but he didn't. it was already in full swing. I'm not trying to diss pac, he has his place. I think he is the only rapper besides public enema who could constantly make songs about society and make them hits. I just don't think tupac represents what should be considered the greatest ever. pac has his place in rap, he has his influence, but he's not the greatest. I would place both nas and jay-z ahead of him. these guys have there place and influence, but on top of that they are great lyracists. and you have to be a great lyracists to be considered best. I just think that is a prerequisite.
Jay-Z shouldn't be #1. Just because he "retired" and claimed himself the best rapper alive, it doesn't mean it's true. Nas > Jay-Z
I don't argue with the fact that Pac paved the way for many other artist to the mid to late 90's but he really didn't usher in the gangsta rap era, he made it more popular than it ever had been maybe but groups and artists such as N.W.A., Ice Cube and others had been making and selling similar material since the late 80's. Nor did he usher in diss songs or traks. They had been around WAY before he released any of his albums. In fact, diss track/songs/battles have been a staple of the hip-hop/rap culture since it's inception it just evolved from The Dozens into rapping. There were plenty of rap rivalries way before 2Pac vs. Biggie. LL Cool J vs. Kool Moe Dee, The Roxanne Battles, The Bridge Wars, Common vs. Ice Cube, Dr. Dre vs. Eazy-E, Ice Cube vs. N.W.A. etc. etc. etc.
but why should that erase when he was good rapper. Ice Cube has arguably the greatest run any rapper has ever had with amerikkka's most wanted, death certificate and Predator. when you include his work on nwa, he's a true great. in my humble opinion death certificate is the blueprint of what a great album should be.
I don't know much about Rakim at all, but my four favorite rappers of all time are Biggie, Jay-Z, Pac and Nas, and they are all represented in the top five, so in that sense I don't have any problem with this list. It's funny that some people like one or two of these guys, but absolutely hate the others. I think the "my guy is the best -- this list loses all credibility because your guy is ranked higher than mine" hype is just silly. All four are great artists, and could arguably be placed in any order. My personal order would be: Jay-Z Pac Biggie Nas The list is really not that bad. At least 50 cent isn't on there.
Why does everybody keep commenting they are glad 50 isn't on there? Are you all actually expecting him to be on there? 50 is not one of the greatest all time, not even close. He is just extremely popular.
I think the top 10 MCs should be limited to guys who have the actual honoriffic "M.C." such as MC Hammer, Young MC -- etc.
Bone Thugs and PM Dawn are two groups that don't get enough recognition for how much they contributed to hip hop. They each took rapping to a different level. I remember the first time I heard each of their deliveries it made me stop and listen. Sweet stuff.
That would be in my top #5 albums. I got that CD when I was in 5th grade and still listen to it now (junior in college).
I saw them New Year's Eve 2000 downtown. If it weren't for Los Skarnales that night would have been a bust.
Yeah, people always forget about Bone Thugs. I knew someone who went to Cleveland, parked near East 99th or whichever street I forgot, and got his radio stolen. I couldnt help but laugh after I heard that. As far as eminem goes, I dont understand all the hate. His radio stuff is crap but the other stuff he has on his album are pretty damn good.
PM Dawn did hip-hop? I thought they were an R&B duo. The only song I remember them having, though I know they have had plenty more is the one from the "Boomerang" soundtrack, I think the title was "I'd Die for You" or something like that.
