Who Do You Think Is The Best Rapper Ever?

Captain Awesome · 03-24-2010, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pourmeanother

I'm sure Captain Awesome has an answer for that. It'll be something like "in-line rhyme and alliteration and double entendre and anemia" and... I don't know, he can beat that dead horse for you...

Rap is all about lyricism, it's just modern day poetry. Whether you want to accept that or not is entirely up to you but it is fact. There's no need to feel intimidated by my knowledge on lyricism. I may be superior to you but you shouldn't fear me.

Some rappers sound good and make catchy songs others are actually technically good. Just like Jimi Hendrix was technically great at playing the guitar where as Richie Sambora (from bon jovi) isn't technically great but he makes good sounds/catchy music.

Roemilca · 03-24-2010, 08:04 AM

Right now it's between GZA, Eminem, and Jedi Mind Tricks. Jedi Mind Tricks has some pretty ****ing amazing lyrics.

Sparky · 03-24-2010, 03:06 PM

Lyrically, Doom is my current favorite.

Andre 3000, Rakim, Del, Pharoah Monch. I can't choose a "best", just too many good mc's.

Freebase Dali · 03-24-2010, 10:55 PM

I like Aesop's lyrics the most. Just so much to dive into and swim around in and try not to drown in. It's not layman crap, and you can get more than one thing out of it every time you listen. I guess I like that sorta abstract flow that gives you many layers to think on, instead of just punch-line after punch-line.

MF Doom sounds good, I love his voice, and he's got really good story-weaving skills, but his lyrics aren't very insightful. They're clever though.

I like Apathy's lyrics a lot... very clever. I love hearing him with Celph-Titled too... both of them together are ridiculous.

But yea, I still gotta go with Aesop Rock.

The Ice Plant · 03-25-2010, 09:59 AM

Biggie is the best of all time. People nowadays sell him short because he only made two albums and died at the age of 24. Jay-Z is great, but his entire career essentially has been dedicated to verses centered around B.I.G. quotes. That isn't meant as a diss either, because Jay would admit as much.

Nobody comes close to Biggie's combination of flow, wordplay, and charisma/presence (except Big Daddy Kane in the late eighties). His versatility also is underrated; he can make a socially conscious (and extremely angry) track like Things Done Changed, an unbelievably clever thug rap like Gimme the Loot, and a catchy "player" rap like Big Poppa, put them all on the same album, and sound credible doing all three. The rest of Ready to Die is fantastic as well, probably the best performance of all time by a solo rap artist.

To repeat, the only reason Biggie isn't universally recognized as the best ever is his relative lack of material compared with the artists he's being compared to.

Jester · 03-28-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

Rap is all about lyricism, it's just modern day poetry. Whether you want to accept that or not is entirely up to you but it is fact. There's no need to feel intimidated by my knowledge on lyricism. I may be superior to you but you shouldn't fear me.

Some rappers sound good and make catchy songs others are actually technically good. Just like Jimi Hendrix was technically great at playing the guitar where as Richie Sambora (from bon jovi) isn't technically great but he makes good sounds/catchy music.

lol @ only valuing technical capabilities.

Captain Awesome · 03-28-2010, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jester

lol @ only valuing technical capabilities.

I didn't say I only value technical capabilities. I said good lyricist = good rapper.

Big L, great lyricist but I dislike all of his music. Not because he isn't a good rapper but because I didn't enjoy the topics he chose to speak about and overall just couldn't get into it. But he's still a great rapper because...yep, you guessed it. He's a great lyricist.

Ludacris = far below average lyricist. Weak rapper. But still highly entertaining, good flow, nice rhythm, catchy hooks and humorous topics and punchlines.

Jester · 03-28-2010, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

I didn't say I only value technical capabilities. I said good lyricist = good rapper.

Big L, great lyricist but I dislike all of his music. Not because he isn't a good rapper but because I didn't enjoy the topics he chose to speak about and overall just couldn't get into it. But he's still a great rapper because...yep, you guessed it. He's a great lyricist.

Ludacris = far below average lyricist. Weak rapper. But still highly entertaining, good flow, nice rhythm, catchy hooks and humorous topics and punchlines.

lol @ thinking the only thing that makes someone a good lyricist is their technical capabilities

Captain Awesome · 03-29-2010, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jester

lol @ thinking the only thing that makes someone a good lyricist is their technical capabilities

care to elaborate? what else makes you a good lyricist if it isn't lyrical ability?

Jester · 03-29-2010, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

care to elaborate? what else makes you a good lyricist if it isn't lyrical ability?

lol @ implying that lyrical ability is only technicality

03-24-2010, 08:04 AM	#322 (permalink)
Roemilca Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 412	Right now it's between GZA, Eminem, and Jedi Mind Tricks. Jedi Mind Tricks has some pretty ****ing amazing lyrics. __________________

03-24-2010, 03:06 PM	#323 (permalink)
Sparky not really Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,223	Lyrically, Doom is my current favorite. Andre 3000, Rakim, Del, Pharoah Monch. I can't choose a "best", just too many good mc's.

03-24-2010, 10:55 PM	#324 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	I like Aesop's lyrics the most. Just so much to dive into and swim around in and try not to drown in. It's not layman crap, and you can get more than one thing out of it every time you listen. I guess I like that sorta abstract flow that gives you many layers to think on, instead of just punch-line after punch-line. MF Doom sounds good, I love his voice, and he's got really good story-weaving skills, but his lyrics aren't very insightful. They're clever though. I like Apathy's lyrics a lot... very clever. I love hearing him with Celph-Titled too... both of them together are ridiculous. But yea, I still gotta go with Aesop Rock.

03-25-2010, 09:59 AM	#325 (permalink)
The Ice Plant Groupie Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: The Local Speakeasy Posts: 12	Biggie is the best of all time. People nowadays sell him short because he only made two albums and died at the age of 24. Jay-Z is great, but his entire career essentially has been dedicated to verses centered around B.I.G. quotes. That isn't meant as a diss either, because Jay would admit as much. Nobody comes close to Biggie's combination of flow, wordplay, and charisma/presence (except Big Daddy Kane in the late eighties). His versatility also is underrated; he can make a socially conscious (and extremely angry) track like Things Done Changed, an unbelievably clever thug rap like Gimme the Loot, and a catchy "player" rap like Big Poppa, put them all on the same album, and sound credible doing all three. The rest of Ready to Die is fantastic as well, probably the best performance of all time by a solo rap artist. To repeat, the only reason Biggie isn't universally recognized as the best ever is his relative lack of material compared with the artists he's being compared to.