Best rapper ever? My vote is Kool Mo Dee!

[Peatree]

I dare anyone to beat this guys mad skills!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agnKPLrG2E0

[Peatree]

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:
I go to work
Like a doctor
When I rock the mic
You got to like
The way I operate
I make miracles happen
Just from rappin'
I'm so lyrically potent
And I'm flowin'
And explodin'
On the scene mean
I got the potential
To make you go
Then chill
I got the credentials
That is of which I chose
To make a rhyme
And chill
Then you know
I will fulfill
To make a couple of mill
As I build a guild
For all the rappers and skills
And kill the weak rappers and no thrills
Hang 'em an ephigy
If he's a sucker
Hang 'em to the left of me
Cause my right hand man
Is my mic stand and
The microphone that I own
And my game plan
Is keeping at a steady pace
Ain't no need for a rush
It ain't no race
I'ma hit the top
Just when I wanna
And it's a matter of time
And I'm gonna
Cause I know when to
Go 'head enter
The classic Moe Dee rap
That sent ya
Runnin' around
Holdin' ya head
Askin' ya homeboy
Yo man
You hear what he said
Another funky rhythm
Look at ya man
And give him a high five
Cause I'm live
Runnin' around with him
Telling everybody
Hanging out on the block
It's time to wake up
And check the clock
Punch it
I go to work
I go to work
I go to work
Like an architect
I build a rhyme some times it climbs so erect
Skyscrapers look like atoms
Cars electrons rollin' in patterns
Writing out word after word
With each letter it becomes visably better
Cause my foundation built a nation of rappers
And after I came off vaction
I came to roam
The land I own
And stand alone on the microphone
Daddy's home
Open the door playtime is over
Time to go to work and show the
Suckers in the place who run their face
The base and a taste of who's the ace
Start the race
I'm coming in first
With each verse
I build a curse
So rappers can't capture Moe Dee's rapture
After I got ya
I have to slap ya
Senseless with
Endless rhymes don't pretned this
Is anything short of stupendous
And when this rhyme is done
Your mind will become
So trapped in the rap
You'll lust on another one
You gotta wait it takes time
I don't write I build a rhyme
I draw plans draft the diagrams
An architect in effect
And it slams
And if it's weak when I'm done
Renovate and build another one
I go to work
I go to work
I go to work
Like a boxer
Train the brain and aim
To out fox ya
Like a punch my rhyme knocks ya
Some times it rocks ya
So hard it stops ya
Dead in your tracks
So power packed
Before you can react
You're flat on your back
Down for the count
Get up and dismount
Cause I'm coming
With an endless amount
Of words in a hurry
Like a flurry
A collage to camouflage
The power punch but don't worry
Knowledge is an antidote
I got hand of smoke
Writing at the speed of light with insight
I wrote
Rhymes at a level
So you can't relate
Unless you're intelligent
So stay awake
Sleepwalkers
Slick talkers
This time a native New Yorker's
Riding a crescendo wave to save the mental
State of the fan so he can understand my pencil
Rhymes in its highest form
I'm a drop it on ya like a bomb
When it explodes I'll blow up
A few casualties but so what
If you're slow
You blow
You know you go
I flow
I throw all pro
I go to work
I go to work
To say rap is not work
Is ludicrous
Whoever said it
Must be new to this
When you hear me
You'll compare me
To a prophet for profit
Not merely
Putting words together for
Recreation
Each rhyme's a dissertation
You wanna know my occupation
I get paid to rock the nation
I go to work
I go to work
I go to work

[Peatree]

...freaking genius...not one curse word in the whole song like the punk a$$ rappers today...this came on my iPod randomly last night...and I forgot how freaking awesome this guy lyrical skills were...

Anyone know of anyone else that can keep up?

[KilyenaMage]

large-breasted asians!

[Alawen Everywhere]

large-breasted asians!

Signed!

What's this thread about?

[Hasbinbad]

Canibus - 100 Bars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9kT3zGDd3k

Swear words are a part of the culture dude. KMD didn't swear coz the culture was censored at that time. Definitely not taking anything from him, just commenting on your review of rappers in general.

This song is a 1 take cut, meaning that it's not freestyle, but he spit the entire song in one take without edits. ..and he did it perfectly, especially considering the flips and complex words rhymed with groups of words instead of straight up A+B rhymes. As far as lyrical skill, this is the clinic that is referenced by people who know better.

[Badmartigan]

krs1 hands down

[Thatguy05]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HaiiRwrW9I

slim thug b.o.b ftw

1:45 really heats it up

[Torqumada286]

Canibus - 100 Bars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9kT3zGDd3k

Swear words are a part of the culture dude.

