as talented.

Pac and Pun have their place, but I dont know if I'd even give em top 10 for my criteria of best rappers, I have never been moved by any of their stuff.

Vanilla Ice

biggrin:

rappers like jay-z and lil jon are there to entertain those who listen to hip hop. they're not there to tell life stories and struggles and all that other stuff thats been done over too many times. they're solely there for the sake of entertainment and IMO they've done that. they're good rap entertainers. the rappers that dislike jay-z and others like him are probably those who aren't as successful in that field and aren't good at what they do in some aspects. jealousy is ugly.

Bob Dylan

Exactly, it takes less skill therefor they aren't the best rap artist.

slipknot

Kool Keith

Tom Green.

Check the OR, you like it so far? rock:

I really have nothing constructive to add...although I used to like Public Enemy. Chuck D is the man.

Well, maybe I do have something constructive to add. These may not be the best ever, but some of the ones I can listen to are:

Public Enemy
Cypress Hill
Onyx
Beastie Boys
Sir Mix-a-Lot (well, "Baby Got Back" is about it...that song owns)
House of Pain

Tupac and Biggie are definitely in there... as for the rest, well... WEST SIDE!!!!!

Why is Tripper not making love to this thread ?

loney:

It's a combination of things, IMO....

Just to clear up a few things - I'll start with explaining some differences:

Hiphop is still a relatively young genre....It only found it's footing in the 90s, and because of the excess of commercialism in the new millenium, has taken an interesting turn.

Jay-Z and people like him, 50 Cent etc, have really scribed a new sub-genre laying hiphop's focus on materialistic values and street credibility. Some say that's intune with where hiphop started (Tales of hard life in the street - 'The Message' etc), whereas others disagree and think hiphop was more of a community thing, about having fun in the face of all that, as opposed to rapping about it.

As time went on gangsterism merged out of hard street life tales as more and more violence pushed the envelope of what was accepted, and sold records.....At the same time, the b-boying - hiphop for fun side, took the reigns of both of the original styles, turning the 'The Message' type stuff into what's today known as 'Conscious Rap' and just generally kept on having fun as well, denying the exaggerated violent stories, and mysgonistic values.

As time went on, the commercial sector caught onto the gangstafied stuff, because of the boundaries it was pushing with social acceptability (Like rock in its early stages) and because that sold records. Meanwhile, the otherside of hiphop (the non-gangsta stuff), lost its public appeal because it wasn't really pushing boundaries, and because they were both known as the one genre (apparently there is no room for widely respected sub-genres in hiphop - rock get's metal, punk etc - But hiphop has always just been hiphop/rap - THAT'S where the problem lies IMO)

So "hiphop" became what was selling records within the genre, despite there being a huge division and strong differences....So all the crap (imo) took the limelight and represented the whole genre as one.

Gangsterism slowly merged to what commercial hiphop is today, Jay-Z, 50 cent, lil john etc.....Only groups like BlackStar (Kweli and Mos individually), Jurassic 5, The Roots, have found major commercial success since then as a part of the other half of hiphop....

The rest, (there are just as many of that half still going at it as the commercialised side) are part of the "underground" (kind of a buzz word now) and independent label scene, which involves little pay, but generally far better focus on lyricism. I call this, the Alternative side....Because it's the alternative to what's shoved in your face through the media as hiphop and rap....(Which infact is a whole other genre).....

So anyway, these top ten things don't really work, because within what are clearly (to me anyway) two different genres, are different focuses on what makes a good emcee.

My personal list would go something like this:

Nas
Guru
MF Doom (Mainly when he was part of KMD)
Big L
Buckshot
Planet Asia
J-Live
Main Flow
Pharaohe Monch
Elzhi

....I chose these based on these factors: Lyrical skills, voice (how it sounds), how they flow with a beat.

I also take in mind these factors, on varying degrees for each emcee listed....: Nice sounding beats, how they represent themselves (are they too cocky or racist to bother listening too), and am I interested in what they have to say.

....Those factors are more varying between people, because in those factors, different people look for different things more so than what is generally obvious to most people (Lyrical skills, flowing with a beat)....



....and that's me. Remember, the above is all pretty much my opinion, so don't get your panties in a knot with me if you disagree - This IS music after all.



....Forgive me if this post has a few holes, it's fairly early - Saw the thread and just *had* to post. the_finger:

Stoupe JMT*
Vinnie Paz JMT*
Classified (His new album is different, but I stil enjoy it)
MOs Def
K-Os
Ludacris (Ya blow me for liking his shit. the_finger: )
Diverse
Outkast (Stankonia & Below = good, SP/LB makes me sick)
Maestro
Easy E


+ a ton of others, and groups themselves, etc, some rappers work well with others, while solo they are not quite my cup of tea (cough Q-tip" cough cough.)

Tripper have you ever thought of becoming a music critic in the hip hop world ? You have a much broader view on the stuff in comparision to 95 % of the ones out there writing reviews. beer:

[quote="TGB!":ae917]REDMAN? GHOSTFACE -

What the fuck.

Methodman has his place up there, but GZA is the BEST WU-Rapper. . .bar none.

And anyone who puts DR. DRE in the top 10 needs to be slapped - [/quote:ae917]

He is a great producer though.... Well at least to me....

[quote="Short Hand":541b7][quote="TGB!":541b7]REDMAN? GHOSTFACE -

What the fuck.

Methodman has his place up there, but GZA is the BEST WU-Rapper. . .bar none.

