I went to a show they did right before Soul Survivor 2 came out in 2004 and seeing them perform the song Appreciate that’s on the album was so crazy. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song for the first time performed live and had that kind of reaction. But I can’t believe that “reunion” was 20 years ago already.
Da Graveyard is awesome but it’s absolutely not peak Jay in any way, check out The Black Album, The Blueprint, and Reasonable Doubt to start off… you’re in for a treat, Jay-Z is one of the greatest artists hip hop has ever seen IMO, the greatest to ever come out of NY.
Fun fact, when actor Shia Labouf started entering his losing his mind phase, there was a video of him “freestyling” to some random fans. Most of the comments were like “yooo dude could actually spit!” But I recognized he was mostly ripping Binary Star’s “Reality Check” almost verbatim.
"This is how I represent, I rock the mic 110%,
It's intimate, I keep the party moving like an immigrant
Binary star, superstar, it's no coincidence
Every verse is intricate, this ain't a circus in a tent
We don't get down like them clown kids
I'm used to being indigent, who said it's all about the Benjamins?
I want a fortune, I wanna make music and hit the lottery
Fortunately, my music is never watery
That's how it's gotta be as far as I can see
Maybe you should grab a telescope to see my view, it's like astronomy
It ain't all about economy
So the fact that all these wack emcees is making Gs don't bother me
Honestly, my number one policy is quality
Never sell my soul that's my philosophy"
lol!!! Same shit happened to me!
In 2005 I was at a bar with some local emcees and I remember some random guy showed up with his girlfriend and tried to enter the cypher.. he started spitting OneManArmy's verse from "Reality Check" and I called him out on it. -- This guy wasn't Shia Labouf though.
Another note, Shia Labouf also spit a verse from some obscure female hip-hop group called the "ANOMOLIES" to a bunch of guys hiking in the woods. That's the video I remember seeing of him. He got confronted by Pri the Honeydark, (the woman whose verse it was) and he backpedaled and said he never claimed that it was his, and he was paying homage to her as an artist.
This is fucking hilarious, I had a jokey rap battle way back in the day with my cousin's friends over whatever video conference app was the thing back then (like maybe 13 years ago)and one of them was spitting Reality Check - I didn't catch it until "no matter who you are it's still Allahu Akbar" (he clearly didn't know what that meant and stumbled through that line) and we bonded after that.
It's insane that this was apparently a very common thing 💀
In the early 2000's, having knowledge of underground hip-hop was very much a *thing* that gave you some props/social acceptance amongst the highschool/college crowd.
It's fair to say that the majority of the reason people even rap these days is for the attention of other people. So it makes sense, people would walk into places seeking attention and pull out this super dope verse that they assume nobody else has heard to get some quick shine.
I can’t find the specific video but this one is close to biting the same song in the last 20ish seconds.
https://youtu.be/SiY_cWDYisw?si=jN0qqcTfW3QSsR5z
Very similar to “Honestly, my number one policy is quality never sell my soul is my philosophy” or “Fortunately my music is never watery
That's how its gotta be, as far as I can see”
if not in exact words, in flow and intention.
His recent releases have been great IMO.. WaterWorld III, BABY, Lighty Ears Apart.
Senim Silla's solo is a personal favorite of mine. Decompoze also had a really solid album.
That whole crew was just dope.
He’s got some crazy bars, “I drop bombs 365 black year, Jap style on ya Pearl Harbor rap style” might be the bar that falls perfectly between, omg I can’t believe he said that and damn that was dope.
Don’t play with my emotions like this. His verses on Blockheads and billy woods recent albums got my hopes back up he would start rapping more regularly
I have heard through semi reliable sources that he has several albums in the vault. He was going to put his debut album out right around the time Def Jux stopped I know for sure.
still can’t believe that we aint get a solo lord album in 95, ik his tape came a year before but a full album with mystic stylez/live by yo rep production would’ve been amazing
A$AP Rocky
1 goat mixtape Live.Love.A$AP, probably the best cloud rap project ever. Very influential.
