10 Greatest Rap/Hip-Hop Bands...

[junk]

Well, lets see here...

1. Vanilla Ice
2. Hammer
3. Snow
4. The 85 Bears - Super Bowl Shuffle
5. The old lady from Wedding Singer

Just kidding. No real order and I don't listen to a lot of rap
Dr. Dre - The Chronic was great.
Snoop - see above
Tupac
Beastie Boys - License to Ill is a classic, but some of their later stuff was good too.
Outkast
Black Eyed Peas - Are they rap or R&B? Who cares, they have Fergie.

I actually don't mind Nelly, I think he is pretty talented. I think Ja Rule and 50 cent are to rapping what Steven Seagal is to acting. Just awful. Eminem is pretty talented, but I feel like if I have heard one of his songs, I have heard them all. His other antics annoy me too.

 

[lane]

no particular order:

1. whodini
2. run-dmc
3. beastie boys
4. snoop dog
5. ll cool j
6. outkast
7. the notorious b.i.g.
8. the sugarhill gang
9. tupac
10. dr. dre

 

[WoodysGirl]

None they all suck....IMO

Well we're all entitled to one...


Sidebar: I can't believe I didn't remember Goodie Mob. I have all of their CDs, too.

 

[jterrell]

Well we're all entitled to one...


Sidebar: I can't believe I didn't remember Goodie Mob. I have all of their CDs, too.

GM is easily overshadowed by Outkast IMHO and is prolly why they get forgotten.

 

[Qwickdraw]

I can't believe how many people put LL Cool J as one of their answers.
Seriously, he is one of the biggest jokes in hip hop, ever.

I know... his original stuff was good and held it's own. But since 1990, everything he has made has been garbage and no one in the industry has any respect for him anymore.
(I'll let WoodyGirl slide because all of his music is geared towards the ladies but that is the very reason he's a joke now)

 

[jterrell]

I can't believe how many people put LL Cool J as one of their answers.
Seriously, he is one of the biggest jokes in hip hop, ever.

I know... his original stuff was good and held it's own. But since 1990, everything he has made has been garbage and no one in the industry has any respect for him anymore.
(I'll let WoodyGirl slide because all of his music is geared towards the ladies but that is the very reason he's a joke now)

I think you're discounting his early stuff. The fact is he has remained relevant if only as eye candy to the ladies.

Run DMC is on everyone's list but the last couple of CDs they made were blah at best.

LL's I need a beat, rock the bells and many other songs off of his first 3 CDs were truly excellent.

think of it like this---Does Emmitt Smith not deserve to be an all-time great because he played 5 years too long? Because his ego is large?

BTW, when battle rapper Canibus challenged L he pretty much owned him but 'Can is strictly a battle rapper and has nothing in record sales because he is all about the diss. That beef started when Can asked permission to get a mic on his arm like LL and then tossed out a typical rhyme about it that sounded more like a diss then a compliment. LL having put Can down for 4,3,2,1 was pissed and went off on a Jack the Ripper tangent. Truth is Canibus' relevance is pretty much limited to 2nd round KO and Rip the Jacker.

 

[WoodysGirl]

I think you're discounting his early stuff. The fact is he has remained relevant if only as eye candy to the ladies.

Run DMC is on everyone's list but the last couple of CDs they made were blah at best.

LL's I need a beat, rock the bells and many other songs off of his first 3 CDs were truly excellent.

think of it like this---Does Emmitt Smith not deserve to be an all-time great because he played 5 years too long? Because his ego is large?

BTW, when battle rapper Canibus challenged L he pretty much owned him but 'Can is strictly a battle rapper and has nothing in record sales because he is all about the diss. That beef started when Can asked permission to get a mic on his arm like LL and then tossed out a typical rhyme about it that sounded more like a diss then a compliment. LL having put Can down for 4,3,2,1 was pissed and went off on a Jack the Ripper tangent. Truth is Canibus' relevance is pretty much limited to 2nd round KO and Rip the Jacker.

I'd like to add that I bought the G.O.A.T and I liked it. Of course, it wasn't like his first efforts, but it was just another reminder that he had it in him.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I think you're discounting his early stuff. The fact is he has remained relevant if only as eye candy to the ladies.

Run DMC is on everyone's list but the last couple of CDs they made were blah at best.

LL's I need a beat, rock the bells and many other songs off of his first 3 CDs were truly excellent.

think of it like this---Does Emmitt Smith not deserve to be an all-time great because he played 5 years too long? Because his ego is large?

BTW, when battle rapper Canibus challenged L he pretty much owned him but 'Can is strictly a battle rapper and has nothing in record sales because he is all about the diss. That beef started when Can asked permission to get a mic on his arm like LL and then tossed out a typical rhyme about it that sounded more like a diss then a compliment. LL having put Can down for 4,3,2,1 was pissed and went off on a Jack the Ripper tangent. Truth is Canibus' relevance is pretty much limited to 2nd round KO and Rip the Jacker.

