Who is the greatest rapper of all time?

[1987_Lakers]

Making this poll because I feel 2024 might go down as one of the craziest years in hip hop history. The amount of mainstream attention it got this year was something you don't see a lot. Kendrick vs Drake rap battle, & the whole situation with Diddy & Jay-Z. With that said, who would you crown as the greatest rapper ever?

I will say Kanye West has arguably the best discography out of any rapper, but I left him off the poll because I feel his rapping skills are pretty subpar, even though he did change the game the way he produced songs.

[ILLsmak]

Call me bogi but knowing big was ****in diddy makes me think less of him.

Depends on what you mean. Redman is probably the best rapper ever, cuz he still kills it. He kills freestyle, he is an icon, and he is a super vet. I can’t speak on old old shit.

In terms of people who just go in and blow you out (tho redman does that, too) there is like Sean Price, Lord Superb.

Stack Bundles is dum, too.

This dude Joey Jihad spit the hardest freestyle I’ve heard in years: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVXpgzc6LSk

-Smak

[diamenz]

you used the word "rapper" and not "lyricist" so it's 2pac.

[1987_Lakers]

This song always cracks me up.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZVn0uUZO7U

Right now I probably have Nas as the GOAT. His first album literally changed the way other artists rapped with his lyricism and story telling. Even though I was never a big fan, Jay-Z is probably behind him. Probably the most consistent rapper, was able to be one of the hottest rappers from the mid 90's well into the 2010's. If Kendrick continues his success, I will say he has a shot at #1. He is probably #3 on my list at the moment, even though I prefer his music over Jay-Z & Nas. Kendrick not only has elite lyricism, but also the artistic vision of Kanye in some ways.

[fsvr54]

Ghostface Killah is by far the greatest rapper of all time.

Imagine thinking Kendrick Lamar is some great rapper.

[highwhey]

Ghostface Killah is by far the greatest rapper of all time.

Imagine thinking Kendrick Lamar is some great rapper.

im sorry man, i just can't get into ghost face or wutang at all. i've never understood the appeal. i also don't care for japanese lore in general. aside from a song or couple of theirs, i cannot listen to them. to me, they're just some ghetto nerds that watched a lot of shogun and decided to tell others about it through the lens of their hood. couldn't care for it.

[Doomsday Dallas]

2pac became Makaveli and had an album released shortly after he died called Killuminati... doesn't get much better than that.

and... let's just keep in mind what he was able accomplish before the age of 25... imagine if had 5, 10, 20 more years.

[warriorfan]

2pac

[BarberSchool]

Closest ones on that list are Nas & BIG, but I honestly think there really isn’t one of any type of consensus, just matters of taste. Sometimes there are no questions GOAT, like basketball, but rap ain’t like that.

For instance, my all time favorites are dudes most never heard of:

[BarberSchool]

https://youtu.be/lc4sBg6gDL8?feature=shared


https://youtu.be/vKlCUHjU7p4?feature=shared


https://youtu.be/DiylsgWZDkY?feature=shared

KA in my top 5 no question. I was saying that years ago. Not on some recent posthumous sympathy buzz bullsh!t before one of y’all sickos thinks that.

[BarberSchool]

https://youtu.be/q46erVmIb0I?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/HXy0Vzp9asg?feature=shared

ROC MARC way less conscious/righteous, totally different flavor, but similar sonic lane:


https://youtu.be/ooPvDNMjIK8?feature=shared

[Patrick Chewing]

Impossible question to answer, but it certainly ain't Jay-Z or Kanye or anyone of today's era. It's too easy to say 2Pac or anyone of that era too. Old Hip-Hop heads will talk about Rakim, KRS-One, Guru, etc.

For me personally, when it comes to delivery and flow, my faves have been GZA, RZA, Ice-T, Twista, Krayzie Bone, Chino XL, Everlast, Kool G Rap, Immortal Technique.

[BarberSchool]

https://youtu.be/YUPVIEcRDec?feature=shared


https://youtu.be/hpar-be5JkE?feature=shared

[BarberSchool]

Ghostface in my top ten:


https://youtu.be/eMSY3zfLxRA?feature=shared

Especially when paired with Rae:


https://youtu.be/lPyZlcIHLgg?feature=shared


https://youtu.be/v1J_rANt2-I?feature=shared

[BarberSchool]

Among old school cats, it’s Rakim & G-Rap for me,
https://youtu.be/OPkWYTUiPTo?feature=shared


https://youtu.be/9W9Mv3Ol3F4?feature=shared


https://youtu.be/wjE-4UPwLhg?feature=shared
Respectful nods to Chuck D & KRS:

[BarberSchool]

https://youtu.be/CYWmiBvTz-w?feature=shared


https://youtu.be/Ex3XuJavaBI?feature=shared

[BarberSchool]

favorite new cats ain’t righteous/conscious at all:

Dominican 5%ers from Lynn/Boston, got Ghost/Rae chemistry:


https://youtu.be/95d6TsWPtCQ?feature=shared


https://youtu.be/vceQEjQXUV4?feature=shared


https://youtu.be/3WNGRFvE9VM?feature=shared

[BarberSchool]

If these videos I blessed y’all with ain’t evidence enough, none of the n!ggas on TV are anything but cornballs to us.

I’m the type of n!gga that laughs in the face and blows smoke in the face of any MF trying to make a case for Wayne or Drake or any other pop star f@ggot singer playing a rapper on TV. If the n!gga don’t STFU on the first laugh/exhale, he wears my phlegm on his chest while everyone who didn’t know already joins in the laughter.

What the world has done to our genre is a damn shame.

[BarberSchool]

Diddy rape parties or not, shout to Jay for putting this dude on:


https://youtu.be/9U95y2--kkU?feature=shared


https://youtu.be/-lrVO3pPDP4?feature=shared

Best to ever/never do it, no question.

[BarberSchool]

https://youtu.be/qK3k3p2Y_T8?feature=shared

One more gem for the unworthy. Peace & blessings.

[Mask the Embiid]

I had to give give biggie a vote...not because i think he's the best but just because of the principal....NO where on any list....on any website..... should Kendrick fkin and em fking nem should have more votes for the greatest rapper of all time than biggie fking smalls.....what are insane? so fkin disrespectful. What next yall gonna have MC Hammer as #2 on your list behind Eminem.....? clown

[iamgine]

What's the criteria of a great rapper? Albums sold? Rap battles won?

Skill wise I think any of them can rap as well as the others.

[ILLsmak]

im sorry man, i just can't get into ghost face or wutang at all. i've never understood the appeal. i also don't care for japanese lore in general. aside from a song or couple of theirs, i cannot listen to them. to me, they're just some ghetto nerds that watched a lot of shogun and decided to tell others about it through the lens of their hood. couldn't care for it.

Wu was the first rap that blew my fkin mind. It's not all about swords n karate shit. A lot of their affiliates are good, too, but ghost is kinda an R&B dude who has pushed the boundaries of rap. Should check... pretty toney album. I dunno if you like Rnb stuff. I don't, but he sounds good, and I respect the hustle. I feel he really went in on this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njCjDn_N3xs That's what I would show people to prove ghost was a top dude. He doesn't write his own shit, tho, imo, and he was best when Lord Superb was writing with him. In terms of just flow and rap ability, I think he is the best ever 'and it's not even close' haha.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3nkutKKPhM Perb and Ghost

Supreme Clientele is a top album.

