The Originator Non-Greater
Who is more important in hip-hop culture the DJ/Producer or the MC?
Most fans of the genre would easily respond with a resounding MC. However, to fully understand the culture one must know its beginnings. You know that thing about how history is so important. Well that same principle applies in this case. It was a DJ that brought this culture to where it is. That DJ was named Kool DJ Herc. He traveled from Jamaica where he was known for looping breakbeats in songs to make it more danceable.
Following in his footsteps Grandmaster Flash took the art a little further by cutting and looping multiple songs together in succession to create what sounded like one contiuous chorus or rap. Then came the supreme evolution. This revolution in hip-hop came when DJ Grand Wizard Theodore popularized the art-form that we now refer to as scratching. This set off a chain of events that eventually lead to the hip-hop producer.
In its beginnings hip-hop producers were merely DJ's that looped and scratched samples from other songs together in order to create an instrumental. That same instrumental would be chanted over by a hype man who would eventually become a rapper. There were two schools of thought concerning the art-form. First, the DJ and hype man should work together to get the crowd as hype as possible by playing and chanting over the most dancer friendly portion of the song. This became referred to as a breakbeat and today is known as the bridge. The second school of thought was that the music should be conscious and help motivate people to elevate from a negative situation while providing the truth. In 1980 Kurtis Blow recorded the first full-length song, The Break, that fused both of these thoughts together. In 1984 Run DMC recorded the first song, It's Like That, that had no samples and relied completely on created production.
This ushered in the producers. Producers have came full circle from the days of a DJ. They are now just as important as the rapper themselves. There is a lot of debate as to who is the greatest producer of all-time and who originated certain styles. This list will examine that and humbly present the greatest of the production wizards in the culture of hip-hop.
30) Dan the Automator
29) Erik Sermon
28) Swizz Beatz
27) Just Blaze
26) Large Professor
25) Rick Rubin
24) Da Beatminerz
23) DJ Quick
22) No I.D
21) Lil Jon
20) Mannie Fresh
19) Deric D-Dot Angelettie
18) The Alchemist
17) DJ Danger Mouse
16) 9th Wonder
15) J-Dilla
14) Timbaland
13) The Neptunes
12) Eminem
11) Kanye West
10) ?uestlove
09) Scott Storch
08) Organized Noize
07) Prince Paul
06) Marley Marl
05) Afrika Bambaataa was born Kevin Donovan and help to revolutionize hip hop culture through his spacey techno-funk driven beats. Bambaataa was a Bronx gang-banger that changed his philosophy after a trip to Africa. He is responsible for popularizing the b-boy and graffiti artists that rose to prominence from hip hop culture. He even organized the first European Hip-Hop tour.
Most notable production: Planet Rock
04) Pete Rock, named Peter Phillips was the protege of Marley Marl who surpassed his teacher. In many ways one could argue that Pete Rock is the best producer of all-time. There are not many prominent artists that he has not produced tracks for. He has influenced other producers like 9th Wonder. His signature sound is looping jazz instrumentals over drum break beats.
Most notable production: T.R.O.Y (They Reminisce Over You)
03) The RZA (Robert Diggs) is the leader of a movement in Hip-Hop known as Wu-Tang. His influence as a producer is legendary. He has impacted everyone from Kanye West to Just Blaze. The sound of RZA has evolved over time. Initially his beats were simple drum patterns that included Kung-Fu movie sound effects. As time passed he began to add sped up soul samples and samples from Kung Fu movie instrumentals. This made his sound very authentic in rap music.
Most notable production: Triumph and Kill Bill vol. 1 and 2 (entire scores)
02) Dr. Dre aka Robert Young to his peers. Dre has arguably contributed to more classic rap albums than any other producer in Hip-Hop culture. He began as a DJ in California during the mid 80's as a teenager. Dre's style is best described as revolutionary within the genre. He is responsible for two major revolutions within the genre. The first is the implementation was funk within rap music. The sound that pioneered west coast rap even before it was main-stream was the funk instrumentals of the 1970's. The second revolution that he introduced was the sound of keyboard strings in succession. This style is almost as imitated as scratching records in songs.
Most notable production: Nuthin But A G Thang, California Love
01) DJ Premier is the being known as Christopher Martin or Premo to his fans. He was first introduced to his style in Houston while attending Prarie View A&M University. At that time he was known as DJ Waxmaster C. Premo's production style is the most notable style around. He is known for actually creating hooks for the rapper by scratching short vocals from other songs together. For example on Gang Starr's song Piece of Mine from thier 2003 album The Ownerz, Premo scratches Royce' Da 5'9's voice from his song Boom in succession to create the sound "Trust me I'm as live as it gets...my flow is like...live as it gets." Premo is widely regarded as one of the few producers that can overshadow the actual artist on a track by providing such inovative instrumentals.
Most notable production credits: Gang Starr, Nas's Illmatic (3 tracks) Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt (3 tracks), Notorious Big's Ready to Die (2 tracks)
Follow the Leader
Rakim Allah
Ra, Rakim, Rakim Allah, Rakim the God, Rakim the Master, Rakim the 18th Letter, and Rakim the fiend of a mic are all monikers that he has gone by.
Whatever one knows him as he is simply a legend and the reason why most of today's rappers even have their delivery and style. Rakim is everything great about every other rapper combined to create a gumbo of empirical emcee excellence.
Consciousness. He is a five percenter with a historical perspective and knows how to deliver a message. Listen to Who Is God (The Mystery) from his album The 18th Letter. He breaks down the beginning of man and the universe with the type of introspect and preciseness that physicists and scholars alike could not explain better.
Story-telling. Slick Rick, Biggie, Kool G Rap and Scarface are considered the standard of storytellers. However, Rakim is right there. The key difference is he simply chooses not to convey stories in his raps as much. When he does choose to bless the mic with a story it is magical. Mahogany is still one of my favorite songs (not just rap but songs) of all-time. The amount of creativity and smoothness that is infused in the lyrics are nothing short of perfection.
