Sure Mos Def and Kweli are great MCs...but they just don't have the "numero uno" factor about them. I don't consider selling records a measure for great quality hip hop...but popularity is a factor at the end of the day. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> 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.</div> I know they feel their lyrics...but all I'm saying is I don't feel the emotion-which kinda takes away from the "total package" aspect of an MC. I would not call BIG monotonous either...he has a deep, projecting voice (pause), hence the famous sounds people make from BIG, you know, "UHHHH" lol.
I don't think it should be. Rakim, KRS, Guru, etc. are ridiculously slept on by the majority of hip hop fans. It shouldn't be held against them, just because they don't get hype of a 2pac or B.I.G. In the end, their material is the only thing that counts.
I think most people who know hip hops roots and are well informed about the Genre have KRS-One and Rakim top 10 top 5 and I see Ra #1 a lot as well. It's all about the generation of fans you discuss it with...I doubt you'll find many 90s babys like me who will tell you Rakim, KRS, etc are the greatest...meanwhile I hardly ever see Guru in top 10s.
<div class="quote_poster">A.F. Venom Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Sure Mos Def and Kweli are great MCs...but they just don't have the "numero uno" factor about them. I don't consider selling records a measure for great quality hip hop...but popularity is a factor at the end of the day.</div> What is the "numero uno" factor then? Because Mos Def is one of the most well rounded emcee's in the game. I'm the same as you, in that record sales, or how many albums you have released doesnt factor into my assessment when calling some one a great emcee, I think that if you've got it, you've got it, if thats after one album, or 4, it doesnt matter to me. Popularity means jack to me aswell, I think thats a very weak area to take into consideration on a topic such as this one, it has very little to do with anything really, as I said earlier, if an emcee has "it", then they have it. <div class="quote_poster">A.F. Venom Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I know they feel their lyrics...but all I'm saying is I don't feel the emotion-which kinda takes away from the "total package" aspect of an MC.</div> Ok, who are some emcee's that you would say make you "feel" what they're saying in their delivery? I'm just interested to know. <div class="quote_poster">A.F. Venom Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I would not call BIG monotonous either...he has a deep, projecting voice (pause), hence the famous sounds people make from BIG, you know, "UHHHH" lol.</div> He was definatley monotonous, this is coming from one of the biggest B.I.G. fans you'll find. Like I said, he had a great mic presence, however his tone was rather boring. He had the 'deep voice' thing going for him like you said, but his tone was just as boring as Guru's. Although the great thing about Biggie, was he made you feel his emotion through his lyrics, and not through his delivery, at the end of the day I think that is a much better tool to have up your sleeve, and thats the type of thing Guru and Rakim work with too.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Ok, who are some emcee's that you would say make you "feel" what they're saying in their delivery?</div> There's a lot of MCs...Tupac, Jay, BIG, Ghost-GZA-RZA, Kanye, Em, Beanie Sigel, Ice Cube, Common, Nas (even though he can be a bit boring at times well), KRS, Kool G Rap, Dre 3000.... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">What is the "numero uno" factor then? Because Mos Def is one of the most well rounded emcee's in the game.</div> I think being #1 you have to be a great MC which Mos Definitely is....but the number one spot is for like a household name...lol I know yall are gonna get at this... Monotonous-Sounded or spoken in an unvarying tone. You can't tell me you can describe Biggie is that. I just don't hear it...because he varies his tone on various songs...look at a song like Gimmie The Loot or Things Done Changed... OT/EDIT: NTC, Common was just on Hot 97...and they asked him who he liked in the rap game right now...I'ma let you guess who he said amongst a few rapper....and I'm pretty sure this man knows his hip hop lol....
<div class="quote_poster">A.F. Venom Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">There's a lot of MCs...Tupac, Jay, BIG, Ghost-GZA-RZA, Kanye, Em, Beanie Sigel, Ice Cube, Common, Nas (even though he can be a bit boring at times well), KRS, Kool G Rap, Dre 3000....</div> Fair enough. <div class="quote_poster">A.F. Venom Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I think being #1 you have to be a great MC which Mos Definitely is....but the number one spot is for like a household name...lol I know yall are gonna get at this...</div> This doesnt make sense to me, because you're putting more emphasis on being known that how much talent you have. <div class="quote_poster">A.F. Venom Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Monotonous-Sounded or spoken in an unvarying tone. You can't tell me you can describe Biggie is that. I just don't hear it...because he varies his tone on various songs...look at a song like Gimmie The Loot or Things Done Changed...</div> No, you're right, those are good examples. I was wrong. I still think he has a rather boring voice, but you are right, he did switch up his tone here and there. <div class="quote_poster">A.F. Venom Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">OT/EDIT: NTC, Common was just on Hot 97...and they asked him who he liked in the rap game right now...I'ma let you guess who he said amongst a few rapper....and I'm pretty sure this man knows his hip hop lol....</div> Lil' Wayne? LOL Like I said, I dont care who comes out and says it, the dude is still garbage. I mean c'mon, you cant honestly tell me a guy who comes up with rhymes like: "I see she wearing them jeans that show her butt crack, My girls can't wear that why that's where my stash at" is good. I can name millions upon millions of emcees out right now 100 times better than Lil' Wayne is, or ever will be.