-Smak

[1987_Lakers]

I had to give give biggie a vote...not because i think he's the best but just because of the principal....NO where on any list....on any website..... should Kendrick fkin and em fking nem should have more votes for the greatest rapper of all time than biggie fking smalls.....what are insane? so fkin disrespectful. What next yall gonna have MC Hammer as #2 on your list behind Eminem.....? clown


Ghostface Killah is by far the greatest rapper of all time.

Imagine thinking Kendrick Lamar is some great rapper.

I'm sorry, but these are just bad takes. Kendrick has 2 of the 5 greatest hip hop albums of all time and is widely considered the best rapper of his era and as a pure lyricist you could make a case for Eminem being the GOAT.

Guys like Biggie & Tupac simply died too young to be considered the GOAT, with that said I think Biggie was more skilled than 2Pac and his "Ready to Die" album was better than any album 2pac put out.

[1987_Lakers]

No love for Andre 3k?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNZV-psCCIg

[diamenz]

^andre definitely deserves love and i'm surprised no one's mentioned black thought yet. mf doom is up there too. whether any of those three can compete for goat though i doubt.

this is all heavily dependent on what style you prefer, what era you grew up in, everybody has a different criteria for "goat" so it's hard to gauge objectively.

putting bias aside as much as possible and measuring these rappers fully it's hard to put anybody else in the conversation aside from nas, pac and big. the big three jus cover all the bases. everyone else falls short in one way or another.

[Off the Court]

Ranking artists is just way too subjective.

Cube needs mention. Rakim needs mention. Lil Wayne needs mention. RZA needs mention. Future needs mention. Maybe Drake.

[1987_Lakers]

^andre definitely deserves love and i'm surprised no one's mentioned black thought yet. mf doom is up there too. whether any of those three can compete for goat though i doubt.

this is all heavily dependent on what style you prefer, what era you grew up in, everybody has a different criteria for "goat" so it's hard to gauge objectively.

putting bias aside as much as possible and measuring these rappers fully it's hard to put anybody else in the conversation aside from nas, pac and big. the big three jus cover all the bases. everyone else falls short in one way or another.

I just don't see a case for Pac, I can't deny some of his hits and his influence, but some of his albums were pretty mediocre for GOAT standards (Which is an argument people use against Eminem). Biggie's very first album blew away any album 2pac ever put out. "Me Against The World" is probably Pac's best album, which is very good, but I probably wouldn't even have that as a top 20 hip hop album ever.

[tpols]

Wu tang is technically the best lyrically... look how they dominate the word chart.

https://media.rethinkingvis.com/viz/The_Largest_Vocabulary_in_Hip_hop.png

[ArbitraryWater]

Oh my poll is private

[Off the Court]

Yeah and if you are going to put one person to rep the Wu it would be RZA. While he is not the most lyrically talented member, he is head member, the reason they exist, he created their beats and feel, and he is also arguably the most talented from just an artistic standpoint.

The Wu is HIS vision and HIS sound.

[ArbitraryWater]

Ranking artists is just way too subjective.

Cube needs mention. Rakim needs mention. Lil Wayne needs mention. RZA needs mention. Future needs mention. Maybe Drake.


This guy outs himself with every post

[Off the Court]

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/w5YAAOSwxCVgNqx2/s-l1200.jpg

Calm down Adolf

[west_tip]

I'm not knowledgeable on hip hop but do like Wu Tang, saw them live last year and was very impressed. I'm seeing GZA in January.

Hard to say my favorite member, toss up between RZA, GZA, Master Killer and Inspecter deck.

[MrFonzworth]

Ranking artists is just way too subjective.

Cube needs mention. Rakim needs mention. Lil Wayne needs mention. RZA needs mention. Future needs mention. Maybe Drake.

:roll::roll::roll:

[Patrick Chewing]

:roll::roll::roll:

That shit is hilarious. Even the Lil Wayne part too. Poor OTC. Doesn't know Rap.

[RRR3]

Ranking artists is just way too subjective.

Cube needs mention. Rakim needs mention. Lil Wayne needs mention. RZA needs mention. Future needs mention. Maybe Drake.
RZA isn't even the best rapper in Wu-Tang Clan. I love the dude, but he's absolutely not on GZA's level.

[1987_Lakers]

That shit is hilarious. Even the Lil Wayne part too. Poor OTC. Doesn't know Rap.

Lots of people have Lil Wayne as a top 10-15 rapper ever, but some of his mentions are garbage.

Future? LMAO.

[1987_Lakers]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro6uvx7FKcQ

[GOBB]

Jay Z checks off all the boxes you want in a rapper. Want lyrics (rhyme scheme, complexity)? Check. Want story telling? Check. Substance? Check. Success? Check. Able to adapt with the times? Check. Classic albums, classic tours. He’s not my personal favorite rapper of all time. But when arguing the GOAT? He would be my pick.

[RRR3]

Jay Z checks off all the boxes you want in a rapper. Want lyrics (rhyme scheme, complexity)? Check. Want story telling? Check. Substance? Check. Success? Check. Able to adapt with the times? Check. Classic albums, classic tours. He’s not my personal favorite rapper of all time. But when arguing the GOAT? He would be my pick.
I can't take Jay-Z seriously as the GOAT after he was completely obliterated by Big L when they freestyled. It was embarrassing the difference in ability between them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrT-myyoOlk

Sure this isn't the only aspect of rapping but 2Pac did story telling and emotion/messaging better than Jay-Z anyways.

[MrFonzworth]

I can't take Jay-Z seriously as the GOAT after he was completely obliterated by Big L when they freestyled. It was embarrassing the difference in ability between them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrT-myyoOlk

Sure this isn't the only aspect of rapping but 2Pac did story telling and emotion/messaging better than Jay-Z anyways.
Worst take so far. Neglecting an entire body of work over 3 decades because of a freestyle on a random radio show is pretty pathetic.

[1987_Lakers]

Jay Z checks off all the boxes you want in a rapper. Want lyrics (rhyme scheme, complexity)? Check. Want story telling? Check. Substance? Check. Success? Check. Able to adapt with the times? Check. Classic albums, classic tours. He’s not my personal favorite rapper of all time. But when arguing the GOAT? He would be my pick.

This is a huge reason why he is #2 on my list behind Nas. Pretty remarkable to stay relevant for 30 years, even Nas kinda fell off in terms of popularity by the 2000's. With that said, pretty much every rapper was influenced by Nas while Jay-Z stole a lot of people's style/lines. And Nas cooked Jay-Z in their rap battle, but I must admit I do listen to "Takeover" more than I do "Ether" just because I like the production of the song (think it was produced by Kanye).

[GOBB]

I can't take Jay-Z seriously as the GOAT after he was completely obliterated by Big L when they freestyled. It was embarrassing the difference in ability between them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrT-myyoOlk

Sure this isn't the only aspect of rapping but 2Pac did story telling and emotion/messaging better than Jay-Z anyways.

2pac may have been a better story teller because of his voice/emotion that seemed to resonate with listeners. I like 2pac but hard for me to ever place him over Jay Z on an all time list.

I remember the Big L freestyle. I can’t say I have the same awe as others so when discussing Big L. He was dope but folks seem to name drop him quite a bit. I’ve seen in random places people have him in their top 5. I don’t see it. But he left an impact on folks tho.

[GOBB]

This is a huge reason why he is #2 on my list behind Nas. Pretty remarkable to stay relevant for 30 years, even Nas kinda fell off in terms of popularity by the 2000's. With that said, pretty much every rapper was influenced by Nas while Jay-Z stole a lot of people's style/lines. And Nas cooked Jay-Z in their rap battle, but I must admit I do listen to "Takeover" more than I do "Ether" just because I like the production of the song (think it was produced by Kanye).