Delivery. How many rappers have a voice that almost become one with the instrumental? Two maybe three. Rakim is at the top of the list of those rappers. The best way to describe his delivery would be effortless. Most of today's generation thinks rap music did not begin until Biggie and Tupac henceforth, when they think of smooth deliveries those two along with Nas come to their collective minds. It is really a shame that Ra gets lost in the mix because he simply had the best delivery ever. He was the Nat King Cole of rap. If you want proof then listen to Follow the Leader the title track from his second LP with DJ Eric B. "I can go on for days and days with rhyme displays that engrave as deep as x-rays." That bar is classic Rakim.
Influence and Lyrics. Ultimately, influence as an emcee is what determines how great one really becomes. That same influence is determined by one's lyrics. This is why Rakim is number one on the list. His influence extends across generations and transcends rap. Most of today's young aficionados of the genre do not even realize how Rakim revolutionized rap. Before Rakim rappers were using the most basic meter in their lyrics. It was the type of meter where the last word in each line rhymed to form what is known as feet and the flow was very deliberate with it's rhythm. Check the example from Run DMC's You Talk Too Much:
you talk about people, you don't even know
and you talk about places, you never goyou talk about your girl, from head to toei said your mouth's moving fast, and your brain's moving slow Now examine Rakim's My Melody (which dropped a year later):
turn up the bass, check out my melody, hand out a cigari'm lettin knowledge be born, and my name's the RA-K-I-M not like the rest of them, i'm not on a listthat's what i'm sayin, i drop science like a scientistIt is the same amount of bars but notice the key differences. First, there is an internal rhyme scheme instead of the last word rhyming. Second, Run DMC never uses words with more than two syllables. In contrast Rakim has the lyrical ability to effortlessly drop words with three or more syllables. Finally, there is a continuous rhythm with no pauses in Ra's bars, giving him the capability to say words that may not always technically rhyme. However, the rhythm makes them sound as if they do. This style of rap eventually became the standard for how rappers deliver their rhymes. For that we can thank Rakim the God.
Follow me into a solo
Get in the flow and you can picture like a photo
Music mixed mellow maintains to make
Melodies for MC's motivates the breaks
I'm everlastin, I can go on for days and days
With rhyme displays that engrave deep as X-rays
I can take a phrase that's rarely heard, FLIP IT
Now it's a daily word
I can get iller than 'Nam, a killin bomb
But no alarm - Rakim will remain calm
Self-esteem make me super superb and supreme
But for a microphone still I fiend
This was a tape I wasn't supposed to break
I was supposed to wait, but let's motivate
I want to see who can keep followin and swallowin
Takin the making, bitin it and borrowin
Brothers tried and others died to get the formula
But I'ma let ya sweat - you still ain't warm
You a step away from frozen, stiff as if ya posin
Dig into my brain as the rhyme gets chosen
So follow me and were ya thinkin' you were first?
Let's travel at magnificent speeds around the Universe
What could ya say as the Earth gets further and further away
Planets are small as balls of clay
Astray into the Milky Way - world's outasight
Far as the eye can see - not even a satellite
Now stop and turn around and look
As ya stare in the darkness, ya knowledge is took!
So keep starin soon ya suddenly see a star
You better follow it cause it's the R
This is a lesson if ya guessin and if ya borrowin
Hurry hurry step right up and keep followin
The Leader
Verse Two:
This is a lifetime mission, vision of prison
Aight listen
In this journey you're the journal I'm the journalist
Am I Eternal? Or an eternalist?
I'm about to flow long as I can possibly go
Keep ya movin cause the crowd said so
Dance - cuts rip ya pants
Eric B on the blades, bleedin to death - call the ambulance
Pull out my weapon and start to squeeze
A magnum as a microphone murderin' MC's
Let's quote a rhyme from a record I wrote
(follow the leader) Yeah - dope
Cause everytime I stop it seems ya stuck
Soon as ya try to step off ya self-destruct
I came to overcome before I'm gone
By showin and provin and lettin knowledge be born
Then after that I'll live forever - you disagree?
You say never? Then follow me!
From century to century you'll remember me
In history - not a mystery or a memory
God by nature, mind raised in Asia
Since you was tricked, I have to raise ya
From the cradle to the grave, but remember
You're not a slave
Cause we was put here to be much more than that
But we couldn't see it because our mind was trapped
But I'm here to break away the chains, take away the pains
Remake the brains, reveal my name
I guess nobody told you a little knowledge is dangerous
It can't be mixed, diluted; it can't be changed or switched
Here's a lesson if ya guessing and borrowing
Hurry hurry, step right up and keep following
The leader
Verse Three:
A furified freestyle, lyrics of fury
My third eye makes me shine like jewelry
You're just a rent-a-rapper, your rhymes are minute-maid
I'll be here when it fade to watch you flip like a renegade
I can't wait to break and eliminate
On every traitor or snake - so stay awake
and follow and follow, because the tempo's a trail
The stage is a cage, the mic is a third rail
I'm Rakim the Fiend of a Microphone
I'm not HIM, so leave my mic alone
Soon as the beat is felt, I'm ready to go
So fasten your seatbelt, cause I'm about to flow
No need to speed slow down to let the leader lead
Word to daddy, indeed!
The R's a rollin stone, so I'm rollin
Directions is told, then the rhymes are stolen
Stop buggin', a brother said, dig em, I never dug 'em
He couldn't follow the leader long enough so I drug 'em
into danger zone, he should arrange his own
Face it, it's basic, erase it, change ya tone
There's one R in the alphabet
It's a one-letter word and it's about to get
More complex from one rhyme to the next
Eric B be easy on the flex
I've been from state to state, followers tailgate
Keep comin but you came too late, but I'll wait
So back up, regroup, get a grip, come equipped
You're the next contestant - clap ya hands, you won a trip!
The price is right - don't make a deal too soon
How many notes could you name this tune?
Follow the Leader is the title, theme, task
Now ya know, you don't have to ask
Rap is Rhythm And Poetry, cuts create sound effects
You might catch up if you follow the records E. wrecks
Until then keep eatin and swallowin
You better take a deep breath and keep followin
The leader
*This blog is dedicated to my uncle Donald Lewis Sr. who passed away this past Saturday (May 6th) from complications due to diabetes. He was 55 years old. God has a place for you Uncle D.