And anyone who puts DR. DRE in the top 10 needs to be slapped - [/quote:541b7]

He is a great producer though.... Well at least to me....[/quote:541b7]
You also put ludacris in your top 10.

kiss
south fakota
ice cube

[quote=strvs][quote="Short Hand":76e2c]He is a great producer though.... Well at least to me....[/quote:76e2c]
You also put ludacris in your top 10.[/quote:76e2c]
get back get back, you dont know me like that

I dont know jack fucking shit about music. I swear I have never heard of 95% of the music anyone on here listens too. I turn on my radio and listen to whats on there.

or just listen to sports talk radio.

[quote=strvs][quote="Short Hand":ceb6b]He is a great producer though.... Well at least to me....[/quote:ceb6b]
You also put ludacris in your top 10.[/quote:ceb6b]


Slap Red light district into any premier audio system, the bass is the most unique shit I have ever heard, I literally have a CD Carrying case full of burnt stuff, EVERYTHING and the bass he uses in a majority of his songs is completely unique. If you have a 2500 + worth of audio in your house of car then I suggest you take a listhen, it is not the type of stuff you can just fully appreciate with headphones. or Logitech latest 5.1 setup. It is clean and crisp. Then again my list was based on a final music product. There are a ton of Rappers with much more lyrical skill/talent then him. (PS. I am not a Chiken & Beer Fan )

[quote="Short Hand":f5031]

Slap Red light district into any premier audio system, the bass is the most unique shit I have ever heard, I literally have a CD Carrying case full of burnt stuff, EVERYTHING and the bass he uses in a majority of his songs is completely unique. If you have a 2500 + worth of audio in your house of car then I suggest you take a listhen, it is not the type of stuff you can just fully appreciate with headphones. or Logitech latest 5.1 setup. It is clean and crisp. Then again my list was based on a final music product. There are a ton of Rappers with much more lyrical skill/talent then him. (PS. I am not a Chiken & Beer Fan )[/quote:f5031]
How can you not appreciate the bass on headphones? A decent set of phones will be much more accurate than any midlevel home setup. Sounds like you are giving the producers of his beats props, lyrically ludacris is very simple, fun to listen to, but just another rapper for the money.

TO be honest.. how many people on this forum can vouche that they own a 180 $ + pair of Sennheiser Headphones or Boss Tri Ports ? ? MOst of us have some Sony/JVC or Mic/ Headphone getup.

+ music is preference. I listhen to TONS of old Quincy Jones Tracks, while most of my friends laugh their asses off. rolleyes: So to each their own. I try and respect everyone's music preference, from Simple Plan fans to big time 50 Cent fans. It is their choice.

[quote="Short Hand":75180]+ music is preference. I listhen to TONS of old Quincy Jones Tracks, while most of my friends laugh their asses off. rolleyes: So to each their own. I try and respect everyone's music preference, from Simple Plan fans to big time 50 Cent fans. It is their choice.[/quote:75180]

I would rather everyone listen to what makes them happy rather than try to prove how much they know and everyone sucks because they listen to some shit no one else listens too.

Just listen to what makes you happy, even if no one else has heard of/likes it.

[quote=Nyck]I would rather everyone listen to what makes them happy rather than try to prove how much they know and everyone sucks because they listen to some shit no one else listens too.

Just listen to what makes you happy, even if no one else has heard of/likes it.[/quote:eb548]

Exactly, but... it seems the less known the artist the more 1337 it makes your musical preference here @ times. I am not saying they aren't good most of them kick ass... but it makes having a favourite artist who is mainstream a taboo here. loney:

suger hill gang.

[quote="Anita_Head":f19f0]suger hill gang.[/quote:f19f0]

lol

eminem oOo:

[quote="Short Hand":eee32][quote=Nyck]I would rather everyone listen to what makes them happy rather than try to prove how much they know and everyone sucks because they listen to some shit no one else listens too.

Just listen to what makes you happy, even if no one else has heard of/likes it.[/quote:eee32]

Exactly, but... it seems the less known the artist the more 1337 it makes your musical preference here @ times. I am not saying they aren't good most of them kick ass... but it makes having a favourite artist who is mainstream a taboo here. loney:[/quote:eee32]

I think the main reason i listen to mostly underground stuff is that its different. Its stuff that you can't find on a radio that usually surpasses them in some way. May it be lyrics, musicianship, or even shock value. You will NEVER hear a 20 minute Dream Theater song on the radio as you wouldn't hear Gwar - Fish Fuck. If you can be satisfied with on the radio, so be it. However, it doesn't hurt to try something new.

You boys prob never heard of him, since he only raps in Swedish, but his name is Organism 12, and hes an amazing freestyler.
Promoe aswell, one of the best, has got some really nice beats.

[quote=KTOG][quote="Short Hand":f30a8]Exactly, but... it seems the less known the artist the more 1337 it makes your musical preference here @ times. I am not saying they aren't good most of them kick ass... but it makes having a favourite artist who is mainstream a taboo here. loney:[/quote:f30a8]

I think the main reason i listen to mostly underground stuff is that its different. Its stuff that you can't find on a radio that usually surpasses them in some way. May it be lyrics, musicianship, or even shock value. You will NEVER hear a 20 minute Dream Theater song on the radio as you wouldn't hear Gwar - Fish Fuck. If you can be satisfied with on the radio, so be it. However, it doesn't hurt to try something new.[/quote:f30a8]

Especially with hiphop - ALL the good shit is 'Underground,' like I explained....Simply because most people are listening to 50 cent and The Game....And that's where the commercial, radio market is, because that's where all the money is.
It's not just about the most 'underground' artists that noone has heard of (Although for some it is, and I know a few of these types)...