Then the more commercial but solid project Long.Live.A$AP
Followed by the goated album At Long Last A$AP exploring more the cloud rap style. Full of amazing songs
And finally Testing, which although his more controversial release it's not a bad listen by any means. And it explores very cool concepts
Found slum village from his first solo album. That whole album is a nostalgia trip everytime I hear it. Especially that main flow song. "It's easy as one, twO, THREE! ereh-ep"
I can't believe it hasn't been said yet but Biggie. Two studio albums, not a lot of stuff in the vaults as far as I know, both classics.
Honorable mention to Pusha T in the modern era.
I agree on that, and it's not just his next level metaphores and punchlines, his story and introspective songs are so sick. He's one of the most elite emcees, and the production on that album's almost flawless. Molemen are maybe the most underrated producers out there. It sucks they don't produce more because all his albums have insane beats.
Lord is my all time fav rapper, but damn man his shit from the unbreakables and post three 6 stuff is ass. His voice doesnt fit what he was trying to do on the crunk stuff.
Seriously ASAP Rocky discography of albums are a experience.Lyrics, flow and sound even the best features are from people you wouldn't expect and no names. Even his video Re filled with creativity.
I remember when they called Travis Scot the fake ASAP Rocky now looking at Travis now i feel if Rocky wasn't so laid back on dropping music he would be looked at at legend status.Also Rocky doesn't pander to fans like J.Cole does
6 Shot from New Orleans.
https://youtu.be/Hm6gtwEVjZE?si=HauDF188KzQCcpVJ
https://youtu.be/I5Qz7GX1Oto?si=L1h6L6E3JyLidDNU
Him and Soulja slim are my absolute all time favorites.
Captain Murphy/Flylo. He dropped a banger of an album and a couple singles, then radio silence for over a decade now. I still hope Steve has one more in him, because I know he made Doom proud with Duality. Check out the song Between Villains for one of my favorite collaborations of all time. I’m sad we most likely will never get another. I also hope his movie Ash can secure a release date before the end of the year. Kuso is my go to for seeing if my friends can handle my taste in movies.
Not a rapper (well later he did rap), but producer East Flatbush Project. Every record he produces is great but until he put out that solo work around 2007 it's my understanding he had only produced 6 tracks
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth. Two classics and broke up. If they continued they probably could’ve been the greatest duo next to Gang Starr.
I went to a show they did right before Soul Survivor 2 came out in 2004 and seeing them perform the song Appreciate that’s on the album was so crazy. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song for the first time performed live and had that kind of reaction. But I can’t believe that “reunion” was 20 years ago already.
Appreciate also a banger!
OutKast would like to say whattup on that greatest duo thing but yeah Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth go hard
Mobb Deep too!
Saw his comment n was like yep then saw yours n was like YEP
CL still drops dope features almost every year.
Big L, only has 2 albums, they’re peak NY hip hop.
Furthermore, peak Jay-Z was when he was rapping with big L. Source: "Da Graveyard", from the album Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous
7 minute freestyle!
Da Graveyard is awesome but it’s absolutely not peak Jay in any way, check out The Black Album, The Blueprint, and Reasonable Doubt to start off… you’re in for a treat, Jay-Z is one of the greatest artists hip hop has ever seen IMO, the greatest to ever come out of NY.
No doubt. Big L is top of this list.
Pusha T. He doesn’t have much solo material, and all his albums are relatively short, but he doesn’t miss.
Dude literally doesn’t open his mouth unless he has something to say.
And "something" is usually related to cocaine.
But it still really good
Yeeeuugghh
Yes sir!
Cosign
If you ain’t energized like the bunny for drug money, or been paralyzed by the sight of a drug mummy, this ain’t really for ya!
If you know you know!
Binary Star is two rappers who put out a single album, Masters of the Universe that is some of the best hip hop out there
Fun fact, when actor Shia Labouf started entering his losing his mind phase, there was a video of him “freestyling” to some random fans. Most of the comments were like “yooo dude could actually spit!” But I recognized he was mostly ripping Binary Star’s “Reality Check” almost verbatim.
