Tuesday, August 23, 2005

The Greatest MC's of all Time(revised)

A "version" of this entry was originally posted months ago, hence a couple of old comments. BUT, I have brought this particular piece back to life for a few reasons. 1. This past December, while under the influenced of "certain" substances, I accidentally erased my blog(losing various comments and interesting perspectives on Hip Hop) 2.I have revised it, pretty much shortened the reasons why those particular MC's were the "greatest" to a few sentences, and added pictures. and 3: In a time period where Hip Hop is as dry as a crack prostitutes genetalia, I just want some open feedback from all of you on your favorite MC's. This is a open forum for you to say how much you "agree with me", or how I am "full of shit" and should be sent to an old folks home immediately. Let your voice be heard for Christs sake, I'm definitely curious. Here, in my opinion, are the Greatest MC's of all Time


1. Rakim: The greatest M.C to ever hold a Mic, hands down. A lyricist who was truly ahead of his time, if you don't believe me just play 'Paid In Full'. Any of his early recordings stand the test of time, holding ground with any modern M.C you can name. Vivid Imagery, metaphors, versatile delivery, and all around dictionary-like command of the English language makes this individual my personal favorite. "The ghetto", "Mahogany", and "Paid in Full", and "Microphone Fiend" are four very different songs that display the range of Rakim. The Greatest of All Time.

2. KRS-One: You have to love a man that says, "I am Hip Hop". His blend of consciousness and raw lyricism has been evident from day one. The hardest thing in music to do is be entertaining and teach at the same time. People call him arrogant, but I think that if you truly think you are the best then arrogance is needed. His love for Hip Hop culture has kept him in the game for nearly 20 years. "Criminal Minded", "My Philosophy", "I'm Still #1", how he single handedly took out the Juice Crew, threw P.M Dawn off a stage, or made Nelly his bitch, the man is an Icon.

3.Big Daddy Kane: One of the first M.C's to incorporate the "player" persona and at the same time stressing the importance of lyricism. I remember when my cousin's came down from New York in August of 88' and they gave me Big Daddy Kane's first album. That was one of the best birthday presents I ever had.. His arsenal of rhyme styles from a smooth delivery to a rapid flow captivated a then 15 year old kid. Matter of fact, it still captivates a now 31 year old man.

4. Nas: I knew that he was a great M.C when I heard his verse on Main Sources "Live from the barbecue", just him saying "..kidnap the President's wife without a plan.." or "..when I was 12, I went to hell for snuffing Jesus..", get me giddy as a school girl. Illmatic is one of my favorite albums, and has to be the best debut album of any rapper ever. In a time when lyrical content seems to be irrelevant, the man continues to push the envelope and display his wide ranging lyrical strengths. I admit that his career took a wrong turn(see duet with Ginuine), but it seems that it got back on track again when Jay Z made the disastrous decision to challenge the Queensbridge M.C.

5. Kool G Rap: If you hear some of his earlier songs, he should be credited for some of the first "gangsta rap" recordings. Brilliant lyricist, with a aggressive delivery mixed with his ability to inject the vivid images of street life. With his trademark lisp, I personally feel he had the best verse on "The Symphony". As a person that is against the "bitch and hoe" content of many of the "artists" of today, or the clumsy way they tackle strong sexual content in Hip Hop, can't resist the imaginative ways he approaches those topics.

6. Slick Rick: A truly underrated lyricist, coming to us by way of England. I fell in love with "Ladi-Dadi" as soon as I heard it and it is probably the first song that I learned verbatim. Smooth delivery, with a vast vocabulary that he utilizes through his storytelling abilities. 'Treat em' like a prostitute' is one of my personal favorites, but reading my blog you could probably guess why..

7. Notorious B.I.G: Death can certainly make someone a martyr, and inflate their importance in music. Even though I think this has happened to B.I.G in some respects(especially Tupac), there is no denying the lyrical ability of this Brooklyn M.C. The first song that I heard from him happens to be my favorite, "Party and Bullshit". Awesome flow, skillful metaphor use and wordplay will keep him relevant in Hip Hop for years to come. I wasn't into the "shiny suit" era that Puffy tried to force upon us, but Biggie's lyrics make me forget about that, somewhat.

8.Chuck D: "It takes a Nation of Millions.." is by far my favorite album of all time. Chuck D is partly responsible for my current political awareness, so when I go on long diatribes about the evil that is the "black republican", you have him to blame. Like I said about KRS-One, to be able to be musically relevant and have a message at the same time is not only difficult but it takes balls. I heard a quote form Chuck D one time where he said, "I knew that we had something when women hated our music", I love that quote. Any man that calls out Elvis, the president, and talks about kidnapping the mayor of Arizona for not recognizing Martin Luther Kings birthday get my complete support.

