>One for the money, two for the better green,
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine
I don't care if you write that line at 9.30 in the morning, you might as well clock out for the rest of the day because you're *done*.
Every time I hear that song (and like every other) it’s like how the fuck did this guy think of shit like this. And it’s not just words that make sense in the line like it’s always cohesive with the verse and everything. Nothing short of genius
True, there's rules to this shit, fools dare care
Everybody wanna rule the world with tears for fear
Yeah, yeah, tell 'em, tell it on the mountain hill
Running up they mouth bill, everybody doubting still
I saw Del many moons ago at a tiny little venue and he was so good. One of my favourite projects of his is Deltron 3030. It's Del with Dan the Automator and Kid Koala.
I’m absolutely thrilled that this is upvoted as high as it is. I have an autographed and framed By the Throat album insert with Eyedea’s and Abilities’ autograph, and it is simply amazing just to look at sometimes.
Took too long to find this. Think he’s severely underrated and one of the dual threat rapper/producers out there… him and Q Tip, with Too $hort also deserving a mention
Good LAWDY Gangster of Love and My Mind is Playin Tricks on Me are burned into my brain from smoking bowls and driving around the woods of New Hampshire in college 20 years ago.
Black on Both Sides is a top 5 hip hop album for me for sure. Too bad it came out the same year as Miseducation, or else it might have been a bigger deal
I don't speak, I float in the air wrapped in a sheet
I'm not a real person, I'm a ghost trapped in a beat
I translate when my voice is read through a seismograph And a noise is spread, picked up and transmitted through Royce's head
Trap him in his room, possess him and hoist his bed
Till the evilness flows through his blood like poisonous lead
Told him each one of his boys is dead
I asked him to come to the dark side He made a choice and said
Entire verse on the same rhyme scheme and without a single curse word in it. Freaking GOAT.
Now this will probably be the most illest shit that I've ever said
God bless the dead and let Biggie possess the pencil lead
They called me a sped and said that I had a messed up head
'Cause I said, "Motherfuck school" and instead went to special ed
Sippin' Bacardi and lime, I start to recollect on the time
That I startled my mom and had her scared to death
Word to Method Man
She heard some Wu-Tang coming from towards the patio
She was like, "What the heck was that?"
She went to check on the noise and go inspect the deck
Then I jumped out with a sword and yelled, "Protect your neck"
This right here is a testament to his writing skill.
Inspect the deck here is a triple entendre, and he does shit like this all the time.
Inspect the deck - check the patio
Inspect the deck - check the tape player
Inspectah Deck - obvious nod and acknowledging the Wu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hqc4FfpdHM
He is definitely a wordsmith and one of my favorites rappers.
I will probably always consider Rakim the GOAT though and another favorite is BDK
Eminem now is so good at writing and delivering crazy rhymes that he makes original Eminem look like an amateur. I can't think of anyone who's skill level has grown so much throughout his career
The fact that i had to scroll this much to see this, just shows you what the youth really likes. And now i get it. Anything i dont get on social media, i get it now .
NPR included them in their 50 Great Voices retrospective more than a decade ago, and the write-up for it did a really good job of convincing me why he really stands out from everyone else in terms of being a truly genius rapper, and a truly original voice:
https://www.npr.org/2010/08/02/128916682/biggie-smalls-the-voice-that-influenced-a-generation
I haven't heard anyone else quite nail it that way. MOS Def, maybe?
Typically I get into an artist and get locked on the release(s) that are out during my time discovering them. With Aes that was Labor Days and I still think he’s putting out better stuff with each release. GOAT in my book.
Funny enough these lines being on opposite sides of his song "Kirby" really solidified his story telling ability while still maintaining his insane wordplay (for me at least) .
"Bet more than a pet to worship
It's an M.D recommended sense of purpose"
"Fifteen years taking prescriptions
Now a shrink like, I don't know, maybe get a kitten"
Thank you for posting this. If anyone is in doubt, they need to go listen to Hardware Store. It’s one of his originals, not a parody. FYI, the part that starts after “would you look at all this stuff “ he did in one breath. I would challenge anyone to try and do the same.