Yeah, look at Slick Rick and Doug E Fresh. Their language wasn't exactly clean.

Torqumada

[DetroitVelvetSmooth]

Nasty Nasty Nasir. - I don't sleep, 'cos sleep is the cousin of death.

[thrice]

What I look for in a rapper is his ability to address social issues and play with words. So much of the beginning of hip-hop was explaining the injustices and pain of the culture the from which the music is born. That is just lost in modern rap. It's all about sex, drugs, partying and materialism and does not provoke thought. It's actually pretty sad.

My favorites:

For pure lyric mastery (both the words and how he says them), I don't anyone much better than Talib Kweli. The first stanza of the following just blows my mind

Talib Kweli - For Women
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qkjtK3O15Q

That song has an actual story to it and addresses social issues, both of which are missing from all genre of music, nowadays.

Also, Mos Def could lay down some amazing and thought provoking tracks. He and Talib Kweli were Blackstar, which was completely badass.

Blackstar - Respiration
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeTnog5RRQo

The poetry of that song is just amazing: extended metaphor, personification, symbolism. I teach this song during my poetry unit.

Lastly, gotta give my love to Tupac. Some of his shit is so dope, I can't even explain it.

[Erasong]

Im a big Mos def fan myself.

Lyrically hes untouchable imo. Also, Lupe Fiasco gets an honorable mention imo.
for lulzy effect tho this video had me on my ass for like 3 days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El1mZpv-V4o

[thrice]

Oh, I forgot in my attempt to post all that deep shit to add something that freakin rocks just because it's hilarious and fun.

I guess this is considered rap...but I could listen to Cee Lo's "Fuck You" all day long. The music is so awesome and some of the lines (especially the back up singers) just have me rollin'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc0mxOXbWIU

I picture the fool that falls in love with you
(oh shit she's a gold digger)
Well
(just thought you should know *****)
Ooooooh
I've got some news for you
i really hate yo ass right now

[Tumdumm]

http://img2.imageshack.us/i/v15.png/

[Hasbinbad]

KRS1 and Mos Def are more about lyrical content than flipping words and complex structure. KRS1 *started* a lot of things, but has been surpassed in each technique by many artists. Mos Def isn't really that great of a lyricist, more of a content guy, same with Tupac.. Talib Kweli shouldn't even be in this conversation. Cee Lo is just fucking gangster.

[Kassel]

http://timvp.com/fprince5.jpg

[Harrison]

I'm a personal fan of Royce.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkzxWe17teQ&feature=related

Being a metalhead, I am very, very picky about hip hop artists I listen to.

[Badmartigan]

Some local bay stuff I've been on for a mintute too

The Grouch
Tooshort
Mac dre(not thizzle bs)
E40
B-legit
Del the funky homosapien

Also other stuff like:
Slug/felt/atmosphere
Sage Francis
MUrs

[burkemi5]

best rapper in the world?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9lg6HqJeY0

[Starklen]

Biggie by far for me. Tupac a second, Dr. dre probably a third. I care more about the finished product than if someone can write poetry.

I think a lot of chamillionaire's mixtape messiah series is pretty amazing too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpbmQRg4PkA

[Hasbinbad]

Some local bay stuff I've been on for a mintute too

The Grouch
Tooshort
Mac dre(not thizzle bs)
E40
B-legit
Del the funky homosapien

I like you.

[eldub]

Hasbin, your lack of love for Talib and Mos Def makes me cry tears of blood (and HATE).

[purist]

Immortal Technique - Leaving the Past

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44PD32pfW7E

Dead Prez - W4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MheKZ5lNEcY

Blackstar - Children's Story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwPf3rSXjEk

[Hasbinbad]

Hasbin, your lack of love for Talib and Mos Def makes me cry tears of blood (and HATE).
I like Mos Def's flow style, but to hoist him up as one of the best lyricists of all time is flirting with hyperbole. Surely he is the better of the two in Blackstar..

..this is a discussion of skill? Or popularity contest? Mos Def would win the latter..

[Prospect]

Hard question but honorable mention that needs to be made in a thread like this; Eric B & lyrical genius Rakim.

Lyrics of Fury: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFOeJOtq_xc

ps. ATCQ: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRrM6tfOHds

[Misto]

i wish i had the intelligence of a hamster. maybe then i could enjoy rap.

[Mardur]

i wish i had the intelligence of a hamster. maybe then i could enjoy rap.

Think you got your wish.

