I have to say, after consideration that YOUNG MC takes my vote. Here is a sample from the awesome “Know How.” Buy a copy of ‘Stone cold ryhmin’ today!
Beats todays rappers with their ‘pop tunes by lloyd banks.’
Some of the busiest rhymes ever made by man
Are goin’ into this mic, written by this hand
Are comin’ out of this mouth, made by this tongue
I’ll tell you now my name, my name is Young
But so you think that it’s your destiny
To get the best of me, but I suggest to be
Quiet, bro’, don’t even try it from the east and west of me
Takin’ it and never breakin’ it or even shakin’ it
Groovin’ it and always movin’ it, cuz I’m not fakin’ it
Pullin’ out rhymes like books off the shelf
Born in England, raised in Hollis, taught to go for myself
This is stone cold rhymin’, no frills, no fluffs
And it’s no accident that these rhymes sound tough
I’m goin’ off, baby, there’s no turnin’ back
I’m on your TV, on your album, cassette and 8-track
And when the show is finally finished I’ll be takin’ my bow
My name is Young, and yo I got know-how, you know what I’m
sayin’?
Do it like a robot to headspin to boogaloo
Took a few minutes to convince the average bug-a-boo
It’s ugly, like look at you! It’s a damn shame
Just remember All Caps when you spell the mad name
And you know it like a poet, like baby doll
I bet she tried to say she gave me her all, she played ball
All bets off! The Villain got the dice rigged
And they say he accosted the man with the sliced wig
Vast Aire
But remembered every detail of my first kiss
That’s that Bronx Tale bliss
The holiest of holies
Hip hop, it was ‘88
Even at the age of 10, phrases levitate
Drinkin Lil’ Hug quarter waters
Dodgin stray slugs on the corner in that exact order
While you playin, death is what happens
I found the passion in aerosol cans and hands clappin
Backspins, microphones and cats rappin
And a whole bunch of others - Dose One, nearly everything The Roots put together, Mos Def (Ms. Fat Booty), Talib Kweli (Know That), Ghostface. But the two up top, they are “tight” as I believe the current
(i think my tonuge needs a dancefloor, 'cos my)
vernacular
(is like fancy movement)
puts it.
Chuck D
KRS-ONE
RAKIM
Saul Williams
Immortal Technique
Vinny Paz
Necro
Ill Bill
Mos Def
Talib Kewli
Ice Cube
Common
Tragedy Khadafi
Scarface
Masta Killah
Brother Ali
MF Doom/Viktor Vaughn
Paris
Tech Nine
Michael Franti
Nas
Ice-T
Frukwan
B-Real
Q-Tip
MCA, Ad-Rock and Mike D
Bizarre
Killer Mike
Chino XL
Freddie Foxx
Kool Moe Dee
Juru the Damaja
Guru of Gang Starr
Rass Kass
Slick Rick
Gza
Zach De La Rocha
Sticman
M-1
Run DMC
MC Paul Barman
LL Cool J
Will Smith
Sage Francis
Chali 2na
Lyrics Born
Illus
Poetic
Kool Keith
Prince Markie Dee, Kool Rock-Ski and Buff the Human Beat Box.
Puff Daddy/P Diddy/Puffy/Sean Combs
Mace
The Game
50Cent
Lil John
Jay Z
Benzino
ludacris
Kid&Play
Eminem
Chingy
Nelly
Sean Paul
Master P
The Black Eyed Peas
Ja Rule
J-Kwon
The Diplomats
Notorious B.I.G.
Mystikal
There are more, but both of my lists are a basic outline. I like the emcees I mentioned because of their lyrical content, flow and presence on the mic when they are rapping. I dislike the ones I mentioned because I find their lyrical content overdone, contrived and filled with nothing but clich
Just since I get the feeling Nerdcore is going to be completely overlooked, and just because I like these guys even though they’re certainly not the best rappers out there, I feel obliged to insert into the thread:
I grew up between DC and Baltimore, two of the blackest cities in the US so of course I listen to rap. I can’t say I have a lot of real favorites even though I like a lot of different songs. I guess my favorite group is Wu-Tang mainly from the double CD Wu Tang Forever.
Here are a couple underated rappers:
Del tha Funkee Homosapien (Ice Cubes cousin, rapped on the Gorrillaz first album)
Slick Rick (rappers allways steal his lyrics and beats)
Beastie Boys (no hip hop stations play their music, only white rock and roll stations)
MC Ren (from NWA)
Eric B. & Rakim
The Roots
LL Cool J
Notorious B.I.G.
Mos Def
Tribe Called Quest
De La Soul
Outkast
I like hip-hop (actually, all music) more for the instruments, beats etc than for the lyrics, though some lyricists are pretty cool. These are the artists I find myself spinning the most though.