I am making a conservative list to start with and will re-arrange as everyone undoubtedly makes arguments for and against. In no particular order: Nas, Jay Z, Biggie, Kool G Rap, Rakim Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Pharaoe Monch, Common, Kanye 2Pac, Ice Cube, Easy E. That is as good of a breakdown as possible. Of course, you can't list everyone and a lot of GOOD mc's have been left off, but these are the GREAT ones for me!!!
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Lil' Wayne? LOL Like I said, I dont care who comes out and says it, the dude is still garbage. I mean c'mon, you cant honestly tell me a guy who comes up with rhymes like: "I see she wearing them jeans that show her butt crack, My girls can't wear that why that's where my stash at" is good. I can name millions upon millions of emcees out right now 100 times better than Lil' Wayne is, or ever will be.</div> Does Wayne have wack music? Yes. Does Wayne have good music? Yes. I'm not going to turn this to a Wayne thread. But my only point was real hip hop fans, and even real hip hop artists who have contributed heavily to the genre like Lil' Wayne. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> This doesnt make sense to me, because you're putting more emphasis on being known that how much talent you have.</div> I'm not putting more emphasis on being known, compared to how much talent you have. All I am saying is popularity should play a factor into who is the greatest of all time, not how great of an MC you are. Try to look at it like this. In anybodies top 10 rappers or whatever, most of the time you will have 10 very talented artists who have had high points and low points in their careers. At the end of the day, what separates 1 of those rappers from the rest of the pack? I think popularity can have a say from that standpoint. <div class="quote_poster">fatballer_10 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I am making a conservative list to start with and will re-arrange as everyone undoubtedly makes arguments for and against. In no particular order: Nas, Jay Z, Biggie, Kool G Rap, Rakim Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Pharaoe Monch, Common, Kanye 2Pac, Ice Cube, Easy E. That is as good of a breakdown as possible. Of course, you can't list everyone and a lot of GOOD mc's have been left off, but these are the GREAT ones for me!!!</div> What is Eazy doing in there? Yeah he is very important because he helped build the whole west coast thing, but as far as emceeing goes...you know he doesn't even write his own rhymes right?
<div class="quote_poster">A.F. Venom Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">What is Eazy doing in there? Yeah he is very important because he helped build the whole west coast thing, but as far as emceeing goes...you know he doesn't even write his own rhymes right?</div> Eazy did write his own rhymes. With NWA, D.O.C. and Cube did the ghostwriting, but after NWA broke up, Eazy wrote his own rhymes.
Just the fact that he didn't in the first place is enough reason for him not to be mentioned at all with the greatest MCs of all time.
<div class="quote_poster">A.F. Venom Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Just the fact that he didn't in the first place is enough reason for him not to be mentioned at all with the greatest MCs of all time.</div> Oh, your right, he isn't close to being the greatest MC of all time. He still doesn't get the proper respect he deserves IMO for his music and his impact.
<div class="quote_poster">Bobcats Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Oh, your right, he isn't close to being the greatest MC of all time. He still doesn't get the proper respect he deserves IMO for his music and his impact.</div> Eazy-E is very well respected for his contributions to the west coast, rightfully so..
I do know that earlier in the game, Eazy had his rhymes written, but his impact and the way he delivered really spoke to a lot of people and it struck a chord with me. I know everyone won't agree, but it's an opinion. I also would like to say T.I because he is like a midwest Jay Z but I am sure its too ealry in his career and the game has changed a lot (and people would crucify me, but hey if Lil Wayne's name appeared then everything is free game!!)
<div class="quote_poster">A.F. Venom Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not putting more emphasis on being known, compared to how much talent you have. All I am saying is popularity should play a factor into who is the greatest of all time, not how great of an MC you are.</div> I still disagree, because this then turns it into a popularity contest, rather than a measure of some ones lyrical ability. I mean should Tupac be the number one, because he had some decent lyrics and a massive following? I just think thats unfair on harder working emcee's who are more talented.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Sure Mos Def and Kweli are great MCs...but they just don't have the "numero uno" factor about them.</div> I agree with Kweli not having the number one factor, but Mos Def has what it takes to be up there, but his lack of material is what really hurts him.....if he had another album or two equivalent to Black on Both Sides he could definitely be considered the GOAT.
I like MC Dalek. He's top five for me right now. He doesn't have enough material out yet, but the way he's going he'll be up there soon.
Do we have to have a tournament for everything here? lol. Anyway, I'd be up for it, so long as its a reasonable crop of MC's, and not just "Fiddy Centz0rz!!1!, T.I!1!!! Yung Buckz!1!!"
