Unmistakably OT: Favorite Hip Hop MCs
A few days ago there was a thread titled The Ecstasy and the Blueprint 2 in which someone made an excellent suggestion that the MMB use a tune from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly which was used in a Nike commercial and was sampled by a Jay-Z song on the aforementioned article. I got into a discussion with a gentleman by the name of WillyWill about whether Nas or Jay-Z is better. I hold that Nas is better, as he is one of my favorite artists of all time.
My favorites are Nas, Jay-Z, the Roots, 2Pac, and others. Lately I've been listening to AZ, Ghostface, and some other stuff. Who does everyone here like?
Of course, no discussion of hip hop is complete without mention of this gem by some of Detroit's own hometown heroes.
Cuban Linx, by the way, has one of the best early-vintage Nas verses you're likely to hear on "Verbal Intercourse".
August 9th, 2009 at 10:31 PM ^
I just got around to checking out your last post from the previous thread... I posted there but figured I may as well post it here too:
W/ respect to Jay-Z's Unplugged album-
That's another reason why I love Jay-Z; he's one of the few rappers who can pull that off. "Can't Knock the Hustle" with Mary J Blige is just soothing.
Big Pun actually had two albums "Yeaah Baby!" was his second. I like both albums, but Capital Punishment is more classic. (He also had a third, compilation album released after his death.) You can catch some of his songs on youtube or listen to clips here. My fav tracks are "Watch Those", "Off with his head". "Leather face" has some samples from the movie Scarface, and is tight. 100% and It's so hard were hits you may recognize.
With Big L - I really prefer his free styles to his album-work, unfortunately his career was cut short. I'm sure you've heard his '98 Free style: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPdevf4bS9w If not, check it out. "Ask beavis, I get nothing Butt-head." Just funny stuff.
Anyone here have any of Nas's unreleased/bonus track/non-album songs? Some of them are awesome. The most famous unreleased track is probably "Silent Murder," and it is quite great. Nas came out with some unreal songs last year that weren't put on the Untitled album. 2 songs in particular: Be a N--- Too and War Is Necessary, which was in GTA 4. I personally think that Untitled suffered a little because it lacked those songs. Also, there another version of No Idea's Original. I think it was originally a bonus track on a European release of It Was Written or I Am...
It Was Written was my favorite NaS album. The verse Foxxy Brown dropped on Affirmative Action was dope as hell. IMO.
August 15th, 2009 at 11:57 PM ^
Do you listen to Lil Wayne at all?
Chuck D
Zack de la Rocha
KRS-One
The Last Emperor
I really like Del da Funky Homosapien and MF Doom as well as their multiple personalities. Something about mixing hiphop and nerd culture gets me. Not to mention they are both very inventive and at times thought provoking. Illmatic is one of the few albums that I love that exhalts the "street" life. Most hip hop dealing with those topics comes off as trite and lazy. In my native toungue(spanish) theres alot of talent. My favorites being Calle 13, Koxmoz and Mala Rodriguez.
Tha Ruler Rick (Slick Rick)
Rakim
EPMD
Biggy
KRS-1
Deltron 3000
Dead Prez
J-5
no order.
Big Daddy Kane
Son Doobie
Eric Sermon
B Real
MC Serch
Rakim
Notorius B.I.G.
Nas
Jay-Z
Tupac
Mos Def
Wu Tang Clan
ugk, z-ro, scarface, sean price, common,nas, az, outkast, or almost anyone rappin over dj premier i'll listen to
and if anyone says lil wayne on their list they should be awarded negative eleventy billion points bc he is straight trash
Del Tha Funkee Homosapien
Lupe Fiasco
Nas
Jay-Z
Hieroglyphics
A Tribe Called Quest
De La Soul
Pharcyde
J-Dilla
2Pac
Notorious B.I.G
Mos Def
The Coup
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
C-Rayz Walz
Common
Kool Keith
MC Breed.........RIP
Was he the first to rap "I got my mind on my money/money on my mind/finga on the trigga/hand on my 9"? I know that Akon (in a Wyclef song) and someone else have quoted that line. Of course, the first part was in Gin n' Juice.
The hip hop I grew up on:
Biggie / 2Pac
Bone Thugs
Wu-Tang
Dr. Dre / Snoop Dogg
NWA
The stuff I listen to now (other than the above, which is still great):
T.I.
Young Jeezy
Nas
Weezy
Rick Ross
Blackalicious and Aesop Rock stand apart to me. Their awareness of the human condition and their commentary on our society are well informed. The whole Gorillaz Crew is sick as well.