9. Ice Cube (Circa 1992): I was a fan of Ice Cube when he was in N.W.A, but when he went solo he emerged into a deadly M.C. The Bomb Squad produced 'Amerikkka's Most Wanted' was a dazzling debut of street life and hardcore beats. My favorite Ice Cube album is 'Death Certificate", where he dealt with topics like the failing health care system, selling out, dissing his old band-mates N.W.A, the military, and venereal diseases. Yeah he fell off, and his contribution to the West Side Connection is forgettable, but his works of the early 90's are legendary.

10.LL. Cool J: Like his recent work or not, but the man was considered a legend at the age of 25. The first artist signed to Def Jam, he has proved to be the Hip Hop version of Madonna, successfully changing with the times and staying commercially relevant. I know that this choice is pretty controversial, but anyone who disses an outgoing president(Bush 1) while freestyling at a presidential inauguration(Clinton), definitely gets my motherfucking vote! He has defeated Kool Moe Dee, Ice Tee, and Cannibus, proving that he is a battle tested M.C. With 10 albums under his belt, he is the poster boy for longevity.

71 comments:

8ZERO8 said...

I'm happy to see the old school gettin' some props. What happpened to Big Daddy Kane? I loved him. Kool Moe Dee was hype, too.

Go see the doctoooor!

Anonymous said...

My boyfriend takes issue with your including Kane and Kool G on the list, and says you must be an old nig because of your obvious respect and reverence for the old school (what I refer to as the "real"); I say shout out for realizing that Ra is the God! And for leaving Pac off the list (Top Ten Charismatic Rap Mu' Fuckas, fo sho, but never a top ten MC). But I do have to ask - if you had to put a female on this list, who would it be? I hate to admit that females just don't make as strong a lyrical showing as males in the game. But I am still interested to know who you think could lightweight get with these nigs. Holler...

chrome said...

KRS is god the lyrical. the boombap album was very good. "sound of the police". classic

Rakim is deep like that and dropped mad science. that 5% islam-ish stylings in some of his lyrics. he's like a template for a lot of what followed.

Cube is legendary. that album "Death Certificate" was sizzling. cube was a militant menace.

Nas I have to love man. "Illmatic" was crazy good. "life's a bitch" got played on repeat for like a minute. "memory lane" I still hum (got an instrumental I whacked on IPOD). His later stylings were so-so. The boy has got skills for days. living talent.

Kool G's like okay not among the greatest in my opinion. I heard him on a track with Kweli on the "Train of thought" album and I rated him hardcore. kinda in the mould of MOP. 'gansta rap' pioneer is definitely true.

Anonymous said...

You must be crazy PAC is the greatest MC of all time hands down nobody can touch him, i guess you dont actually sit down and listen to lyrics and the way they put them together

Anonymous said...

Fuck that, Pac's overrated garbage.

Anonymous said...

iight 1st off tha nigga before me dat said pac is garbage can suck dick...ight hands down like my man said pac is the best..Pac is ol skool plus new shit put together..but MOST IMPORTANTLY pac is REAL he dont make music for possers, he make music for real niggas, niggas in the projects (like me) niggas who were at one time on welfare niggas who r in jail...if u say pac aint the greatest its either cause u a fronter OR u havent real listen to his music an jus listen to beats, pac aint just a music artist hes deeper then that, he like a spirtual leader, a voice 4 niggas wit no voice, he only speaks da truth, listen to each word in his song carfully, pac asint jus G-up shoot 'em up nigga, he is but he also got a softer side, dat teaches moral in his song, if u wanna really hear some good pac shit dont listen to da mainstream u gotta list to the indergroud hood shit.. like "better dayz" "my block [nitty remix] " "Dear Mama" "brenda got a baby" "str8 ballin" "words of wisdom".."who do u beli ve in" "cradel to the grave" "thug 4 life"..now dat jus aint music dats real gettho gospel
..REPRESENT FAR ROCKAWY NEW YORK, SOUTH SIDE ROCKAWAY HAMMEL HOUSES..FUCK SEASIDE PROJECT NIGGAS HAMMEL PROJECT NIGGA STR8 UP

Anonymous said...

First let me say that this is one of the most accurate lists I have seen. I don't agree with some of the order but my top ten list would definitely have at least 7 of these cats on it. Rakim is definitely #1 though. As for you 2-Pac fans, suck it up. Face it, he isn't a top 10 MC. And what is with yall and always trying to associate hip hop with the negatives like the ghetto and wellfare. There is more to it than that. Just because some of the music isn't about life's negatives doesn't mean it isn't real. I'm surprised there aren't a bunch of Jay-Z fans crying about this list. Most people I talk to think he is the greatest of all time. Personally he isn't in my top 5 and probably not my top ten. Props on this list though playa.