Kanye produced it. Not sure I can agree with stealing styles/lines. Who did Jay Z steal from? I will say the whisper style I always felt he got from Young Chris during the State Property days. If you listen to Chris style and flow. It’s similar to Jay Z. Some will say Chris took that from Jay. But Chris always rapped like that. As far as lines I don’t count Biggies lines as stealing. Big was Jay Z mans. There’s no ill intent or trying to pass off lyrics as his own when he uses a Big verse. And it’s usually a Biggie line that everyone knows. It’s not a line from an unreleased track. Or track 12 that didn’t have a video/radio hit.

Interesting enough Nas I think really dropped the ball on his production. To me that hurt his career as a whole. You really have to be a Nas fan for it not to bother you. But even for neutral fans like myself who recognize his greatness in hip hop but not a fan. Some of his later work just doesn’t move me none. I also noticed I am picky when it comes to rappers voices. Voices matter. And it’s hard for my ears to open up if the voice doesn’t sit well with me. Common is a great example of that. Can’t say Nas is as bad but he has moments for me where the voice seems outdated or a little slow? I can’t place a finger on it. It’s not as bad as Common tho. I can listen to a crazy freestyle from him but I can’t get over the nasal tone of his voice. Throws me off from appreciating whatever it is he said. Nas sometimes (not all like common) has that effect with his voice ontop of bad production

[1987_Lakers]

Kanye produced it. Not sure I can agree with stealing styles/lines. Who did Jay Z steal from? I will say the whisper style I always felt he got from Young Chris during the State Property days. If you listen to Chris style and flow. It’s similar to Jay Z. Some will say Chris took that from Jay. But Chris always rapped like that. As far as lines I don’t count Biggies lines as stealing. Big was Jay Z mans. There’s no ill intent or trying to pass off lyrics as his own when he uses a Big verse. And it’s usually a Biggie line that everyone knows. It’s not a line from an unreleased track. Or track 12 that didn’t have a video/radio hit.

Interesting enough Nas I think really dropped the ball on his production. To me that hurt his career as a whole. You really have to be a Nas fan for it not to bother you. But even for neutral fans like myself who recognize his greatness in hip hop but not a fan. Some of his later work just doesn’t move me none. I also noticed I am picky when it comes to rappers voices. Voices matter. And it’s hard for my ears to open up if the voice doesn’t sit well with me. Common is a great example of that. Can’t say Nas is as bad but he has moments for me where the voice seems outdated or a little slow? I can’t place a finger on it. It’s not as bad as Common tho. I can listen to a crazy freestyle from him but I can’t get over the nasal tone of his voice. Throws me off from appreciating whatever it is he said. Nas sometimes (not all like common) has that effect with his voice ontop of bad production

That is one of my issues with Nas as well, some of his beat selections/production on alot of his songs are pretty damn bland.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqScH2CfYTg

[ILLsmak]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=922opSdN-HU

dude is like 50 in that.

-Smak

[GOBB]

Those Jay stealing lines are reaching to me. Stealing is taking someone’s lines and trying to pass it off as your own. Jay is using specific highlighted verses from other top rappers. Theres rappers today, a decade ago etc that do that. If Jay made a hit song made up of stolen verses that he one thing. His catalogue is extensive. No one has ever questioned Jay z pen. He doesn’t write rhymes and delivers classic songs, verses. Biting was something folks frowned on when they spit rhymes and you hear your rhymes being recited as if they were his own. What Jay does is no different than someone rhyming over another persons beat.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=922opSdN-HU

dude is like 50 in that.

-Smak

I don’t get what his age has to do with anything. This is not sports where you lose athleticism then that’s usually it for you competing amongst other elite players.

[1987_Lakers]

It's crazy to me how Kendrick has been in the game for like 13 years and has yet to drop a bad album. I feel like he cares more about quality than quantity, he's not making tons of albums just to sell.

2pac's very first album was pretty whack

Jay Z's Vol 2. & Vol 3. albums were pretty "meh", and he released those in the 90's when he was pretty young.

After "Illmatic" and "It was Written", Nas released a couple of albums that were mediocre in "I am" & "Nastradamus", both also dropped in the 90's I believe.

[Charlie Sheen]

It's crazy to me how Kendrick has been in the game for like 13 years and has yet to drop a bad album. I feel like he cares more about quality than quantity, he's not making tons of albums just to sell.

2pac's very first album was pretty whack

Jay Z's Vol 2. & Vol 3. albums were pretty "meh", and he released those in the 90's when he was pretty young.

After "Illmatic" and "It was Written", Nas released a couple of albums that were mediocre in "I am" & "Nastradamus", both also dropped in the 90's I believe.

I do not think this is unanimous though. A lot of how you evaluate these guys is going to depend on the age group you are in.

[warriorfan]

I do not think this is unanimous though. A lot of how you evaluate these guys is going to depend on the age group you are in.

It’s so subjective that it’s pretty much impossible to make an airtight list. This thread has still been not bad. Everyone is throwing out their nominations with a few reasons why. At the end of the day that’s all you can really do.

Off The Court’s future, drake, and little wayne shout outs though. lol wtf. some big time cringe

[1987_Lakers]

Anyone remember listening to this in GTA San Andreas?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KhQ1ut6cV4

[Charlie Sheen]

ItÂ’s so subjective that itÂ’s pretty much impossible to make an airtight list. This thread has still been not bad. Everyone is throwing out their nominations with a few reasons why. At the end of the day thatÂ’s all you can really do.

Off The CourtÂ’s future, drake, and little wayne shout outs though. lol wtf. some big time cringe

I agree with what you are saying. This thread is cool as you get a look into what rappers were meaningful to different posters instead of just another thread listing the names that people feel like they need to mention for credibility like Rakim.

Pac would be at the top of my list because of the time I was coming up... Same reason I would likely have dj quik among my greatest list. Those two stay relevant for me because they bring me back to a period of my life where music held its greatest influence on me. For me it is not as simple as measuring lyrics but its more personal... the vibe and the connection.


https://youtu.be/Y4oQcFsBvKs?si=KiwY04g01tZxg1Tc

[Off the Court]

Future - completely changed the way everyone today raps. He is a game changer and everyone today mumble raps like him. Would I have him at #1, no way. But he deserves mention because of his level of influence.

Drake and Wayne, neither are my favs and I wouldn't have either at #1 but they both deserve mention for their longevity and influence. They have sold at insane numbers.



I mean a list ranking needs criteria. If it is just purely lyrical skill? Then yeah none of those guys should be anywhere near the top. But also neither should 2Pac. But if we are including overall influence in the rap game? Then yes Lil Wayne, yes RZA, yes, Drake, and yes Future.

Another one for influence reasons would be Dre, The Chronic is one of the most influential rap albums ever made and he is the creator of it. Dre doesn't possess the most lyrical skill but he has changed the game for all.

[Charlie Sheen]

Future - completely changed the way everyone today raps. He is a game changer and everyone today mumble raps like him. Would I have him at #1, no way. But he deserves mention because of his level of influence.

Drake and Wayne, neither are my favs and I wouldn't have either at #1 but they both deserve mention for their longevity and influence. They have sold at insane numbers.



I mean a list ranking needs criteria. If it is just purely lyrical skill? Then yeah none of those guys should be anywhere near the top. But also neither should 2Pac. But if we are including overall influence in the rap game? Then yes Lil Wayne, yes RZA, yes, Drake, and yes Future.

