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1715 Comments
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Let me dig deep in my record crate for some more names.
Kurtis Blow
Eric B. and Rakim
Mantronix
EPMD
Schooly D.
Ghetto Boys
X-Clan
A Tribe Called Quest
Poor Righteous Teachers
too many more to add 
SnoWhit3 replies on 12/25/2013 6:49 am:
Great list! Kurtis Blow falls in my list too (top 5)...And one I have seen recently LIVE! I was geeking myself the whole time! Speaking of, I think today is a good day for "Christmas Rapping"...not being that much into holiday music its a perfect fit for me! |
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1666 Comments
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You both named pretty much everyone that came to my mind, definitely the elite. 
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3063 Comments
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Melle Mel, KRS-1, Chuck D, Black thought, GURU, Big Daddy Kane and Jay- Z top my list
SnoWhit3 replies on 12/25/2013 12:36 pm:
I knew I would get a decent answer out of you!  |
ozworld1000 replies on 12/25/2013 8:14 pm:
I figured I'd give Melle Mel some love at #1 cuz the Message still rocks 30 yrs after the fact..and I some how forgot to put Rakim on my list, but he belongs there also..I'd make a separate list for my female rappers, with Roxanne Shante, MC Lyte, YO YO, Queen Latifah & Da Brat |
SnoWhit3 replies on 12/26/2013 12:46 am:
I was gonna say Roxanne Shante ... given that she was what I went as for Halloween, I dont know why I opted not to list her =-/ |
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3169 Comments
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I'm old school. These rappers and their associated songs, but especially these, are on my list and I deejayed them at house parties (I was a deejay and did a mobile disco back then):
1) Curtis Blow on Christmas ; how appropriate.
2) Sugarhill Gang ("Big Bank Hank" Jackson, Mike Wright, and "Master Gee" O'Brien) on Rapper's Delight
3) Melle Mel; sometimes
Merry Christmas
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1241 Comments
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Okay...
1) Rakim. If you write a rhyme so nice, nobody's willing to even think of attempting something similar for about 15 years, you're the best. ("I take 7 MCs, put 'em in a line...")
2) Big Daddy Kane.
3) Biggie Smalls.
4) Eminem.
Beyond these, it starts getting into personal preferences - for example, I like Kool Moe Dee, so it's hard for me to really give LL Cool J a ton of props. Anyway, my list in the second tier would include Kool Moe Dee, EST from Three Times Dope, Tupac, Kool G , Method Man (when he's on), Black Thought, Q-Tip, PMD, Nas (usually)... I'm sure I'm missing some.
bandit5_0 replies on 12/26/2013 5:35 am:
IMO, Kool Moe Dee was the only rapper to hold his own against Uncle L in a battle. |
WarrenG6 replies on 12/26/2013 4:47 pm:
Absolutely true. I have to admit that LL has talent, I just don't like probably 75% of what he puts out.
Abstract reminded me, I have to include Talib Kweli on my list. |
SnoWhit3 replies on 1/4/2014 8:31 pm:
Kool Moe Dee did aight against ♥LL ... a lot better than Canibus did =( ... D is technically better (speed rapping etc.) and has history on LL, able to call himself original old-school... but its hard to beat the G.O.A.T. ... I love D cause he's cocky and never backed down...the sign of a TRUE EMCEE!
Oh and Im hot for bald black dudes in glasses and D rocks em like nun otha! |
WarrenG6 replies on 1/4/2014 11:42 pm:
Oh really? Might have to go back to the shaved head then... at least I'll be bald, black and in glasses!!  |
SnoWhit3 replies on 1/5/2014 2:52 am:
SEND PICS! For real...My "ideal" (Im simple ):
#1: BLACK!
#2: BALD ... or atleast high and tight
and the nice, but optional
#3: GLASSES (shades work all the same)
Yes, that makes Kool Moe Dee spank bank material ... *drooling* he's still hella yum ... id drop to my knees no questions asked ... crap i hate when i talk myself into "hunger pains"...im pretty sure its not normal to get hardup talking hip hop |
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765 Comments
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Snoop Doggie Dogg needs to get a jobbie job... (from Gin & Juice.)