Anonymous said...

what about eminem. imean yeah hes commercial now but he had some of the best ryhmes i've ever heard plus he is one of the greatest feestylers ever. And i'd bet my two balls that he could beat antone of these top ten guys in a battle.

Amadeo said...

I will say that L.L. served dudes in the day, but I think Cannabis handed his ass to him.

Also Big Pun was a Kool G clone...it had to be said.

Anonymous said...

great list man.

Anonymous said...

Don't really know about Kane or Ice Cube but I respect the list though.

Anonymous said...

Not really into Hip Hop but Nas definitely is a poet.

brooklyn babe said...

RAKIM HANDS DOWN!!!! Check out my mellow.... TOPS. Then for me come KRS and my man BIGGIE (R.I.P).
True dat! H.C. True dat.

brooklyn babe said...

Why "long winded" anonymous, gotta be anonymous?!?!?no one is going to come and get cha for having an opinion...lmao its only music
wassup with that. lol

Anonymous said...

number 1: what does the expression "hands down" mean, is that to express good or bad ???
number 2: i hate ganster rap!!! my #1 MC AND producer has to be Madlib.

brooklyn babe said...

@ Safire... I don't feel U have to be "old" to know good (ole skool)music... just informed and a seeker of good music, I like to call them "crate dwellers...".

Regarding UR question @ H.C...I have to beg to differ with you on female in the game, and not having a strong showing.... they definitely did.. diggin in my crates..and of course I would have to take it ole skool on ya... with Sweet Tee, Antoinette, and then we had the first on the set "Roxanne Shantay" (age 15)who dissed MC Lyte, and then comes Lyte on the scene with her comeback.... "Hot Damn Hoe...." Chicks were up in there... may not be on the map now, but that a whole other can of worms.
My 1.50
PEace!

The Humanity Critic said...

@ Anonymous: I won't comment on points 2 and 3 because they are your opinion and I respect that. But I will comment on point one even though I try not to comment, BUT you did ask me a direct question so fuck it.

"Hand down": The equivalent to "without a doubt".

But I have to ask you, logically, why did you find the need to point that out exactly? I mean, the part that prefaced "Hands down" was .."The greatest M.C to ever hold a Mic,". So you got the point of what I was saying from the previous 8 words, I could have ended it with "turds down" and people would have still gotten the point. I'm just saying.

IsLifeLame said...

ok... Pac used to be a dancer for Digital before they even let him rhyme. that's all i have to say about that. As for best battle MC, Eyedea is the greatest turds down! Haha... but just IMO. But yeah I would have to agree with Rakim, he was way ahead of his time with approach and delivery, everything.

Anonymous said...

It is east coast biased until you try to come up with west coast artists who are better than the ones listed. One shouldn't add people on the list because they are from the west coast. I am thinking of great west coast MC's and none of them, except for Cube, belong on this list. Harsh reality I know, but very true.

Anonymous said...

Instead trying to dissect HC's list I will post up my Top 10 MC's
BTW, HC maybe you should define MC for everyone, I see alot of people shouting out lyricist as oppossed to those who have command of the M.I.C.

1 Rakim - based on flow, imagery, music AND followers
2 Nas - Even in fallin off he had his command
3 Chuck D - ditto to HC's comments
4 Notorious B.I.G. - I think if his output had been higher or more spread out he could have gotten even better.
5 Tupac - and this is not to appease any of the other posters. Was he able to present the realness yes but to make him out to be a ghetto messiah is just wrong. ***Cues up the movie with D.U. and him dancing around in the back***
6 Jay-Z - Say what you will but I believe him to be the absolute best at rockin a beat, but I also feel his freestyle ability to be sub-standard.
7 D.O.C. - If you think Ice Cube was good think about the fact that Dre KNEW this cat was Cube's replacement and I believe so did Cube. **Note that Cube never even let his name slip out his mouth, when he dissed everyone else on the way out**
8 LL Cool J - the King of changing styles and remaining relevant for the times.
9 Slick Rick - depending on my current personal likes of the moment about LL, they could be swapped.
10 Eminiem - No matter how much I would like to attribute his success to Dr Dre, this guy is talented and deserves respect as an amazing MC.

Belve (don't feel like signing up for yet another Username)

The Humanity Critic said...