Another one for influence reasons would be Dre, The Chronic is one of the most influential rap albums ever made and he is the creator of it. Dre doesn't possess the most lyrical skill but he has changed the game for all.

Yeah but who do you like? Not as an academic measure of greatness ... who would you be playing if you were hanging out with friends passing around an ipod where everyone gets to choose a song.

[Manny98]

If we talking numbers and commercial success then Drake

Overall though it's Nas

[Off the Court]

Yeah but who do you like? Not as an academic measure of greatness ... who would you be playing if you were hanging out with friends passing around an ipod where everyone gets to choose a song.

I grew up on all the golden age stuff, probably favor East Coast a little bit more than West. Today there isn't as much rap in my playlist, and I will say it does make you feel like an old man when you are playing the 90s classic stuff so I try to at least know what is current for the youngsters. And TBH most of it sounds like Future.

If you are just looking at the last decade or so, 2015-25, I would say Future has had the most influence. Generally speaking of course. There are so many rappers trying to mimic that relaxed xanax drugged out style mumble rap.

[Off the Court]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azYRY18ZkSk


On side note, REDMAN is underrated and still throwing out insane stuff at an old age.

[ShawkFactory]

"Rapper" is the term to be argued here, as I associate that with lyricism and cadence on a beat. Drake is certainly not anywhere near the best "rappers" of all time in my book then. If the topic were to be changed to "hip-hop artist" or something like that then I'd listen to people putting him in the conversation.

There's certainly no GOAT because it's music but I think Nas is probably the best combination of skills, power, and perspective that I've ever listened to.

[Patrick Chewing]

Future - completely changed the way everyone today raps. He is a game changer and everyone today mumble raps like him. Would I have him at #1, no way. But he deserves mention because of his level of influence.

Drake and Wayne, neither are my favs and I wouldn't have either at #1 but they both deserve mention for their longevity and influence. They have sold at insane numbers.



I mean a list ranking needs criteria. If it is just purely lyrical skill? Then yeah none of those guys should be anywhere near the top. But also neither should 2Pac. But if we are including overall influence in the rap game? Then yes Lil Wayne, yes RZA, yes, Drake, and yes Future.

Another one for influence reasons would be Dre, The Chronic is one of the most influential rap albums ever made and he is the creator of it. Dre doesn't possess the most lyrical skill but he has changed the game for all.

We’re talking about greatest rappers here, pal.

[diamenz]

https://i.imgflip.com/ri9ak.gif


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMggl5N1Gmk

[GOBB]

Future - completely changed the way everyone today raps. He is a game changer and everyone today mumble raps like him. Would I have him at #1, no way. But he deserves mention because of his level of influence.

Drake and Wayne, neither are my favs and I wouldn't have either at #1 but they both deserve mention for their longevity and influence. They have sold at insane numbers.



I mean a list ranking needs criteria. If it is just purely lyrical skill? Then yeah none of those guys should be anywhere near the top. But also neither should 2Pac. But if we are including overall influence in the rap game? Then yes Lil Wayne, yes RZA, yes, Drake, and yes Future.

Another one for influence reasons would be Dre, The Chronic is one of the most influential rap albums ever made and he is the creator of it. Dre doesn't possess the most lyrical skill but he has changed the game for all.

When Dr Dre is mentioned it’s never ever for raps. The few times you even mention Dre and raps? So done wrote that song. I don’t even think Dr De ever considered himself a rapper or amongst the best.

[Off the Court]

When Dr Dre is mentioned it’s never ever for raps. The few times you even mention Dre and raps? So done wrote that song. I don’t even think Dr De ever considered himself a rapper or amongst the best.

Agreed but he is and was one of the most influential artists in the game.

I mean, there is sheer lyrical talent, and there is overall influence. And I think usually with these lists it is generally filled with skilled rappers, but then there is the glaring exception of 2Pac who is always found in the top-5 and his lyrical talent was maybe just a small notch above Dre's. Pac is always on there for other reasons - charisma, stage presence, influence, etc. And if it is going to be like that? Then that opens the door to others who perhaps were not very lyrical, but had a huge impact.

RZA and Dre were not the most skilled rappers. Not even close. But their impacts were both enormous.

[GOBB]

Agreed but he is and was one of the most influential artists in the game.

I mean, there is sheer lyrical talent, and there is overall influence. And I think usually with these lists it is generally filled with skilled rappers, but then there is the glaring exception of 2Pac who is always found in the top-5 and his lyrical talent was maybe just a small notch above Dre's. Pac is always on there for other reasons - charisma, stage presence, influence, etc. And if it is going to be like that? Then that opens the door to others who perhaps were not very lyrical, but had a huge impact.

RZA and Dre were not the most skilled rappers. Not even close. But their impacts were both enormous.

Rza is more of a rapper than Dre was. I think you’re talking overall influence in hip hop and that’s a different convo imo. When it comes to specifically the greatest rapper of all time. That’s pretty cut and dry. It has everything to do with the rapper itself. Dre influence comes from production. The way an album is composed and flows. Intricate sounds. The chronic is not heavily regarded by many because of Dre as a rapper. It’s because he pioneered a new sound in hip hop. And it was the birth or launch rather of Snoop. Who also with Dre production that changed the game meshed with Snoop fresh sound to people’s ears. All in all we don’t speak on Dre raps when talking about the Chronic. Hip hop quotables? Dope verses? The first thing anyone thinks about when it comes to The Chronic is the sound. Which is also why rza is most known for his production. He pioneered a new sound in hip hop. Nothing sounded like his beats and you always knew a Wu tang production if he did the beat.

All that said if you want to talk about goat producers then Dre and Rza are mentioned. If you want to discuss some of the best influences in hip hop in general? Then I think what you’re getting at can be mentioned. But goat rappers is the artist themselves on a mic.


2pac wasn’t a complex lyricist. But he was a great story teller. Had a great voice. Delivery. I think 2pac gets unfairly nit picked when it comes to lyricism. Because he wasn’t as complex as a black thought, MF doom, or even Cassidy. But there’s a reason those rappers are never involved in a goat rappers list. Because goat rapper is not just who was the mix complex rhymer. Who can double entendre the other. Who can punchline the other to a standing 8 count.

Just my takes. All subjective. Most of my personal favorite rappers of all time wouldn’t get accepted in goat convos.

[Off the Court]

It can only be subjective, but Pac gets special treatment that he shouldn't get IMO. I mean realistically speaking, Drake is far more lyrical than Pac ever was. Sold far more too. But would anyone place him over Pac? Hell no. Drake wouldn't even place himself over Pac. Pac is kind of the Mike Tyson of rap, never beat anyone worth a damn but is unfairly regarded as the GOAT by many.

[MrFonzworth]

Future - completely changed the way everyone today raps. He is a game changer and everyone today mumble raps like him. Would I have him at #1, no way. But he deserves mention because of his level of influence.


No he didn't. He represents a subgengre of mumble rappers, he makes different music and doesn't belong in this conversation based off that alone.

I do agree with you on Wayne though. He's getting a lot of unwarranted hate itt, he's had crazy word play and punchlines throughout his career. Based off raw skill as an MC hes one of the greats. If he died at 24 people would dick ride him harder than they do Big L.

[Patrick Chewing]

If I had to rate the Wu-Tang members in terms of lyricism, style, flow, and creativity, it would probably go like this from best to worst:


1. GZA
2. Raekwon
3. RZA
4. Method Man
5. ODB
6. Inspectah Deck
7. Ghostface Killah
8. Cappadonna
9. U-God
10. Masta Killa

[Off the Court]

No he didn't. He represents a subgengre of mumble rappers, he makes different music and doesn't belong in this conversation based off that alone.

