OT: Top 5 Rappers

[MadDogRevival]

Rap got huge just a few years late for me to be all-in like a lot of folks. By the time it was really taking off, I was in grad school and super busy and not really catching much new music.
While not a huge rap fan, I have appreciated rap through the years, all the way up to recent times.
Regarding "best ever," why do so many people take these things as objective? It's really quite funny to me. Clearly everybody has different tastes. Why give somebody else crap about his/her top 5?
Regarding Eminem, he's going to polarize on any list. He's white in a black art. Some people will hate him for that, and some will love him for that. He won't be fairly assessed either way in this world - maybe in a few hundred years.

Even for music forms that I don't particularly like (e.g. Jazz), I generally understand the appeal. I see the talent. I understand that somebody else will find the music entertaining.

There's one exception to that. It's in rap.
It's Drake.
I've listened to a bunch of his stuff and there's not one song that I've listened to that compels me to think, "I understand why people would like that."
People can argue about rise and fall of rap and all that, and I don't know what meaning to give it in that regard.
I just know I can't figure it out. Certainly could be me.

 

[superjohn]

Rap got huge just a few years late for me to be all-in like a lot of folks. By the time it was really taking off, I was in grad school and super busy and not really catching much new music.
While not a huge rap fan, I have appreciated rap through the years, all the way up to recent times.
Regarding "best ever," why do so many people take these things as objective? It's really quite funny to me. Clearly everybody has different tastes. Why give somebody else crap about his/her top 5?
Regarding Eminem, he's going to polarize on any list. He's white in a black art. Some people will hate him for that, and some will love him for that. He won't be fairly assessed either way in this world - maybe in a few hundred years.

Even for music forms that I don't particularly like (e.g. Jazz), I generally understand the appeal. I see the talent. I understand that somebody else will find the music entertaining.

There's one exception to that. It's in rap.
It's Drake.
I've listened to a bunch of his stuff and there's not one song that I've listened to that compels me to think, "I understand why people would like that."
People can argue about rise and fall of rap and all that, and I don't know what meaning to give it in that regard.
I just know I can't figure it out. Certainly could be me.

Black art form but there are tons of great white rappers. Eminem was a struggling one, he had the talent but there are others who also had it, Dre made him.

 

[8893]

Black art form but there are tons of great white rappers. Eminem was a struggling one, he had the talent but there are others who also had it, Dre made him.

Dylan was arguably the first, black or white:

 

[superjohn]

Dylan was arguably the first, black or white:

I love Dylan but nah.

 

[Kemba'sYogurt]

Astroworld will be on repeat for the rest of the year.

What's your favorite song on the album? No Bystanders tops the list for me.

 

[polycom]

What's your favorite song on the album? No Bystanders tops the list for me.

sicko mode

 

[BlueMAB]

Dylan was arguably the first, black or white:

No he's not. It's not even arguable. Black musicians were rapping in blues songs 15 years before Dylan made that song. The blues were around long before 1965. Google Joe Hill Louis "Gotta Let You Go", and he may not be the first.

 

[Horatio]

Dylan was arguably the first, black or white:

Many have said that the combination of The Last Poets, George Clinton, Dolomite and Jazz fueled hip hop.

 

[uconngb]

Chicken Caesar Wrap
Buffalo Chicken Wrap
Classic Turkey Wrap
Tuna Wrap
Chicken Salad Wrap

None of those are even possible without Saran

 

[temery]

None of those are even possible without Saran

gas?

 

[superjohn]

No he's not. It's not even arguable. Black musicians were rapping in blues songs 15 years before Dylan made that song. The blues were around long before 1965. Google Joe Hill Louis "Gotta Let You Go", and he may not be the first.

African tribes were doing some form or rap if we really want to go down that road. Rap/hip-hop was born in the South Bronx at the start of the 70's.

 

[BlueMAB]

African tribes were doing some form or rap if we really want to go down that road. Rap/hip-hop was born in the South Bronx at the start of the 70's.

Yes, modern hip-hop started in the Bronx, but I thought we were talking about rapping. "Rapping" didn't start in the Bronx. And it damn sure didn't start with Bob Dylan

 

[uconngb]

gas?

Not sarin, you sadist!!

 

[superjohn]

Yes, modern hip-hop started in the Bronx, but I thought we were talking about rapping. "Rapping" didn't start in the Bronx. And it damn sure didn't start with Bob Dylan

Then why the hell did you reference Joe Hill Louis and not griots? By your strange definition rap music started like a thousand years ago in Africa.