@CultStatus: I feel you, it is East Coast biased, that is just my personal opinion. But, I must say, as a dude that listened to Too Short during the "Freaky tales" era, Ice T, liked the Heiroglyphic crew, purchased the first King Tee album and thinks he is grossly underrated, alkoholics, digs cats like Safiir and the political group "The Coup", it's not like my Hip Hop musical tastes stops at the New York State line. But I respect your opinion brother.

shuna fish lydon said...

I like the list. I'm glad that at some point you mentioned Too Short because I think he really came up from the bottom, making his own tapes and all, not just found and put through a hamburger making machine. (= found, processed, over studio-ized, and "turned into a star.")

I cannot for the life of me find La Di Da Di on Cd that is Not Live. I have even set out my friend DJ Toph...any ideas?

I hope that you can conjure a female MC list as well. There are some hard birds coming out of London, sexy and ferociously fast, real lyricists. Also I think Ms. Hill has some brilliant rhymes and ideas.

I really appreciate that you have put the powerful 'fathers' of Hip Hop here. I saw Chuck D and Harry Allen speak at a University and developed even more respect for Chuck than I already had.

Maverick said...

Yo, Humanity Critic...I have been checking out your site for a while but never really comment, because you have such a following and I feel I would be repeating what alot of people say. But I have to comment on this one...this is where I feel I have some tidbits to add...

Love the list, man. Here are my thoughts on it...

1. Everyone puts Rakim first. And I probably would have left him there if he had not released "The Master", which I bought. There are alot of rappers who hang around too long and bring their legacy down. Rakim fell off not because he sucks but because he didn't keep up with the times as he continued to record. I give number one to KRS-ONE. Dude is still probably one of the top MC's...I went to his concert in December and he hasn't lost it. He even freestyled messages to people's cell phone voicemails...his live show is like that (which is part of why he ranks so high as an MC)...I would still keep Rakim at number 2 because of his place in hip-hop history. Name one rapper today that wasn't influenced by Rakim's flow...he revolutionized that...

2. Same argument goes for Cube and LL. They are bringing their legacy down with the stuff that they do nowadays. LL actually still brings it occasionally, but Cube fell off a long time ago. On the real, I might be tempted to throw Jay-Z or Lauryn Hill into this list.

Jay-Z would be in because of his ability to dumb it down but not dumb it down ("...I shoot a couple at you, take 6...spread love for all of my dead thugs..." or "when I come back like Jordan, wearing the 4-5, it ain't to play games with you..."). This is a trait that everyone tries to copy but can't. Alot of people have also tried to bit his flow, kinda like when Rakim revolutionized flow. He is so slick because he still has references that people don't catch. Alot of people caught the Jordan wordplay, but alot of people missed out on the reference to Take 6's song, "Spread Love". He is still lyrical, but is one of the first rappers to truly make the streets accessible. Say what you may, but you have to look at the context that these MC's make their mark in...and Jay-Z has been a trailblazer in the new millenium...

Lauryn Hill would be in there because in all honesty, she came to the table with lyricism and ideas that were way ahead of her time. "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" kinda rekindled the whole "conscious" (I hate that term) rap that we see these days from Common, Talib, and Mos (and Mos even sings and raps...similar to Lauryn). For everyone who shuns the commercialism of rap these days, Lauryn Hill set the template for those who wanted to go the other side...

3. Kudos for leaving 'Pac off of the list. 'Pac might be the most influential MC of all time, but definitely not the best. 'Pac's wordplay and complexity was average, at best. He had a wide range of ideas and concepts but he was not the best at the way that he delivered them. But I believe that he definitely holds the title of "Most Influential"...

4. I think someone could make the argument that Kool Moe Dee should be on the list also...

...but overall, I agree with the people in your top 10. The list that I would really want to see though would be the top 10 hip-hop groups of all time. That would start a real argument right there. I might have to come up with that list myself...

Maverick said...

By the way, your list is really similar to the one that they did in Blaze (the Vibe spin-off magazine they came out with at the end of the 90's) a little while ago. I will find it and let you know what the order was in that list...

Anonymous said...

What's up with the lack of KRS love? For one thing, along with Chuck D, he brought consciousness into Hip Hop.(1st legendary stripe) Also he penned such classics like "The Bridge is over" where he challenged a whole Burroughs, "The P is free", "Criminal Minded", his "Edutainment" album, his entire "Return of the Boom-Bap" album, and other classics.(more stripes) See, that is the key word, "Classics", also with the fact that he is a master freestyler.(I never understood Too Shorts theory about free-styling, "Paystyles", because impromptu rhyming is what hip hop was built on. That is like calling yourself religious, but wondering what the use of that whole "praying" thing is about. Just fucking ridiculous in my opinion) There is no hype around the guy that many call "The god of lyrical syllable", because the man is a legend.

