Let me be the first for you then: I've never liked Pac. Not when he was alive and making music, and not now. Biggie is good, but nowhere near Ice Cube for me.

I like Biggie more than both because he was a superior rapper, but 2Pac has always been a slightly above average rapper who got lucky.

Yeah, I don't rate the guy that much either, but what I mean is nobody got the chance to say he sold out, or his career fell off.
No one can say, Pac's not that great coz he only makes pop tracks now or coz he starred in some bad films.

I agree with that point in general, but Biggie did "sell out" on many tracks. Lot of mainstream club bangers on both albums.

You can't fall off if you start off sucking. ;)

Yeah, although that was part of his gimmick.
Ready to Die and Life After Death are two of the most overrated albums of all time in my eyes.
So much filler!

Ice Cube - 4
Dr. Dre - 1

I could listen to The Chronic all day and not get tired of it man. Dre is way smoother than Cube ever wishes he could be.

i vote for dr.dre

Ice cube is a better rapper..but Dre has been doing it since the mid 80's! he has managed to stay relivant and has been at the top of the game for a long long time he is one of the greatest producers ever..and also gave eminem, 50 cent, snoop dogg a platform...who has ice cube ever bought out..da lench mob :s

ice cube wouldnt even have a career if it wasnt for dre

How does that make Dre different? Ice Cube has been doing it since the mid 80s too.

I don't really like either of these guys :/

Dre produced some classic albums but he was never anywhere near Ice Cube's rap skill level. Both have made a lot of terrible shit over the last several decades but Amerikkka's Most Wanted and Death Certificate are two great albums that I still love. Also, Ice Cube's vocal delivery is pretty much the high point of N.W.A while, as a rapper, Dre was always passable at best.

Ice Cube: 5
Dr. Dre: 2

Out.

You don't like old school Ice Cube?
Why not?

Ice cube made his name with NWA but Dre was already a name with the world class wrecking crew plus cube dosnt even rap anymore he just makes lame comedies and hasnt bought out a record for about 10 years

except from his album in 2006. and 2008, oh and 2010 as well.

Ice Cube: 6
Dre: 2

Again, not the biggest fan of either, but slight nod to IC.

Let's get to the good stuff!

Ice Cube advances. Sorry for the delay guys, here's the next tie.

Q-TIP

BIG DADDY KANE

Tough call. I'd actually say they're equal as MCs, but I prefer Q-Tip's music so I'm voting for him.

Q-Tip: 1
Big Daddy Kane: 0

Q-Tip: As revered an MC is he is a producer, Q-Tip was responsible for the formation, production and the majority of the MC'ing on the critically acclaimed first three albums of A Tribe Called Quest's discography as well as playing major parts in their latter two releases.
He has also released three solo albums and is widely considered one of the pioneers of alternative hip-hop; a master pioneer and lyricist.







Big Daddy Kane: Highly regarded amongst those in hip-hop as one of the greatest of all time, BDK influenced many artists with his gimmicky persona during the late 80's, early 90's.
BDK started his career in the group Juice Crew before earning notoriety as a battle rapper.
His first two albums are largely considered classics, but BDK has managed to stay relevant up to the present day with many a collaboration with other artists.

I just listened to BDK this weekend, I love the guy but i'd have to give my nod to Q-tip. His smooth flow along with those bad ass jazz loops can't be touched by BDK. I love that Tribe sampled a Bill Cosby song who I always thought could have been a great jazz musician.

Strange thing is I always preferred Phife when it came to Tribe. 8 million stories is my jam man.

My vote is Q-tip.

I think BDK is a better MC, but Q-Tip makes FAR superior music, and isn't too shabby on the mic.

Q-Tip: 3
Big Daddy Kane: 0

I'm going to actually have a go at BDK.
I don't get it. His music has never spoken to me and has always come across as a bit gimmicky, although I appreciate his talents, I find it hard to be interested in what he's saying as I just can't connect with him as an artist.
Plus, I think A Tribe Called Quest have produced far better material than BDK's over-hyped records ever did.

Q-Tip 4
BDK 0

I'm not super into him but I will say I saw him live before and he was really good.

the abstract > blackanova.

Kind of curious how this vote would have went if it was Phife against Q.

Q Tip is a boss.

hmmmm would probably still be Q-Tip for me.

I've got love for both, but I've gotta go with Big Daddy Kane. He wasn't as smooth or refined as Q-Tip, but he was a pioneer and went hard with his own style when not many others did. Without him blazing that trail, there would be no Q-Tip.

Q-Tip.

The 5'0"-er is leagues ahead of Tip in the lyrics department for me. No one in the commercial "backpacker/indie/jazz hop" scene of the late 80's-early 90's can come close to Phifer.

Choosing between Phife and Q-Tip would be hard for me. I really don't like Q-Tip's solo music, but he ruled ATCQ.

RE the matter at hand, I really hate voting against Big Daddy Kane because he's more of a pioneer, has a cooler voice and has continued to do good work since his heyday (here's one example):



But still, Q-Tip wins.

Q-Tip: 7
Big Daddy Kane: 0 :(

I know oojay went with BDK

That's 1 for BDK and 8 or so for Q-Tip

Q-Tip blazes it. Next tie will see a forum favourite do battle with a former band member turned tax evader. Don't miss it.

MF DOOM

MF DOOM: Before some smartass says actually his name's just 'doom' now, I know. He will forever retain that MF to me.
Alike Slick Rick, MF was born in England before applying his trade in the US.
Doom was a significant figure in underground hip-hop for several years before making his name in many collaboarative efforts including DangerDoom (With producer Dangermouse of Gnarles Barkley fame) and Madvillian (With Madlib)
He's released 6 studio albums as well as a hell of a lot of mixtapes and collaborative efforts under a variety of different gimmicks.
He's largely recognized by those in the know as one of the finest MC's of the current generation.

Lauryn Hill: Starting her rapping career as part of the popular group The Fugees gaining worldwide acclaim after second album The Score went multi platinum launching her career.
Her first solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill reached unprecedented popularity sparking a wide range of awards and later controversy of it was claimed Lauryn Hill had said 'she would rather her kids starve than white people buy her records'
Hill has maintained popularity regardless of which pursuit she were to take up and has provided an influence for many artists in the neo-soul movement who cite Hill as the main reason for many of them getting into music.

Lauryn Hill is kind of boring. Doom is kind of amazing.

Hill: 0
Doom: 2

Jans, all caps when you spell the man's name... :D

Hill: 0
DOOM: 3

doom by a longshot. I was never a big fan of the Fugees honestly and Lauren Hill.

doom 4
Hill 0