Top Five Dead of Alive
*Channeling DJ Premier scratch* We keep it movin like the laws of inertia. My poetry's deep I never fail. The saga continues. We are back for the final installment of this hip-hop legacy. Before a continuance is allowed give the internet editor a line to type how this has been both fun and challenging.
I have skimmed through many other blogs, read numerous lists in magazines, caught some lists on television and even spoke with people regarding who they equate to be the greatest. I can honestly say that my list is not a simple compilation of my favorite MC's (It would have numerous underground artists like Ras Kas and Pharoahe Monch...See forthcoming underground MC's list) but, it is a combination of being a student of the genre and examining all the components that go into creating the ultimate MC. So while blogger x from x coast may choose mc's from their region this humble hip-hop historian chooses to give it to the reader objectively. I hope that is purveyed.
5) Notorious BIG (Christopher Wallace) is like the rap delivery version of Sade infused with a little bit of BigDaddy Kane and Slick Rick. A smooth operator and a storyteller. Somebody's Gotta Die from Life After Death is quite possibly the illest conceptualized story ever in rap. When I first heard it I remember replaying the song repeatedly and actually seeing all the events transpire in my head. That my dear readers is how to tell a story.
Christopher Wallace was truly a lyrical genius at his craft. The primary problem with the Notorious One was simple. We did not get enough of him. He left us with a thirst for more of his work in its true form. I often discuss this issue with people. Biggie was a victim of Puff Diddy (intended misspelling). If one were to examine his body of work one would notice a gradual gravitation to the pop-charts. That bothers me. Generally speaking when I see a rapper doing that it gives the notion that the artist is more concerned about cash than they are about good music. For as talented as Wallace was these two aforementioned reasons are exactly why I could not rate him higher on the list.
All you niggaz better leave the fuckin state, no need to masturbate Fuckin with Biggie, it's time to castrate.. it's clobberin time When I rip rhymes I quench thirsts like Very Fine and I'm still thirsty - niggaz wanna hurt the, six-pack, maniac Coke, tecs, and macs black Check the stacks, what the fuck? I throw uppercuts like Riddick Bowe And I'm wicked with the slow-flow, y'know? I'm pressin hard, I'm leavin creases Cuttin up bodies and talkin to the pieces If there's beef I'm eatin meatless Touch the bone, hit the dome, Al Capone Get stoned off the blunt when it's filled with the skunk Get drunk, and do a demolition to punk And all chumps, that scream that my shit don't thump They catch lumps and bumps, I'll put a shake in your rump
4) Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) is the epitome of a rap balancing act. He excels at several categories. Storytelling, flash and flare, punchlines,freestyling, battling, street-anthems, consciousness and commercialism.
Jay-Z is one of those artists that business people from the older generation will point to and say why can't other rappers be like that. He is the consummate professional and he is a trendsetter. What more can I say? He only has one downfall in which he adamantly admits to on The Black Album.
Remember these bars:
I dumbed down for my audience to double my dollars/They criticized me for it yet they all yell "HOLLA!"/If skills sold, truth be told/ I'd probably be lyrically, Talib Kweli/ Truthfully I wanna rhyme like Common Sense/ But I did five mill'/I ain't been rhymin like Common since...Those three bars epitomizes Jay-Z and young black males like myself. It is a decision that I so often struggle with. Money or community. If I seek money am I de-bunking my community. However, how can I help my community if I do not have any money. Perhaps Jigga is not truly retired like he says he is. Maybe the infamous Shawn Carter will be the next album as the rumors seem to suggest. With that said perhaps there is room for him to move further up the list.
Lord forgive him, he got them dark forces in him But he also got a righteous cause for sinnin Them-a-murder me, so I gotta murder-dem First emergency, doctors performin procedures Jesus, I ain't tryin to be facetious, but "Vengeance is mine" said the Lord You said it better than all Leave niggaz on death's door, breathin on res-por-rators for killin my best, poor haters On permanent, hi-atus as I skate in the Maybach Benz, flyer than Sanaa Lathan Pumpin "Brown Sugar" by D'Angelo In Los Angeles, like an evangelist I can introduce you to your maker Bring you closer to nature Ashes after they cremate you bastards Hope you been readin your Psalms and chapters Payin your tithe, bein good Catholics, I'm comin
3) Chuck D (Carlton Douglas Ridenhour) seems to be a forgotten man these days. However, may I point out that he may have single handedly elevated the level of black consciousness in not only rap music but, in the community in general during the late 80's and early 90's.
Not to mention he help make hip-hop a relevant culture over seas. Hip-hop culture was simply a brown-skinned American thing before his voice was heard in the UK. His influence out of the country is probably matched only by Wu-Tang in Asia. Then we have to bring it back to the states. Krs- One had just as much knowledge and Ice Cube was just as political however, neither had the main-stream influence as Chuck-D. How many rappers did we see on CNN or C-Span discussing the plight of black people portrayed in their lyrics? One. How many rappers have we seen go on Bill O'Reilly and shut him down? One. How many rappers have heard drop science on a soundtrack and have that soundtrack's tittle track become an anthem for a community (Fight the Power)? One.
I know that Chuck D was apart of a group but, honestly he was the primary component of that group. Chuck D is a student that transcends hip-hop culture. He is an activist, publisher, lecturer, producer, he is hip hop.
Elvis was a hero to most But he never meant shit to me you see Straight up racist that sucker was Simple and plain Motherfuck him and John Wayne Cause I'm Black and I'm proud I'm ready and hyped plus I'm amped Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamps Sample a look back you look and find Nothing but rednecks for 400 years if you check Don't worry be happy Was a number one jam Damn if I say it you can slap me right here (Get it) lets get this party started right Right on, c'mon What we got to say Power to the people no delay To make everybody see In order to fight the powers that be
2) Tupac Amaru Shakur is one of the most misunderstood men of all-time.