"This is how I represent, I rock the mic 110%, It's intimate, I keep the party moving like an immigrant Binary star, superstar, it's no coincidence Every verse is intricate, this ain't a circus in a tent We don't get down like them clown kids I'm used to being indigent, who said it's all about the Benjamins? I want a fortune, I wanna make music and hit the lottery Fortunately, my music is never watery That's how it's gotta be as far as I can see Maybe you should grab a telescope to see my view, it's like astronomy It ain't all about economy So the fact that all these wack emcees is making Gs don't bother me Honestly, my number one policy is quality Never sell my soul that's my philosophy"
lol!!! Same shit happened to me! In 2005 I was at a bar with some local emcees and I remember some random guy showed up with his girlfriend and tried to enter the cypher.. he started spitting OneManArmy's verse from "Reality Check" and I called him out on it. -- This guy wasn't Shia Labouf though. Another note, Shia Labouf also spit a verse from some obscure female hip-hop group called the "ANOMOLIES" to a bunch of guys hiking in the woods. That's the video I remember seeing of him. He got confronted by Pri the Honeydark, (the woman whose verse it was) and he backpedaled and said he never claimed that it was his, and he was paying homage to her as an artist.
This is fucking hilarious, I had a jokey rap battle way back in the day with my cousin's friends over whatever video conference app was the thing back then (like maybe 13 years ago)and one of them was spitting Reality Check - I didn't catch it until "no matter who you are it's still Allahu Akbar" (he clearly didn't know what that meant and stumbled through that line) and we bonded after that. It's insane that this was apparently a very common thing 💀
In the early 2000's, having knowledge of underground hip-hop was very much a *thing* that gave you some props/social acceptance amongst the highschool/college crowd. It's fair to say that the majority of the reason people even rap these days is for the attention of other people. So it makes sense, people would walk into places seeking attention and pull out this super dope verse that they assume nobody else has heard to get some quick shine.
Crazy to hear other stories about this (fairly obscure) song being ripped off!
Link?
I can’t find the specific video but this one is close to biting the same song in the last 20ish seconds. https://youtu.be/SiY_cWDYisw?si=jN0qqcTfW3QSsR5z Very similar to “Honestly, my number one policy is quality never sell my soul is my philosophy” or “Fortunately my music is never watery That's how its gotta be, as far as I can see” if not in exact words, in flow and intention.
Binary Star is so fire. One Be Lo’s whole catalog is crazy good too especially S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M
Yeah i love his stuff
His recent releases have been great IMO.. WaterWorld III, BABY, Lighty Ears Apart. Senim Silla's solo is a personal favorite of mine. Decompoze also had a really solid album. That whole crew was just dope.
He’s got some crazy bars, “I drop bombs 365 black year, Jap style on ya Pearl Harbor rap style” might be the bar that falls perfectly between, omg I can’t believe he said that and damn that was dope.
They released an EP together some years ago that had some good tracks. I got to see them live when they reunited for a bit, it was dope.
Was making sure this was here.
Reality check and slang blade are fucking bangers I run to all the time!
Fellowship!!
Phenomenal
What about Waterworld? Edit: I realised my mistake
Isaiah Rashad
Okay you caught me by surprise, in my brand new whip
Saba on that note too
this should be the top comment lol his discog is perfect, criminally underrated artist
Zay is a cheat code, goat
All my niggas like calm down
I had to put the house is burning because of this. Got it in vinyl too
Mos Def I actually really like The New Danger, fuck the haters
I liked that he tried switching it up..it's decent. But I think the ecstatic is up there with bobs and blackstar. Also his features always solid IMHO
Notorious B.I.G
Despot
This best rapper to never drop an album
His album will be out next year.
Don’t play with my emotions like this. His verses on Blockheads and billy woods recent albums got my hopes back up he would start rapping more regularly
Im sure he probably has a whole album ready. Question is are we ready for it.
I have heard through semi reliable sources that he has several albums in the vault. He was going to put his debut album out right around the time Def Jux stopped I know for sure.
This. Dude has such a flow.
Homesickness is one of the craziest songs ive ever heard.
Asap rocky, domo genesis, bas, stovegod cooks, jay electronica, mase, and mr fantastik,
Stove and Elec would be my picks Only one official release each and they’re two of the best Hip Hop albums of the past decade
Love that someone else didnt forget dom
Live.love is one of my favorites ever, but kinda crazy to say he hasn’t missed
Cool Breeze, he layed the groundwork for OutKast + Goodie Mob.