Maverick said...

Well said, Kev Fan...

MIZPOWDERPINK said...

@Maverick -Glad you mention Mrs. Hill. If she stops acting all weird and make some more music, she could make the top ten.

FYI..anyone that mentions Too Short in reference to any top 10 list should have their legs broke. My 7 year old nephew has a vocabulary larger than his. You might as well mention Kid N'Play or The Real Roxanne. KRS without a question is #1. #2-Rakim. All else is "true" minus Kane. Kane was slick and let's not forget cute, but he was a bit trendy or something....slick-wit-it cute thug like 50cent. Love'em, but not top 10.

Jdid said...

I love the list (again), figured it'd be controversial with the absence of that overrated tupac fellow but hey its your opinion and actually it corresponds rather closely to mine. not sure G-rap would rate anywhere near 5 on my list though, I'd have to take a Guru or a puba first i think and they might barely make that top ten. still the post makes a brother thing, i'm a get back on this one.

kinda digging the comments too

Maverick said...

@Cult Status: You can't use the argument that I said about Rakim, LL and Cube against Patti Labelle and Michael Jackson because you are looking at things outside of their music to judge their musical status on. I am looking at the music that Rakim, LL and Cube are still putting out to judge their place in music. The analogy that you used to Patti and Michael doesn't fit...

Maverick said...

I completely understand why HC put all of these people in the top 10...I am not saying I don't. I am just saying that some people might have been in, but are slowly falling out...

You can't put Puba or Guru in because what did they actually do that was trailblazing or ahead of their time lyrically? Kane stays in the list because he was basically the prototype for Jay-Z...the smooth, ladies man rapper who still had credibility as an MC because of the battle rhymes. Kane was probably the wittiest rapper of his time and set the stage for all of the punchline rappers of today...

G Rap stays because he was the gangsta rap pioneer. He set the stage for the East Coast hardcore rappers, such as Biggie, who are already on the list. Plus, if you give G Rap a good beat, he can still hang with anyone today...

I still stick to my reasoning of Cube and LL falling off the list. They are still in the top 20, but they are ruining their legacy by bringing their body of work down...

Anonymous said...

I was a grip on a music video with Big Daddy Kane in it, "Welcome to Durham." Fun stuff.

You might wanna checck this guy out...

http://www.frontalot.com/

Inside Man said...

HC Your list is highly respectable and I would not remove any of your selections because all of the artist you picked helped mold this art form. Their all great. I'll try 2 be brief, my ten would be the following.
(no particular order)
1. Nas-Personal favorite, his style is like a hyrbid of Rakim
2. Rakim-your favorite rappers favorite rapper. He gets that respect for a reason.
3. Ghostface-nobody rhymes like Ghost. some claim he babbles BS, but the word play is authentic. There is a message if you know Mathematics.
4. Rass Kass-if Eminem was black he would be this guy. A metaphor champ who has a talent for making words eat flesh. That's one reason Em is not high in my regards, his style was already born from somebody else.
5. Redman-under dawg of the hip-hop game.
6. Jay-Z-best combination rapper (flow, pace, lyrics, subject matter, character)
7. Chuck D-the voice of the 88'-93' pro black movement. You always felt proud when you heard his voice on the stereo.
8. Andre 3000-some say he sold out? So, he still has a credible history.
9. Ice Cube (before he started making movies)-Like Guru said "its that voice...." Not to Pac ride the nigga but he has the perfect voice for his rhymes.
10. Krs-One-he's like the real MC's founding father. He said the funniest shit on BET once. Yo was like "if you caught me carrying bags in the grocery store and you wanted to battle? Bags-go-down, we'll battle."

*No Pac or B.I.G. because that shit always stirs a riot. They're worthy of any top 10 list though...

Anonymous said...

I agree that Canibus' rhyme was more lyrical, but in my opinion LL straight George Bush'd him. I mean, Canibus came with more lyrics but L came with more intensity and anger. Plus, Canibus is still recording, but dude is pretty fucking irrelevant. Also, take into account that Canibus had a wealth of history to diss LL on, movies, records, his fucking autobiography for christs sake. LL just had to be more creative, dissing a dirty ass dude that he knew barely anything about.(That alone puts the battle in better perspective)Not only that, the fact that he keeps mentioning LL like a heartbroken bitch in high school makes the Canibus defeat more evident.

TriniPrincess said...

Any list that doesn't have Pac or Jigga in the top 10 is alright with me. I'm little (just a wee bit) salty Kool G. Rap didn't get a mention, but other than that I ain't mad atcha.

Chele said...

Dang @ everybody blogging in your blog. lol

You should have your own discussion board, HC.