I have throw Beastie Boys out there for consideration. (Probably not the best but at least an honorable mention)
SnoWhit3 replies on 1/4/2014 8:36 pm:
Beastie Boys! Most definitely worth noting as a group (i was trying to keep to single acts otherwise my list woulda defo included)
...one of only a select few to make it into the RNR Hall of Fame...Some day hiphop will be fully accepted mainstream and making it into the HOF wont be such an event....as it was, this year, NWA and LL COOL J both nominated but no dice (again!) |
SnoWhit3 replies on 1/4/2014 11:44 pm:
AND if it wasnt for Beastie Boys (and AdRock) there would be no ♥ LL Cool J! =O and that would SUCK A BUSTED ONE for real |
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Other than Hov,
Pac
Biggie
Eminem
Rakim
Nas
Bun B
Beanie Siegel
Method Man
Outkast
Black star
Crooked I
Kendrick Lamar
Canibus
Jay Electronica
Big K.r.i.t.
No specific order a mesh of old and new all of these artist are G.O.A.T.s because IMO they are either very thought provoking or technical with their rhymes and flow. In a some cases both.
SnoWhit3 replies on 1/4/2014 8:26 pm:
GREAT LIST! Jay Electronica, KRIT...just a little bit of range there
As for Bun B...I just bought "Bun B's COLORING and activity BOOK" for my self-christmas present ... yeah im just a little obsessive bout hiphop ♫ |
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Sno, Kanye is Kanye, and I haven’t read the article you are speaking of, but how do you define greatest ever? There are some great artists listed so far, but is the determination by income generated, how much they advanced the art form, how long they have stayed on top of the game, or something completely subjective? Pick another genre like classical music, and you get into the same argument. Many will say it was Mozart, some will say Beethoven, other may argue it was Wagner, everyone has an opinion.
I am old enough to remember the beginning, an even up here in the Great White North, everyone who considered themselves “cool” (regardless of ethnicity) knew the words to the Sugar Hill Gang’s – Rappers Delight. This track got close to zero air play, and was heard mainly in roller skating rinks, clubs and on 12 D-Battery Boom Boxes. To many people my age that was their introduction to the genre. Has anyone penned as thought provoking a lyrical social commentary as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s – “The Message”, (really Melle Mel with Duke Bootee). I think if you talked to any music fan my age ( fan or not, no matter their ethnicity), they get and appreciate the importance of Melle Mel and this single song to the genre.
Let’s not forget the importance of RUN-DMC. I don’t think anyone moved the needle further and faster when it comes to widespread, cross cultural acceptance of the art form. I am not dismissing the abilities of Curtis Blow, Biggie, Tupac, Kool Moe Dee, Chuck D, NAS, KRS-ONE, Slick Rick, Rakim (who may have been the best lyrically, given the $ he an Eric B. worked with), L.L. Cool J, Snoop and $ Jay Z, and on and on and on; but depending on how you look at it, an argument could be made for a lot of the artists on the page. Until there is an agreed upon determination of how we are going to measure “the Best”, it’s all personal preference.
No discussion of – Hip hop music can be had without mentioning DJ Kool Herc and Afrikaa Bambaataa.
Find pleasure in giving pleasure
SnoWhit3 replies on 1/4/2014 8:55 pm:
Props for being the only one (that i saw so far...still reading) to mention the ORIGINATOR, Kool Herc!...kiss the ground he walks on everyday for bringing "his music" from Jamaica...we'd still be listening to disco if it wasnt for him!!!! ♥
And BAM's contributions to the religion of hip-hop and all 5 elements ... |
SnoWhit3 replies on 1/5/2014 2:16 am:
There are many ways to measure a rapper or any musician's talent beyond the bullshit dollars and cents of record sales (which if you know ANYTHING about music you know sales doesn't mean shit when it comes to talent). Beyond the standards such as technical ability, lyrical quality and flow the more exhaustive measures of an artist's true "greatness" includes categories such as social impact or cultural influence; how they perform live on stage, under the pressures of freestyling, or how they perform in a battle...testing skills that go deeper than the "on wax"performance; their creativity, use of language and how easily a "slower"audience can follow while entertaining the "faster"minds; AND don't forget SWAG!...Run-DMC (rest in peace Jam-Master Jay) is responsible for our societal sneaker fetish so bend over and kiss your AF1s and thank God for hip-hop!
