They had hip hop songs that weren't traditional rap... and they got criticized for it. They were very different from anything else out at the time - kinda like Bone Thugs. Their first popular hit was "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" where they rhymed over Spandau Ballet's "True". That was a smooth song.
I can not believe no one mentioned Big Boi and Andre. These dudes have been making great rap-hip/hop albums since the early 90's to this day. Andre is one of the best lyricists out there. They both reinvent themselves and take risks that most aren't willing to take and they only get better. Another rapper that never seems to get much love, who is one my favorites of all time, is DMX. Dude came out with 2 instant classic albums in less than one year: "It's Dark and Hell is Hot" and "Flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood". He also has 5 straight #1 albums with little or no publicity and hype. I know he gets overlooked b/c of his whole dog persona thing but he is one of the best lyricists out there. He can come out with the tightest most gangsta song and the next minute come out with a tight religious song you could bump in front of your momma. He reminds of Pac in that way. They both contradict the hell out of themselves, but that is whatt makes them great. X never gets love on any of these lists but IMO he is up there with the best.
ATLiens and Aquemini are two of my favorite albums. Aquemini is in my personal top 10, but I don't know if I would put it in over any of the other albums on my modified list. "Skew It on the Bar-B" is amazing and vastly overlooked
P.M. now that's an early ninties blast from the past. those dudes were definitely unique but they had a short shelf life. BTNH probably doesn't get enough credit. I was watching the video with chamillionaire (I love that name) and the guy from bone and the guy from bone is better on that song than koopa. plus, there are a lot of rappers who used that rapid fire style, but none of them could break into the harmony like bone. those guys are truly talented.
I like DMX a lot but he's not on the level of those 10 listed. He's not very lyrical and those two albums sounded almost exactly the same. Like I said, I like him on an individual level but I wouldn't be able to seriously rank him in the top ten of all time.
Has anyone here seen "Fear Of A Black Hat"? The PM Dawn talk made me think of it. It's a "Spinal Tap" of rap, very funny.
only seen parts but CB4 is also pretty funny. "I'm black yall, I'm black yall, and I'm blackity black, and I'm blackity black, and I'm black yall"
Definately needs to be in the Top Ten Albums!!! This list is MTV BS at its finest... I think JayZ or one of his minions must have written the list... Where are the Beastie Boys, Scarface, etc etc...
All in all, not a terrible list. Eminem and LL shouldn't be within sniffing distance, but eh...it's MTV. Ice Cube had his day, but his body of work doesn't even compare to: Outkast(!) Blackstar Common A Tribe Called Quest Ghostface/Wu Tang Clan Album-wise, I love Run-DMC, they brought hip-hop to the mainstream, etc...but they don't belong on the list...I mean, there's ATLiens, The 36 Chambers, Blackstar, The Score, The Low End Theory, Midnight Marauders, By All Means Necessary, and so many more. And I agree with pgab, Me Against the World is the album that belongs on the list...All Eyez on Me?...please. I probably wouldn't rate Jay-Z as the greatest rapper of all time(Top five for sure), but he's as valid as a choice as there is. Huge catalog(Too much filler maybe), amazing lyrics, influence...
A lot of you all are naming groups and MTV named an MC not a group list. I am not saying MTV's list is perfect but if they were talking about groups it would be different.
I remember buying the record (when vinyl was king) in a record store several years ago, & the store clerk gave me that slight disgusted look!! It was priceless. I miss those days when rap songs were much simplier.
Whole-heartedly agree. I mentioned the "It's Dark and Hell is Hot" album earlier, and it didn't get much love around here. And you're absolutely right about the "Flesh of My Flesh" album which came out only months later. I remember back in my freshman year of college bumping "Ruff Ryders Anthem" while driving down Speedway.
PGabriel, I think you and I can finally find some common ground, after all. I wholeheartedly agree! BTW, the guy in the video with Cham (who's also one of my fav rappers in recent years) is only the best rapper alive himself, Krayzie Bone. That song is has great beats/rhymes to it, Cham is an excellent lyricist and I love his flows. BTNH: always imitated, never replicated.