Although I should not have to I am compelled to justify Tupac's posistioning in this ranking system. There are going to be a number of people that are going to read this and wonder why Pac is not ranked number one. There are going to be almost as many people to read this and wonder why he is ranked this high. Obviously, once number one is revealed it will be explained why Tupac is number two.
So why exactly is Tupac ranked this high. There a number of reasons but, I will concentrate on the more significant ones.
First and foremost, he was a trendsetter. Is there a more imitated rapper? I would be hard- pressed to find one. Granted most of these characters are nothing but cheap caricatures of Tupac (i.e Curtis Ja Rule Jackson). Influence counts a lot towards a legacy. Second, Tupac was in tune with the inaptitude of the social structure and able to spread that word to the masses just as effectively as Chuck D. His message was that of fighting the system and self-empowerment. He even garnered the attention of then vice-president and resident misspeller Dan Quayle. How many rappers this side of NWA had that type of influence. Third Tupac transcended the regional biases of most fans. Dude was from New York with California tendencies and a south following. Even Biggie can not claim that. Finally, Shakur was a lyricist. Yes that is correct. Most detractors usually try to hide behind the he was not a lyricist card. Not working over here with me because I can see through that argument and straight to the hatred in most cases. I actually did a little studying in college in speech phonetics (by the way I am from the hood too) and word delivery.
Tupac had a rare talent for crafting words that struck emotion and could leave the listener with multiple interpretations. There are only a hand full of rappers that have mastered that ability. His ability to craft metaphors probably ranks second only to Nas (of the people on this list) in that regard. Most hardcore rap fans seem to think that multiple syllable words equate to a lyricist but, they seem to conveniently forget that the subject matter also creates a lyricist. For example read the second verse of Hail Mary:
Penetentiaries is packed with promise makersNever realize the precious time the bitch niggaz is wastinInstutionalized I lived my life a product made to crumbleBut too hardened for a smile, we're too crazy to be humble, we ballinCatch me father please, cause I'm fallin, in the liquor storeThat's the Hennessee I hear ya callin, can I get some more?Hail til I reach Hell, I ain't scaredMama checkin in my bedroom; I ain't thereI got a head with no screws in it, what can I doOne life to live but I got nuttin to lose, just me and youon a one way trip to prison, sellin drugsWe all wrapped up in this livin, life as ThugsTo my homeboys in Quentin Max, doin they bidRaise hell to this real shit, and feel thisWhen they turn out the lights, I'll be down in the darkThuggin eternal through my heart, now Hail Mary niggaThere are so many meanings that can be derived from that one verse alone. Tupac to an even greater degree symbolized something that Ice-Cube did. That was the ability galvanise people to think against a corrupt system. He helped portray a philosophy that I have always had. That ideal is: Just because the system sets it as a law. That does not mean it is correct. Henceforth, it is often justifiable to buck that system.
Perhaps I was blind to the facts, stabbed in the back I couldn't trust my own homies just a bunch a dirty rats Will I, succeed, paranoid from the weed And hocus pocus try to focus but I can't see And in my mind I'ma blind man doin time Look to my future cause my past, is all behind me Is it a crime, to fight, for what is mine? Everybody's dyin tell me what's the use of tryin I've been Trapped since birth, cautious, cause I'm cursed And fantasies of my family, in a hearse And they say it's the white man I should fear But, it's my own kind doin all the killin here I can't lie, ain't no love for the other side Jealousy inside, make em wish I died Oh my Lord, tell me what I'm livin for Everybody's droppin got me knockin on heaven's door And all my memories, of seein brothers bleed And everybody grieves, but still nobody sees Recollect your thoughts don't get caught up in the mix Cause the media is full of dirty tricks Only God can judge me
MC Means Move The Crowd II
We are embarking upon hollowed ground so be prepared for goosebumps. To be considered a top ten M.C. one has to do more than excel at one or two particular areas. One must be able to mesh trendsetting, talent, consciousness and popularity together to form a stew that is worthy enough to please the collective tastebuds of the genre itself.
10) Common (Rashid Lynn) who used to have sense but, now he has soul thanks to Kanye. Some of you may be surprised to see Common this high up on the list but allow this humble hip-hop historian to explain exactly why he is rated so high.
Like Rakim he has longevity, first solo album dropped in 1992 (Can I Borrow A Dollar). Like LL he has shown the ability to reinvent himself, listen to his first album he was rapping like Das Efx. Like Nas he is able to fuse consciousness with mass appeal, just listen to Be. Like Jay-Z he has had more than one classic disk, One Day It'll All Make Sense, Like Water For Chocolate and Be. Like Andre 3000 he is not afraid to experiment and challenge his creative imagination, go cop his album Electric Circus for the proof. Finally, like Mos Def he gives our women their due. Just listen to Faithful. Put those components together and then add in the fact that he is a poet, lyricist and a storyteller and one has a top ten MC.
The only weakness one can find in Common is the fact that he is so humble. That is crazy that humbleness can be a weakness but it is. His humbleness sometimes stops his creativity because he does not say some things that could get the attention of more fans.
I am not going to front. Common is my second favorite MC (My favorite comes later on the list) of all-time. Common is so much more than just a mere rapper. He is my generation of hip-hop. He is a backpacker meaning he is educated. He is a vegan meaning he cares about his temple. He is spiritual and recognizes that there is more than one path to the pearly gates. Finally, he is mainstream yet remains positive. That is so hard to do in today's rap industry. Most fans do not want to hear about how to beat the struggle. They want to hear about how to beat someone's head in ala Lil Scrappy.
Prediction: Next three albums Common will crack my top ten.
One word that best describes Common: Maturity
Somedays I take the L to gel with the real world
Got on at 87th, stopped by this little girl
She recited raps, I forgot where they was from
In 'em, she was saying how she made brothers cum
I start thinking, how many souls hip-hop has affected
How many dead folks this art resurrected
How many nations this culture connected
Who am I to judge one's perspective?
