Just thought this up off top; not much science or analysis. Just some commentary from a lifelong fan/artist...
Chuck D – Voice was an instrument, might’ve had the dopest voice hip-hop has ever heard, and one of the most unique flows; lyrics were hard and uncompromising without being (unnecessarily) violent
Proof: “Public Enemy # 1” “Bring The Noise”
Treach – In the early ‘90s was definitely in the best rapper alive category; a monosyllabic beast who rapped fast with clarity; also a great storyteller who painted gritty, realistic urban landscapes; he, not ‘Pac, is the real forefather of rappers like DMX, Ja Rule, and 50 Cent
Proof: “Hip-Hop Hooray” “Who Got My Back”
Kanye West – Many believe he doesn’t write his rhymes, but many rappers can be accused of such, I personally, disagree; top 5 right now, mixes humor and reality like no one around, and sounds comfortable collaborating with any kind of rapper, from thugs and gangsters to nerds and backpacker; probably the illest around when it comes to similes and metaphors
Proof: Last verse of “Diamonds Are Forever”
Trick Daddy – More conscious and lyrical than most give him credit for because he’s southern; always unique, he sounded dope rapping over guitars, a brass section, or trading dirty verses with Trina; the intricacies of his lyrics are often lost in his thick drawl
Proof: “In Da Wind”
Rza – The last of a breed that uses a mad scientist type of flow, his slurred speech is menacing even when he’s droppin’ science; known way more for his production, but he often equals or bests many of the emcees he collaborates with
Proof: “The Grain” “Sandman”
Juvenile – Another example of the drawl and location overshadowing skill; very unique voice with a knack for dope cadences; can write the hell out of a booty song
Proof: “Down Botton” “Hope You Niggas Sleep” “Back Dat Azz Up”
Crooked I – West Coast emcees never got the respect they deserve from East Coast cats, and it’s a shame because this guy is Cali’s Li’l Wayne – raw, prolific, original
Proof: “Rap City Freestyle,” Anything from his weekly freestyle series
Krayola – Would he still be underrated if he was as well known as the others on this list? I think yes, because he’s so Tim Duncan-efficient with it; has a way with phrasing that has more in common with great movie dialogue than it does with rap writing
Proof: “Cherry Lime Rickey” “Razor Bumps”
Da Brat – In my opinion, the best female lyricist hip-hop has seen; for some reason, beats and songs were always a cut below what she deserved; was one of the illest features in the ‘90s, murdering many guest verses
Proof: “No One Else (Rmx)” “Always Be My Baby (Rmx)”
The Clipse – Great lyricists who obviously put a lot of thought into their lines; sound great over weird Neptunes production; if you’re gonna listen to coke rap, listen to them
Proof: “Pussy”
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – Top 5 rap group of all time; even though they all had the tongue-twisting style, they still each had really different ways of rapping, all dope; the harmony part is a throwback to rap’s early days, no one does it better
Proof: “Foe The Love Of $” “Spit Your Game”
Big Pun – As good as we all know he was, he might’ve been even better; could do every single thing a rapper is admired for very, very well; only rapper who ALWAYS outshined everyone he collaborated with
Proof: “Wrong Ones” “Banned From TV”
Honorable Mentions:
Black Rob – “24 Hours To Live” “I Love You Baby”
Mia X – Thinkin’‘Bout You”
Beatnuts – “Beatnuts Forever”
Big Boi – “I’m So Hood (Rmx)” “Wanna Move”
Mike Shinoda – “Remember The Name”
Daz Dillinger – “Got My Mind Made Up”
2 comments:
Just curious...
What's the criteria for the "underrated?" Because as a fan of 90% of these artists/songs mentioned, most of them went platinum and have albums that received 5 Mics. True a lot of them aren't mentioned nowadays but no one stays on top forever...
Interesting list, interesting reasons. I would put Scarface on my list of underrated emcees. I feel like he gets respect, but he's mainly a rapper's rapper. He has some of the most poignant lines of all times, any genre of music. "This Can't Be Life", "I Never Seen a Man Cry"
Post a Comment