[Alawen Everywhere]

Oh, I forgot in my attempt to post all that deep shit to add something that freakin rocks just because it's hilarious and fun.

I guess this is considered rap...but I could listen to Cee Lo's "Fuck You" all day long. The music is so awesome and some of the lines (especially the back up singers) just have me rollin'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc0mxOXbWIU

I picture the fool that falls in love with you
(oh shit she's a gold digger)
Well
(just thought you should know *****)
Ooooooh
I've got some news for you
i really hate yo ass right now

I love that song!

The rest of the posts in this thread get super poser right away. I'm waiting for someone to talk about what a genius Joseph Saddler is or some stupid shit like that as they try to be old school, but really that fucking song is tedious as hell. If I'm going to listen to someone from Barbados, I'd much rather hear Rihanna singing "Pon de Replay."

[Auchae]

i wish i had the intelligence of a hamster. maybe then i could enjoy rap.

Look up Aesop Rock and Sage Francis. Try Escape Artist by Sage, and Flash Flood by Aesop.

Just because it's rap, doesn't mean it has to be unintelligent.

[Seeatee]

I more or less dislike all rap / hip hop, I always say if I go to a concert and don't see people playing instruments , its not music, there are a few exceptions on a handful of rap and or hip hop songs I enjoy but its very far and few between.

that being said, there is one hip hop(ish) act that I actually love, and own all of their CDs and for some reason just cant get enough of, its also going to be a really unpopular opinion I am sure

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_V03Vn_evw

:eek:

[thrice]

There's really not just one answer to this question. Unlike rock, which is broken into multiple categories: metal, alt, emo, soft, thrash etc, hip-hop doesn't seem to do that, even though it really should be. Maybe it is in that world and I'm just not aware of it.

Just from the choices from this thread alone you see master's of word play, master's of structure/flow, master's of content (all of which could be a part of being a lyrical master) and then there's just the fun party tracks.

Personally, I don't listen to a lot of rap, but I enjoy and study poetry and I look at dude's like Mos Def and Talib Kweli and Tupac and see the artistry and social awareness in their writing. Their ability to lay down beats and the flow is secondary for me.


To the idiot speaking of intelligence in rap, please name a rock or country song that is intelligent and I'll list 10 hip-hop songs that would blow it out of the water. Yes, there is a bunch of materialistic, immoral trash in hip-hop - especially current hip-hop, but there's a lot of trash in rock too.

[teganyavo]

Big L
/ \
/ \
/ \
Big Pun ----- Biggie

the holy trinity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBrzEVJwYFg

[teganyavo]

i wouldnt put him anywhere near a greatest rapper list, but Wiz Khalifa deserves some srs props for sampling Chrono Trigger imo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0z7OCaiByw

[Mardur]

i wouldnt put him anywhere near a greatest rapper list, but Wiz Khalifa deserves some srs props for sampling Chrono Trigger imo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0z7OCaiByw

Another Chrono Trigger sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jum7SIVEOjA

[Nedala]

Dude best rapper ever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCfm-vWuQRk

[Erasong]

i was just gonna say where is big L in all of this.. but someone else beat me to it.

[Starklen]

i was just gonna say where is big L in all of this.. but someone else beat me to it.

I see your big L and raise you this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl9NzwTZwXs

[Erasong]

also. GZA, Ghost face, and Raekwon. Wu tang represent bitches.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiQoVv0FSKQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S07Q1yKLMkE&feature=related

[Erasong]

I see your big L and raise you this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl9NzwTZwXs

Stark we've had this convo 100 times lol. What have you been up to? you should hit me up on PM. im sorely missing p99. might have to make a comeback. Character and platless!

[Starklen]

check pm

[Erasong]

im going off topic cuz now im just listing songs i like, but here


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUAwdXRbyWM

[Spud]

Ghostface killllaaaaahhhh

[Peatree]

...I cannot believe you are all leaving out the white wonder...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rog8ou-ZepE

[Hasbinbad]

Jimmy Pop:

Bloodhound Gang - You're Pretty When I'm Drunk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY2EaxH1_EQ
BHG feat. Rob Van Winkle - Boom (this is for Peatree)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0ffzVqh5H4

[thrice]

Jimmy Pop:

Bloodhound Gang - You're Pretty When I'm Drunk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY2EaxH1_EQ
BHG feat. Rob Van Winkle - Boom (this is for Peatree)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0ffzVqh5H4

Man, I totally forgot about those guys. I used to listen to them all the time in college. Thanks for that.

