Re: Hip Hop Heads: Top 10 Alive
Although, I agree that beats are important, they don't make an artist great or any track a "classic." If the beat is hot, but the lyrics are trash and repetitive, the track will be hot for a minute, but eventually it won't hold up over time.
As long as the beat is decent, a track with sick lyrics can stand the test of time, provided someone is able to hear them. As of late, I haven't been able to hear great lyrical songs. I'm being force-fed crap by the music industry, and some great artists are losing out, and sometimes they end up crossing over in hope of getting success in the industry (E-40 for example).
I put much more stock into rappers who are innovative, sometimes non-conforming, and able to create their own vocabulary and slang. Mix that in with a distinct flow, style, and delivery and you can have a great artist.
That's why I'm a huge fan of Tech N9ne. He goes out on stage with bright red and long hair (or he used to), and his face painted at his concerts. Tell me how many others do that (other than ICP)? He's a true non-conformist, not giving in to how the big labels want him to say, do, act, and put out on his albums. He's gone independent, and is hugely successful, because he puts it all out there for his fans. He doesn't get basically any national airplay, but he tours his *** off all year long, and has built up a cult-like following on the west coast and in the midwest. Tech rhymes at a similar pace as Twista, but he's versatile enough that he doesn't just rhyme fast. He puts everything over the top with his lyrics, which are a breath of fresh air in today's rap game.
Sorry about the rant...but as Tech says, "F.T.I."
Although, I agree that beats are important, they don't make an artist great or any track a "classic." If the beat is hot, but the lyrics are trash and repetitive, the track will be hot for a minute, but eventually it won't hold up over time.
As long as the beat is decent, a track with sick lyrics can stand the test of time, provided someone is able to hear them. As of late, I haven't been able to hear great lyrical songs. I'm being force-fed crap by the music industry, and some great artists are losing out, and sometimes they end up crossing over in hope of getting success in the industry (E-40 for example).
I put much more stock into rappers who are innovative, sometimes non-conforming, and able to create their own vocabulary and slang. Mix that in with a distinct flow, style, and delivery and you can have a great artist.
That's why I'm a huge fan of Tech N9ne. He goes out on stage with bright red and long hair (or he used to), and his face painted at his concerts. Tell me how many others do that (other than ICP)? He's a true non-conformist, not giving in to how the big labels want him to say, do, act, and put out on his albums. He's gone independent, and is hugely successful, because he puts it all out there for his fans. He doesn't get basically any national airplay, but he tours his *** off all year long, and has built up a cult-like following on the west coast and in the midwest. Tech rhymes at a similar pace as Twista, but he's versatile enough that he doesn't just rhyme fast. He puts everything over the top with his lyrics, which are a breath of fresh air in today's rap game.
Sorry about the rant...but as Tech says, "F.T.I."
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