I do agree with you on Wayne though. He's getting a lot of unwarranted hate itt, he's had crazy word play and punchlines throughout his career. Based off raw skill as an MC hes one of the greats. If he died at 24 people would dick ride him harder than they do Big L.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ105XlGPus


Give that a watch, it's not a sub genre if he's been dominating the charts for 15 years.

I mean, most people think like you are saying right now. Especially old heads "It all sounds the same" etc

[MrFonzworth]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ105XlGPus


Give that a watch, it's not a sub genre if he's been dominating the charts for 15 years.

I mean, most people think like you are saying right now. Especially old heads "It all sounds the same" etc

I watched the first couple minutes and immediately reevaluated my life. I really cba to learn about his background, hes not an interesting person to me. The narrator refers to his music as pop trap, and I think thats a fair characterization. It's party music, just because it does well in the charts doesn't mean it's good. The topic is greatest rapper, not most popular.

[Norcaliblunt]

Esham


If you don’t who he is, than that’s on you for being a complete wack job idiot.

Esham literally is Eminem’s Detroit shock rap influence.

Y’all can argue whatever but facts is facts Esham is Detroit wicket shit.

[Norcaliblunt]

It can only be subjective, but Pac gets special treatment that he shouldn't get IMO. I mean realistically speaking, Drake is far more lyrical than Pac ever was. Sold far more too. But would anyone place him over Pac? Hell no. Drake wouldn't even place himself over Pac. Pac is kind of the Mike Tyson of rap, never beat anyone worth a damn but is unfairly regarded as the GOAT by many.


You a bitch for this. lol

PAC could say a line that doesn’t even rhyme and it’d still be dope.

Kevin NY quit being an east coast bitch. lol.

[Norcaliblunt]

https://youtu.be/CFIl52tKgVI

[MrFonzworth]

Esham


If you don’t who he is, than that’s on you for being a complete wack job idiot.

Esham literally is Eminem’s Detroit shock rap influence.

Y’all can argue whatever but facts is facts Esham is Detroit wicket shit.

Topic is greatest rapper not corniest.

[Norcaliblunt]

Topic is greatest rapper not corniest.

Yeah Esham is the GOAT.

The reelest MC to come out of Detroit.

It’s funny because every area respects it OG’s except Detroit.

I mean NYC respects Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Krs ONE, and Rakim.

West coast respects Cube, Ice T, and Too Short.

The south respects Geto Boys and outcast.

But none of y’all know who Esham is.

Y’all aren’t students of the game.

But straight posers.

[MrFonzworth]

I've heard all of esham, he's nothing special. Obie Trice and Em are better.

[Patrick Chewing]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ijks0rHSxY

[1987_Lakers]

Pac is kind of the Mike Tyson of rap, never beat anyone worth a damn but is unfairly regarded as the GOAT by many.

This is pretty accurate, although Pac did rap at the peak of hip hop with lots of talent in the industry. Hip-Hop in general went to shit from the late 90's to the mid-late 00's.

Pac was probably my favorite rapper growing up, but I went back to listen to his last album "Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory" a while back and it did not age well for me, Pac seems pretty angry/bitter in the album, you could see he was on his way to self destructing. He had so much talent, but he was slowly going away from the conscience music that made him iconic and more into the gangster stuff.

[Norcaliblunt]

I've heard all of esham, he's nothing special. Obie Trice and Em are better.

That’s just your opinion then.

Esham literally created the “shock value slim shady shit”.

Eminem talking about his mom on drugs? Yeah Esham had a song called “mama was a junkie” 10 years before Eminem.

Aliases and split personalities? Esham had tons. The unholy, black devil, boogie man etc etc etc.


Eminem’s whole shock value gimmick is a literal bite of Esham.

[Chick Stern]

Biggie is so overrated.

mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble

[GOBB]

It can only be subjective, but Pac gets special treatment that he shouldn't get IMO. I mean realistically speaking, Drake is far more lyrical than Pac ever was. Sold far more too. But would anyone place him over Pac? Hell no. Drake wouldn't even place himself over Pac. Pac is kind of the Mike Tyson of rap, never beat anyone worth a damn but is unfairly regarded as the GOAT by many.

Drake more lyrical? Sheesh I can’t agree there. But it’s all opinions so not that big of a deal.

[Manny98]

It can only be subjective, but Pac gets special treatment that he shouldn't get IMO. I mean realistically speaking, Drake is far more lyrical than Pac ever was. Sold far more too. But would anyone place him over Pac? Hell no. Drake wouldn't even place himself over Pac. Pac is kind of the Mike Tyson of rap, never beat anyone worth a damn but is unfairly regarded as the GOAT by many.
If we're talking about sales and popularity Drake is easily the GOAT

[Doomsday Dallas]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ijks0rHSxY



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKF3qcJh45Y

[Doomsday Dallas]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOOXgnU4qXg

[ShawkFactory]

If I had to rate the Wu-Tang members in terms of lyricism, style, flow, and creativity, it would probably go like this from best to worst:


1. GZA
2. Raekwon
3. RZA
4. Method Man
5. ODB
6. Inspectah Deck
7. Ghostface Killah
8. Cappadonna
9. U-God
10. Masta Killa

GZA is definitely the most clever lyricist but for me his flow can be too drawn out and even boring at times. I have factor that in.

I'd probably go:

1. Ghostface (most versatile and consistently creative)
2. Method Man (best combo of flow/lyricism)
3. GZA
4. Inspectah Deck (often the best overall verse on group songs but couldn't carry solo like the above 3)
5. Raekwon (Respect his ability to carry but less interesting to me than several of the others)
6. ODB (a little overrated IMO)
7. RZA (love and respect his overall talent but here just as a rapper)
8. Cappadonna
9. Masta Killa (ahead of U-God because he could throw some actual great verses here and there, I.e Chessboxin')
10. U-God

[tpols]

Method man was the best for me, his flow and voice were the most unique.

[Off the Court]

GZA is definitely the most clever lyricist but for me his flow can be too drawn out and even boring at times. I have factor that in.

I'd probably go:

1. Ghostface (most versatile and consistently creative)
2. Method Man (best combo of flow/lyricism)
3. GZA
4. Inspectah Deck (often the best overall verse on group songs but couldn't carry solo like the above 3)
5. Raekwon (Respect his ability to carry but less interesting to me than several of the others)
6. ODB (a little overrated IMO)
7. RZA (love and respect his overall talent but here just as a rapper)
8. Cappadonna
9. Masta Killa (ahead of U-God because he could throw some actual great verses here and there, I.e Chessboxin')
10. U-God

This is good list but I'd probably flip ODB and Inspectah. I actually feel like ODB was underrated and one of the very few rappers that went with his own style and didn't try to fit the mold of what a rapper was supposed to look like and act like. Which is kind of what Ghost and Rae were doing, draped out in huge gold chains and rapping about their drug slanging adventures.

ODB's uniqueness as an artist needs appreciation. There isn't enough of that. And we could use another ODB today as everyone just sounds like Future.

