Top 5 Rappers

[Sir Jig-A-Lot]

I think Busta kinda got trapped/lost in his own thing after his first or 2nd album..

[Drew]

I'm not sure what you're referring to that he brought to the mainstream?

As far as him being a pioneer in terms of legitimizing white people's place in rap...I'd have to respectively disagree. I think he is much more looked at as the exception to the rule than anything else. When people think of white people in rap, they tend to focus on Vanilla Ice, Eminem (who actually got it right), and then a slew of other white rappers who were only around for an album or two, never making having any real lasting impact. It is an interesting concept to begin with though, considering a large majority of hip-hop consumers are white, why white people even need to be legitimized in the first place.

I think I have an idea of where the stems from, the origins and original meaning and purpose of hip-hop, but it's still interesting nonetheless. Just by the way people talk about artists and how they are perceived by the audiences, inherent in that seems to be this idea that a lot of hip hop consumers are black, or (something I've encountered in my days) that it is only appropriate to consume rap/hip-hop if you're black. It's a topic I wouldn't mind delving deeper in to, but I'm not sure if we should start a new thread for that, or just have this one go as it may (considering its one of the more active topics we have going right now, hurray for that!)

[Sir Jig-A-Lot]

Y'know who i forgot to throw in the mix as one of the best: Treach! I think he often is overlooked as having crazy skill cos casual hip hop listeners know him for his party tracks. But if you listen to his lyrics and how he can switch up his flows, he is definitely one of the best.

[-84]

I want to hear everyones thoughts of Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes?

Where would he go on your list of rappers?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travis_McCoy

[blixa]

no particular order

Ice Cube Just a fat voice, was the first rapper I really listened to, was easy to get into, his stuff had a harder edge to it musically and lyricaly.

Vast Aire His voice/flow/lyrics suit the stranger side of my musical tastes.


2pac Never wanted to listen to this guy cause of all the tools i knew that worshipped him, but fuck man hes like the best of all worlds.

Chuck D Love that deep voice and that political tip, plus the version of Bring the Noise with anthrax is still the "rap metal" benchmark.

Jamie T Young English guy, most wouldnt call him "rap" or "hip hop" but if you listen to what he does with his cockney accent, songwritting and rhyming slang I think he has great skills.