To name 5 Rappers/Rap Groups that are the best that ever did this music is a challenge. Being that I truly appreciate everyone that has contributed to this music and culture. Five just does not really do justice to artists like Melle Mel, KRS-One, Chuck D, Ice-T, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest, Treach, and the list could go on and on and on.
However, if I had to go out on a limb, and these were the people that I would give props to
1. RUN DMC
RUN DMC paved the way for all of the commercial success that rap artists enjoy today. But it wasn't all about money for these guys. The songs they created had socially conscious lyrics and they encouraged you to be all you could be. Lyrics about going to college made an impact on me, especially considering that many rappers today, do not include those themes in their songs. However, it was that hard driving boom bap and just plain old b-boy style that set RUN-DMC above all others. No one could copy there style. Later I would learn that DMC (Darryl McDaniels) actually wrote most of the rhymes for Run. So DMC deserves a lot of credit for the groups success. However, it was RUN's persona that carried the group and drew fans the world over. Songs like Sucker MC's, Hard Times, Peter Piper, My Adidas, and Rock Box are just a few of my favorite songs from RUN DMC. But the one that really marks how hard the were was the live recording of "Here We Go". So to make a list of five rappers who were and are at the top of the game, but you cannot ignore RUN DMC ever!!!!
2. ERIC B AND RAKIM
What more can you say but KNOWLEDGE? Eric B and Rakim brought the music that made you think to the game. They made you use chines arithmetic to add up the number of emcees that Rakim would eat up. His delivery over the gritty music, was punctuated by how calm and smooth he was. You got the sense that Rakim was not easily riled up. Through his music he taught you to be cool, thoughtful and collected. There has not been many rappers after Rakim, that have been able to capture that unique and special touch that he was able to convey in his records. They were also trendsetters, as they bordered on that line of Street Hustling and Rap, way before others made that connection. Some of my favorite cuts are "Move the Crowd, "Eric B for President", "Microphone Fiend" and "Follow the Leader".
3. LL Cool J
You can not be a true fan of rap music and not have been a fiend of LL Cool J's music. LL was single handedly the biggest, baddest and youngest artist in the late eighties to make the ladies swoon and the fellas search the airwaves to hear his latest jams. His youthful energy and swagger, long before it was even a hip term to use, engrossed young people. His lyrics were the kind, that you find your boy in the school yard and you spit the line, "I'm notorious, I'll crush you like a jelly bean!". You would look no further than LL Cool J, as someone you wanted to be like. And then you take into account the staying power and the fact that he is still able to make records, proves that he was really one of our greatest song writers of our time. He has continued to redefine himself, but his first albums, Radio and Bigger and Deffer, should get more acclaim than they do. Some of my favorite Cool J songs are, "Radio", "Candy", "Mama Said Knock You Out", and yes I hate to admit it, but so what "I Need Love" was one of the biggest records in a young persons life back then. Oh, and then don't forget his multiple battles and one of the illest battles songs ever, "Jack The Ripper!"
4. Ice Cube
Ice Cube, is the most prolific rap artist ever. He is in a class by himself. What he did for Rap would revolutionize the music industry and country for years to come. Ice Cube gained fame as a member of N.W.A. His writing ability enabled the groups members to flourish. After leaving N.W.A. over royalty disputes, he recorded Amerikkkas Most Wanted. It was a day that I know I will never forget. I remember driving to Fremont, to the record store to buy that TAPE!!! Yes, a cassette tape. Cube was able to capture the feelings of people and paint stories so vividly, that it would serve him well in his future movie production company, Cube Vision. But what made Ice Cube so great was the emotion that he was able to express in his delivery. You could feel the pain, the anger, the hurt, the comedy, and the conviction. One of my favorite line in rap ever, come from Ice Cube, when he says on "Us"' "Us will always sing the blues, cause all we care about is hair styles and tennis shoes, and if you stepped on mine, you pushed a button, cause i'll beat you down like it a'int nothing!" For him to capture that, and that still be the prevailing thought of America's youth today, is mind blowing. Think about it. Anything Cube created from N.W.A. on up to his current Independent releases, is thought provoking, poignant, funny and worth your time to listen to. Some of my favorite cuts of Cube's are "A B++ch is A B==tch", "Once Upon A Time In the Projects", "Good Day" and the list goes on and on and on.
5. TUPAC
5. TUPAC
From the first time that I saw Tupac and heard his music, I was a fan. He had just been embroiled in a dispute with the Oakland Police Department for Jay Walking where he was harassed and assaulted. Immediately, I knew he was in the struggle. Upon listening to his first album 2Pacalypse Now, I was drawn in by his thoughtful lyric content with message dealing with everyday life of a young black man, that I related to right away. Not to forget that Brenda's Got a Baby and If My Homie Calls were in my opinion great songs. I don't think anyone knew Pac had the capabilities to create songs with a song writing ability that would influence every other rapper to come. Even the likes of Jay-Z, 50 Cent and countless others borrow his phrases, delivery and passion. It is unfortunate that Tupac was never able to do the type of music that he started out doing. Take a listen to his first album and you can see where he was at with his topics, and due to the audience not really being there with him, he began to change his content, and although it probably wasn't what he really wanted to express, it brought him the fame. It ultimately cost him his life. But there will never be another Tupac, as there will never be another Marvin Gaye or Bob Marley. Some of my favorite Tupac Songs are, "Keep Ya Head Up", "Pour Out a Little Liquor", "I Get Around", to name a few.
Conclusion
While I know everybody has there own opinion on who is the top rappers and emcees, these are my choices. I know that if you can agree with me on these choices that you really respect rap. For me, while I dig T.I., Jay-Z and others, there is no way that I could rank them above the people that came before them. You have to pay respect to those who came before you. And I believe this list does that. So to the up and coming Hip Hop Fans, rappers, producers, and entertainers, get to know the past artists and how the contributed to our great Musical Culture and add on to it Positively.
-Beno
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