 

[8893]

No he's not. It's not even arguable. Black musicians were rapping in blues songs 15 years before Dylan made that song. The blues were around long before 1965. Google Joe Hill Louis "Gotta Let You Go", and he may not be the first.

Fair points and I will fire up the google machine when I have a chance to give a listen. I don’t consider Dylan or rap to be blues, but as Wynton Marsalis says the blues are to great music as olive oil is to great food so I will reconsider after listening. I was thinking of phrasing when I referenced the Dylan tune, which hits my ear similar to rap.

 

[8893]

None of those are even possible without Saran

Wrap?

 

[T-Squared]

Grandmaster Flash.

*drops the mic*

 

[8893]

Yes, modern hip-hop started in the Bronx, but I thought we were talking about rapping. "Rapping" didn't start in the Bronx. And it damn sure didn't start with Bob Dylan

Then why the hell did you reference Joe Hill Louis and not griots? By your strange definition rap music started like a thousand years ago in Africa.

Guys, it’s a conversation and it could be an interesting one. No reason for anyone to get triggered.

 

[kobe]

this may the whitest thread of all time

 

[8893]

this may the whitest thread of all time

Problem?

Would it be better if we pretended to be something other than what we are?

 

[superjohn]

this may the whitest thread of all time

The thread was humming along nicely until 8893 proclaimed Bob Dylan may be the first rapper. He's not the only one, some wanksters have tried to proclaim Debbie Harry is the first rapper.

He means well but seriously???

 

[8893]

The thread was humming along nicely until 8893 proclaimed Bob Dylan may be the first rapper. He's not the only one, some wanksters have tried to proclaim Debbie Harry is the first rapper.

He means well but seriously???

Yes, seriously. I go by my ears, not by what I think might impress others.

Sorry, I thought it was a discussion. Didn’t mean to offend your impeccable rap credentials.

 

[8893]

And let me just say, Drake blows chunks.

 

[Lefty2one]

1. Rakim
2. Nas
3. Biggie
4. Posdnuos
5. ....

• Rakim is the only guy who has to be in the Top 5. What he did and when he did it; he is by far the most influential rapper in history. Stuff he wrote 30 years ago is still miles ahead of what most rappers ever did. He was so ahead of his time. There is no Nas, Biggie, Eminem, etc without him.
• Nas is Nas; your favorite rapper's favorite rapper. Illmatic is the best rap album ever made. Peak Nas > xyz.
• Pos is the most underrated rapper.
• Biggie was the complete package. Flow, lyrics, street + a mainstream element.

I've never been able to choose the fifth rapper. So many great possibilities: Big Pun, Guru, Q-Tip, Eminem, Black Thought, 2Pac, etc.

 

[superjohn]

Yes, seriously. I go by my ears, not by what I think might impress others.

Sorry, I thought it was a discussion. Didn’t mean to offend your impeccable rap credentials.

It doesn't offend me but it would certainly offend a lot of black people. It's like saying Elvis created rock music.

I know it wasn't your intent but...

 

[uconngb]

Wrap?

Someone actually got it!

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

And let me just say, Drake blows chunks.

I honestly don't get the Drake hate. I don't know if it's a pseudo macho thing or what. I'm not his biggest fan and no one should put him anywhere near an all time great list, but there's a place for his style within hip hop and he's got some songs that anyone who seriously claims to like hip hop can appreciate. I mean, we've got people shouting out Future and Tekashi 69 as all time greats and people are ______ on Drake. Bizarre.

 

[BlueMAB]

Guys, it’s a conversation and it could be an interesting one. No reason for anyone to get triggered.

I'm fine. @superjohn is the one triggered.

 

[BlueMAB]

Then why the hell did you reference Joe Hill Louis and not griots? By your strange definition rap music started like a thousand years ago in Africa.

Where did I define rap music?

You're going off the rails here. My point was, which very easily understood by the person it was addressed to, is that Bob Dylan wasn't anywhere close to being the first "rapper".

Modern hip-hop was not started because some kids in the Bronx learned about griots in school and became inspired, so that's a pretty good reason not to take it back that far. They listened to what their parents and grandparents listened to, and developed a new style of music. Let us know when you're done arguing with yourself. Have a beer and relax, it's friday.

 

[TheChamps990411]

I would go with big pun for best flow but biggie up there.

Drake is nowhere near top 5 for rapper. Very good nah

Pac
Biggie
Nas
Big l
Hov

Honorable mention:

Mos def
Guru
Ras kass (just put the 4 horsemen in there)
Ice cube
Snoop
Scarface
Rakim
Dre
Common
Talib
Budden
So many more before these new age bubblegum rappers

Finally. Someone who understands what a great emcee is.