Though some of that shit y'all pop true it, I ain't relating
If I don't like it, I don't like it, that don't mean that I'm hating
I just want to innovate and stimulate minds
Travel the world and penetrate the times
Escape through rhythms in search of peace and wisdom
Raps are smoke signals letting the streets know I'm with 'em
For now I appreciate this moment in time
Ball players and actors be knowing my rhymes, it's like
9) Scarface (Brad Jordan) is the epitome of Southern Rap. Not only is he a pioneer but, he is also literally from my own backyard. Of all the rappers on this list I can say that I know the most about Face.
Ever heard of an "east coast bias." in rap music? In case one has not, here is an explanation. It is the propensity of people to show a preference towards rappers from the East coast. This bias typically results in rappers from other regions recieving less radio/television airplay and acclaim. Henceforth, less popularity and less profits. This is basically what happened to rappers from the South. That was until an unknown rapper that went by the moniker Akshen dropped. In the late 1980's Scarface joined Willie D and Bushwick Bill to form the Ghetto Boys. Eventually, he began recording as a solo artist and in 1991 dropped the first of four classic albums.
However, Scarface's impact is primarily felt in one area. That area is his ability to pioneer. There has been a sweeping trend throughout the southern the rap game. That trend is for artists to drop records on independent record labels. That trend began with Rap-A-Lot Records, Houston, in the late 80's. The label's primary act was Scarface. Frustrated with the inability of southern rappers to recieve notariety. The label decided to push Scarface and the Ghetto Boys locally by targeting regional fans. All of this was done with no major radio airplay or video subscribership. The ending result was the discovery of "street profits" (A term coined by underground Houston artists to describe the act of accumulating more money from underground record sales due to lack of major label expense costs). Eventually, this led to a cult following that reached the East and West Coasts respectively. Scarface kicked in the door and showed the aformentioned coasts that there was substance to rappers from the South. This same substance has shown through in Face's lyrics of quasi-religious and political consciousness paving the way for groups like Goodie Mob.
One word that best describes Scarface: Credibility
I hear you breathin' but your heart no longer sounds strong
But you kinda scared to die and so you hold on
And you keep on blacking out cause your pulse is low
Stop trying to fight the reaper just relax and let it go
Because there's no way you can fight it though you'll still try
And you can try to fight it but you'll still die
Now your spirit leaves your body and your mind clears
Then rigormortis starts to set, now you outta here
You start your journey into outer space
You see yourself in the light but you're still feeling outta place
So you standing in the tunnel of eternal light
And you see the ones you never learn to love in life
Make the choice let it go but you can back it up
If you ain't at peace with God you need to patch it up
But if you ready close your eyes and we can set it free
There lies a man not scared to die, may he rest in peace
8) KRS One (Lawrence Krisna Parker) aka "
Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone"
should change his name to KUS One for Knowledge Unlimited Seeking One. I am a huge fan of KRS One the man. In fact I am more of a fan of him than I am of his actual music. His influence on a concious level has become legendary. I remember being 9 years old and hearing the single "Self Destruction." The song parralleled the downward spiral of hip-hop with the community itself. I could not fully comprehend the song at that time but, I get it now.
Lawrence has rapped about everything from September 11th to freeing innocent black panther Mumia Abu-Jamal. Perhaps his greatest credibility lies in his ability as a retired fierce battle. Ask MC Shan or pop-chart rapper Nelly about that. I remember watching an old underground hip-hop DVD and seeing him freestyle. The wordplay he used was on another level. He has been labeled by a lot of right-winged conservatives as being an anarchist. However, most of these people would label most political rappers as being such.
KRS One will perhaps be most remembered for the stop the violence movement and is credited by many for making political consciousness popular within hip-hop.
One word that best describes KRS One: Knowledge
Need I say the C.I.A. be Criminals In Action
Cocaine crack unpackin, high surveillance trackin
Prominant blacks and whites givin orders for mass slaughters
I want all my daughters to be like Maxine Waters
When they flooded the streets with crack cocaine
I was like Noah, now they lower cause the whole cold war is over
Communism fell to the dollars you were grabbin it
All the assault and batterin in the name of intelligence gatherin?
Now it's karma you battlin, a losin fight
I chose the mic to recite ignite light in the night, aight?
We should beat em, President Clinton should delete'em
it's not hard, the C.I.A. simply has no more job
Oh my Goddess, mother, you can fix this
We rock over mixes not six six sixes
Yo this is, the message, to all that can hear it
If you got secret information now's the time to share it
Call your Congresswoman, your senator, your mayor
It's time for all the scholars to unite with all the players
Rearrangin, see times are definitely changin G
They used to tap the phone, now they tappin while you pagin me
It's crazy B, yet it's plain to see, who the enemy
Who's left the NRA? The ATF, the AMA?
Okay okay, it's all irrelevant, cause in the new millenium
there'll be no Central Intelligence
7) Ice-Cube (O'Shea Jackson) is the blueprint for channeling the rap game. No disrespect to Russell, Diddy or Jigga but, Cube has shown that there is more money in film than in music. However, before his nine figure exploits as a film producer he was the "nigga you love to hate."
Has there ever been a time where you simply wanted to tell a white person that was being blatently racist to shut the f*ck up. No? Well keep living then. If you have then Ice-Cube represented that part of you that had the courage to do it. That hits home with me because I have spoke my mind to a few caucasians in my lifetime. He was the pro-blackness of Public Enemy, the frustration of NWA and the anger of Tupac all rolled into an artist with a voice that attacked the instrumental. Cube has dropped nine solo albums (four classics) and has been apart of groups (NWA & Westside Connection) that have dropped two classics respectively. Do the math and that equals six classics. That is impressive.
Cube primary legacy as a rapper is probably his ability to channel contraversial social and political issues into record sales. He has dedicated songs to everything from gang life to homosexuality to black people that hurt thier own community to the East Coast bias in hip-hop radio.