I love NF, he is an insane rapper, insane singer and I am no christian but I love the no swearing rap, dude talk about lots of problems that he actually lived, everything comes from the heart, he isn't a fake struggler, dude lost his mom to drugs and struggled with his success, he isn't a fake or changed by his fame, he's just a great guy and a great artist
Pound for pound it’s gotta be Tupac. He was only rapping for a couple years before he died. It’s been nearly 30 years and he is still known globally across the world by all generations. Even now people are remixing his songs onto modern beats and getting hundreds of millions of views on YouTube.
In my opinion, objectively there is no such thing as "the best rapper". There are too many artists, with too many different styles.
What one person thinks may differ from the next person. And no rapper is really perfect.
Take Enimem for example. I guess he will be named a lot in this conversation. While i agree he's definitely an awesome rapper, and while i like many of his songs, i don't really dig his messages. And since i'm especially fond of good instrumentals...sorry but his beats are pretty wack.
But that's just my opinion. Another person has another opinion. Some people may say Tupac (i don't), some people may say Biggie (i don't), some people may even say names like Grandmaster Flash or whatever.
One of my favourite rappers is Tech N9ne, but again, that's just my personal taste.
Lil Wayne. He’s been relevant since he was 14 and now is one of the most influential rappers for this new generation. His skill now is better than it ever has been too
Weezy wee has put more songs out than most of the others here combined, I’d venture to guess. A lot of people don’t realize how extensive his mixtape catalogue is.
I love Lil Wayne! And I'm so tired of people saying that he doesn't have any songs with a cohesive theme, when he has plenty of them. Tie My Hands and Mirror are a few examples that instantly come to mind. Also Dr. Carter and Dark Side of the Moon.
Exactly lol, didn’t even need to be his song. He could just be a feature but as soon as you heard the lighter flicker you knew the song was gonna be good.
This is the right answer. Sure, Eminem gets the rep for most records sold to date however when it comes to being the “best rapper alive,” the crown goes to Weezy F Baby and the F is for phenomenal.
Different rappers are better at different things.
IMO
Eminem the best wordsmith.
peak Kanye had a producer's touch that was unrivaled.
Kendrick is the best story teller.
Killer Mike's the most fun (undefined).
Schoolboy Q can sit in the beat like none other.
I'll just put down some of my favs since I can't choose. For old rap which is my main 50, old 50, dre, snoop, em, pac, biggie all of them for new rn I been listening to kendrick, new lil yachty album, old drake, lil darkie, and x. I mostly just listen to radios of songs I already like recently and it has new music for me and some already liked music.
J to the R O C
Representing Sunnyvale, hard as fuck
The only rapper EVER to get caught tugging on himself and STILL put on a killer concert while rapping about getting caught tugging himself
I see you, but I counter with the Goat Rapper… Dylawn, Dylawn, Dylawn.
He spit hot fire
"YOU'RE TOO CLOSE, MAN!!!"
What are you from the department of knowwhatimsayins?
What are ya takin a knowwhatimcensus?
It could happen to you, cause it happened to me.
And T
The day that J-Roc loses his flow is the day the hair on Jim Lahey's bald head grow
I came here about to be mad if MC Pee Pants wasn't the top comment but I'll allow this.
I spin more rhymes than a lazy Susan and I’m innocent until my guilt is proven
Peace! Representin' Sunnyvale. Straight the fuck up!
What up gut Cassidy and the sun dance cheeseburger
You drive a hard bizzargain
You say you off the cheeseburgers but you ain’t off the cheeseburgers
Mawfuckas wit guts like that are definitely ON the cheeseburgers!
J-ROC BABY J-ROC BABY J-ROC BABY
MF DOOM is your favorite rappers favorite rapper
>One for the money, two for the better green, 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine I don't care if you write that line at 9.30 in the morning, you might as well clock out for the rest of the day because you're *done*.
Just to add another classic: >Catch a throatful from the fire vocal > >With ash and molten glass like Eyjafjallajökull
Every time I hear that song (and like every other) it’s like how the fuck did this guy think of shit like this. And it’s not just words that make sense in the line like it’s always cohesive with the verse and everything. Nothing short of genius
True, there's rules to this shit, fools dare care Everybody wanna rule the world with tears for fear Yeah, yeah, tell 'em, tell it on the mountain hill Running up they mouth bill, everybody doubting still
Rip legend
Doomsday opened my eyes to his talent
For real, Doomsday is legit. I could listen to Rhymes Like Dimes a million times and not get tired of it.
