Who is it? Since there are so many, pick 5, and if your favorite rapper ain't here---then post him below so I know who I forgot.
btw, I excluded groups like dilated peoples, the coup, Bone, Do or Die, etc.
However, groups who have had great transcendent success like Wu-Tang, Gang Starr, and Outkast have been made available as respective solo MC's. (Though wu-tang only gets listed 4 MC's---not going to list the lesser known members.)
-------------------- Wondering how long this tight rope is gonna stretch.
Good luck with this thread Tyler, I'd love to participate in it as it looks like a good one but this is what happens everytime the topic is brought up around here. It's going to turn into the same old tired argument.
Quote: Hmm... seems to me the words "best" and "rapper" should never be used in the same sentence. They ALL suck.
I've said it before, I'll say it again -- rap is to music what Etch-a-Sketch is to art.
-------------------- "Winning so many championships can actually get kind of boring after a while. They looked like they didn't want to be there." -- NEPatriots*, after The Superbowl Choke
Quote: Good luck with this thread Tyler, I'd love to participate in it as it looks like a good one but this is what happens everytime the topic is brought up around here. It's going to turn into the same old tired argument.
Oh lighten up already. It's a poll. I registered my opinion and now it is back to peanut gallery for me. Sheesh.
Nothing is stopping those who enjoy rap from discussing/debating who is the best rapper. Have at it.
-------------------- "Golf combines two favorite American pastimes: taking long walks and hitting things with a stick." -- P.J. O'Rourke
I agree about Puffy,but what aboout my favorite white rappers of all time, 3rd Bass? Gasface was the cut back before they got commercially sucessful and did those dumb songs dissing Vanilla Ice.I remember ones name was Pete Nice,cant remember the other.
To pick off the list though it would be KRS 1 hands down.
Well, and Bone,just because I know them from high school.
KING
-------------------- You may be in the drivers seat but God is holding the map.
Best rapper of all-time is easy: Tupac. He is simply the best. I don't think there's a close second.
I honestly don't understand all the love for Jay-Z. I really don't get it. Don't think he's that good, but he is considered the best and has Jordan-like status as a rapper. I just don't get it.
Sentimental favorite of all-time is Big Daddy Kane. I'll put him at #2 overall. The most underrated rapper of all time. Way ahead of his time. Just smooth.
Eminem is an easy 3rd ... probably should be first. I'm not a big fan of all the topics he raps about ... too much storytelling ... sometimes I just want a good beat and flow with some good lines ... every rap doesn't have to be a story. But the guy makes words that don't rhyme into words that do. Clever, scary talented. The rap in his final battle of 8 mile was just scary good.
KRS-1 probably gets my 4th vote.
The Game and TI would be tied for 5th. Like a lot of the stuff TI has put out.
Honorable mention would be 50-cent.
-------------------- I give nightmares to those who compete...
Freddy Kruger walking on Rishuz street...
Its the N O T O R I O U S Big and its not even close. His delivery is untouchable. Best ever. Jay Z made a career as a best seeling artist copying his lyrics. Q-Tip of tribe called quest needs to be named as well. I swore of rap for majority of the 2000s but acts like Wale, B.O.B, and Lupe are giving me hope that good is still possible after Biggie.
-------------------- "The medium for the bad news was ESPN, which figured. The network represents much of what is loud, obnoxious and empty in sports today."
HAHA DMX, when I was younger I'll admit I used to like him, but when I listen to him now its just out of pure fun. His lyrics are ridiculous.
-------------------- "The medium for the bad news was ESPN, which figured. The network represents much of what is loud, obnoxious and empty in sports today."
Quote: Seriously where is Bizzy Bone and Krayzie Bone??
Puff Daddy?????? You have Puff Daddy on that list but not Bizzy and Krayzie?
It was mentioned earlier they were left off because most of their fame came as a group,though they have had some success as solo artists they are not really known for that.
I talk to Layzie(Steven) and his brother Stan(Flesh) once in awhile but havent talked to Bryon(Bizzy) or Ant(Krayzie) for a few years. I was told by Steven that a reunion of the full group is in the works and they are working on a album.
KING
-------------------- You may be in the drivers seat but God is holding the map.
Quote: Seriously where is Bizzy Bone and Krayzie Bone??
