Could you possibly have picked a worse picture of Chuck D? :laughing:

Anyway... I'm voting Chuck. Like Goofle said, Talib Kweli is probably the technically superior rapper, but Chuck D just resonates with me more.

Chuck D - 2
Talib Kweli - 0

Chuck D. I appreciate Kweli and enjoy his flow and content. However This is a real Mismatch because Chuck is one of the great pioneers of the game.

Chuck D - 3
Talib Kweli - 0

I'll throw my analysis in.

Chuck D: Obviously a big name in hip-hop. Considered to be one of the most influential MC's of our time and with Public Enemy gained both critical acclaim and notoriety.
Definitely a pivotal figure to a lot of guys who followed, as many have claimed him to be the originator of political rap or as some may brand it 'meaningful rap'
Chuck talked about oppression, slavery and racism which I guess resonated with many people in the 80's and even today.
Some (Rolling Stone readers) consider PE's second album 'It takes a million...' as the best hip-hop album of all time.

I prefer the Anthrax version of this track, so here it is.



Chuck only released one solo album, here's a track from it.



And another PE track



Talib Kweli: Alike Chuck D, Talib earned most of his recognition from a group: Black Star in which he and Mos Def teamed up.
He was a big name in the 90's, but I can't help but feel that guys like him and Mos Def wouldn't have existed without the earlier influence of Chuck D.
Talib's released 5 studio albums and is considered by many in hip-hop as being one of the most technically sound rapper.
I am inclined to agree, the dude's flow is sick.





here's a video as Blackstar.



This tie is the hardest so far for me to call, on one hand you've got the highly influential Chuck D with a recognizable voice and politically charged lyrics and on the other one of the smoothest flows in hip-hop in Talib Kweli.

I've got to ask myself who I think is the better MC. And that's why I've decided to go for Talib. If we're talking rapping ability, he's up there with the greatest of all time.

Chuck D 3
Talib Kweli 1

Just wondering if we're supposed to consider producing as well (if it applies), or if it's just emceeing.

As for Chuck vs. TK, I'll go with TK. I'm not the biggest fan of either, but I like more of what TK has done in his career, specifically Black Star. I could never really get into Public Enemy.

Chuck D - 3
Talib Kweli - 2

I think "MCing ability" should only come into play when you like both artists, or at least the music they have produced. I personally think near enough every Talib solo record borders on boring, so I am going to choose Chuck D, who has made some of my favourite records of all time.

If I liked them equally, I would have gone with Talib.

I am going with Talib Kweli. He is a unique rapper.

Talib Kweli for me.

Chuck D. I can appreciate a few of Talib's songs, but it's not the same as what Chuck D did in my book. Talib is working his way up though... he's much better than I gave him credit for.

Super Kwe by a mile.

Kweli for me.

Talib: 6
Chuck D: 5