MTV’s thing for best MC in the game is ridiculous. how can styles p be leading with 22% of the vote? mind you, it’s 7:48 am on monday. things may change. but it should go like this:
yea, that’s right. that’s andre 3 stacks. then it goes lupe aka lupin the third, mr. dwayne carter aka birdman jr., your neighborhood pusha, and kanye, tip harris are tied. and bromwich told me that i forgot black thought (of the roots) in his comment, and he’s flippin’ right. that list is in no particular order. so it’s really like 7.
also, realize andre even put out a non-rap album, and it was impeccable. as well as all his other endeavors (animated tv show, clothing line, acting). get your old outkast cd’s out if you don’t co-sign. he’s always been ill. just ask nas vegas.
where’s the self-proclaimed greatest rapper alive, OG version? jay is retired in my book, so he’s no longer in the game. but he still fries people like it’s his job. make sure you pay close attention at 25 seconds in.
“you know better than that.” WOW.
wiz khalifa - star power. best trunk music. ever.
the native soul - an evolution. it's $ulaiman of blind i. rapping!
christian rich - the decay mixtape [think electrorock meets hip hop and dates it for a bit.]
the paxtons - members only. chi-town/dc-bred dudes. nice rhymes, crazy beats.
evidence - the layover mixtape. this joint is CRAZY.
crucial mix by PFOP's lo. love songs and such!
if coldplay and jay-z made a album, it'd sound like this.
GLC - i ain't even yet: the mixtape. kanye's G.O.O.D. music artist's latest offering.
dandiggity's eclecticuts vol. 2. assortment of eclectic cuts. obviously.
dj klever - flashback. CRUCIAL mix of 80's jams that you've probably never heard before.
g*two - one man army. newest talent out the DMV. he's nice.
Can’t be Andre at number 1. I guess MTV’s list is considered by how much “impact” one has currently in the game. Stacks takes too many breaks from rap to be considered. Being “different” doesn’t get you the top spot….
Dre 3000
Jay
Nas
Rakim
KRS
As far as cats that are current or at least drop in on the scene every now and again with impactful music:
3000
Jay
Wayne
Lupe
M.I.A.
Yes, I put MIA in there. She’s had the electro/hipster game on lock for about 3-4 years now as the fiercest vocalist on that level. She’s largely responsible for that new-rave, white bmore club movement gaining popularity outside its niche (hip hop cats read discobelle now?).
She doesn’t have the clever punchlines, but people don’t realize how much impact she’s had as far as her aesthetic goes. That South Asia-meets-the UK aesthetic in her flows almost comes from out of nowhere. It’s original as original gets in the music world. Who else raps like that (until Santogold)? No one else did that in ‘popluar music’. Plus she makes massive hooks and drops in social/political commentary that isn’t over bearing, but still makes you pump your fist. all those elements make great songs. She doesn’t make ‘hip hop’ per se, but she’s an emcee, and she’s basically the Biggie Smalls/Rakim of her genre.
If the argument is best rapper off lyricism and flow alone, the list looks something like this.
Andre
Lupe
Wale (it might be home cooking but it’s the truth right now)
Black Thought
Ghostface
Andre and Lupe have already been said so there’s nothing more to say on that. Listen to some of the leaked songs off The Mixtape about Nothing, like the end of “Conclusion” or DC Gorillaz off 100 miles and running. the man is ridiculous, his thoughts are coherent (unlike massively overrated Lil wayne, who calls themselves a venereal disease?), his metaphors are crazy and actually make sense, and his flow is ridiculous. It doesn’t matter what beat he gets, he kills everything.
As for Black Thought and Ghostface, listen to Rising Down/Game Theory and Fishscale/Big Doe Rehab if youre trying to argue. Black Though can spit on anything, varied subject matter and doesnt sound like a fool doing so. 75 Bars (black’s Reconstruction) is unbeleivable. as for Ghostface, he’s simply the best storyteller still around in rap, with nas washed up (that new song is absurd) and jay retired.