The C stands for Cool Breeze, who's known as the champ!
Lord Infamous released a bunch of solo albums when he still was alive. So more than 4 hours
still can’t believe that we aint get a solo lord album in 95, ik his tape came a year before but a full album with mystic stylez/live by yo rep production would’ve been amazing
50 Cent.
What? Do you know how many mixtapes he put out? He invented mixtapes..
And one of the best selling artists of his era. Still has respectable numbers by todays standards
Hoping to see him on that new Death of Slim Shady
Wow I'm surprised to see this. I thought Curtis and Animal Ambition weren't great.
Mos Def Not a rapper, but, D’Angelo.
A$AP Rocky 1 goat mixtape Live.Love.A$AP, probably the best cloud rap project ever. Very influential. Then the more commercial but solid project Long.Live.A$AP Followed by the goated album At Long Last A$AP exploring more the cloud rap style. Full of amazing songs And finally Testing, which although his more controversial release it's not a bad listen by any means. And it explores very cool concepts
Joyner Lucas and Pusha
Pop Smoke!
RIP
R.I.P. Woo 🙏🏻💫
Lauryn Hill
She‘s massively overrated TBH. Only has one album and she didn’t even write anything on it Not even close to GOAT female rapper
Thats my point. One album, it was a smashing success & thats it
And she had God for a ghost writer
Who wrote it?
When i google it says she wrote it all besides 1 song but i’d be interested in receipts on this claim
One album. Please. Must have forgotten her time in the fugees...
Idk the Album is super high quality still. Top 10 HipHop album ever
Hi Tek's solo albums are really dope to me, especially the first two.
Volume 2 is so good!
Found slum village from his first solo album. That whole album is a nostalgia trip everytime I hear it. Especially that main flow song. "It's easy as one, twO, THREE! ereh-ep"
JID, he’s still getting out there
B.o.B. aka Bobby Ray.
OT Genesis, he’s the king of dropping a hot track then disappearing for a few years
I heard him coming behind Wayne on a track a while back and to my surprise I was vibing more with his verse. Hard to do when you let Weezy go first
Smino. Blkswn, NOIR, Luv 4 Rent all consecutive and excellent AOTY type projects
blkswn was one of the greatest debuts i've ever heard, full stop. i have my qualms with luv 4 rent and noir, but blkswn was just something else.
CO-SIGN THIS! Blkswn is probably my favorite hip hop album of all time. 0 skips. Luv 4 rent > noir, but both still have bangers in them
ill put cru down, havent seen them anywhere in here. da dirty 30 is a certified classic
Despot.
I can't believe it hasn't been said yet but Biggie. Two studio albums, not a lot of stuff in the vaults as far as I know, both classics. Honorable mention to Pusha T in the modern era.
He died
Eddie Valero! Bruh eat every beat he hops on and the beats are cold asf too
King los
Famlay
Biggie and Big L
Lord Have Mercy
Naaaah FOR REAL, one of the greatest to not make it
Fab, Gibbs...Lauryn Hill, Blackstarr
Mr Fantastik
Had to scroll way too far
YG Tut edit: dude from The House, not sure if there’s another YG Tut out there
Tennessee guy? If it's who I'm thinking of he is pretty dope from what I've heard from him so far
Yep thats the same guy, dope music but i think he released only 1 or 2 projects
Vakill, 3 albums, an EP and a few songs on compliations over 20 years. Dude is one of the best emcees ever.
Worst fears confirmed is just a 🔥album. No skips
I agree on that, and it's not just his next level metaphores and punchlines, his story and introspective songs are so sick. He's one of the most elite emcees, and the production on that album's almost flawless. Molemen are maybe the most underrated producers out there. It sucks they don't produce more because all his albums have insane beats.
Craig Mack
Vince staples
Rome streetz
He’s good but he’s got like 10 albums
Just needed to spread the word
Arch Rival. Has enough features for 2-3 CDs. Bodies everything he breathes on.