I agree with most of your list but not all. Overall, you KNOW hip hop and that's what it's all about.

Almigo said...

KRS-ONE and Chuck D - now there are two artists that have influenced Hip Hop in their own way and will continue to do that for a very long time.
Sensational list HC, keep up the great work.
-Meegz

Anonymous said...

Blah blah blah!!... It tickles me how ppl are ready to fight when PAC's NUTs are not clutched tightly!!!(rotfl) Im my opinion , PAC & BIGGIE BOTH were two of theeee most OVERATED BROTHERS IN THE GAME PERIOD!!! I was on another board (www.digital-djs.com)and a similar discussion took place. Its sad how both of those cats died, but death doesnt automatically make u the g.o.a.t....& yes saafir was one of the coldest.. that battle drill cut was ridiculous( just riding as well) & of course souls.. as I stated on the other site Cool g rap was waay tighter than biggie smalls .. & look, hes still alive... The shit tupac kicked just wasnt that profound to me...I agree w/ the other sister , u should get a discussion board jumped off, with all of the blog jacking going on..lol

TriniPrincess said...

Damn, see why friends don't let friends keep their mouse settings on fast? Scrolled too quick past KGR...*pulls hoodie over head and exits stage left*

The Foxybrown Show said...

Ok I'm not going to argue with this list at all....WHY was I up this morning listening to "Warm it up Kane"??

WHY??

Holla back on the show!

MIZPOWDERPINK said...

Umm Cult... I can read. U r implying that his talents need to be recognized in the same way HC is recognizing these great MC’s….. The topic is Greatest MC's of All Time..Too Short should not have come up anywhere near or around this post. Being articulate in an interview means nothing as an MC if he/she can't transform it into a rhyme. He spits vulgar nursery rhymes:

“I ride nuthin but vogues, ain't hittin no switches
Top down in my Caddy just me and my bitches
With a Ziplock bag full of green weed
I roll it all up cuz I'm a fiend in need”

You gotta be F’in kidding me; we are talking about MC's. Not pimps who recite poetry. That goes for Ice T and Easy E too. That's all I'm saying.

Hip Hop is more than a trend. The lifestyle and culture will exist regardless of pop culture and that is one of the many elements that make a top MC(Ref. To Kane).
BTW thanks for the compliment :-)

Anonymous said...

Glad to see you didn't forget Kane, but for me he's the #1 (his flow patterns and style altered the hip hop landscape immesureably - i've been debating this with friends for over a decade).

also happy the overrated tupac was left off.

i might've substituted grand puba or big l, but a solid list overall.

James Manning said...

The list is one point. I probably would have left Kool G Rap and Slick Rick off and replaced him with Jay Z. I have to put KRS-One at the top.

As for Pac, like Mav mentioned, probably one of the most influential but certainly not one of the best MC's. Cats on the West Coast have a complex. I did a list of worst ten rappers and fools flipped because I had E40 on it.

Unknown said...

hmmmm
cool post even though its a repeat...

Nas deserves to be on the list though. he WAS like the second coming, even Smith's old peoples from the Mind Squad admitted to that.

But i think Ghost should be on there instead of Cube. CUbe laid down some stuff but he is a poser. I think Del tha Funky Homosapien should be in there cause he brought the Heiro crew in there. and they pretty much opened the door for the lyrical west coast cats (along with Freestyle fellowship whose first album was garbage)..

Yogo said...

Kurtis Blow...kurt kurt kurtis blow

Crackpot Press said...

I unno if they make they list.

I saw Digital Underground the other night(Ton-Loc made a guest appearance)
Have not lost a beat.

Also I am throwing my 2 cents on for Disposable Heores of Hip-Hop-racy.

Anonymous said...

come on man are u serious. ok well i like that someone is finally acknowledging ice-cube as one of the top mc's of all time. but where is eminem, jay-z tupac. now come on these three guys to me have spit legendary lyrics and deserve to be top 10 even top 5

Anonymous said...

Are U On Crack....?????

Skillwise...Big L had More than Any of those Geezers....

he had Flow....Delivery...Humory,witts

he Had Punchlines, mulites..Slick talk, amazing storytelling ability...and so on..

unfurnitly he died early..and dont get recognition from faggots like you

Anonymous said...

And to have Jay Z over big L is Popostorous....

They Freestyled in Back 2 back....2 sessions each and Big L made him look like the clown he is...and what does jay z do....

same thing as usual bites Big Ls Rhymes 2-3 years later on his Album like he always does....

JAY Z IS A BITER...If ur the best u dont use other peoples rhymes/schems no matter dead alive

Anonymous said...

http://www.youtube.com/w/Big-L?v=HrlIze-yA4o&search=Big%20L

Big L Freestyle Live...and the Accapella Live....he Kills it...

