Top 10 Rappers of All Time: A Case Study (Part 1: 10-6) Oct 10 '07 (Updated Nov 30 '11)    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet The Bottom Line HIP HOP HALL of FAME explained Excerpt from “Art of Rap”: “Respect in this small market of connaisseurs It's the art of rap. Poetry on wax, honest work Black roots, but universal appeal Complex rhymes, not always as they appear Hidden meanings, different interpretation by peers Good rap is like wine in premium vintage year It's not about the digits like integers But about concepts like engineers The onset of major revelation, laughter or admiration Feeding the starvation/ of intuitive minds Neurotransmiters bind/ to receptors in the synapse Words combine to form a climax” -Crazy-C References (Related Reviews): Top 20 Rap Albums of All Time: A Closer Look Top 20 Underground Hip Hop Albums: In Case You Didn’t Know Hypothesis: There are rappers who proved throughout the years that they are remarkably masterful in their art. From raw skill to delivering solid lines, verses, songs and albums. From a studio recording album track, a one-time guest appearance, to a show performance, a radio or mixtape freestyle, these are the rappers that took the game to another level, leaving listeners in awe with their wits, passion, creativity and delivery. Experiment: Repeatedly listen to all above average rappers’ various source material and determine who stands the test of scrutiny and criticism. Rank them according to a rigorous analysis of their work as a whole and their distinctiveness as one of the greats based on the value of their artistic contribution as the primary determining factor. Conclusion: 10. The Notorious B.I.G. “I drop unexpectedly like bird sh*t” “You look so good, I’d suck on your daddy’s d*ck” “The lyrics molesting is taking place F*cking with B.I.G. it ain't safe” Being the victim of the violence he rapped about, Christopher Wallace was first and foremost a modern-day vocalist. Breaking words to suit his whim and caressing us with his baritone like soft wind. His vocal delivery was more on time than Big Ben. He found fortune with the pen, writing with obvious superficially, but portraying that image of society in a no less clever way. Lyrically robbing, killing, drug selling; storytelling, he still managed to explore uncharted territories like Magellan… to end up at the top of the charts by throwing words like darts. Notorious B.I.G. in Words “Bulletproof glass tints if I want some a*s Gon' blast squeeze first ask questions last That's how most of these so-called gangsters pass At last, a ni*ga rapping ‘bout blunts and broads Tits and bras, menage-a-trois, sex in expensive cars I still leave you on the pavement Condo paid for, no car payment At my arraignment, note for the plaintiff Your daughter's tied up in a Brooklyn basement Face it, not guilty, that’s how I stay filthy” Notorious B.I.G.’s Discography Ready to Die (1994) **** (4/5) Life After Death (1997) **** (4/5) Born Again (1999) **** (4/5) Duets: The Final Chapter (2005) *** (3/5) 9. Kanye West “Couldn't afford a car so she named her daughter Alexus” “We buy our way out of jail, but we can't buy freedom We'll buy a lot of clothes when we don't really need ‘em.” “But I can't complaint what the accident did to my left eye Cuz look what that accident did to Left Eye” The newest artist on this list, Kanye already deserves a spot and may turn out to be even higher up if and when he grows even more as an artist. He only has three hip hop studio albums out, but received both Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song Grammys on all three, arguably already rap classics. An accomplished, innovative and innate producer, Kanye’s contribution to rap is welcomed because of he took a refreshing approach to songwriting. We can feel that he loves his work and that he’s having fun and it is easy to have fun with him. He is very comical and playful, but also has a message and is good at introspection and observation. A leader and pioneer, rap may not come as naturally to him as others on this list, but he is determined to own his skill. He still has quite a bit of road ahead of him. Go ahead, touch the sky… “Like old folks pi*sing, I guess it all (Depends)” Kanye West in Words “When our heroes and heroines got hooked on heroin. Crack raised the murder rate in DC and Maryland We invested in that it's like we got Merrill-Lynched And we been hanging from the same tree ever since Sometimes I feel the music is the only medicine So we cook it, cut it, measure it, bag it, sell it The fiends cop it. Nowadays they can’t tell if That's that good sh*t; we ain't sure man Put the CD on your tongue yeah, that’s pure man.” Kanye West’s Discography The College Dropout (2004) ***** (5/5) Late Registration (2005) ***** (5/5) Graduation (2007) **** (4/5) [Update 2011: Watch out for the new Rap Albums My Beautiful Dark Fantasy (2010) ***** (5/5) Watch the Throne (2011) f/ Jay-Z **** (4/5)] 8. Method Man “A Star Trek phaser couldn't phase me” “Harder than a dick on Viagra getting a lap dance” “And when death calls I'm good, I got call ID.” A distinct voice of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan that stepped up the