[Fourthmeal]

also. GZA, Ghost face, and Raekwon. Wu tang represent bitches.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiQoVv0FSKQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S07Q1yKLMkE&feature=related

I love GZA. Liquid swords is a bad ass album.

[Fourthmeal]

Skee-Lo y'all. I wish i was a little bit taller...

[Mardur]

...I cannot believe you are all leaving out the white wonder...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rog8ou-ZepE

Thought this would be an Eyedea link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_qMbzfF31k

[DevonG]

Scarface.

The fix is a friggin masterpiece.

Proof (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klHV7LWznRA)

[TanDemain]

Aesop Rock

/thread

The Harbor Is Yours
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb0rGC2oRPY

[JayDee]

...
Limited edition composition spark friction, non-fiction,
the calm bomb keep your arm distant
Zero tolerance, dominant intelligence
Wu original, true colors step from the melanin
The most high, most try, to get close by
and overthrow I, but choke, with they hopes up high
I circulate the tri-state and vibrate beyond the Richter
Fly sistas flock when they spot this live *****
The crowd seducer black your third eye before I lose ya
Verbal high I leave stars in the eyes of Medusa

[boboo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFQQeUNaZtc

GURU (RIP)

[DOPE]

tame 1

[Goobles]

I got this...
http://www.4shared.com/audio/FX_mzK1f/03_DMX_-_Tha_Streetz.htm


Chorus: dmx
*****z won`t creep these streets with me
Cause you know fuckin what these streets`ll be
Make you wanna.. then i`m gonna..
Cause i gotta.. pop pop, pop pop (*****!)
I look through the 11th floor window
Take one last puff of the indo (what?)
Look through the scope, and let like ten go
Break it down, back in the briefcase (uh-huh)
Wipe the sweat off my face so i can leave safe (uh)
Outside i breathe safe (uh)
***** never saw it comin, that`s how he got it (what?)
Never even thought of runnin, cause a ***** plotted (what?)
Smart *****z get *****z killed for real
I know, they make a deal? i`m comin with the steel (aight)
It`s gon` be that cat you don`t see that`s gon` pop you (uhh)
Stop you in your motherfuckin tracks ***** and drop you (uhh)
Get rid of all the clothes (uh-huh) dump the gun
I hate to be the type of ***** to leave you, slugged and run
But i`m on the job and right now there`s more *****z that need to be
Left with a head full of lead, restin easily (whoo)
And that twenty g`s a fee, put to a good use
The only excuse i have for what i do is, love of abuse (c`mon!)
Chorus 2x
[dmx]
I can catch you in the very building that you live in (uh)
Wait until you get right at your door then start spittin (aight?)
Now they got a ribbon tied to the rail at the top of the steps (what?)
I was there, you ain`t die at the top of the steps (aight?)
I can do that walk behind you shit and follow you home (shhh)
Make a noise, you turn around and i put one in your dome (boom!)
Last thing you saw was chrome and a, flash of light (uhh, uhh, uhh)
I blast him right, *****, that`s yo` ass tonight (c`mon!)
I could put a bomb in your car and watch it explode (boom!)
Then make em call, tell em all they found was a piece of your clothes
And a small piece of your nose and, bone from your arm
Which they really couldn`t tell apart, because of the bomb
I could be waitin, camped out in yo` car, in the backseat
With some fuckin chickenwire, soon as you hit the backstreet
I jump up like jack-in-the-box, strangle the shit out yo` ass (bleh)
Clean up the mess and, get away from the cops
Chorus 2x
[dmx]
I could be the ups delivery boy (uh-huh) or the man
Workin at toys`r`us handin yo` kid a brand new toy (true)
I could be the one servin your food wherever you go to eat at
Or that ***** on the corner that you ask, yo, where the weed at?
I could be the one drivin the schoolbus that yo` kids in
Except that, i don`t like to involve, women and children (aight)
A ***** got feelings, i just put em aside
And when it`s time for me to do my job, i just ride
I don`t get much sleep (uh) my soul`s tormented (uh)
I wish it was a lie but everything i said i meant it
I know i`m doin wrong and everyday i beg the lord
To forgive me for fuckin with the, double-edged sword
Shit ain`t goin too well, but that`s my life
I know i`m goin to hell, but that`s my life
Sometimes i think what will i do, with my life
Kill ***** kill this is my life
Chorus 2.5x

[guineapig]

Saul Williams is my current favorite.

[vinx]

Kool mo dee was good, but if your talkin mad skills, or skills in word play
i cant believe nobody linked roxanne from back in the day heh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9IFs13w_JQ&feature=related

[Erasong]

i wasnt sure if i was just super biased becuase im from Staten Island. Im glad to see the Wu love in this thread =D

[Gorroth]

Get more out of life, learn new languages.