LL Cool J has had staying power that FEW others have had, plus once again as I said before just one listen to his early work esp Nitro and you know he had skills.

 

[LaTunaNostra]

Yep. LL started going downhill about the time he discovered the gym.

 

[Qwickdraw]

Sorry, but there is no convincing me otherwise. I have been deeply immersed in hip hop since the beginning and LL is a complete joke. He is on lyrical par with Will Smith. Both had good, revolutionary type music at the start of their careers but soon after, sold-out to the teenie bopper market and have remained there since.

LL Cool J- "Oooooh baby, I wanna rub you down with coconut butter pecan and lick the caramel between your toes because you're as sweet as butterscotch, girl."

IMO, anyone who defends LL is showing that they haven't given hip hop an honest ear in 2 decades.

Go lick your lips somewhere else, LL Tool J.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Sorry, but there is no convincing me otherwise. I have been deeply immersed in hip hop since the beginning and LL is a complete joke. He is on lyrical par with Will Smith. Both had good, revolutionary type music at the start of their careers but soon after, sold-out to the teenie bopper market and have remained there since.

LL Cool J- "Oooooh baby, I wanna rub you down with coconut butter pecan and lick the caramel between your toes because you're as sweet as butterscotch, girl."

IMO, anyone who defends LL is showing that they haven't given hip hop an honest ear in 2 decades.

Go lick your lips somewhere else, LL Tool J.

Yep It has been awhile since I listened to hip hop/rap ....as I said before the only CDs or Tapes I still have are from Public Enemy.

But not only do you have to take into account his early work and then rip on his later work....IMO you also have to take into account of how he helped moved the rap genre along like others did.

THe guy not only had duels with Cannibas as some say here...but how many of you remember his duels with another older rapper....if memory serves a Kool Moe Dee.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Yep It has been awhile since I listened to hip hop/rap ....as I said before the only CDs or Tapes I still have are from Public Enemy.

But not only do you have to take into account his early work and then rip on his later work....IMO you also have to take into account of how he helped moved the rap genre along like others did.

THe guy not only had duels with Cannibas as some say here...but how many of you remember his duels with another older rapper....if memory serves a Kool Moe Dee.

My dad brings up the LL battle with Kool Moe Dee quite a bit. I keep telling him, he gotta let it die, but he just won't. My dad is a different kinda dad, he'll quote Ice Cube in a heartbeat. Mind you it's old school, but he loves Mr. O'Shea Jackson. PE is his fav. He doesn't like much of any of the newer stuff, but I laughed my butt off when I heard hear him cussing, cuz my lil sister couldn't find a specific Ice Cube song to download.

Now who remembers this battle? MC Hammer vs Run DMC. That is a classic.

 

[jterrell]

LL is a veteran to be sure and his best work is behind him but he has talent.
A lot more raw talent than Will Smith, IMHO. A LOT.

Pink Cookies in a plastic bag, 4,3,2,1 and JAck the Ripper had good lyrical content.

LL is old school so he doesnt have alot of different flows and his content is almost 100% self-orientated but he is a solid story teller in the tradition of original rap.

Current hip hop is a bit different to be sure.


But everyone has tastes and I can see why he would not be a fave of some.

HOWEVER if you have been with rap since the beginning(I have been) its hard not to appreciate him when the others from that era are long gone. GMFlash, Whodini, RunDMC, Kurtis Blow, et al are all performing their classics if anything at all.

Even Rakim, who is the greated lyricist ever IMHO, is struggling to put out anything now.

 

[jterrell]

My dad brings up the LL battle with Kool Moe Dee quite a bit. I keep telling him, he gotta let it die, but he just won't. My dad is a different kinda dad, he'll quote Ice Cube in a heartbeat. Mind you it's old school, but he loves Mr. O'Shea Jackson. PE is his fav. He doesn't like much of any of the newer stuff, but I laughed my butt off when I heard hear him cussing, cuz my lil sister couldn't find a specific Ice Cube song to download.

Now who remembers this battle? MC Hammer vs Run DMC. That is a classic.

Which Cube song does he want? I prolly have it.
Amerikkka's most wanted was my fave Cube CD.

Once upon a time in the projects, yo
I damn near had to wreck a ho
I knocked on the door - "Who is it?"
It's Ice Cube, come to pay a little visit to ya
And what's up with the n's in the parking lot
She said f* em, cause they get sparked alot
I sat on the couch but it wasn't stable
and then I put my Nikes on the coffee table
Her brother walked in he's into gangbangin
cause he walked up and said "what set you claimin"
I don't bang I write the good rhymes
The whole scenery reminded me of Good Times

So many classic songs on their. Best Gangsta rap CD ever IMHO.

 

[jterrell]

My dad brings up the LL battle with Kool Moe Dee quite a bit. I keep telling him, he gotta let it die, but he just won't. My dad is a different kinda dad, he'll quote Ice Cube in a heartbeat. Mind you it's old school, but he loves Mr. O'Shea Jackson. PE is his fav. He doesn't like much of any of the newer stuff, but I laughed my butt off when I heard hear him cussing, cuz my lil sister couldn't find a specific Ice Cube song to download.