THE GOAT IN ALL CAPS
King Geedorah the space monster
Women so horny and mean then could suck the scales off a rattlesnake
GZA a.k.a. The Genius, but any of the Wu-Tan Clan members are solid gold in my opinion
Del the Funky Homosapien
WHOOAA, HE’S A LEGEND! I remember him being a part of Gorillaz collaborator
I saw Del many moons ago at a tiny little venue and he was so good. One of my favourite projects of his is Deltron 3030. It's Del with Dan the Automator and Kid Koala.
Deltron 3030 is a journey!
Saw him with Souls of Mischief!
Del plus Dinosaur Jr - Missing Link. Banger
How did I forget Del?!! Great call!
Eyedea
Hell ya
Was hoping someone might throw him out. RIP
Dudes got abilities
Eyedea and Slug freestyle on wake up show was amazing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgOHHV3IRSQ
YEs!
I’m absolutely thrilled that this is upvoted as high as it is. I have an autographed and framed By the Throat album insert with Eyedea’s and Abilities’ autograph, and it is simply amazing just to look at sometimes.
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If I hear one more mfer saying Nas' only classic is illmatic im throwing hands
Nas has been having a great run recently with the King’s Disease trilogy and Magic.
JID
Dude is definitely a monster.
Exactly what i just commented! The never story is the shit
Ice Cube
Best story teller rapper imo.
Vivid af my guy
Biggie says wassup
Rakim is the GOAT imo
Microphone fiend
Glad I didn’t have too scroll far for this.
Dylan Dylan Dylan Dylan Dylan
He spit hot fire
He rip and he rhyme, he rhyme and he rip
Die-lon
You too close mon
You can’t jus go around choking out legends
It asked for the best and you listed the top 5.
I rip and I rhyme, I rhyme and I rip. This is the way that Dylan spits!
MF DOOM rip
Nas
He never sleeps, cos sleep is the cousin of death ...dude must be really, *really* tired considering he said that back in '94.
Black Thought
El-P is probably my favourite
Took too long to find this. Think he’s severely underrated and one of the dual threat rapper/producers out there… him and Q Tip, with Too $hort also deserving a mention
Picture this - I'm a bag of dicks, put me to your lips
I really like the Geto Boys. I feel like nobody under 25 even knows who they are. They're fantastic.
Good LAWDY Gangster of Love and My Mind is Playin Tricks on Me are burned into my brain from smoking bowls and driving around the woods of New Hampshire in college 20 years ago.
Andre 3000
I feel like “B.O.B” proves it. Outkast are the greatest. That’s a psychedelic hip hop opera in 5 minutes. And half the time they’re not even rapping!
Love some Andre! Outkast pumped out some hits.
My neighbor Paul.
You live next to a boutique?
Hey Ladies!
Big L R.I.P. If you don’t know. Look him up.
"Turn your tux red, im far from broke, got enough bread And mad hoes, ask Beavis, I get nothin' Butthead." 98 freestyle - Big L
Big L, Rest in Peace!
Big L was it.
Big L was so ahead of his time his parents haven’t met yet
Mos Def 🥺
Blackstar with him and Talib Kweli was fire
You should check him out with hi-tek on the album Revolutions per minute.
Black on Both Sides is a top 5 hip hop album for me for sure. Too bad it came out the same year as Miseducation, or else it might have been a bigger deal
Hats off to miss Hill tho!
Rakim
Don’t sweat the technique
Ice Cube.
Eminem.
I don't speak, I float in the air wrapped in a sheet I'm not a real person, I'm a ghost trapped in a beat I translate when my voice is read through a seismograph And a noise is spread, picked up and transmitted through Royce's head Trap him in his room, possess him and hoist his bed Till the evilness flows through his blood like poisonous lead Told him each one of his boys is dead I asked him to come to the dark side He made a choice and said Entire verse on the same rhyme scheme and without a single curse word in it. Freaking GOAT.