[Doomsday Dallas]

Method man was the best for me, his flow and voice were the most unique.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQS2jo_8YRU

[GOBB]

Rza masta killa and u god are at the bottom for me. Give me capadonna who still has freestyles now that are fire. I can’t think of many songs I like from Rza honestly. His flow was terrible

[Doomsday Dallas]

Rza masta killa and u god are at the bottom for me. Give me capadonna who still has freestyles now that are fire. I can’t think of many songs I like from Rza honestly. His flow was terrible


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEkZsFamr88

[diamenz]

looks like pac won it by a long shot. indisputable goat. :bowdown:

[ArbitraryWater]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHTwv56jZ7E&ab_channel=FLAGRANT


They talk some aspects

[diamenz]

looks like pac won it by a long shot. indisputable goat. :bowdown:

not to mention the two runner-ups have no business whatsoever sniffing the goat spot. not sure what some of people are smoking.

[Patrick Chewing]

Shout out to Big L


https://youtu.be/WWMjRMJ0dTI?si=PzPnA2kujOppHv-x

[GOBB]

looks like pac won it by a long shot. indisputable goat. :bowdown:

He won by 3 votes. Fantastic job at exaggerating

[diamenz]

He won by 3 votes. Fantastic job at exaggerating

lighten up globb. :rolleyes:

thug side west lyfe!

...of all choices the runner up was em. if it were instead somebody reasonable like nas then you'd have something to bark about.

[warriorfan]

gobb having a cry because no one gives a shit about his lame tastes :lol

what a lady

[GOBB]

lighten up globb. :rolleyes:

thug side west lyfe!

...of all choices the runner up was em. if it were instead somebody reasonable like nas then you'd have something to bark about.

I don’t give a damn who won. I honestly didn’t even notice until I saw your reply. Everyone has their own goats. That’s why you don’t see me quoting and arguing anyone’s pick or list.

[diamenz]

I don’t give a damn who won. I honestly didn’t even notice until I saw your reply. Everyone has their own goats. That’s why you don’t see me quoting and arguing anyone’s pick or list.

it's too bad your b!tch gay-z only got a measly two votes.

[j3lademaster]

lighten up globb. :rolleyes:

thug side west lyfe!

...of all choices the runner up was em. if it were instead somebody reasonable like nas then you'd have something to bark about.

Pac is obviously great, but winning 7 to the runner up's 5 is hardly undisputed.

[code green]

bustinbytches

[diamenz]

Pac is obviously great, but winning 7 to the runner up's 5 is hardly undisputed.

it was actually three - eminem had a vote count of three until i pointed out that pac was the winner. the poll had been dormant for days.

so i can only guess somebody that was salty about the fact that pac won started to pile on eminem with their alts.

[diamenz]

and eminem? :roll:

one needs to look no further than the latter half his catalog to bury that argument.

[j3lademaster]

it was actually three - eminem had a vote count of three until i pointed out that pac was the winner. the poll had been dormant for days.

so i can only guess somebody that was salty about the fact that pac won started to pile on eminem with their alts.

https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExYWNlYnJiOWd6Y3Y4OW4xNnp1d3B0Y3l tZGkwZTlsZWxyNmRvbHpvOSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfY nlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/kGFTbHw2fjFhGAz7nP/giphy.gif

[diamenz]

take another look. ^

[MrFonzworth]

Shout out to Big L


https://youtu.be/WWMjRMJ0dTI?si=PzPnA2kujOppHv-x

So damn overrated. Lil Wayne is better.

[Patrick Chewing]

So damn overrated. Lil Wayne is better.

:facepalm

[ArbitraryWater]

50cent btw needs to get a shotout.

[1987_Lakers]

50cent btw needs to get a shotout.

One hit wonder for me in terms of quality music, had one good album and a couple of good singles after that.

[1987_Lakers]

Schoolboy Q has always been underrated to me. The production on this song is top notch.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn3GZHjHPjM

[1987_Lakers]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L2vJEb6lVE

[bizil]

For me the only true way to do it is using the LL COOL J scale! And I give LL MAJOR CREDIT for being the BLUEPRINT for the first total package MC. LL had the lyrical ability, versatility in content, cross demographic appeal, huge album sales, longevity being relevant and street credibility in spades. Then FROM THERE what impact on the culture did you make with your skillset. If you look at his peers in Rakim, KRS, Kane, Slick Rick, and G Rap, many will say he wasn't as lyrically potent as them. BUT LL was still a world class MC and was elite lyrically. But FROM THERE LL has the edge on the ALL THOSE LEGENDS in the other categories! So for me, LL was ACTUALLY THE GOAT at one point for a long ass time.

So when you look at it like that, it narrows the list. If you take a Nas, he's like the Bret Hart of the shit. SURE Bret wasn't a huge mainstream star like Hogan, Andre, Piper, or Savage. BUT he was still a BIG ENOUGH DEAL to be a world champion in the largest company in the world. And of ALL THE GUYS who get over on that type of level or higher, he was the BEST TECHNICIAN! So I view Nas the same way. Nas could be the MOST SKILLED RAPPER ever!

And GOAT wise, he's a mortal lock for top 5-10 GOAT status because of that. And even though Pac wasn't a lyrical gymnastics MC, he still was a great storyteller and was spitting knowledge. So for me that MAKES UP for the lyrical gymnastics stuff. And Pac other than lyrical gymnastics type shit checks all the other boxes in spades.

If you talking ONLY album sales, mainstream appeal, and pure lyrical ability as a package, then Em would take the crown. And if we are going by the LL scale, then Hov for me would be the natural successor. He checks more the boxes than anybody else. Biggie's longevity hurts him. BUT skillwise, Biggie takes a backseat to nobody. And Wayne at his peak checked hell boxes too. And of course Kendrick has stamped his legacy. And Cube's legacy has unbelivably become underrated. Ghostface's album catalog doesn't take a backseat to anybody. So many different ways to look at it. BUT if I had to choose one, I would say Hov or Pac. Hov because he checked the most boxes. Pac because of the grip he had on the game. Pac was the biggest star in music balancing G rap, party anthems, Public Enemy revolutionary shit, and everyday struggle shit.

[GOBB]

it was actually three - eminem had a vote count of three until i pointed out that pac was the winner. the poll had been dormant for days.

so i can only guess somebody that was salty about the fact that pac won started to pile on eminem with their alts.

Are you remedial? You’re really arguing 7-3 as a landslide. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. But you really are some kind of stupid.

[diamenz]

Are you remedial? You’re really arguing 7-3 as a landslide. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. But you really are some kind of stupid.

i wouldn't use the word landslide but i'd say the winner is quite clear.

[1987_Lakers]

i wouldn't use the word landslide but i'd say the winner is quite clear.

Eminem the GOAT! :lol

[diamenz]

Eminem the GOAT! :lol

i concede.

:bowdown:

[TheMan]

SilkkThaShocker, the poster not the rapper.

[Norcaliblunt]

Kool G Rap is literally the best technical multisyllabic rhymer ever.

And Eyedea is the best pure white boy freestyler battle rapper ever.

And Esham, Brotha Lynch, ICP, X Raided, Ra the rugged man, Ill bill and Necro are the best shock value horrorcore rappers ever.

Twista, Bone Thugs, and Tech N9ne are the best Midwest chopper rappers.

And slick rick, Ice cube, Scarface and Too short are the best story telling rappers.

Where the **** does Eminem fall?

He isn’t the best at anything other than fronting. lol.

[Norcaliblunt]

And Chino Xl beats em on punchlines, metaphors, and simile’s.

[Norcaliblunt]

I’ll give Eminem and Tupac a tie for the best “POP STAR” rappers ever.

Their pop appeal is crazy worldwide huge. And they actually rap about deep shit for pop artists.

[Norcaliblunt]

Yo but woodie might be the best ever….



https://youtu.be/b60pX4sPvao

[Norcaliblunt]

https://youtu.be/dZYLWmZToJ4

[Norcaliblunt]

https://youtu.be/qCqxchRfEK0


What does Eminem have on this?????

