Top 10 Rap Artists

Phantom Limb · 04-08-2011, 11:59 AM

When you listen to a rap album, at least 50% needs to be attributed to the producer. A great producer can make an average emcee sound great, but a great emcee will have a very difficult time making an average producer sound any better than that: average. The beat provides the mood and energy (at least a portion of it) to a song and should not be discounted when listing your favorite rap artists, because chances are, quite a few of your favorite rappers are your favorite because of the beats they use. Without the guy behind the MPC, all you'd have is spoken word poetry.

djchameleon · 04-08-2011, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abearmauledme

When you listen to a rap album, at least 50% needs to be attributed to the producer. A great producer can make an average emcee sound great, but a great emcee will have a very difficult time making an average producer sound any better than that: average. The beat provides the mood and energy (at least a portion of it) to a song and should not be discounted when listing your favorite rap artists, because chances are, quite a few of your favorite rappers are your favorite because of the beats they use. Without the guy behind the MPC, all you'd have is spoken word poetry.

I disagree.

When coming up with your list of your favorite rapper, you should consider their pure skill alone as if they didn't have a beat in the background. If he was rocking his lyrics acapella. Would he still sound good based off of his flow/cadence, lyrical content and overall skill.

~~[MERIT]~~ · 04-08-2011, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abearmauledme

When you listen to a rap album, at least 50% needs to be attributed to the producer. A great producer can make an average emcee sound great, but a great emcee will have a very difficult time making an average producer sound any better than that: average. The beat provides the mood and energy (at least a portion of it) to a song and should not be discounted when listing your favorite rap artists, because chances are, quite a few of your favorite rappers are your favorite because of the beats they use. Without the guy behind the MPC, all you'd have is spoken word poetry.

I disagree. A rapper should be judged based on his lyrical content, delivery, flow, cadence, etc. The beat that he raps over has no bearing on his rapping skills.

In the early days of hip-hop, it was all about the DJ. The rappers where just there to make the DJ look good. But as the genre progressed, and now anyone can make a beat from their basement, the skills that the rapper bring to the table are clearly more sought after than the DJ's.

Thom Yorke · 04-08-2011, 08:06 PM

I put more emphasis on lyrics/flow than producing but I don't disregard it at all. It's still music afterall. Producing may not have any influence on their lyrical skills, but it definitely has an effect on how good of an overall artist they are, in my opinion. Otherwise, you're just talking about how good of a poet they are.

"now anyone can make a beat from their basement"

Anyone can write lyrics in their basement too. Not everyone can write good lyrics though, just like not everyone can make good beats.

djchameleon · 04-09-2011, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thom Yorke

I put more emphasis on lyrics/flow than producing but I don't disregard it at all. It's still music afterall. Producing may not have any influence on their lyrical skills, but it definitely has an effect on how good of an overall artist they are, in my opinion. Otherwise, you're just talking about how good of a poet they are.

"now anyone can make a beat from their basement"

Anyone can write lyrics in their basement too. Not everyone can write good lyrics though, just like not everyone can make good beats.

That is what we ARE talking about. How good of poet they are and how they delivery their poetry.

If we wanted to have a top 10 list that included production with everything it would have to have a different name. Rap performer maybe? When I think of this list, I'm thinking mostly of just the rapper himself and his skills alone now how he sounds being assisted by a producer.

Phantom Limb · 04-09-2011, 01:21 PM

Actually it's the "Top 10 Rap Artists", we should be taking into account all of the artists- including producers- who make rap music.

Phzed · 04-09-2011, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abearmauledme

Actually it's the "Top 10 Rap Artists", we should be taking into account all of the artists- including producers- who make rap music.

Rap isn't a genre of music, it's a vocal technique.

You'd be right, if the title was Top 10 Hip-Hop artists, or Top 10 Rap Music artists, but it isn't.

jhanegyle · 04-11-2011, 03:28 AM

Roots Manuva
A Tribe Called Quest
The Roots
Marxman
Incubus
Ludwig von Beethoven
Tupac
Method Man
GZA
Jay Z

Mrd00d · 04-11-2011, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jester

Aceyalone and Aesop Rock are both >>> Nas and Eminem

Let Dirty rofl all he wants, I agree whole heartedly. Eminem is child's play to even Aceyalone, let alone Aesop Rock. Nas seems good, but I can't get behind him. Illmatic may be legendary, but I'd take Labor Days any day.

Sparky · 04-11-2011, 06:51 PM

I agree as well, but i doubt Labor Days, or whatever Aceyalone has done(is he the dude with the crazy nasally voice btw?) will have the staying power of illmatic or whatever eminem fans say is his best album.

geez, that comment was way less punctual then i hoped.

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04-08-2011, 11:59 AM	#621 (permalink)
Phantom Limb Chocolate Homunculus Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 1,293	When you listen to a rap album, at least 50% needs to be attributed to the producer. A great producer can make an average emcee sound great, but a great emcee will have a very difficult time making an average producer sound any better than that: average. The beat provides the mood and energy (at least a portion of it) to a song and should not be discounted when listing your favorite rap artists, because chances are, quite a few of your favorite rappers are your favorite because of the beats they use. Without the guy behind the MPC, all you'd have is spoken word poetry.

04-08-2011, 08:06 PM	#624 (permalink)
Thom Yorke Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,848	I put more emphasis on lyrics/flow than producing but I don't disregard it at all. It's still music afterall. Producing may not have any influence on their lyrical skills, but it definitely has an effect on how good of an overall artist they are, in my opinion. Otherwise, you're just talking about how good of a poet they are. "now anyone can make a beat from their basement" Anyone can write lyrics in their basement too. Not everyone can write good lyrics though, just like not everyone can make good beats.

04-09-2011, 01:21 PM	#626 (permalink)
Phantom Limb Chocolate Homunculus Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 1,293	Actually it's the "Top 10 Rap Artists", we should be taking into account all of the artists- including producers- who make rap music.

04-11-2011, 03:28 AM	#628 (permalink)
jhanegyle Groupie Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 8	Roots Manuva A Tribe Called Quest The Roots Marxman Incubus Ludwig von Beethoven Tupac Method Man GZA Jay Z

04-11-2011, 06:51 PM	#630 (permalink)
Sparky not really Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,223	I agree as well, but i doubt Labor Days, or whatever Aceyalone has done(is he the dude with the crazy nasally voice btw?) will have the staying power of illmatic or whatever eminem fans say is his best album. geez, that comment was way less punctual then i hoped.