Puff Daddy?????? You have Puff Daddy on that list but not Bizzy and Krayzie?
It was mentioned earlier they were left off because most of their fame came as a group,though they have had some success as solo artists they are not really known for that.
I talk to Layzie(Steven) and his brother Stan(Flesh) once in awhile but havent talked to Bryon(Bizzy) or Ant(Krayzie) for a few years. I was told by Steven that a reunion of the full group is in the works and they are working on a album.
KING
They both have had more distiguished solo carears than Big Boi, Andre 3000 and Method Man. Especially Krayzie who not only have 2 platnium solo albums but also was a feature artist any many other rappers albums. (Camillionaire, Lil John and Ice Cube come to mind)
As for Stan, Steve and Chris, meh they are good with the group but as solo guys they were pretty average. Steve being the better of the three.
I knew they were back together, I was expecting and album last Sept but it got pushed back I guess.
The only reason I mention the two is because IMO both are in my top 10 and Krayzie is in my top 5. He has the most versitile style in the rap industry IMO.
Forgot about too $hort, his song with Biggie is one of the best ever.
-------------------- "The medium for the bad news was ESPN, which figured. The network represents much of what is loud, obnoxious and empty in sports today."
How did Will Smith & Vanilla Ice not make that list??
I vote for Flava Flav.
Just kidding, I voted for Biggie, Ice T, Ice Cube, Chuck D & LL Cool J. I don't like or listen to rap, but if I gotta choose, I gotta go with all the originals.
-------------------- Fear Us, for we have Pontbriand!
Had to go with LL do to the old school Goin Back to Cali stuff to Mama Said Knock You Out (which helped launch MTV Unplugged actually) to the Loungin' It stuff (which got many a girl in BD's college years), to Headstrong.
Favorite rap song ever though is Notorious Thugs with Bone and Biggie. It cannot be matched.
Why is it that not 1 rapper on this list ever performs under his/her real name? Are they ashamed of who they are? Is it a matter of creating an image more than actual talent and ability? I really never got that aspect of it.
-------------------- "Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it."
George Santayana
I don't like or listen to rap, but if I gotta choose, I gotta go with all the originals.
Probably showing my age here, and my change in musical tastes - I voted LL and Chuck D. For the last 10, 12, 14 years? I don't remember, but I dislike rap now, and have for a long time, but I will say LL was great IMO, and Chuck D? The guy had it! (I went to college with a guy from Baltimore - looked like Chuck D, and sounded like him too - and his name was Chuck as well. That has no bearing on why I liked Chuck D - just a little FYI )
It's not just rappers. There's plenty of musicians that don't use their real name.
Alice Cooper, Axl Rose, Barry Manilow, Billy Idol, Bob Dylan, Bono, Boy George, David Bowie, Diana Ross, Elton John, Elvis Costello, Freddie Mercury, George Michael, Gloria Estefan, Madonna, Meatloaf, Neil Diamond, Ringo Starr, Tina Turner.
But yeah, the reason many rappers don't perform under their given names has a lot to do with simple image and marketability. A lot of their stage names are derived from their real names (LL Cool J, Dr. Dre, Tupac, Eminem, Eazy E) and/or nicknames (Snoop Dogg, Biggie Smalls, Puff Daddy).
Quote: It's not just rappers. There's plenty of musicians that don't use their real name.
Alice Cooper, Axl Rose, Barry Manilow, Billy Idol, Bob Dylan, Bono, Boy George, David Bowie, Diana Ross, Elton John, Elvis Costello, Freddie Mercury, George Michael, Gloria Estefan, Madonna, Meatloaf, Neil Diamond, Ringo Starr, Tina Turner.
Thats not the point though,the point is that NO rappers use their real name,at least not any I can think of.
KING
-------------------- You may be in the drivers seat but God is holding the map.
Oops you're right my bad, didn't look very hard at that one.
Kingo
Like Adam said most rappers use a name derived from their real name. No one would really take a rapper seriously if their stage name was Calvin Broadus, Curtis Jackson, Trevor Smith, or Christopher Wallace
Although one of the best did go by his real name, Tupac Shakur.
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It's a poll. I registered my opinion and now it is back to peanut gallery for me. Sheesh.
Have at it. 
09 FXDB
Fear Us, for we have Pontbriand!