As you can see we've had a wide range of responses just from our little group...ranging from the Godfather's of hip-hop to the up-and-comers...and this is out of a pool of artists in a genre thats only been around a short "40 years" (as the mainstream defines hip-hop).
[SIDE-TANGENT: I argue Cab Calloway emceeing "hi de ho" in the 1930's is just one example of mainstream hip-hop a solid 40+ years before Kool Herc, "Rapper's Delight", The Funky Drummer...and before Bambaataa put a name to this way of life: HIP HOP! Cassius Clay is the ORIGINAL battle-rhymer, tearing apart his competition with his lyrical ability! And its arguable that hip-hop has been in America almost as long as the descendants of African tribes have been! (if you know anything about "the dozens")]
Yes, post-disco/funk-1970's New York is responsible for what the conscious mainstream knows as modern music/djing/breaking/and graffitiing. Hip-hop was created in the streets of ♫ The South Bronx, The South South Bronx ♫...but they didnt invent it! It's an artform, its an attitude, it's a culture...it's the way people have expressed themselves across all races, ages, religions, countries and continents...
Hip hop is a way of life: its how we talk, walk, fuck, dance and dress...its how we live every second of every day...and its my religion.
I pray to the Gods for forgiveness for saying the Bronx didnt invent hip-hop |
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1385 Comments
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I think Wu-Tang deserves an honorable mention on this list..
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1- jay-z
2 - tupac
3 - ll cool j
4- KRS1
5 - Ice cube
grading critera longevity, impact to game and lyrical content of the time. no i did forget curtis blow epmd biggie eazy e(cube wrote the whole first album.. yea look it up)nas etc but this is my top 5 and why
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Nasty Nas hands down greatest of all time. Others are Rakim, Andre 3000, Common Sense and you named a bunch of people already
SnoWhit3 replies on 1/5/2014 12:37 pm:
Wow you must be old school, referring to him as "Common Sense"... ♥ his movies almost as much as his music |
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WTH? Lol these post need a like button! I agree with alot of the list made in here!
SnoWhit3 replies on 1/5/2014 2:21 am:
Its okay to agree...We dont mind ♥ |
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1715 Comments
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What - No VANILLA ICE????
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3063 Comments
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There were a few that had it but didn't live long enough to reach that iconic plateau... Like Big Pun.. I think he would've been an all time great, had he lived.. I'm sure there's a few more rappers that died way before there time that could've made some lists.. I would have love to see how biggie would've evolved as a rapper had he lived long enough..
SnoWhit3 replies on 1/6/2014 5:30 am:
IMHO...Jay-Z wouldnt be near what he is today |
bandit5_0 replies on 1/8/2014 5:16 am:
YES! No disrespect to Jigga, but he was always number two behind Biggie when they were both with the Bad-Boy label. When Biggie got killed (RIP) there was a huge void to fill. Jay-Z started his own label and the rest is history - well played but I'll always wonder if he would have been this popular if things had worked out differently |
WarrenG6 replies on 1/8/2014 9:10 am:
...mot to mention that Jay-Z would be nowhere without the MASSIVE push he got from Big Daddy Kane.
Side note, but if you haven't seen it, check out "Something From Nothing: The Art of ". Good documentary with some fascinating conversations about rhyming. My favorite exchange:
Ice-T: You know, a lot of rappers these days don't write their rhymes down.
