Okay dwell, that's all you had to say. I'll put Rakim on the list so you'll be happy. I'll also add ODB, Slick Rick, and Douggie Fresh on the list. I'm staying away from groups, so PE isn't getting put up and Flava Flav wasn't really a rapper... he was more of a hype man.
klispic, you're close to being owned by dwell on that one. And before you start lashing out in my direction, I am probably the biggest advocate of real hiphop (including independent/underground) that you'll ever come across, and am part of the Boston hiphop community myself (that's right, helped start a label in '98 and still producing now).
Your question is inherently flawed. The majority of the absolute best lyricists ever were not well known and therefore will probably not be the "biggest influence" on the genre. Why is Jermaine Dupri on this list, but not Big L? Tupac has legions of zealots behind him, and was certainly a very prolific artist, but IMO is not the end-all of rappers from a lyrical/musical standpoint. And what did MC Ren do on his own to warrant being on this short list? I own "Shock of the Hour" and actually listened to it recently when I bought my beater truck with only a cassette deck... not classic. And ODB just now being added to this list shows that this has nothing to do with greatness. Someone's favorite rapper, sure, but come on now. This should be titled "what rappers do you like?"
This question is often asked and will never be answered, certainly not with one definitive rapper standing alone. And definitely not with half the cats listed here. Sorry.
- Oct 10, 1999
- 31,348
- 12,843
- 136
Continuing, influential is a tough one.
If influential means changing the way the public at large looks at rap, rappers like Run DMC, NWA, and Eminem would be the most influential.
If it means changing the way rap sounds, then you'd have to look toward rappers like Jay-Z who ushered in the stupid "I've got lots of money" phase of rap.
If it means changing the way rap fans look at rap, etc.
I'm not a huge fan of the genre but some of my favorite tunes are rap, go figure eh? Favorite rapper was Biggie, Eminem's a close second.
Well, to all of the a$$holes that pick apart a simple poll... I don't care what any of you say. I'm not going to sit here and argue w/ you, just vote and get off the thread.
meltdown75
Lifer
- Nov 17, 2004
- 37,548
- 7
- 81
good thread - where would you guys rate Kanye West, I know he is a newer rapper but he is obviously talented...
Young MC gets an honourable mention from me!
Young MC gets an honourable mention from me!
Notorious BIG had the sickest rhymes. Tupac was nothing in comparison.
Tupac may be legendary and provocative,
Eminem may have the masses of white youth,
Ludacris, Lil Jon, 50 Cent, etc may have the sales and pop titles,
Rakim, Eazy, Dre may have laid ground work,
KRS-One, K-OS, Mos Def, Black Eyed Peas, and others may be "socially aware" rappers,
...but Notorious BIG was easily the best in terms of rhyme and flow.
Tupac may be legendary and provocative,
Eminem may have the masses of white youth,
Ludacris, Lil Jon, 50 Cent, etc may have the sales and pop titles,
Rakim, Eazy, Dre may have laid ground work,
KRS-One, K-OS, Mos Def, Black Eyed Peas, and others may be "socially aware" rappers,
...but Notorious BIG was easily the best in terms of rhyme and flow.
hahah, yeah for real, and besides, the OP was trying to add some variety to the post. I sincerely doubt that anyone would pick 50 cent. I mean he is mildly entertaining but he is neither influential, nor an extraordinary rapper. For me, I think most influential would be Tupac, and for best lyricist I'd have a toss up between Nas and eminem, although they have very diffferent styles. Tupac also had great lyrics, but I think Nas has him in that respect.
hey man, make fun of him all you want, he stuck by his guns and produced "clean" music. And he is pretty talented, as an entertainer...he can do it all.
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