Greatest rapper of all time

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klispic

Member
Feb 19, 2005
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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.
 

AStar617

Diamond Member
Sep 29, 2002
4,983
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Originally posted by: dwell
Originally posted by: klispic
Hey dwell, do us all a favor and don't post here anymore. It is obvious you're not a fan of hip-hop.
I am clearly a fan of hip-hop. I am not a fan of RAP. Half your list is gimmick rappers. Where's Rakim?

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.
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
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Originally posted by: b0mbrman
Originally posted by: klispic
Which do you see filling each spot, b0mbrman?
Hmmm. Gut reaction, I'd go with Tupac...
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.
 

Gurck

Banned
Mar 16, 2004
12,963
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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.
 

klispic

Member
Feb 19, 2005
187
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0
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
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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! :p
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
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Originally posted by: klispic
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.
Yikes...I'm just saying "influential" can have a few different meanings :(
 

Schrodinger

Golden Member
Nov 4, 2004
1,274
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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.
 

DaiShan

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
9,617
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Originally posted by: bapace
Woah, someone actually questioned Eazy E? Damn, you must be a new school "hip-pop" head. Let me guess....you like ja rule, benzino, cash money, master p? hahahaha

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.
 

preslove

Lifer
Sep 10, 2003
16,754
64
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Originally posted by: klispic
Hey dwell, do us all a favor and don't post here anymore. It is obvious you're not a fan of hip-hop.

No, what's obvious is that you don't know good hip hop. The rappers he listed all suck.
 

murphy55d

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
11,542
5
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Originally posted by: cyclohexane
It's gotta be Nas, none of that "pop rap" BS

If you asked who the best rapper was today, I think Nas would be the choice hands down. A least when it came to anyone who was at least partially mainstream.
 

mAdD INDIAN

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
7,804
1
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Originally posted by: DaiShan
Originally posted by: xXped0thugXx
will smith?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

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.