Favourite might not be the best word. Most listenable.... or least hated. Whatever, just post a current mainstream artist, with a reason why. Also, it says current for a reason (eg: if you choose Eminem, you're talking about his 2006 songs).
For me, it's probably Ludacris. I love his music and I always have. These other rappers like Young Dro, Jibbs, Dem Franchise Boyz, and stuff like that is pure garbage.
Well I'll still have to say Outkast....dre sings for the most part now, but as far as "mainstream" artist are concerned Kast is still on top imo....that's one of the reasons why they're my favorite group....they know how to cross over to other audiences without following trends....here's a short list 1. Outkast or Gnarls Barkley 2. Jay Z - not his biggest fan, but he serves his purpose 3. Game - he acts like a cake off of the mic, but I enjoy his music 4. Chamillionaire - used to suck, but he stepped up his game on his last album 5. Ludacris - Luda is hit or miss with me.....sometimes he can make some really classic material and other times he can make "shake your money maker" 6. Kanye West - still needs to work on those rap skills, but his production makes his music listenable.
I'd probably say Ludacris. I'm listening to his new album right now, I think he changed his rapping too, less materialism. Songs like: Tell It Like It Is War With God Do Your Time Slap Runaway Love Freedom Of Preach are all lyrically better than the usual Ludacris stuff.
I'm still going with Busta Rhymes. He's always been one of my favourites, and even though his new album is a shadow of his former work, he brings something different to the mic than 87.526 % of the mainstream artists out there. Jay-Z's up there too, although he really gets repetitive in terms of his subject mater. Artists like Ludacris, DMX, etc. used to be great but their recent work is unlistenable for me.
I used to be a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE DMX fan, but he hasn't been good since Great Depression....there's only so many times you can bark, before it gets old.
<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'm still going with Busta Rhymes. He's always been one of my favourites, and even though his new album is a shadow of his former work, he brings something different to the mic than 87.526 % of the mainstream artists out there. Jay-Z's up there too, although he really gets repetitive in terms of his subject mater. Artists like Ludacris, DMX, etc. used to be great but their recent work is unlistenable for me.</div> Busta Rhymes and Ludacris, while they definitely know what they're doing on the mic and have a lot of flair, don't have the heart and soul that Jigga brings. If rapping didn't exist, they'd probably be stand-up comics. The real rappers to me are the guys who would be writers or serious filmmakers if there was no hiphop. Guys like Jay-Z, 2Pac, Black Thought, etc. they are coming from a real place with their music - Jay-Z sometimes fools around (big pimpin? give it to me? shudder) but when he sticks to his Marcy roots the man has soul. DMX has some heart, but a lot less of the musicality. I have to say I think Jay-Z overall is the best rapper since the history of rap! In terms of flow, rhymes, how many phrases he's coined, how many hits he has had, the whole package. and this is coming from somebody who has loved 2Pac, Biggie, Rakim, Black Thought, Ras Kass, EPMD, Tribe, Wu, anyone else you care to name. It is true that he repeats a lot of the same stuff, but that stuff sounds damn good coming out of his mouth and damn annoying out of other cats. he does it much more cleverly than the others. Still to this day. cockiness never sounded so good.
Young Hova. I've always been a fan, so it isn't surprising I have him on top. That's pretty much it to be honest. I'm not really feeling anyone out now... maybe Lupe Fiasco.
There's also Rhymefest. He had that single playing on T.V. for a little bit and I've always liked his lyrics.
Fabolous. He cooled off for a while, but he returned this summer with some hot tracks ... "Album coming late October/early November". I'm more of a underground guy though. I don't mind some of the mainstream music, but I love off mixtapes.
T.I, Ludacris, The Game. The compeititon level is really low in terms of actual SKILL nowadays, it's about who has the most catchiest beat and hook.
<div class="quote_poster">Laker_fan Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Lloyd Banks right now. I'm actually going to buy his album on Monday.</div> You don't want to do that. It's garbage. There's no club banger, no clearcut single in that album. Cake's my favorite song from the album, though it's a few months old from his last mixtapes. He has a few decent songs (Iceman is catchy and Help), but they're not that good for the most part.
I'm not sure if JR Writer is considered mainstream just yet, but it would be him, Chamillionaire, Youngbloodz and Dem Franchize Boyz.
<div class="quote_poster">P.A.P. Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Fabolous. </div> Ditto. He's probably the only "mainstream" rapper I listen to.
