MTV's 10 Candidates For The Next 'Greatest MCs Of All Time

[SoMiss2000]

Re: MTV's 10 Candidates For The Next 'Greatest MCs Of All Time

jay-z defines the versatile rapper imo , he can make a track about anything and not make it sound forced. club jams ,songs about girls , deep songs , storys ,hood anthems , battle raps ... even some of the best rappers of all-time couldnt do that. thats why i consider him the goat.

I agree, and he's one of the few exceptions. Hell, look at Ja-Rule's first album and his last two. He's turned into an R&B Singer.

[ehh]

Re: MTV's 10 Candidates For The Next 'Greatest MCs Of All Time

Co-sign. And ALOT of people who are feelin the mainstream/club music, are black people. Which is why I asked the question "why was race even brought into this thread". I hate when people say, "oh, it's just suburban white kids who like 50". It's racist first of all, and its so far from the truth it's rediculous.

And to the original question you asked, "what do suburban white kids know about what a real lyricist is" or something like that... I gotta flip it on you and ask, what about being white or from the burbs makes it so you can't know? I summed this all up in my thread awhile back when I said that backpacking is more about wanting to be cool and be in a counter-culture society than it is about the music. And while it's a really neat organization, I think you really need to re-check your roster sheet, because you might be suprised at how many "uneducated white suburban" rap fans listen to MC Foodstamp just like you.

Well my point was white suburban teenagers, which I stand by. Not white people in general.

Sure it's generalizations but from personal experience all of my black friends who love the club hip-hop, etc all know about underground and older artists as well, they're well-rounded fans at least. They've heard of Rakim, Little Brother, Murs, etc.

Meanwhile, a majority of the white kids I know have 50 Cent, Eminem, and 2Pac in their iPod, surrounded by Jack Johnson, Nickleback and Creed. That's why I said they don't know anything about mic skills, because they only listen to a few rappers soley while dancing/drinking/at a club. They know nothing of the history of hip-hop or the general landscape of it, so how would they have any clue what mic skills are?

These are the same people who are dancing to Lil Jon talking about skeeting and these girls are dancing their asses off without having a clue what he's really talking about. It's hilarious, that Chappelle stand up he did on it was priceless.

[ehh]

Re: MTV's 10 Candidates For The Next 'Greatest MCs Of All Time

I agree, and he's one of the few exceptions. Hell, look at Ja-Rule's first album and his last two. He's turned into an R&B Singer.

Ja-Rule's first album was hot as hell. The last 4-5 tracks were actually deep/meaningful too. I think they're the only 4 tracks of his I still have on my PC.

[SoMiss2000]

Re: MTV's 10 Candidates For The Next 'Greatest MCs Of All Time

And ALOT of people who are feelin the mainstream/club music, are black people.

I could not disagree more. Black folk like to listen what's popular in the club. We are not the ones that make these guys that go the other direction, rich. It's when they crossover that they start getting paid. If brothas think you're wack then we won't buy it. I think people not understanding "crossover" and "mainstream".

What is the definition of a backpacker? I think I know what it is but may be wrong.

[SoMiss2000]

Re: MTV's 10 Candidates For The Next 'Greatest MCs Of All Time

Ja-Rule's first album was hot as hell. The last 4-5 tracks were actually deep/meaningful too. I think they're the only 4 tracks of his I still have on my PC.

The dude was singing love songs.

[Kruza]

Re: MTV's 10 Candidates For The Next 'Greatest MCs Of All Time

Most backpackers are definatley white or older people who were around before the mainstream turned to **** a decade ago. I certainly don't buy the "conscious" rapper facade anymore. Hell, Murs is not conscious, but he's probably my favorite rapper right now.

As for me, I became a "backpacker" once the mainstream all became the same thing. I've quoted this several times, but Phonte said it best in an interview last year.

Not verbatim, but...


And as I added to that in the past, I don't want to hear a Nelly club hit on my commute home from work on a Tuesday afternoon, and at the same time I don't want to hear a Black Moon joint on Saturday night at the bar/club, there's a time and a place for everything.