Judah, your list, though quite pleasing to the eye, does not comply with Hottest MC for 2008. They already did Hottest MCs of All Time. Definitely check it out. I was very surprised and you will be, too.
I’m not sure about for 2008. All I know is that Lupe Fiasco by all rights SHOULD BE ON THAT LIST. If he is not then fuck the “brain trust”.
I just voted for LUPE FIASCO as Hottest MC on MTV.com. They say that the “BRAIN TRUST” will not be influenced by the votes casted online by fans, but IF LUPE FIASCO IS NOT ON THAT LIST…
lol m.i.a. can’t be on the list man. she is a mover and shaker, an innovator, and a trailblazer, but not a top 5! come on cam! but i actualy like that. that’s a new list entirely. and i’m making you write about it on YOUR blog.
Top 5 after 2001
1) Wayne
2) Cam
3) Eminem on Marshall MAthers LP and Eminem Show
4) 50 Cent (get rich or die tryin)
5) Jay
most disappointing (notice the pattern)
1) Jay post black album
2) eminem after eminem show
3) 50 after get rich or die trying
4) Cam after killah season
5) ——————- (wayne please dont disappoint me)
I’m actually a little confused about the lists posted above.
I think MTV is attempting to create a list of best MC’s of 2008, the key part of the list title being 2008. I think they’re trying to focus on artists who have consistently been growing and expanding upon their talent on and off of the music scene. However, I think more specifically they’re trying to include artists who have brought in the end of 2007 and have really made an effort to have a fresh start to the new year ready with new tracks to be released and/or a gameplan that has people anticipation for more of what has already been a steady stream of greatness.
I’m not definitely not the undeground hip-hop queen, but I think artists like Rakim, Ghostface, Eminem and Nas while arguable some of the most best lyrically don’t really fit into the “best” category that I think MTV is going for here. The definition of MC has come to mean so many things that it’s not just about who has the best album anymore or who has the best lyrics. I think somebody mentioned that MTV has already made lists for those things. In terms of swag, success, lyrical innovation, creativity, consistency, exposure, marketable skills, and business saavy as they exists currently I think the list would go like this:
Wayne
Kanye
Jay Z
Andre 3000
T.I.
It’s definitely not an all-inclusive list of all the greats that have the ability to wow us with their lyrical mastery at times, but I definitely think it’s all-inclusive list in terms of the right now.
Lupe would be my number six. Don’t get me wrong, he’s good, great, amazing even, but based on all of the factors I gave on what truly makes a great MC in 2008 I don’t think he really fits here. 2009 might be his year. If Wale keeps coming like he’s coming right now, he might be on that list too. Right now though, I’m not seeing it.
I know its the stylish cool thing to delete the reigning GOAT, but can u realistically publish a best rapper list and leave off JAY-Z? Did he not release one of the best if not THE ALBUM OF THE YEAR in ‘AMERICAN GANGSTER?’ 1) JAY-Z (nobody generates more excitement or interest then he STILL does. 2) LIL WAYNE (a drug addict who is hated by some, worshiped by others, but ignored by few) 3) KANYE (nobody generates more excitement, better beats, more controversy, or more artistic effort pound for pound), 4) T.I. - The definition of swagger, has a vicious flow, and happens to be the heir apparent to TUPAC in movies and with what is the most marketable personality in the game 5) NAS (hasn’t gone platinum in years yet maintains a respect level beyond that of young cats who sell six times more), , and 5) JEEZY/LUPE - One sells records off swagger and a flow that even I (who hates him usually) can’t deny. JEEZY makes hit songs without lyrical potency but rather his swagger, a great rap voice and believability. LUPE is quite simply the best and most consistent lyricist in the game outside of NAS (and he is currently making better albums). ‘THE COOL’ was the best album of 2008 (so what it came out in December!).
lol Modi. How come she can’t be on the list? cause she’s a woman? cause she’s not from America? She don’t have enough wordplay about coke? M.I.A. can be on that list and deserves to be there. trailblazer = top 5. It’s 2008 dog. There is no box.
