I change opinion on these often but I listen to a ton of older stuff as well as newer stuff. Hot 97 interviews are easy to find with p2p and lots of stuff there to digest for those interested. Mixtapes have the best offerings IMHO as radio is all purchased play it seems.
10. Eminem. Oversaturation aside, he is extremely skilled and has a passion for tearing people up in verse.
Check: Til I Collapse, 5 star generals, Stan, Dead Wrong
9. Redman. Long term success based on evolving flow and style. Too much weed and sex rap like many but well delivered.
Check: Time for sum aksion, Blackout
8. Scarface. Original gangster for sure. Incredible flow. Slow and slurred but artistic just the same.
Check: Mind of a Lunatic, Scarface, Jesse James, I seen a man die
7. Ice Cube. Wrote most of NWA's first album as well as Easy E's first hits. Awesome song writer with great rap voice.
Check: It was a good day, Once upon a time in the projects, Who's the Mack, Jackin for Beats
6. Nas. Intelligence almost seems to hinder him as many of his songs require a few listens to full appreciate. Jay had some points tho in their rap feud as Nas was absent for long periods.
Check: One Mic, Illmatic, Get Urself a Gun, Memory Lane, Ether
5. Dr. Dre. OK lyrically he's rather wack and his writing is all ghosted but he has the best beats over the course of a career of anyone and manages to flow enough.
Check: Its nuthin but a G Thang, Let me Ride, F the Police, Natural Born Killaz
4. Eric B. and Rakim. Perhaps greatest lyricist of all time and owner of my favorite song of all time with I aint no joke. Limited range is all that prevents him form beign the best ever.
Check: No Joke, Mahogany, Follow the Leader, The R.
3. Tupac. Gritty and smart with party jams and drive by anthems. Some social consciousness as well but often demonstrated in small bursts.
Check: Benda's got a baby, I get around, 2 of Amerikkka's most wanted, Ambitionz as a ridah, Outlaw
2. Jay-Z. Long reigning king with smooth flow and business acumen. His share of corny radio music but also a catalogue of great hits.
Check: Reasonable Doubt, 22 2's, Friend or Foe, Dead Presidents, 99 problems, This city is mine, Takeover
1. Notorious B.I.G. Suicidal tendencies and woman drama that compare with only Kurt Cobain another of the most amazing song writers in history. Deep mesmerizing voice boomed dark lyrics that were alittle too real.
Check: Juicy, Big Poppa, Warning, Hypnotize, Mo Money Mo Problems.
I was born in 1972 which happens to put me int he same age group as Biggie and Pac and so many others on this list. I was born on the same date tho different year than 'Face. I consider the golden era of rap to be begun with Rakim and then passed to the West Coast and Eazy E/Dre/NWA/Cube. Biggie and Pac brought it back representing the seperate coasts and Scarface chimed in with southern flavor. With Pac and Biggie both gone Eminem and Jay Z picked up those empty mics and rocked on.
My first trip to NYC I was in 7th grade and had a big jambox with 3 tapes: RunDMC, Whodini and LL Cool J. I was shocked that in NYC they weren't playing much rap but instead jammed house music incessantly. Folks like Run DMC played decent clubs but nowadays Eminem sells out Madison Square Garden for as many shows as they want to book.
There are a lot of close calls and guys like LL didn't make the list though certainly could have. He has some legendary hits. Ultimately I didn't include him because I felt he never really dominated an era for me the way others have. Run DMC was another intentional omission. I felt I saw many more talented lyricists then any of that crew when I visited NYC in 1987 but they had Russell Simmons connection with Rick Rubin to drive them.