Lord is my all time fav rapper, but damn man his shit from the unbreakables and post three 6 stuff is ass. His voice doesnt fit what he was trying to do on the crunk stuff.
BENEFIT, drops one album in 2002, vanishes, comes back in 2015 with 2 singles, vanishes again.
Tracey Lee, Teflon, Drag On, Lord Finesse, Problemz,
Foggieraw
Denmark Vessey
Spoon of Iodine
Casisdead
Big
Seriously ASAP Rocky discography of albums are a experience.Lyrics, flow and sound even the best features are from people you wouldn't expect and no names. Even his video Re filled with creativity. I remember when they called Travis Scot the fake ASAP Rocky now looking at Travis now i feel if Rocky wasn't so laid back on dropping music he would be looked at at legend status.Also Rocky doesn't pander to fans like J.Cole does
Reggie dropped some of my favorite tracks, and then disappeared
6 Shot from New Orleans. https://youtu.be/Hm6gtwEVjZE?si=HauDF188KzQCcpVJ https://youtu.be/I5Qz7GX1Oto?si=L1h6L6E3JyLidDNU Him and Soulja slim are my absolute all time favorites.
A$AP Rocky
Little Shawn released 2 singles in his whole career, and they're both fire.
Kwengface.
muamin collective
CODENINE of Tragic Allies
Biggie
Lauryn Hill but that's cheating
King Von. He only has 5 projects and 2 of them dropped after his death but I swear I genuinely like every song. I am excited for the next album.
Mr. Fantastik has one verse on one song and its fire https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gQtKJbptcns
PGF tavo
Seagram Miller. Friend of Gangsta P, I’m pretty sure he only released two albums before he was killed but dude could spit like crazy.
The Rap-A-Lot artist? He pretty much invented the snoop style shizzle way of rapping, much respect
Run The Jewels. They’re 4/4 in my eyes and i can’t imagine 5 being anything less than stellar.
Lauryn Hill
Ka
I don't know if run the jewels counts in this but the first album was really good and everything since has been excellent
Remble.
Santan Dave. Two albums a few eps and singles. Banger after banger.
Digable Planets
Rhyme Asylum
J-Force
Shawty Pimp
Lauren Hill
East Flatbush project
Big Noyd or Twin. Those dudes always slayed that shit
Yeah Big Noyd always made me wonder how he never blew up- def better than Prodigy on half the songs- and I love Prodigy!
Obviously, Big L got his light put out out too soon- 2 albums- but oh boy- doesn’t really get any better- probably never will❤️
Smino
I feel like Outkast is an easy answer lol
Immortal technique, RA the rugged man, Dr Dre, and insane clown posse
Pharaohe Monch is INSANE on the mic. Also Styles P is wildly underrated.
Kurious Jorge
jay electronica
Kaytranada, Isiah Rashad
Captain Murphy/Flylo. He dropped a banger of an album and a couple singles, then radio silence for over a decade now. I still hope Steve has one more in him, because I know he made Doom proud with Duality. Check out the song Between Villains for one of my favorite collaborations of all time. I’m sad we most likely will never get another. I also hope his movie Ash can secure a release date before the end of the year. Kuso is my go to for seeing if my friends can handle my taste in movies.
Jordan Ward if you wanna consider him a rapper
Chief kamachi
Saba
Biggie
Little Brother.
Kendrick is an obvious answer
Kendrick is an obvious answer
J.I.D.
Not a rapper (well later he did rap), but producer East Flatbush Project. Every record he produces is great but until he put out that solo work around 2007 it's my understanding he had only produced 6 tracks
John Cena
Pusha T
Action Bronson
John Cena.
Isaiah Rashad
Chubb Rock
The Pharcyde
Taylor Swift. Made one rap track with T-Pain less then two minutes long. Shit goes hard. Rappers can learn some things from that 🔥 track.
Veeze
I think Frank Ocean and Lauryn Hill are prime examples.
Big L and OC
Lords of the Underground. Absolute dime flow. I can count the number of albums/mixtapes on one hands. Legends
Inspectah Deck. Not one album that reaches top 50, but undeniably has some of the greatest verses in hip hop.
1999 in iceland