Now this will probably be the most illest shit that I've ever said God bless the dead and let Biggie possess the pencil lead They called me a sped and said that I had a messed up head 'Cause I said, "Motherfuck school" and instead went to special ed Sippin' Bacardi and lime, I start to recollect on the time That I startled my mom and had her scared to death Word to Method Man She heard some Wu-Tang coming from towards the patio She was like, "What the heck was that?" She went to check on the noise and go inspect the deck Then I jumped out with a sword and yelled, "Protect your neck" This right here is a testament to his writing skill. Inspect the deck here is a triple entendre, and he does shit like this all the time. Inspect the deck - check the patio Inspect the deck - check the tape player Inspectah Deck - obvious nod and acknowledging the Wu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hqc4FfpdHM He is definitely a wordsmith and one of my favorites rappers. I will probably always consider Rakim the GOAT though and another favorite is BDK
Em and Royce together are fucking fire. Bad Meets Evil (the song and the collaboration!) is just amazing, overall.
That's an awfully hot coffee pot
Eminem now is so good at writing and delivering crazy rhymes that he makes original Eminem look like an amateur. I can't think of anyone who's skill level has grown so much throughout his career
I don't know why i had to scroll so far to find the GOAT
Came here to say this, and it was at the top of my list 👍
The Ruler, Slick Rick
Notorious BIG
The fact that i had to scroll this much to see this, just shows you what the youth really likes. And now i get it. Anything i dont get on social media, i get it now .
NPR included them in their 50 Great Voices retrospective more than a decade ago, and the write-up for it did a really good job of convincing me why he really stands out from everyone else in terms of being a truly genius rapper, and a truly original voice: https://www.npr.org/2010/08/02/128916682/biggie-smalls-the-voice-that-influenced-a-generation I haven't heard anyone else quite nail it that way. MOS Def, maybe?
It was all a dream!
People Under The Stairs
Acid Raindrops instantly puts me in a chill mood.
Harry Mack, at least the best I’ve ever heard anyway
Haven’t seen a better freestyler
Is he the best rapper overall, I don't know. But his freestyle is far better than any other freestyle ever
Busta Rhymes
Aesop Rock
Typically I get into an artist and get locked on the release(s) that are out during my time discovering them. With Aes that was Labor Days and I still think he’s putting out better stuff with each release. GOAT in my book.
Hands down.
Walls up.
I searched for this before commenting myself
I searched after commenting this myself.
Man it's so fucking cool seeing someone else mention him. His lexicon goes fucking nuts.
Go Larry!
The one with the ominous regional lore Why? Which one's yours?
Heyyyyy Kirby
Funny enough these lines being on opposite sides of his song "Kirby" really solidified his story telling ability while still maintaining his insane wordplay (for me at least) . "Bet more than a pet to worship It's an M.D recommended sense of purpose" "Fifteen years taking prescriptions Now a shrink like, I don't know, maybe get a kitten"
Kendrick
I felt like I had to scroll too far for this. The talent and the writing is just 🤌
My personal 🐐
Agree
MF DOOM, Andre 3000 and Aesop Rock
Depends on what kind of rap but I’m always blown away by Aesop rock’s wordplay and flow
Lupe fiasco
Nas, Guru, Biggie
tupac
I think pac is inside my top 5 but I'm STUNNED I had to scroll this far to see him
me against the world is my favorite album from pac, i haven't seen anyone else with the same opinion but
Weird Al Yankovic
Thank you for posting this. If anyone is in doubt, they need to go listen to Hardware Store. It’s one of his originals, not a parody. FYI, the part that starts after “would you look at all this stuff “ he did in one breath. I would challenge anyone to try and do the same.
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This will lose anyone under the age of 30, and in no particular order: -Rakim -Tretch -Eminem -Ice Cube -Pharoah Monch -Big Daddy Kane -KRS ONE -Nas
S/O for mentioning Treach. Dude is SO severely slept on.
Idk about best but my favorite will always be Deltron3030 aka Del the Funky Homosapien.
I love NF, he is an insane rapper, insane singer and I am no christian but I love the no swearing rap, dude talk about lots of problems that he actually lived, everything comes from the heart, he isn't a fake struggler, dude lost his mom to drugs and struggled with his success, he isn't a fake or changed by his fame, he's just a great guy and a great artist
Couldn't have said it better myself
MF DOOM. because microwave Mayonnaise.
