Words.worth

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 young
but I know, where she's comin from
I've watched her grow, little girl down the street
White shirts and skirts with pleats
She cried, fear in her voice
Not knowing, she had a choice
Oh so sad, oh so lonely
If she knew that she's not the only
one in school that didn't use the caution
Facin, raisin a baby or abortion
Her mother said she had to leave
Who wants to be where a baby is not received
No ultimatum, she's goin to the G.Y.N.
to put it to an end
She's learned a lesson I suppose
I can tell, eyes are the soul

19)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 homies
Looking funny
I converted the street like the rap money
And now its all about the benjis and with this pen
Like pussy I pimp this lyrics like pimping ken
Leaning in my cadillac Buffing on a De la Hoya
Checking 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 space
And drop the bass with a taste of light Lyrical perfection,
see I'm equipped to um Open your mind like a Christmas gift
It's '89, the new school is needed Originals, see nobody can do it like we did
The D-O to the C-O,a deuce not a trio Me-o, mi-o, spin a chump like a gyro
Hard, 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 rhythm
And stay smooth like a prism
A Portrait of a Masterpiece,
It's Funky Enough Cause Dre told me it has to be

17)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 me
And run me outa my neighborhood
They label me as a dope dealer Yo!
And say that I'm no good
But they took our jobs so a nigga would have to go out
Gave us some dope on the corner so they could show out
When the cops came, they gave a fake name
Because the life in the streets is just a head game
So therefore, to make more
A fifteen year old black kid will go and rob a liquor store
And get shot in the process
He 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 half
I ain't have to graduate from Lincoln High School to know that
But I could rap, so fuck school,
I'm too cool to go back
Gimme the mic, show me where the fuckin studio's at
When I was underground, no one gave a fuck I was white
No labels wanted to sign me, almost gave up I was like
Fuck it - until I met Dre, the only one to look past
Gave me a chance and
I lit a FIRE up under his ass
Helped him get back to the top,
every fan black that I got was probably his in exchange
for every white fan that he's got
Like damn; we just swapped
sittin back lookin at shit, wow
I'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 -- Ravishing
I -- Impress
C -- Courageous; so careless
K -- for the Kangols which I've got that I wear everyday and
Y -- why not?
To fight's not right that I recite and
I'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 more
of her friends" He hailed down a cab and he waited for a minute
And 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 7-1-8
Or 9-1-4, I love it hardcore
When it's over the phone, it's safe to do it raw
Imaginary worlds we could both explore
(Hello) Baby what you wearin right now?
(Hot pants) My girl ain't around, let's get down
And 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 bill
Momma might hear me, but you just too ill
I got your flicks lined up, stereo low
Cherry flavored grease beneath my elbow
If 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 ancestors
But we beat him with freedom,
so let's bless the Country that we all came from
Because the moral of it all is we shall overcome
The cream will keep rising
We be sizing Up,
the Asiatic one is enterprising Building and building to carry on
All the way from Malcolm X to Farrakhan
Martin Luther was a tutor, many were pupils
Those who fell victim were those without scruples
However, to sever, we could never
So hold up the peace sign and stand together
Take heed to the words that I manifest
And 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 ghost
Everywhere we go, we must bring toast forever
Popping the chrome, always dropping a poem
I can write it or recite it off the top of the dome
However you want it is how I'm gonna give it to you, Big L style
They brought it back to the streets cause that shit sell now
So pal back up a bit, give me elbow space
I represent Harlem World, not Melrose Place
So I'm a lace the jewels up with nice brigettes
Flamboyent is the label that writes the checks
Y'all niggas better stop fronting cause I might get vexed
And I'm a run up on y'all and slice y'all necks
With the machette, pockets heavy, slang more cane than Eddie
I represent uno tres nueve
Time is money so I stay late, I'm quick to sign a playmate
Bust off like a tre-eight then vacate, uh

11)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 hazards
Gang of bastards, bangin they ratchets
King and the Jacker, slangin in traffic
Claimin they cabbage, obtain half, they aimin for stackage
Get brains from the (?), keep blingin with karats
Cops see me in Maddox, then let ya dame have it, flames to the attic
The stains on ya fabric, the paint in the graphic
Canibus and G Rap, bangin a classic
And if that beef on the street - hate you enough,
blow out ya brain in ya casket

posted by Words.worth @ 5:26 PM