EDIT: If you HAD to chose..lol Pound for pound? I'm going with B.I.G. I don't think he has a bad song...and there isn't a song that he CAN'T do...and execute amazingly. You've got positive tracks, you've got crazy story telling tracks, you've got club friendly songs that still maintain ill lyrics, you got the female songs, you got the 'battle' type tracks where he just show off lyrically (ie Kick in the Door). Flow is on point...delivery of course, persona and swagger is there, versatility is there, his music is universal as well....the only thing Biggie couldn't have is longevity...but I still think he is the best to do it.
It's impossible to pick one guy as the greatest, but if I HAD to choose one guy who I think is the greatest, it would likely be Rakim or Guru.
NTC I honestly don't see what you see in Guru...even though I admit I haven't checked much for Gangstarr when I did dude had the charisma of a wall.
Like NTC said, you really can't pinpoint the greatest. But B.I.G. is definitely up there. He's the only rapper that can say "I'll suck on your daddy's dick!" and not get really get criticized. He also had a ridiculous flow, I must say. Some of my favorites: classic Jay-Z, classic Nas, Rakim, and Pac.
I've never really been the biggest B.I.G. fan, although I can't deny how good he was. My pick would be Rakim, although like everyone's said already, its all a bit subjective in the end.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think he has a bad song...and there isn't a song that he CAN'T do...and execute amazingly.</div> One thing Biggie never did was talk about politics or political subject matter in his songs....he made a couple of Julianni referrences but nothing really major.....but that's beside the point my favorite MC is Rakim, but imo the greatest of all time is KRS One when you look at everything.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Post there best songs. I want to get in on all this "old school rap" stuff.</div> Go get their albums...you'll be missing out if you just go by best song... if you listen to the albums you'll likely discover your own favorite tracks. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">One thing Biggie never did was talk about politics or political subject matter in his songs....he made a couple of Julianni referrences but nothing really major.....but that's beside the point </div> Well we can play by "ifs" if he would have stayed alive, he would have likely matured into including a little politics into his music. But not many mainstream MCs do it. Especially after the late 80s and early 90s. I haven't really gotten into KRS much either...from what I hear has release a lot of frisbees.
<div class="quote_poster">A.F. Venom Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">NTC I honestly don't see what you see in Guru...even though I admit I haven't checked much for Gangstarr when I did dude had the charisma of a wall.</div> There are ALOT of emcee's out there who lack charisma, Rakim is one of them also.
yeah I've seen Ra live and one thing I'll definitely say that Kris has over him is Mic presence....Rakim probably has him beat in the lyrics category and I think his flow is smoother, but Kris has a better voice. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> haven't really gotten into KRS much either...from what I hear has release a lot of frisbees.</div> him and Marley Marl actually just released "Hip Hop Lives" I've yet to pick it up, but from what I hear it's supposed to be pretty good.......I personally recommend the self titled "KRS One" and "Return of the Boom Bap". EDIT <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Post there best songs. I want to get in on all this "old school rap" stuff.</div> Rakim (since you're probably younger) When I Be on the Mic It's Been A Long Time After You Die 18th Letter New York (You Out There) if you like those then you can really get in to his older material like My Melody, Lyrics of Fury, As the Rhyme Goes On, Follow the Leader, Mahogany, Let the Rhythm Hit Em, The Punisher, I Ain't No Joke, Eric B. is President, Move the Crowd, Microphone Fiend, Shades of Black, Know-the-ledge,Casualties of War, etc.
<div class="quote_poster">NTC Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">There are ALOT of emcee's out there who lack charisma, Rakim is one of them also.</div> Yea...well I guess some people look into it more than others....cause I definitely like MCs to put feeling into their lyrics.
DREAM, I can't believe you said Eminem was top 30. I could say he was atleast in the top 20, maybe even top 10. What about songs like: Lose Yourself, The Way I Am, Guilty Conscience, Till I Collapse, Stan, Without Me, The Real Slim Shady? The third verse in Lose Yourself is unbelievable.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">DREAM, I can't believe you said Eminem was top 30. I could say he was atleast in the top 20, maybe even top 10. What about songs like: Lose Yourself, The Way I Am, Guilty Conscience, Till I Collapse, Stan, Without Me, The Real Slim Shady? The third verse in Lose Yourself is unbelievable.</div> When looking at lyrical abilities alone maybe yes, but when looking at the "entire" package I can't put him ahead of Rakim, KRS, Chuck D, Ice Cube, Ice T, 2 Pac, Andre 3000, Scarface, Common, Nas, Black Thought, Kool G. Rap, Ghostface and others...but that's just me. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">but I think Talib Kweli should be in the discussion. </div> I like Talib, but he's fell off.....he needs to get back with Hi-tek, because they work well together.
<div class="quote_poster">M Two One Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">MC Pee Pants, Chutney will agree.</div> Word. "I Want Candy" is a hot track. Invalid Video Link
<div class="quote_poster">A.F. Venom Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yea...well I guess some people look into it more than others....cause I definitely like MCs to put feeling into their lyrics.</div> And so do I. Guru and Rakim put feeling into their lyrics, they just lack the charisma or mic prescense of say an Eminem, KRS-One or Mos Def. It doesnt mean they're just there saying stuff for the sake of it, thats just the kind of people they are. You'll find that there is a greater majority of emcee's who lack charisma opposed to those who dont. Biggie for example had a good mic presence, although he was fairly monotonous himself. Prodigy and Havoc are other examples.