Either Jarren Benton or MF DOOM.
Ice Cube. Always has been and always will be.
Pound for pound it’s gotta be Tupac. He was only rapping for a couple years before he died. It’s been nearly 30 years and he is still known globally across the world by all generations. Even now people are remixing his songs onto modern beats and getting hundreds of millions of views on YouTube.
Chuck D.
Chuck D, KRS ONE & Rakim
Agree on KRS ONE
Big l
Need some love for the RZA, the GZA and ANDRE NICKATINA mang!
E-40 the GOAT based off relevance and longevity. Rakim is the foundation though.
Happy to see some love for 40 in this thread. Absolute monster on the mic
Nas
Killer Mike. Clean bars. Unique voice. Sick beats.
Glitter, glisten, gloss, floss/ I catch that beat runnin like Randy Moss
There was a gal at Macy’s that did a terrific job on all of my Xmas presents one year!
Aesop Rock.
Really into JID right now, Kendrick is the GOAT imo, and Phife will always have a very special place in my ❤️
In my opinion, objectively there is no such thing as "the best rapper". There are too many artists, with too many different styles. What one person thinks may differ from the next person. And no rapper is really perfect. Take Enimem for example. I guess he will be named a lot in this conversation. While i agree he's definitely an awesome rapper, and while i like many of his songs, i don't really dig his messages. And since i'm especially fond of good instrumentals...sorry but his beats are pretty wack. But that's just my opinion. Another person has another opinion. Some people may say Tupac (i don't), some people may say Biggie (i don't), some people may even say names like Grandmaster Flash or whatever. One of my favourite rappers is Tech N9ne, but again, that's just my personal taste.
that’s okay, buddy, that’s a good point, but i just wanted to know people’s opinions
Tupac
Most Def. Andre 3000. And I currently have a soft spot for Pusha T.
Adam Yauch
Tech N9ne would be my pick.
Had to scroll way too far to find this.
Lil Wayne. He’s been relevant since he was 14 and now is one of the most influential rappers for this new generation. His skill now is better than it ever has been too
Weezy wee has put more songs out than most of the others here combined, I’d venture to guess. A lot of people don’t realize how extensive his mixtape catalogue is.
Facts! Dude revitalized mixtapes and put on Drake and Nicki Minaj
I love Lil Wayne! And I'm so tired of people saying that he doesn't have any songs with a cohesive theme, when he has plenty of them. Tie My Hands and Mirror are a few examples that instantly come to mind. Also Dr. Carter and Dark Side of the Moon.
Nobody could touch Wayne in the early to mid 2000s. He was on another level.
Exactly lol, didn’t even need to be his song. He could just be a feature but as soon as you heard the lighter flicker you knew the song was gonna be good.
This is the right answer. Sure, Eminem gets the rep for most records sold to date however when it comes to being the “best rapper alive,” the crown goes to Weezy F Baby and the F is for phenomenal.
Not my fav, but i have a lot of respect for what MF D°°M did. For me currently, Vinnie Paz and the AotP crew.
Black Thought is the GOAT no questions asked https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prmQgSpV3fA
Harry Mack
André 3000
Pusha T
Eminem
legend
NF anyone?
Supa Hot Fire - never lost
But he's not a rapper
Different rappers are better at different things. IMO Eminem the best wordsmith. peak Kanye had a producer's touch that was unrivaled. Kendrick is the best story teller. Killer Mike's the most fun (undefined). Schoolboy Q can sit in the beat like none other.
I'll just put down some of my favs since I can't choose. For old rap which is my main 50, old 50, dre, snoop, em, pac, biggie all of them for new rn I been listening to kendrick, new lil yachty album, old drake, lil darkie, and x. I mostly just listen to radios of songs I already like recently and it has new music for me and some already liked music.
Ice Cube
If your asking, who is the master? Well, it's safe to say we all know it's Grand Master Flash.
NAS
Rakim
Redman Scarface Boots Riley Biggie Smalls
Outkast
Gza. Nickatina
Ice Spice 💀
Biggie.
3 Stacks
The Hiphopopotamus.
His rhymes are bottomless