One word that best describes Ice-Cube: Aggression
Fuck the police comin straight from the underground
A young nigga got it bad cause I'm brown
And not the other color so police think
they have the authority to kill a minority
Fuck that shit, cause I ain't the one
for a punk motherfucker with a badge and a gun
to be beatin on, and thrown in jail
We can go toe to toe in the middle of a cell
Fuckin with me cause I'm a teenager
with a little bit of gold and a pager
Searchin my car, lookin for the product
Thinkin every nigga is sellin narcotics
You'd rather see, me in the pen
than me and Lorenzo rollin in a Benz-o
Beat a police out of shape
and when I'm finished, bring the yellow tape
To tape off the scene of the slaughter
Still gettin swoll off bread and water
I don't know if they fags or what
Search a nigga down, and grabbin his nuts
And on the other hand, without a gun they can't get none
But don't let it be a black and a white one
Cause they'll slam ya down to the street top
Black police showin out for the white cop
Ice Cube will swarm
on ANY motherfucker in a blue uniform
Just cause I'm from, the CPT
Ounk police are afraid of me!
HUH, a young nigga on the warpath
And when I'm finished, it's gonna be a bloodbath
of cops, dyin in L.A.
Yo Dre, I got somethin to say
6) Nas (Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones) is like the Afro centric Asian...half man half amazing. Nas is quite possibly the illest mainstream lyricist in the business. There is only a handful of rappers that I can honestly say has a line that I can quote to summarize almost any situation of life. Nas is one of those rappers. Once again I love storytellers. Nas is one of those rappers. I love creative lyricism. Nas is one of those rappers. I love consciousness. Nas is one of those rappers. I love rappers that deem the art form to be more important than financial gain. In 2001 went back to being that rapper. Most are probably be wondering how Nasir did not crack the top 5. Well it is the aforementioned trait about financial gain that has halted him from a higher spot. Remember when Nas converted to the Diddy school of thought for a couple albums (I Am and Nastradumus). It is obvious he did it for financial gain. However, with Stillmatic he took it back to his conscious style that garnered him his core of fans. Much like the previously mentioned Common I fully expect Nas to move up on this list in his forthcoming albums.
Nas is probably the most peculiar MC on this list. He has been known to spit Christian, Rastafarian and Islam rooted lyrics. He speaks about the street yet does it with the intellect of a scholar. He keeps his personal life very secretive and often comes across as a very laid back guy who speaks highly of women and raps about complex themes like the perspective of if a gun had feelings. He even has his lyrics analyzed in certain Ivy League literature programs.
One word that best describes Nas: Evolution
Listen up gangstas and honeys with ya hair done
Pull up a chair hon' and put it in the air son
Dog, whatever they call you, god, just listen
I spit a story backwards, it starts at the ending
The bullet goes back in the gun
The bullet hole's closin this chest of a nigga
Now he back to square one
Screamin, "Shoot don't please"
I put my fifth back on my hip
It's like a VCR rewindin a hit
He put his hands back on his bitch
My caravan doors open up
I jumped back in the van and closed it shut
Goin reverse, slowly prepared
My nigga Jungle utters out somethin crazy like, "Go he there"
Sittin in back of this chair, we hittin the roach
The smoke goes back in the blunt, the blunt gets bigger in growth
Jungle unrolls it, put his weed back in the jar
The blunt turns back into a cigar
We listen to Stevie, it sounded like heavy metal fans
Spinnin records backwards of AC/DC
I give my niggas dap, jump out the van back first
Back upstairs, took off the black shirt
I'm in the crib with the phone to my ear
Listen up so y'all can figure out the poem real clear
The voice on the phone was like, "Outside right we"
So with my mouth wide, holdin my heat
Bullets I had plenty to squeeze, plenty for ya
'Cause Jungle said, "Block your on enemies the"
Hung up the phone, then the phone rang
I'm laid in the bed thinkin 'bout this pretty young thing
Who left, she came back, her clothes just fell to the rug
She fell to my bed and gave me a hug
I told her, "No hell"
She talkin 'bout, "Me kiss"
Bobbed her head then spit the nut back in my dick
Started suckin with no hands, a whole lotta spit
Then got up and put her bra back on her tits
Got fully dressed and told me, "Stressed really I'm"
Picked up her Gucci bag and left her nigga behind
Walkin through the door, she rang the bell twice
I vomited Vodka back in my glass with juice and ice
The clock went back from three, to two, to one
And that's about the time the story begun
That's when I first heard the voicemail on the cell
It said, "Son we found that nigga we gotta kill
Legend of the Fall
John Edward Hawkins — the Hueston rapper known as Big Hawk, a central figure in the city's hip-hop scene — was shot and killed near a friend's home in south Hueston late Monday night. He was 36.
I had to stop my monthly tribute to hip-hop to raise another flag. I am getting so tired of this. Another death that hits home for me. I knew HAWK personally and although we were not close I am close child-hood friends with his nephew and aspiring Hueston rapper Chris Ward.
I have fond middle school memories of listening to recorded freestyle ciphers by local underground Screwed Up Click member's Keke, Pokey, Big Moe, Mike D, Fat Pat, Big Mello, Big Mike and Big Hawk. They help create an underground phenomenon in hip-hop that saw the likes of DJ Quick, Kardinal Offishall, Ras Kass, Phonte, Scarface, UGK and even Jigga enter these ciphers. All while remaining underground. In many ways they help inspire my writing and my spoken word as apart of the Hueston Collective.
I remember HAWK being on some conscious uplifting lyrics. Even as a teen I respected that. I remember fighting to get on the microphone at the southside's Stadium Bowl where I ripped the mic in front of a crowd for the first time. Hawk was there and he was the DJ. I was a skinny 14 year old that was raw and street oriented. I remeber he told all the young cats that everything did not have to be about the hood. Now when I look back at that, I get it. He was a child of Third Ward and the legendary Jack Yates high school like myself. We were brothers under the hip-hop family tree.
I am praying for his family. They endured this loss eight years ago when his brother, another Hueston legend, Fat Pat was murdered as well. How much death can a community, humanity, a man take. The black suit just got cleaned a little over a month ago. Allow me to stop my selfishness. I am alive. I am grateful for that and I am grateful for those who are as well. Still outwardly immobile.
Hawk buried with a mic.