IAM - Née sous la même étoile (French rap) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB0IE9Y8gzU&feature=related)

[fresus]

Get more out of life, learn new languages.

IAM - Nés sous la même étoile (French rap) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB0IE9Y8gzU&feature=related)

IAM is one of the best band out there.

More stuff in french:

Assassin (the one I prefer, by far):

L'état assassine (1995) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n__6Jdn-fjU) (long intro)
Touche d'espoir(2000) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ydq5aN4E2CY)

Keny Arkana:

Eh connard (2006) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr0HdiLCsXM)
La mère des enfants perdus (2006) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HWLoFNzAcM)

[Kaleadar]

since this thread is off track by now, figured id share a local upcoming star.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIgSLBMzEqA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iawsi_3sMlk&feature=related

kids got talent

[Thatguy05]

word.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjE7g4pzSak

where is this guy in this whole topic - everyone knows he is "the best rapper alive"

[scarthearmada]

Keny Arkana. "La Rage."

Angry Argentinian-Muslim-French girl stomping shit? You can't go wrong with that!

[captainspauldin]

aint no white cracka know bout dem dirty boys.

n boosie leaves all you rappers merc'

[ooantipostoo]

Sean Price figure four, one of my favorites. Its all about Heltah skeltah, Boot camp clik, Original gun clappaz, biggie, beanie sigel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3-57DLsJAc

Beanie sigel - In the Ghetto http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzD3Nqw73S4

Sean price - Hot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LYzrOi9FQU&feature=related

[Krimsin]

While its trendy to hate on him, Wayne murders everyone.

I'll take Aesop Rock, KRS1, and Asheru up there as well.

[Hasbinbad]

Rugged Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r0KpWMNxnM)
This guy only has a "featuring" credit in this Jedi Mind Tricks (if yer not up on JMT, get schooled) song, but his (2nd verse, starting after Vinnie Paz @ 1:30) is one of the best verses spit by man on wax.

[Hasbinbad]

Vinnie Paz of Jedi Mind Tricks (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTuq3bIayq8)

[Hasbinbad]

Jedi Mind Tricks (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxpWZl2NMeA)

[Massive Marc]

Basically anything from mid 90's is among the best

EPMD
The Licks
Beatnuts
Wu-Tang
Coco Bro's (AKA Smiff and Wesson)
De La Soul
Tribe
Blackstar
Pharcyde
List goes on...

My vote goes to Canibus 4sh0.

"You cum-swallowing transsexual fag
With crabs, and breasts that sag, dressed in drag
Running full-paged ads in the porno mags
With pictures of you with a dick in your mouth and a dick in your ass"

Fucking Owned.

a close second would probably be Big Punisher.

"Ay-yo my murderous rap verbal attack is actual fact
Tactical tracks match perfectly with graphical stats
Half a you lack the magical dap of tragical rap
That tackles you back and shackles and laughs at you
That's...the mathematical madness I'm on, the savage, the strong
The marriage, a bond of havoc and song
This massacre's on as if Picasso laced you
There's lotsa hateful skeletons locked
in the closet of my castle of Grayskull
I'm possum at grade school, that's why I have to debate you
My raps are like Capel, slashin' your face, you
That's how a master degrades you
I'm battlin' Jesus (hay-soos) if he passes through my label
I'm snatchin' his halo
God I pray that you send my father back as an angel
Language is fatal and it's hypnotizin'
I'm only emphasizin', I'm still all about business and enterprisin'
I'm super lyrical, a brain boosts the chemicals
That's used contenicals inside of my mental projectable"

Fuck, I hate that he's not around anymore.

[Massive Marc]

Best diss of all time

Nas - ether, the song is straight fire. The beanie sigel Vs. 50 was fire also from 2000-2002'
http://www.goldmic.com/video/nas-ether/15832


I would argue, Eminem's diss on Canibus (Can I Bitch) is better. Nas is really good, but Battle Rap wasn't/isn't exactly his expertise.

[ooantipostoo]

I would argue, Eminem's diss on Canibus (Can I Bitch) is better. Nas is really good, but Battle Rap wasn't/isn't exactly his expertise.

I can see where you're coming from, I just don't like the way eminem flow's. It's not his expertise at all he sucks at it, but that song was damn good he calls J out hard.

Jay z even admits he was slaughtered

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffDDbEJAEIg

[quido]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnkW6JJZSgE

[Chippy]

MF Doom is my personal favorite.
aka King Geedorah
Danger Doom