[Norcaliblunt]

Hip hop is so much weaker than rock it’s pathetic.

None of y’all OGS know shit about underground rap. Lmao.

[Norcaliblunt]

https://youtu.be/q7tAnbB11aQ

[Norcaliblunt]

Your mama pop fans.

[TheMan]

The Beastie Boys

[1987_Lakers]

Yo but woodie might be the best ever….



https://youtu.be/b60pX4sPvao

He’s from the nearby town from where I live. Lol

[Norcaliblunt]

The Beastie Boys

This the type of shit you’d expect from a wishy washy I’m religious but don’t wanna claim statists idiot lol.

I mean you act like you from Chicago but are really Mexican born and have no real identity? Lmao.

Just express the music / rappers you like and make shit interesting.

[Norcaliblunt]

Yo but woodie might be the best ever….



https://youtu.be/b60pX4sPvao


He’s from the nearby town from where I live. Lol

Everybody who grew up in the bay or valley knew about dude in the late 90’s and early 2000’s.

Antioch / pitsburge / vallejo / Stockton actually could’ve been a powerful force back then with the underground stars.

[Norcaliblunt]

Yo but woodie might be the best ever….



https://youtu.be/b60pX4sPvao


He’s from the nearby town from where I live. Lol

Everybody who grew up in the bay or valley knew about dude in the late 90’s and early 2000’s.

Antioch / pitsburge / vallejo / Stockton actually could’ve been a powerful force back then with the underground stars.

[TheMan]

This the type of shit you’d expect from a wishy washy I’m religious but don’t wanna claim statists idiot lol.

I mean you act like you from Chicago but are really Mexican born and have no real identity? Lmao.

Just express the music / rappers you like and make shit interesting.
Statists, did you mean Satanists?

I'll be the first to tell you that Rap isn't my go to music, I'm a metalhead but do listen to some rap from time to time. Gun to my head, Snoop, Pac, NWA, Dre, Eminem, 50¢, Cypress Hill is what I listen too and if you want my honest opinion, Zach De La Rocha is highly underrated, he didn't rap about money and hos, he rapped about higher level shit.

[TheMan]

This the type of shit you’d expect from a wishy washy I’m religious but don’t wanna claim statists idiot lol.

I mean you act like you from Chicago but are really Mexican born and have no real identity? Lmao.

Just express the music / rappers you like and make shit interesting.

And I was born in Chicago, do you think I wanna be a masochist and be a Bulls, White Sox and Bears fan for fun...FOH :lol

[Patrick Chewing]

Hip hop is so much weaker than rock it’s pathetic.

None of y’all OGS know shit about underground rap. Lmao.

I do.

[ShawkFactory]

Hip hop is so much weaker than rock it’s pathetic.

None of y’all OGS know shit about underground rap. Lmao.

You are such a douche :lol

[RRR3]

You are such a douche :lol
The ultimate hipster.

[diamenz]

And I was born in Chicago, do you think I wanna be a masochist and be a Bulls, White Sox and Bears fan for fun...FOH :lol

whereabouts bro? i've lived in various neighborhoods throughout the city for the last forty years.

[TheMan]

whereabouts bro? i've lived in various neighborhoods throughout the city for the last forty years.

Southeast Chicago, near Calumet Park, 95th Street. Went to Mt. Carmel High School, freshman year, gay ass school, then my parents transferred me to George Washington High School, which was a dump :lol

[1987_Lakers]

How about the greatest hip hop albums of all time?

To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar)
Illmatic (Nas)
Good Kid, m.A.A.d city (Kendrick Lamar)
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang

I feel like these are usually considered top 4 ever with Illmatic & TPAB usually battling it out for the #1 spot.

[RRR3]

How about the greatest hip hop albums of all time?

To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar)
Illmatic (Nas)
Good Kid, m.A.A.d city (Kendrick Lamar)
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang

I feel like these are usually considered top 4 ever with Illmatic & TPAB usually battling it out for the #1 spot.
We get it you worship Kendrick Lamar.

[1987_Lakers]

How about the greatest hip hop albums of all time?

To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar)
Illmatic (Nas)
Good Kid, m.A.A.d city (Kendrick Lamar)
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang

I feel like these are usually considered top 4 ever with Illmatic & TPAB usually battling it out for the #1 spot.

Then you have other all-time great albums right behind them like

OutKast - Aquemini
Mobb Deep - The Infamous
The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die
Dr Dre: The Chronic
Madvillain: Madvillainy
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Kanye West)

To round out the top 10

[1987_Lakers]

We get it you worship Kendrick Lamar.

I wouldn't even say that is my top 4, that is the consensus top 4.

I listen to Good kid, mad city more than I do TPAB, but I can see why TPAB is regarded greater.

[warriorfan]

maad city is probably my favorite album released in the past 20 years

[Off the Court]

Then you have other all-time great albums right behind them like

OutKast - Aquemini
Mobb Deep - The Infamous
The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die
Dr Dre: The Chronic
Madvillain: Madvillainy
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Kanye West)

To round out the top 10

Aquemini is only OutKast's 3rd best album and Liquid Swords is the Wu's #1 album

Also Me against the World should probably be in there

[1987_Lakers]

Aquemini is only OutKast's 3rd best album and Liquid Swords is the Wu's #1 album

Also Me against the World should probably be in there

Wrong.

[Off the Court]

Real hip hop heads don't have Enter the Wu as their best work, that's just the pop casual answer. Same with Aquemini which is when Andre started getting weird, wearing dresses with NFL shoulder pads and catcher's mask while singing and shit lol. Their best work is ATleins and SPCM. I personally think Pac is overrated, I mean he can only be that since he is rated the GOAT, but MATW is still a legendary album.

[warriorfan]

Real hip hop heads don't have Enter the Wu as their best work, that's just the pop casual answer. Same with Aquemini which is when Andre started getting weird, wearing dresses with NFL shoulder pads and catcher's mask while singing and shit lol. Their best work is ATleins and SPCM. I personally think Pac is overrated, I mean he can only be that since he is rated the GOAT, but MATW is still a legendary album.

What are your favorite songs from me against the world?

[1987_Lakers]

Real hip hop heads don't have Enter the Wu as their best work, that's just the pop casual answer. Same with Aquemini which is when Andre started getting weird, wearing dresses with NFL shoulder pads and catcher's mask while singing and shit lol. Their best work is ATleins and SPCM. I personally think Pac is overrated, I mean he can only be that since he is rated the GOAT, but MATW is still a legendary album.
Wtf are you talking about about? Enter the Wu is highly regarded among all hip hop fans, it’s not just some pop answer.

I can see a case for MATW for top 15.

[Off the Court]

Wtf are you talking about about? Enter the Wu is highly regarded among all hip hop fans, it’s not just some pop answer.

I can see a case for MATW for top 15.

It is highly regarded yes, but if you asked real Wu fans to rank the best Wu albums, I do not think most would have it at #1. Liquid Swords, OB4CL, Supreme Clientele, Ironman, would all be up there in the mix. I mean there is no right or wrong answer, but Enter the Wu was their entry album, and they definitely peaked AFTER that.


And this debate is highlighting Pac being overrated. So he is the GOAT but not an album that cracks the top-10? I think if there was one GOAT album, you get Illmatic with the most mentions, so how is Pac rated higher than Nas as a rapper exactly? Makes no sense.