A dozen years ago you could watch BET and see a 2Pac joint, a ATCQ joint, a Salt-N-Peppa joint, a Wu-Tang joint and a Special K (you know you remember that track) all in the same hour. Now you watch Direct Effect or 106 and Park and all ten tracks are the same thing. Zero variety. How hilarious is the "Blacklisted from 106 & Park" list? Certain rappers that are "too intelligent" for their target demographic audience. If that doesn't tell you how much the landscape of hip-hop has changed in the last dozen years I don't know what will.

But what bothers me is that non-club/mainstream rappers never get their due. I'm not one of those idiots who only likes underground rappers because "it's cool and no one else knows about them." If they make good music, they make good music.

Special K? Do you mean either Positive K (the played-to-death "I Got A Man" video)? Or is it Special Ed ("I Got It Made" & "The Mission")?

At any rate, I mostly agree with what's said here.

Kruza

[kuruption]

Re: MTV's 10 Candidates For The Next 'Greatest MCs Of All Time

Most backpackers are definatley white or older people who were around before the mainstream turned to **** a decade ago. I certainly don't buy the "conscious" rapper facade anymore. Hell, Murs is not conscious, but he's probably my favorite rapper right now.

As for me, I became a "backpacker" once the mainstream all became the same thing. I've quoted this several times, but Phonte said it best in an interview last year.

Not verbatim, but...


And as I added to that in the past, I don't want to hear a Nelly club hit on my commute home from work on a Tuesday afternoon, and at the same time I don't want to hear a Black Moon joint on Saturday night at the bar/club, there's a time and a place for everything.

A dozen years ago you could watch BET and see a 2Pac joint, a ATCQ joint, a Salt-N-Peppa joint, a Wu-Tang joint and a Special K (you know you remember that track) all in the same hour. Now you watch Direct Effect or 106 and Park and all ten tracks are the same thing. Zero variety. How hilarious is the "Blacklisted from 106 & Park" list? Certain rappers that are "too intelligent" for their target demographic audience. If that doesn't tell you how much the landscape of hip-hop has changed in the last dozen years I don't know what will.

But what bothers me is that non-club/mainstream rappers never get their due. I'm not one of those idiots who only likes underground rappers because "it's cool and no one else knows about them." If they make good music, they make good music.

there was still garbage on the radio , i love how everything was so much better back in the day when it really wasnt , we just remember the good stuff.
. coolio , heavy d , and all those one-hit wonders-69 boys , skee-lo , paper boy, positive k etc etc and that was just from 93 - 95. there have always been gimmicks in rap . hell one of the first singles ever '' rappers delight'' was a gimmick.

. alot of garbage rapper have and will always be showcased. there is still good mainstream artist contrary to what backpackers think . i listen to both, and both have great and bad artist to offer.

t.i. , lil wayne , chamillionaire , joe budden , nas, ghostface, talib kweli , little brother -yes lil brother is on a major- etc etc

hell ill take that line-up any day over ,murs , brother ali , pumpkinhead , supastition , mf doom .

obviously though to each his own , but to say mainstream is ish is 100 percent false and im not talking about bet and the radio. theres alot of great mainstream music that isnt played on the radio.

if you were to say that radio and music videos have turned into garbage -for the most part , i would agree.

[SoMiss2000]

Re: MTV's 10 Candidates For The Next 'Greatest MCs Of All Time

Special K? Do you mean either Positive K (the played-to-death "I Got A Man" video)? Or is it Special Ed ("I Got It Made" & "The Mission")?

At any rate, I mostly agree with what's said here.

Kruza

I agree.

[Kruza]

Re: MTV's 10 Candidates For The Next 'Greatest MCs Of All Time

there was still garbage on the radio , i love how everything was so much better back in the day when it really wasnt , we just remember the good stuff.
. coolio , heavy d , and all those one-hit wonders-69 boys , skee-lo , paper boy etc etc and that was just from 93 - 95. there have always been gimmicks in rap .

. alot of garbage rapper have and will always be showcased. there is still good mainstream artist contrary to what backpackers think . i listen to both, and both have great and bad artist to offer.

t.i. , lil wayne , chamillionaire , joe budden , nas, ghostface etc etc

hell ill take that line-up any day over murs , little brother , brother ali , pumpkinhead , supastition , mf doom .

obviously though to each his own , but to say mainstream is ish is 100 percent false.