Now who remembers this battle? MC Hammer vs Run DMC. That is a classic.

BTW, your Dad, geez I am getting old.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Which Cube song does he want? I prolly have it.
Amerikkka's most wanted was my fave Cube CD.

Once upon a time in the projects, yo
I damn near had to wreck a ho
I knocked on the door - "Who is it?"
It's Ice Cube, come to pay a little visit to ya
And what's up with the n's in the parking lot
She said f* em, cause they get sparked alot
I sat on the couch but it wasn't stable
and then I put my Nikes on the coffee table
Her brother walked in he's into gangbangin
cause he walked up and said "what set you claimin"
I don't bang I write the good rhymes
The whole scenery reminded me of Good Times

So many classic songs on their. Best Gangsta rap CD ever IMHO.

It would prolly be that one. Shoot, I love that song, too as well as the whole CD. I might have to uhmm get that from you myself. Screw my dad...

When that song came out, I think I was a freshman in high school and I seemed to have a crush on a new guy every week. One week it was a b-ball player, next week it was some football player. I finally settled on a tall meat-head senior who didn't play either one of 'em. Tho the poor baby tried. I was a good girlfriend. I clapped for him when he was looking, but shook my head when he wasn't. I felt bad, cuz I thought I could ball better than him... lol

Oh and JT, you only a year older than me, stop that old nonsense...

 

[Qwickdraw]

When it comes to lyrical content and ability, it's all about the East Coast artists. The West Coast has made some good music to "ride to" but nothing lyrically impressive with the exception of Tash and The Alkaholiks.

Killa Priest said it best when he stated, "There's too many gangstas from the West Coast trying to be rappers. There's too many rappers from the East Coast trying to be gangstas."

If you want real lyrical content... check out-
Redman
Tash
The Roots
Talib Kwali
De La Sol
Mos Def
Gza of Wu-Tang Clan
and of course, VA's own, Mad Skillz:

If anyone is interested in hearing real lyrical talent just say the word and I'll upload a song or two. You might just see the light...

 

[jterrell]

It would prolly be that one. Shoot, I love that song, too as well as the whole CD. I might have to uhmm get that from you myself. Screw my dad...

When that song came out, I think I was a freshman in high school and I seemed to have a crush on a new guy every week. One week it was a b-ball player, next week it was some football player. I finally settled on a tall meat-head senior who didn't play either one of 'em. Tho the poor baby tried. I was a good girlfriend. I clapped for him when he was looking, but shook my head when he wasn't. I felt bad, cuz I thought I could ball better than him... lol

Oh and JT, you only a year older than me, stop that old nonsense...

Ya I was actually thinking myself about high school girls when that stuff came up. I was a sophomore or junior in high school. Man those were good times. Such a small, small world.

I went to Spruce if anyone here is local to Dallas btw.

 

[jterrell]

When it comes to lyrical content and ability, it's all about the East Coast artists. The West Coast has made some good music to "ride to" but nothing lyrically impressive with the exception of Tash and The Alkaholiks.

Killa Priest said it best when he stated, "There's too many gangstas from the West Coast trying to be rappers. There's too many rappers from the East Coast trying to be gangstas."

If you want real lyrical content... check out-
Redman
Tash
The Roots
Talib Kwali
De La Sol
Mos Def
Gza of Wu-Tang Clan
and of course, VA's own, Mad Skillz:

If anyone is interested in hearing real lyrical talent just say the word and I'll upload a song or two. You might just see the light...

I wouldn't disagree really.
Wu Tang put out a serious classic with the Shadowboxing lp.
Too many soldiers tho and it seemed watered down on later offerings.

I love the Roots. Loved when they played live for Eminem on the Grammy's as well. Great band and mature content. I will buy their stuff in a second.

De La just got a new record deal and is gonna release something new. Nice band but not up with the greats to me. Me, Myself and I had some faux deep elements IMHO.

Talib Kweli is awesome.

West Coast Rap was defined by gangsters and Dr. Dre. The awesome loops and production over classic funk/rock/jazz.

East Coast stuff is much more pure but less melodic in most cases.

My wife is from the South Bronx and is mid 30's her first boyfriend was Scott La Rock's cousin. When I went to NYC in 1988 they didn't even listen to rap music, they listened to House for the most part. Rap was a hobby for lunch breaks and for grifters on the subway platforms.

Eminem is as good lyrically as anyone. He has alot of poppy stuff meant to sell music to the masses but his ability to flow is simply amazing. His verse on Dead Wrong is unbelieveable.

East Coast rap also has Puffy so be careful how far you take the one sided generalizations, ROFL.

 

[Qwickdraw]

I didn't say ALL East Coast. P-Diddy is definitely a joke.

It surprises me that you don't have more credit for De La. They don't get any more "mature" than De La and they have a smooth poetic flow with excellent lyrics and phenomenal beats.