Anonymous said...

Haha Thats Funny Shit....ur a Clown...

U Point Out Everyone On ur Top 10 Best Lyrics And Big L...Got 2 better Lines to theyre 1...

UR Top 10 is not even Close to Accurate....talent Wise..

One Notable Album?....He Had 2 His Career...He Died...Got Murdered..that dont take away his skill....UR Dumb As Fuck

Anonymous said...

Slick Rick...?

LL Cool J?....U might as Well have 50 Cent On there As Well...and Kanye West...

Ur List is Ass....

Top 5....Skills

1.Big L
2.Rakim
3.Biggie
4.Nas
5.Lord Finesse

Anonymous said...

Like i Said....Drop Some OF theyre Dopest Lines....

And Ill Drop 2 to each One From Big L....

Skillwise....Slick Rick is Ass...

LL COOL J....U really Are a Fag...if u think hes Top 10 EVER????????????

Wow.....But Yea Noone Touchin L or biggie....talentwise

But Now Ur Tought or Something like u wanna Fight People...Why dont u stop Hiding Behind ur fake ass name u fuckin fruit cake....

I Can Rap better than LL...

The Humanity Critic said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Ur Jokes Arent Funny....

But Yeah like I Said...

Lord Finesse Is Better than LL COOL J...

Ur a Bitch Ass Duke Prolly From The Suburbs and dont know shit about living in a real city

Anonymous said...

Guru belongs up there somewhere. And, while KRS and BDP were huge influences on me and I will always love that shit I'd be reluctant to put him on the top 10. I know, that sounds crazy, but, listen to his shit again..just sit down and listen. Yes, lyrically he is dope. But his rhyme patterns are to repetative. Every single rhyme, every line is just anunciated (sp?) hard at the end. Last word stressed on every line, every song, every time does not land you on the top 10. Maybe, the lyrical content....maybe...give him spot 10. Good list otherwise....I'm not really up on Kool G to really comment on him. Thank for leaving Pac off.

Anonymous said...

Ya two niggas coffecakes and H.C. need to chill. I give to L he was the shit I think if he had more time on his life he could crack the top 5 his skill was undeniable. He did shit wit Kool G Rap, Tupac, and Jay and to me L is better than anyone of them niggas all respect though. I understand why HC never gave the love to L like coffecakes did cuz he didnt pioneer like Rakim and KRS did but L's skill was to me one of the best ever once I heard a 7 minute freestyle he did wit Jay could seal the deal. Just how fast he came wit the shit without slippin was crazy. Ask any dude bout L , Nas Kool G Rap Jay-Z they will tell u he murk it. Also I cant believe ya niggas didnt give Big Pun love some people say he was BDK clone but i say fuck em. I live in Bronx, NY 969 Legget Ave. come see me bitches. Big Pun has so may words in one bar that shit is undeniable he had bilingual tounge-twistin verocity it's ridiculous

Anonymous said...

Yall chumps can't b series how can tha nigga that sold tha most rap records eva b garbage, shyt if I knew that I'll make a garbage record & sell 9 million & don't say cuz he was in jail, & shot, cuz Biggie, was in jail 2, & he his also dead, & his duets album wit platinum 2pacs Greatest Hits which was released 2 years afta his death sold 9 million so I guess mothafuccas jus like listenin 2 garbage azz music right all yall niggaz is haters 4real, Pac is tha best rapper eva, & I could give u more reasons then all tha pp u named on tha top 10 combined, yall gotta b kiddin, bias ass niggaz, cuz u from tha East Coast thats it, come on now, he changed tha game, & did it effortlessly, go ask ur fav rapper 2 make a classic in 7 Dayz, (& it only took Pac 3 dayz 2 write & lay all tha songs down, but with mixin it & all that it ended up takin 7) come on now, I'm startin 2 queston if yall kno hio hop, wat tha fucc, I mean rap is rhymetically attepmting poetry & Pac epitomizes that & u cant give him his respect, have u even listened 2 all of his songs have u heard "Changes" "Wonder Y They Call U Bitch" "Me & My Girlfriend" throughout that song he made it seem like he was talkin bout an actual girl but he was talkin bout his gun tha whole time

"Our first date, couldn't wait to see you naked
Touch you in every secret place, I can hardly wait
to bust freely, got you red hot, you so happy to see me
Make the frontpage primetime live on TV
Nigga my girlfriend, baby forty-five but she still live
One shot make a nigga's heartbeat stop

in reference cant wait 2 c u naked emptyin out his clip get u red hot touch u in every secret place which is tha pussy tha trigga 2 tha gun, babys 45 a 45 milli still makin niggaz heart beats stop & when u firsst hear it u couldve sworn he was talkin 2 a girl, & he wrote & did that entire song in 30 min. give rappers months & they couldnt do it, did Hail mary in 20, plz stop hatin on my man Pac god damn

Anonymous said...