I got dollars on mind to battle inflationA former thug got on grind and got a college educationPro-creation of nation son and daughterMakin my children smarterNot necessarily harderCuz the heart lies in improving the black nationI gotta benz but it depends if the streets say its coolI parked on curb put down herb and gave the value back to my schoolVisualizing mic checkingRealizing half-steppingIs like a sentence with with no verb no actions for the foolsSo stop fooling yourself with false wealthAnd starting schooling yourself with Gods with helpCuz the imperial is soon separated from the material like a foolGrippin grain leaving stain on boys brainsWhen my nouns enter the paragraph and swang through....H.A.W.K
MC means Move The Crowd
There is always debate on who is the best at something. Yours truly, generally steers clear of this debate because there is simply no way to definitively label someone as being the best at something. There is always going to be a compelling counterargument from another enthusiast. However (here I go contradicting myself again), the Words.worth continues to find himself in a quandary that intrigues him. If there was a true way to define the best. Who would it be?
Hip-hop culture is a driving force in not only my community but, in the world economy as well. It is so much more than that "Get Rich or Die Trying" album some of you may have secretly stashed at the back of your music collection. It is an attitude, it is frustration, it is swagger, it is passion, it is hunger, it is a voice, it is humanity and it is history.
From this culture an art-form was born from under the constellation Kool Hercules. Since its grass roots forty years ago there has been a number of loyal disciples to enter its proverbial lyrical kingdom. This kingdom is one that this blog will explore in depth over the next couple weeks segment by critical segment. This kingdom is Rap music, the off-shoot of Hip-Hop culture and the voice of a frustrated generation. There will be much that will be debateable and a lot that will be viewed as biased but, this is a promise. Everything that will be shared is based on over twenty years of research and loyal fanship.
First the Greatest MC's of all time. Today will be an examination of MC's 10- 20.
26 Jadakiss
25) Melle Mel
24) Queen Latifah
23) Beanie Sigel
22) Mos Def
21) Ghostface
20) MC Lyte... Let me be the first say. I am partial to femcees. No not many will make my list of the all-time greats as far as mainstream rappers go but, wait until you see my underground list. MC Lyte had an attitude and I loved that. She also could rock the stage and the mic without taking her clothes off and relying on sex. That is sexy to me and it I respect that. I love when a woman commands respect so why should I expect anything less from a femcee. It tough being a woman in a male driven society. Well try an industry that is dominated by males and at times is misogynistic. MC Lyte is a pioneer and I respect that henceforth, her name on this list.
I look into her eyes, she's so youngbut I know, where she's comin fromI've watched her grow, little girl down the streetWhite shirts and skirts with pleatsShe cried, fear in her voiceNot knowing, she had a choiceOh so sad, oh so lonelyIf she knew that she's not the onlyone in school that didn't use the cautionFacin, raisin a baby or abortionHer mother said she had to leaveWho wants to be where a baby is not receivedNo ultimatum, she's goin to the G.Y.N.to put it to an endShe's learned a lesson I supposeI can tell, eyes are the soul19)WC...I am always amazed at how a lot of right wing people can be critical of Gangsta Rap
and then come back and hail The Godfather as an American movie classic. Reeks of hypocrisy to me. I am not going to go into my personal synopsis of Gangsta Rap in this particular rap other than to say. In its purest form it has a conscious message and purpose. Looking for anger fused with smoothness on wax. Listen to WC's delivery. Dude drops syllables into sentences with the effortlessness of a West Coast version of Kool G Rap. In fact that is exactly what he is. A west coast version of Kool G Rap. That is scary. I am all about delivery and he makes the list just on sheer delivery alone.
Now feds in undies when the gummy thirsty homiesLooking funnyI converted the street like the rap moneyAnd now its all about the benjis and with this penLike pussy I pimp this lyrics like pimping kenLeaning in my cadillac Buffing on a De la HoyaChecking for neighboors and high powered lawyers
18)The D.O.C...Depending on where you want to say he is from (Born in Texas then moved to California to pursue a career in rap). The D.O.C. could be called the South's or West Coast's version of KRS-1. He was conscious, confident and a fierce battle rapper before the days of Big L. Unfortunately, he had his career damaged by a car accident which severed one of his vocal chords. If one were to ask about The D.O.C. in today's rap circles most would be like who. However, ask Rakim about The D.O.C. He will tell you that he could have been the Greatest because he had everything. Complex deliver, complex lyrics, a stream of consciousness, street credibility and a radio friendly voice.
And we can find the rhyme to fill in spaceAnd drop the bass with a taste of light Lyrical perfection,see I'm equipped to um Open your mind like a Christmas giftIt's '89, the new school is needed Originals, see nobody can do it like we didThe D-O to the C-O,a deuce not a trio Me-o, mi-o, spin a chump like a gyroHard, dangerous, suckers angle this Cut is raw, why?Cause they can't handle this Loot to bring, and I take a second to rock the rhythmAnd stay smooth like a prismA Portrait of a Masterpiece,It's Funky Enough Cause Dre told me it has to be17)MC Ren...What would happen if a fed up teen decided to start
rapping about things like police brutality, a government giving no hope and negative stereotypes? He would get labeled a gangster rapper and a detriment to society. Well that was MC Ren. He is the forgotten man from NWA. However, along with Ice- Cube he wrote most of their lyrics. His style would best be described as raw, unadulterated and in your face truth. He helped to pioneer gangsta rap with no main stream radio airplay. That is unheard of today.
Why do I call myself a nigger, you ask me?Well it's because motherfuckers want to blast meAnd run me outa my neighborhoodThey label me as a dope dealer Yo!And say that I'm no goodBut they took our jobs so a nigga would have to go outGave us some dope on the corner so they could show outWhen the cops came, they gave a fake nameBecause the life in the streets is just a head gameSo therefore, to make moreA fifteen year old black kid will go and rob a liquor storeAnd get shot in the processHe ate up a nine bullet and now he's put to rest
16) Eminem... Let's get one thing straight. Eminem is a white rapper. I will never be able to look at him at not see a white guy. However, his ability is sick. He is an accomplished battle rapper, he is witty and his style is very unique. Name another rapper with a similar delivery. The only thing that held Eminem back was his monotonous and sometimes limited subject matter. However, if we are talking about sheer delivery he may be the best of all-time.