Treach: Yeah, you can tell. |
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Adding to WarrenG6's comment on record sales/quality
RECORD SALES: a number that indicates the quantity of "records" sold (duh right?) AND NOTHING MORE!! Im NOT saying a top-selling album is shitty based on numbers alone--Im saying one has nothing to do with the other! The fact is the bulk of sales are made by "music consumers" (my term for the average bullshit music listener) whose opinions are based on current popularity...of an industry that force-feeds by controlling promotion, airplay, and spin...
Vanilla Ice's "To The Extreme" and MC Hammer's "Please Hammer, Dont Hurt Em" are among the best-selling hip-hop albums EVER (not that anyone admits to it) easily outselling:
Notorious B.I.G.'s "Ready to Die"
N.W.A.'s "Straight Outta Compton"
Run-DMC's "Raising Hell"
Public Enemy's "Fear of a Black Planet
Eric B. & Rakim's "Paid In Full"
Boogie Down Productions "Criminal Minded"
Tupac Shakur's "Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z."
and Jay-Z's "Reasonable Doubt" ... COMBINED!!!
Im not knocking albums or artists, or the people who buy them...Im not saying that a high-selling album is junk or that industry kitsch isnt worth listening to (I ♥ one-hit wonders)...Im not even saying people have to care whether an album is technically proficient or straight up crap...What I am saying is that IF you do, dont judge "greatness" based on how many units it pushed!
SnoWhit3 replies on 1/7/2014 5:38 am:
Just FYI: Im not hating on Vanilla Ice (I've dogged him a lot recently). I personally hated that crap back in the day and still do, but whatever...
As for Hammer, I didnt buy that one either but Im Cali-bred from day 1 and ride-or-die for outta the yay (SF/Oakland)...and cuddie's no exception! |
abstractche replies on 1/7/2014 9:35 pm:
Sno you are true bay area bred! lol Im so mad I didnt kick it with you at least once when I was livin out in the DFW. We could have had a lot of fun! LOL. (and I mean that beyond the sheets lol) as for the comment I couldnt agree more! |
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This question is like the generational question who is the best Basketball player or sports ICON. It is generational and what you see and hear from your life time molds your decision. A lot of the artists listed here are greats and paths ways for other artist. They are all great some more lyrically gifted than others and can change words into stories, but great non the least. Most of the club music today is garbage, but the fans are un-loyal so the artist are short lived. Long live the true artist of Hip Hop, or any other genere of music!
abstractche replies on 1/7/2014 9:53 pm:
For the most part you're right brotha. but I think thats a big problem with a lot of people, society in general. We cling to what's good for "us" and typically reject or ignore anything outside the confines that comfort zone. I love hip hop and constantly dig for new artist to take the craft to the next level which is why I named a few new artist in my list. Skill is what should be honored and praised in the industry but for the most part in this faze of hip hop its "swag" which sucks because there is no real substance in it. based on swag is completely void of development or constructive achievement. I grew up during the golden era of hip hop and I could not nor would I ever reject the pioneers of the culture but lets just be honest, the technicality is lacking. If any of those rhymes were even heard in a freestyle cypher among amateurs you wouldn't say the rhymes were really compelling. thats not to say that it sucked its just not the gold standard anymore, the bar was raised.
Not to long ago the ability to read and write was a big deal... now if you cant its basically looked down upon. Why? because the standard changed.
In all things, we should never forget but always look forward to something new. |
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1241 Comments
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[image]
I didn't even make this one myself!
bandit5_0 replies on 1/15/2014 8:17 pm:
LMFAO - good one! |
khuXBFXM8u replies on 1/15/2014 9:10 pm:
Love that! |
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Greatest Rakim...but these guys top the lists too
Alive...Nas and Eminem
Dead...Tupac
But i have to give it up to LLCoolJ..cause of longevity and still makes hits
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Currently...Jay Z n Eminem(his new cd is crazy)
Tupac and Biggie etc. will always be some of the greats. Tough to nail down one
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1543 Comments
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If I had to come up with the Top 5 greats, that would be easy. Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, Dylan...and Dylan. Because he spits hot fire!
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3 Comments
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1. Rakim
2. Biggy
3. Mos Def
4. Talib Kweli
5. Krs One
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