I agree with the Nas crowd, Illmatic will forever be one of the best albums ever.
Jay Z .. 2pac .. B.I.G ... and as far as now days .. T.I and Wiz Khalifa who is under the radar .. he is from Pitt and his song "thrown" is a fresh sound .. he reminds me of Fiasco a bit
In no paticular order:
Wu-Tang
KRS-ONE
Outkast
Talib
Mos Def
Luda
and Saul Williams if he even counts
Ma$e - He's making another come back.
Too bad he didn't stick around...
He probably has 4 years of eligibility left, so maybe RR can sign him as a D-line recruit.
So i'm gonna go with 2pac, Big L, and most of Wu Tang.
Also, Cassidy, Blackstarr, and Tribe.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:18 PM ^
Big L is way under represented on this thread. Hands down, easily top 5 ever. Also Big Punisher should get some recognition. Fantastic ability probably top 12-15 all time.
Jay-Z- better than Nas if only for quite possibly the greatet rap album ever, his debut, Reasonable Doubt. No Nas song can equal "Can I Live" or "D'Evils," or the versatility on "22 two's" and oozing flow on "Cashmere Thoughts." There isnt a week song on the album. His use of different rhyme schemes, the (PRIMO!) beats, and his flow are amazing.
Biggie- as Jigga said if he aint the best hes the closest one. BIG is still unsurpassed in lyricism, flow, and rhyme. Easily better than Pac ever was, and its really impossible to name anyone that surpasses him.
Big L- fantastic flow and lyricism, even beats out Jay-Z (before Jigga had come into his own) on the infamous freestyle. Problem hes not such a great story teller, his images are not as strong. For example, his most famous narrative attempt, "the heist," is fairly week.
Wu Tang- as a group is unstoppable. 36 Chambers is one of the greatest rap albums ever, and thats ignoring the individual work.
Outkast- fantastic funk, best Southern rap available
Nas- amazing of course. As to the Jay-Z debate he has no one song or album that can equal Reasonable Doubt. His flow is choppier and less refined, as are his rhyme schemes. However, its really hard to beat his best stuff like the opening verse to N.Y. State of Mind.
Eminem-for those of you who dont remember or appreciate the D-12 monster, this man used to be outstanding.
Currently, for you Michigan kids Black Milk is worth checking out. Clipse, and the Re-Up Gang are a good listen.
August 16th, 2009 at 12:11 AM ^
Take out Jay-Z, and throw Tupac in there, and that would sum up my list. Actually, Mos Def should be included as well, as a freestyle rapper he's hard to beat.
Jay-Z
Biggie
Wu-Tang
Nas - (but i still maintain that I prefer Jay-z)
Grandmaster Flash (yes, i went there.)
Andre3000 (and Big Boi/Outkast)
Eminem (before he got too corny.)
J5
But some less spoken about rappers (some have already been mentioned):
Big Pun
Big L (man could free style.)
The Lox (Specifically Jada Kiss)
Lost Boyz (Renee is prototypical early 90s rap song.)
What ever happened to Canibus? I didn't necessarily like him, but found him at least intriguing.
August 15th, 2009 at 11:16 PM ^
Eminem
Jay Z
Outkast
Tupac
TI
Young Jeezy
Nas
August 15th, 2009 at 11:51 PM ^
would be may fave hands down.
After him I like Eminem - old school TRU, old Dre, old 2pac, and old No Limit (P and Silkk mostly).
Good under the radar hip hop would be: Killafornia and the album Bayani
August 16th, 2009 at 12:01 AM ^
but let me convert some of you plebes now. (Warning: song contains wacky politics and whatnot, still catchy as hell)
Yeah man, "universal truth is not measured in mass appeal!" Rock on!
[/goes back to playing NCAA 10]
August 16th, 2009 at 12:16 AM ^
Nice find
August 17th, 2009 at 12:31 PM ^
Rakim ( new album drops soon )
Krs 1
Nas- (illmatic and street dreams )
Lord Finesse
Big Daddy Kane
Kool G Rap
Common ( older stuff - Can I borrow a dollar,Ressurection)
The Roots ( BT is on pt- older stuff)
Masta Ace (ALHS one of my favorite albums ever)
ATCQ
Wu Tang
Sean Price
Outkast ( only SOuthernplayalistic and Atliens)
Jay Z ( just reasonable doubt)
Biggie
2 pac ( Me against the wrold best album of his )
Hieroglyphics ( casual , souls of mischief)
NWA
The Liks
AZ ( Pieces of a man album so underrated , tracks 7 and 9 )