level of lyricism and left a bigger buzz in the industry than a hoard of killer bees, Method Man’s contribution goes beyond his Wu-Tang collaborative projects and even beyond his four solos offerings. Method’s real strength is that when he spits a verse, any time, any place, chances are, you want to here it. He is a very efficient lyricist in that he uses few words to convey ideas and feelings by building on pre-existing relevant references and expanding without going too in depth, but linking it with the next thought; an eye opening glimpse after the other. GZA has often been praises as the best Wu lyricist, and there is no denying his talent for wordsmith and creating compelling imagery, yet Method Man’s overall abilities as an MC, including flow, form and flare makes him a slightly better rapper in my books. It also helps that he writes visceral verses as tight as a vice-grip. Method Man in Words “At war with them inner demons, it's going down Invasion, U.S.A., spitting rounds If these shells hit the battleground, pave the way for birth of a Generation, X Spoken with a project dialect, bomb threat to the air waves, hit the deck Pressed for time in a world lacking sunshine Got love for my family, cause they mine See ni*gaz dying in the streets over petty crimes We gonna eat, or die trying, got my mind made up Young buck, just don't give a f*ck, pressing they luck When they best, best to give it up, perfect world Baby what? N*gga head or gut, them or us Welcome to the dark ages, dirty pages Of filth, fine filth flavors Dust to dust, and ashes to ashes, life flashes Right before his eyes, then he passes” Method Man’s Discography Tical (1994) *** (3/5) Tical 2000 (1998) ***** (5/5) Blackout! (1999) f/ Redman ***** (5/5) Tical 0: The Prequel (2004) *** (3/5) 4:21: The Day After (2006) **** (4/5) Blackout! 2 (2009) f/ Redman *** (3/5) 7. Big Daddy Kane “If I'm not the best then I'm a damn striking resemblance” “If you don't know defeat then allow me to introduce you” “We can go rhyme for rhyme, word for word, verse for verse Get you a nurse, too late, get you a hearse” Big Daddy lands the lucky seven spot, but skills has more to do than luck as he climbed to the top. The Kane’ reign over the late eighties was similar to Tyson’s fist in the ring. Clever braggadocios, confidence, innovation and technique. Man of the ladies and a worthy opponent to any. Like the components of a Chevy, it was made to work. Rapping, signing, bling blinging…The LL Cool Gesque quest for the top of the pop chart. Still he made it his own, made it with heart and made it art. You still got it old-timer. Make way for the mesmerizing rhymer. He did not only revolutionized rap, his two decades old lyrics are still light-years ahead of today's 'good' rappers. Big Daddy Kane in Words “The microphone assassinator and furthermore I murdered plenty rappers and believe that I'll murder more So if you ask to give the Kane a go You better treat me like drugs, and just say no Because I utilize my skills to brutalize And in a battle, man you should see what I do to guys Whenever the mic’s mine, I'll rock a hype rhyme And come off, like dirty panties at nighttime” Big Daddy Kane’s Discography Long Live the Kane (1988) ***** (5/5) It's A Big Daddy Thing (1989) **** (4/5) Taste of Chocolate (1990) *** (3/5) Prince of Darkness (1991) *** (3/5) Looks Like a Job for ... (1993) **** (4/5) Daddy's Home (1994) *** (3/5) Veteranz Day (1998) **** (4/5) 6. 2Pac “The concepts I depict, so visual, that you can kiss” “Picture paragraphs unloaded, wise words being quoted” “The tragedies that we all need; love in doses In times like these we feel closest” Pac the poet. Pac the passionate. His music resonated with many, record sales aplenty. A tragic death secures his legacy. A measured voice in a hip hop filled with near illiteracy. Dealing with relevant topics with a fresh eye, Tupac Shakur’s work will endure. A monster in the studio, he recorded songs after songs of mostly meaningful material, but he also knew how to get the party going,cars bumping and heads nodding. A nod to an industry great. 2Pac in Words “Now sh*t's constantly hot, on my block, it never fails to be gunshots Can't explain a mother's pain, when her son drops Black male slipping in Hell when will we prevail Fearing jail but crack sales got me living well And the system's suicidal with this Thug's Life Staying strapped forever trapped in this drug life God help me, cause I'm starving, can't get a job So I resort to violent robberies, my life is hard” 2Pac’s Discography 2Pacalypsenow (1991) **** (4/5) Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z (1993) *** (3/5) Thug Life: Volume 1 f/ Thug Life *** (3/5) Me Against the World (1995) **** (4/5) All Eyez on Me (1996) **** (4/5) The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (1996) **** (4/5) R U Still Down? [Remember Me] (1997) *** (3/5) Still I Rise (1999) f/ Outlawz **** (4/5) Until the End of Time (2001) *** (3/5) Better Dayz (2002) **** (4/5) Loyal to the Game (2004) **** (4/5) Pac’s Life (2006) **** (4/5) Please see Top 10 Rappers of All Time: A Case Study (Part 2: 5-1) for the TOP FIVE DEAD or ALIVE.

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