Let's do the math - if I was black,I woulda sold halfI ain't have to graduate from Lincoln High School to know thatBut I could rap, so fuck school,I'm too cool to go backGimme the mic, show me where the fuckin studio's atWhen I was underground, no one gave a fuck I was whiteNo labels wanted to sign me, almost gave up I was likeFuck it - until I met Dre, the only one to look pastGave me a chance andI lit a FIRE up under his assHelped him get back to the top,every fan black that I got was probably his in exchangefor every white fan that he's gotLike damn; we just swappedsittin back lookin at shit, wowI'm like my skin is it startin to work to my benefit now?15) Slick Rick...So you want to know how to tell a story in your raps. Well the blueprint (no
pun intended) would begin with Slick Rick. The Great Adventures of Slick Rick is still one of the greatest albums ever put together. Biggie even said it for his money Slick Rick is the best storyteller of all-time. Not to mention he is one of the best free-stylers of all-time as well. After Rick dropped all rappers routinely began having at least one story on their album. That is called setting a precedent.
I said, "It don't matter, see, I'm not picky (word)Let me spell my name out for you, it's Ricky:R -- RavishingI -- ImpressC -- Courageous; so carelessK -- for the Kangols which I've got that I wear everyday andY -- why not?To fight's not right that I recite andI'm.. quite polite like Walter Cronkite"Well, just about then, Trevor my friend came in He said,"Hey Rick, don't you know playin with these snakes is a sin?!?"He grabbed me by my shirt and pulled me right out the store He said,"I don't want to see you playin with these lowlifes no more!Now come along, we have a party to attend With some real mature women and some moreof her friends" He hailed down a cab and he waited for a minuteAnd as the cab came, he thrusted me in it!And as we were leavin and drivin along I could hear a melody as Mona sang a song
14)LL Cool J...Ok I am not the biggest fan of LL Cool J but, I do respect his place in history. His longevity as a rapper and his ability to reinvent himself are unmatched in the genre. He is to hip hop what Madonna is to pop music. He made it popular to cater to the ladies in his raps. A formula that we saw run rampant amongst rappers from 2000 to 2003. In that regard he is a pioneer. He is also one of the first rappers to receive main-stream praise from the critics.
Whether, 2-1-2, or 7-1-8Or 9-1-4, I love it hardcoreWhen it's over the phone, it's safe to do it rawImaginary worlds we could both explore(Hello) Baby what you wearin right now?(Hot pants) My girl ain't around, let's get downAnd I hope the phone's tapped, let's pretend you on my lap(I'm bouncin up and down with my shoulders back)(Nigga you like that?) You see I'm runnin up my billMomma might hear me, but you just too illI got your flicks lined up, stereo lowCherry flavored grease beneath my elbowIf I was there what would you do? (I'd lay you on your back)(Ride or die daddy, and I love it like that)13)Big Daddy Kane...Nations of Gods and Earths (5 percent nation)
own Big Daddy Kane. There was only one other rapper that was as smooth as Big Daddy Kane during his heyday. His ability to fit complex multi-syllabled words into a bar help to revolutionize rap. He also was very conscious and spoke out about previously unmentioned topics like racism in Hollywood. Even had a well-known protege who may appear later on this list. His name was Jay-Z.
I say the mother, as in the motherland But on the other hand,another man Tackled and shackled our ancestorsBut we beat him with freedom,so let's bless the Country that we all came fromBecause the moral of it all is we shall overcomeThe cream will keep risingWe be sizing Up,the Asiatic one is enterprising Building and building to carry onAll the way from Malcolm X to FarrakhanMartin Luther was a tutor, many were pupilsThose who fell victim were those without scruplesHowever, to sever, we could neverSo hold up the peace sign and stand togetherTake heed to the words that I manifestAnd when I'm through speaking, Marley Marl will do the rest
12)Big L...I have engaged in a few freestyle sessions in my lifetime. This gives me a strong appreciation for just how talented Big L really was. So you think Biggie could go off the dome. Eminem you say. Did you say Jay-Z did not write. Well try Big L had all of them beat. It is commonly known that getting in a freestyle battle of wits with Big L was murder. Which is exactly what happened to him. Like many of our greats he lost his life at an early age. He is arguably the most talented MC ever to grab the mic.
Yo it's Corleone and Queen's Most, we bust til your whole team ghostEverywhere we go, we must bring toast foreverPopping the chrome, always dropping a poemI can write it or recite it off the top of the domeHowever you want it is how I'm gonna give it to you, Big L styleThey brought it back to the streets cause that shit sell nowSo pal back up a bit, give me elbow spaceI represent Harlem World, not Melrose PlaceSo I'm a lace the jewels up with nice brigettesFlamboyent is the label that writes the checksY'all niggas better stop fronting cause I might get vexedAnd I'm a run up on y'all and slice y'all necksWith the machette, pockets heavy, slang more cane than EddieI represent uno tres nueveTime is money so I stay late, I'm quick to sign a playmateBust off like a tre-eight then vacate, uh11)Kool G Rap...Remember when P.Diddy first introduced the
world to Shyne and his album was on some Mafioso story-telling type lyricism. It was hot. Well where do you think Shyne got that style from. It was taken from G Rap. Another one of those rappers with the uncanny ability to tell stories in his lyrics. Road to the Riches is still one of my favorite story raps of all-time. It also helps that dude's wordplay is superior to 90 percent of the rapper's around.
Welcome to my world, danger and hazardsGang of bastards, bangin they ratchetsKing and the Jacker, slangin in trafficClaimin they cabbage, obtain half, they aimin for stackageGet brains from the (?), keep blingin with karatsCops see me in Maddox, then let ya dame have it, flames to the atticThe stains on ya fabric, the paint in the graphicCanibus and G Rap, bangin a classicAnd if that beef on the street - hate you enough,blow out ya brain in ya casket