"I take 7 MC's put em in a line
And add 7 more brothas who think they can rhyme
Well, it'll take 7 more before I go for mine
And that's 21 MC's ate up at the same time" The best line ever to come from an MC. Rest in peace to Tupac, but Rakim is the number one MC of all time

Anonymous said...

yoo what about Big L, he never gets any mention

Anonymous said...

Tupac is too classic to ignore. He has too many lines, and too many rymes to die. You gotta respect that. "I gotta play my hand, and my hands on a sixteen shot semi-automatic crooked cop killin gloc". Go pick up R U Still Down and fuckin wet yourself. "I'm gettin money", "Hell Razor" and "Fuck all Yall" are the 3 greatest songs to ever be on the same album. Please, if your a fag ass bitch, go hate on PAC in your closet and watch broke back mountain until your eye's bleed, your hands shafe, and your dick falls off you broke back bitch.

The Humanity Critic said...

Pac is very easy to ignore, especially to Hip Hop fans that have taste and know that there is a gang of MC's better than Tupac. There were MC's that had better lyrics, better flows, better songs. This isn't the special olympics, so I wasn't going to put him on my list just because a dumbass like you said I should. As for "fag ass bitches", lets leave your daddy out of this equation for now, I'm still wondering why a sperm recpticle like yourself thinks that Pac should be higher than any of the MC's I listed here...

Anonymous said...

I'm from the South and for the life of me I NEVER have understood why people list Pac as the alltime greatest...well let me change that on sheer influence and following yeah I guess Pac is the alltime best BUT please people stop saying Pac was an MC...dude skills were mediocre at best...rythmes were elementary..real simple...REAL BORING...sorry but I can't take all this Pac dickriding... dude just didn't have many tight lyrics...and as for Jay- Z...I really used to feel him...but he steals so much material from Biggie and Big L...you can't give hime credit for "PAYING HOMAGE"...where I'm from he's biting...and you can never better than anyone that you "borrow" so much material from

Anonymous said...

who ever u say is the greatest mc, u're all wrong!! TUPAC is the greatest mc, can belive u didn't even put him in the top 10, u're all blind, he's the BEST!!!!

Anonymous said...

U're all east coast props and jealous haters, cuz biggie and nas.. were just pac style takers en its thanks to pac that biggie got famous so cut the bullshit. TUPAC IS THE BEST

The Humanity Critic said...

Fuck Tupac, he doesn't belong on anyone's top 10 list, and you show your ignorance by swinging from the guy's nutsack.

Anonymous said...

Tupca openly ate cock and was a wack rapper. That's the truth..

Anonymous said...

I'm about a year late in commenting on this post, but I found it by accident. I gotta agree with you, Rakim is without a doubt, the greatest MC of all time. To know that, all y ou have to do is listen to "Know The Ledge."

No other rapper who came before or after Rakim has even come close.

Anonymous said...

great list. top 3 are the top 3.no contest.Inspectah Deck? Black Thought? even Guru? best list i ve seen tho.

Anonymous said...

alright everyone, let me just lay it down for yall. the top 10 mcs ever goes a little somtin like this:

1. Tupac (everyone stop hatin, hes almost everyones favorites rappers idol, model of how to be a rapper)
2. Eminem
3. Notorious B.I.G.
4. Big L
5. Nas
6. Big Pun
7. Ice Cube
8. Immortal Technique - Dance witht the devil is the baddest song ever made
9. Rakim
10. Lauryn Hill

Jay Z is the most overrated rapper in the history of hiphop. i mean just listen to renegade, nas was right, eminem killed him on his own shit. could make arguments for common, black thought, snoop, members of wutang, mos def and talib, the game, but i think that list is wat it should be

Anonymous said...

Was ^ wit u gies, almost none of yall had Em in yo top 10 let alone 5. Hes right up there with Pac as the second most records sold, the man has made history every time he has an album commin out
iight here it goes(My List)
1.Pac (hands down the greates)
2.Nas
3.Eminem (absolute Genius)
4.Pun
5.BIG (lyrical)
6.KRS-One
7.Dre
8.Rakim
9.Kool G
10.Immortal technique(Speak da Truth)

Anonymous said...

everyone has diff opinions but Pac is the greatest of all time for me and many others he says it stright out and fo the one who made this list my hats down for you homeboy