Heavy D is not a one-hit wonder or gimmick. He was one of the very few hip-hop artists who could blend in fresh and creative R&B-ish grooves on hip-hop tracks without sounding corny or bland. In my eyes he was a lot better at doing this than Cool J. The Heavster is pretty much a pioneer in that style which many rappers are still copying (unsuccessfully) today. He and Teddy Riley made some timeless tracks together.

Kruza

[SoMiss2000]

Re: MTV's 10 Candidates For The Next 'Greatest MCs Of All Time

there was still garbage on the radio , i love how everything was so much better back in the day when it really wasnt , we just remember the good stuff.

Man you're out of your mind. Music from today doesn't even hold a candle to hiphop/rap from late 80's/90s. I just recently bought a new MP3 player and the overwhelming majority of the music i've loaded already is old stuff from the 90s. I think that is a clear indication of my feeling on music today. I know we tend to suffer from "good ol day syndrome", however, there is no way possible for you to say the music wasn't better.

[SoMiss2000]

Re: MTV's 10 Candidates For The Next 'Greatest MCs Of All Time

Heavy D is not a one-hit wonder or gimmick. He was one of the very few hip-hop artists who could blend in fresh and creative R&B-ish grooves on hip-hop tracks without sounding corny or bland. In my eyes he was a lot better at doing this than Cool J. The Heavster is pretty much a pioneer in that style which many rappers are still copying (unsuccessfully) today. He and Teddy Riley made some timeless tracks together.

Kruza

teach Kruza! Heavy D was NOT a one-hit wonder! What happen to groups like ATCQ, Digital Undergound (just re-purchased "Sex Packets"), etc. What happened to having fun with your music?

[SoMiss2000]

Re: MTV's 10 Candidates For The Next 'Greatest MCs Of All Time

Heavy D is not a one-hit wonder or gimmick. He was one of the very few hip-hop artists who could blend in fresh and creative R&B-ish grooves on hip-hop tracks without sounding corny or bland. In my eyes he was a lot better at doing this than Cool J. The Heavster is pretty much a pioneer in that style which many rappers are still copying (unsuccessfully) today. He and Teddy Riley made some timeless tracks together.

Kruza

and all those one-hit wonders-69 boys , skee-lo , paper boy etc etc and that was just from 93 - 95.

You have people like this in every genre. There are going to be these type of people. Oh, and 69 was all about the club. You would not catch me riding around in my car blasting Ride that Train!

[kuruption]

Re: MTV's 10 Candidates For The Next 'Greatest MCs Of All Time

Heavy D is not a one-hit wonder or gimmick. He was one of the very few hip-hop artists who could blend in fresh and creative R&B-ish grooves on hip-hop tracks without sounding corny or bland. In my eyes he was a lot better at doing this than Cool J. The Heavster is pretty much a pioneer in that style which many rappers are still copying (unsuccessfully) today. He and Teddy Riley made some timeless tracks together.

Kruza

i never said he was one hit wonder or a gimmick . coolio had quite few hits also but what i was trying to say is he wasnt that good of a rapper and there have always been plenty of rappers who arent that nice . . i do have the ''nuttin but love '' album but ive always felt dude was a lil corny.

[kuruption]

Re: MTV's 10 Candidates For The Next 'Greatest MCs Of All Time

Man you're out of your mind. Music from today doesn't even hold a candle to hiphop/rap from late 80's/90s. I just recently bought a new MP3 player and the overwhelming majority of the music i've loaded already is old stuff from the 90s. I think that is a clear indication of my feeling on music today. I know we tend to suffer from "good ol day syndrome", however, there is no way possible for you to say the music wasn't better.

ohh no doubt 92-97 is my favorite era of rap but to say mainstream rap is ish - is false imo . theres still some quality out there.

[Graphik]

Re: MTV's 10 Candidates For The Next 'Greatest MCs Of All Time

Just to add to the convo, I love old school hip hop. I play late 90s music(my time) more than anything I have recent. I cant quite put my finger on it but most of the albums you picked up had a certain quality. You still had the club joints on most albums but everything seemed more creative at the time. Everybody stuck to their own style. There was'nt any cats out there sounding the same. Producers were usually exclusive to certain artist so you felt that bond in the music. Today, producers work with anybody and the result is clone after clone after clone of the same song. Speaking of clones, damn The Roots were right.