[ShawkFactory]

Aquemini is only OutKast's 3rd best album and Liquid Swords is the Wu's #1 album

Also Me against the World should probably be in there

Huh? I can see an argument for ATLiens but none of the others.

[Patrick Chewing]

Aquemini is only OutKast's 3rd best album and Liquid Swords is the Wu's #1 album

Also Me against the World should probably be in there

Just to clarify, Liquid Swords is a GZA album.

[Off the Court]

Just to clarify, Liquid Swords is a GZA album.
It's a GZA album featuring the entire Wu Tang Clan.

[Off the Court]

Huh? I can see an argument for ATLiens but none of the others.

SPCM is absolutely loaded with classics and arguably #1 overall for them, could go either way with that and ATliens. After that though they started diverting in style and started making things that leaned more toward radio friendly pop stuff. Andre got weird, was trying to hard to be artistic. Which normally I would say is a huge plus, to try and be original, but for him I just do not think it went in a direction anyone could relate to. Young Andre > Weird Andre

[Off the Court]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9X_UTqWYHM

Seriously WTF happened to this MFer? :roll:

[Off the Court]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc5Po252d_U


This is prime Andre.

[ShawkFactory]

SPCM is absolutely loaded with classics and arguably #1 overall for them, could go either way with that and ATliens. After that though they started diverting in style and started making things that leaned more toward radio friendly pop stuff. Andre got weird, was trying to hard to be artistic. Which normally I would say is a huge plus, to try and be original, but for him I just do not think it went in a direction anyone could relate to. Young Andre > Weird Andre

Aquemini was the perfect medium between the classic southern hip-hop sound and the overly artistic side. Both the subject matter and song creation were more thoughtful than ever before, and it was before it went off the rails into either pop or pure oddity. They were in total control of their craft at that point.

[Off the Court]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U9rMkgoGL8


:roll:

[Off the Court]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWNLjGapOWc

I'm seriously starting to think that Redman is in his prime right now, today.

This beat goes so hard and he has not let up at all since his young days. He's more refined than ever.

[Mask the Embiid]

Taking the results on this site seriously about the best rapper of all time is like going to a black cookout and asking them to name the best Metallica song(and respecting the results).....this shit is a joke. Eminem would never even crack the top 5 on any real hip hop list.....a bunch of damn bozos

[ShawkFactory]

Taking the results on this site seriously about the best rapper of all time is like going to a black cookout and asking them to name the best Metallica song(and respecting the results).....this shit is a joke. Eminem would never even crack the top 5 on any real hip hop list.....a bunch of damn bozos

What a hilarious, albeit unsurprising, take :lol

[diamenz]

:dancin
:dancin


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hObvr_Iyl7k&pp=ygUWbm90b3Jpb3VzIG5pZ2dhcyBibGVlZA%3D%3D

[diamenz]

Southeast Chicago, near Calumet Park, 95th Street. Went to Mt. Carmel High School, freshman year, gay ass school, then my parents transferred me to George Washington High School, which was a dump :lol

yeah that's a bit outta my immediate area. the furthest south i've lived is just off division in humboldt park - i'd only travel out south to see friends. isn't that area comprised mostly of blacks or are there some latin dominated areas too?

[John8204]

We all know it's Nikki Minaj you bunch of incels.

[1987_Lakers]

It is highly regarded yes, but if you asked real Wu fans to rank the best Wu albums, I do not think most would have it at #1.

A quick search tells me this is wrong.

https://www.reddit.com/r/wutang/comments/1drc3dj/album_ranking/


Here is a direct "Enter the Wu, 36 chambers" vs "Liquid Swords" debate. Most pick 36 in that as well even though you see lots of votes for both.

https://www.reddit.com/r/90sHipHop/comments/1eu4uls/36_chambers_or_liquid_swords/

Liquid Swords is a classic though. I bumped this song a lot as a teenager.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilXG_KN5V2g

[1987_Lakers]

And this debate is highlighting Pac being overrated. So he is the GOAT but not an album that cracks the top-10? I think if there was one GOAT album, you get Illmatic with the most mentions, so how is Pac rated higher than Nas as a rapper exactly? Makes no sense.

I think you could make a solid case for Outkast having 3 albums better than any Pac album, as well as Kanye West, but we all know Kanye isn't a better rapper than Pac, Kanye was able to make great songs with his artistic vision more than rapping skills, which is why I left him off the OP.

[GOBB]

We get it you worship Kendrick Lamar.

Word. No need to keep forcing the issue. 2 Kendrick albums top 4 all time (wth) says it all.

[1987_Lakers]

Word. No need to keep forcing the issue. 2 Kendrick albums top 4 all time (wth) says it all.

https://www.albumoftheyear.org/ratings/user-highest-rated/all/hip-hop/

https://media.tenor.com/1hlTNcVLVS4AAAAM/jordan-shrug.gif

[1987_Lakers]

Almost 30 years old and still haven't heard a better beat.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoYZf-lBF_U

[GOBB]

https://www.albumoftheyear.org/ratings/user-highest-rated/all/hip-hop/

https://media.tenor.com/1hlTNcVLVS4AAAAM/jordan-shrug.gif

Cool subjective link posted. I guess the petty in me should just copy and paste a link that shows otherwise. Then it’s a meaningless back & forth as you try to push off Kendrick having 2 top 5 hip hop albums of all time. All the while you’re not that big of a Kendrick fan…

[TheMan]

yeah that's a bit outta my immediate area. the furthest south i've lived is just off division in humboldt park - i'd only travel out south to see friends. isn't that area comprised mostly of blacks or are there some latin dominated areas too?

Bro, I haven't been to Chicago since the mid 90s, back then it was some parts Croatian/Serb/Irish and Polish dominated, other mostly Latino and some black folks. I have no idea what those areas are comprised of nowadays. My old stomping grounds were mostly Latino though I did grow up having black and white friends but I have no clue what's going on today.
I find it hilarious that some posters question that I'm from Chicago though, as if I freely chose to suffer through being a White Sox, Bulls and Bears fan through my own free will :lol

[tpols]

Bro, I haven't been to Chicago since the mid 90s, back then it was some parts Croatian/Serb/Irish and Polish dominated, other mostly Latino and some black folks. I have no idea what those areas are comprised of nowadays. My old stomping grounds were mostly Latino though I did grow up having black and white friends but I have no clue what's going on today.
I find it hilarious that some posters question that I'm from Chicago though, as if I freely chose to suffer through being a White Sox, Bulls and Bears fan through my own free will :lol

How did you feel about the Polish and eastern euros?

[TheMan]

How did you feel about the Polish and eastern euros?

I got along with them just fine. I went to a Catholic school growing up so that's where I mostly made my white friendships growing up. I can tell you my favorite group of white folks were the Irish, they have a lot of things in common with Mexicans (they value extended family, are catholic, party hard and drink a ton) and most of my white friends were of Irish descent. I did hang out with both Serbs and Croats and I was well aware at an early age that they hated each other :lol This was well before the Balkan war in the early to mid 90s IIRC

[highwhey]

Almost 30 years old and still haven't heard a better beat.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoYZf-lBF_U

this makes me want to grab a 40oz and my glock and take a walk through the projects

[diamenz]

this makes me want to grab a 40oz and my glock and take a walk through the projects

you do that bro. :lol

[highwhey]

you do that bro. :lol

youn sound, shook

[Patrick Chewing]

https://youtu.be/o8_f3kJOX_8?si=-gVZAAmGzkQSy4fT

:dancin

[1987_Lakers]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_3HVeHinDg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CGFU1lBdCI

[1987_Lakers]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2yT5QJeUlM