So maybe I’ll actually do a post on that. lol.
(I actually meant to put kanye there above her instead of lupe for the fact that kanye’s songs and albums have so much strength as complete packages despite verses that aren’t always top notch. So, it was actually between M.I.A. and Lupe for that last spot.)
good grief. ok cam i’ll give you that! lol.
and yea, nas and jay are crucial. jay actually is added to my list. cuz american gangster was incredible. bilal, how can you say jay-z post black album is terrible? american gangster nullified kingdom come. so it is like he’s even. wale on the list? i don’t know man. he’s been around for just a couple years, while the others are 10+ years deep in the game. i think we can say he’s on the map, but i don’t know if he’s top 5 just yet.
and i refuse to put jeezy on one of the top 5 MC’s! he can be on the swag list, where new yorkers would vote a bamma like jim jones onto the joint. and i LOVE jeezy. if i put some jeezy on in the car, it will bang. every beat is ridiculous, and the ad-libs are infectious. but he can’t rap like anybody else on the list. he says the same words over and over again on “put on” and people let him slide!? have you HEARD ANDRE KILL THAT verse on “royal flush”!? he starts talking about things like martin luther king and talks about the hokie damn pokie as a metaphor for turning your ilfe around! there is NO sidetracking. every word in that verse is special, and he paints prolly the most vivid thing i’ve seen in hip hop since…since i don’t even know what.
as you may know, Modi, i’m a complete rulebreaker
not to mention you asked me to comment while i was drunk last night
so…
can’t pick 5
so i’mma give my top 10, which is based on lyrics alone
i don’t give a flying fuck about sales
and it’s not in any particular order either
just who hits the brain first…pause, no homo, whatever these niggaz is sayin nowadays…lol
1.) Black Thought
2.) Andre 3000
3.) AZ
4.) Nas
5.) Jay-Z
6.) Lupe Fiasco
7.) Joe Budden
8.) Grafh
9.) Wale
10.) Reignman
oh yeah, and i heard someone say it was only for 2008?
fuck that too
the artists i see in 2008 and STRICTLY 2008 are pretty wack (V.I.C., wtf?)
so yeah…my game, my rules.
matter of fact…
11.) Lyriciss
HIP-HOP.
Before I state my Top 5 of 08, I want to say that Andre3000 is one of my favorite ALL TIME, but he has not put anything out in 08 except for one song (Royal Flush) which only a few ppl heard. If anything he woulda been on the list in 07, he was featured on and killed 7 songs in 07. But, how can he possibly be the MC of 08?
Next, I know peple ar gonna say Lil Wayne… Well, Lil Wayne used to be vicious, the Suffix, Dediction, Carter 1 and 2 days, and the several mixtapes after that, but everything he has done in he past year has been TRASH, i think he just does it for money rather than the essence and love of the game nowadays. Maybe its the drugs, but dude used to spit! I dont know what ever happend
Now the list:
Top MCs of 08
-Joe Budden
-Lupe Fiasco
-Jay-Z
-Phonte from Little Brother
-Joell Ortiz
cam that last paragraph is key. kanye’s songs have strength, lyrics don’t always have strength.
and MIA doesn’t make it cuz she can’t rap well! she sounds crazy! i like some of her stuff, but she sounds crazy. she has a song where she gets little kids to rap on it…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvNBfXprgT8
that’s it. i’ma let people watch it. and you tell me if she deserves a place in the top 5.
HOTTEST MCs 2008 UPDATE!!!
dunno if anyone watched this year’s hottest mc’s of the game 2008. lupe was a lil too far down. i dunno how he was #7 but 50 cent was #6. fuck 50. snoop #5? i love snoop but i really don’t see why. not hating cuz sexual seduction was crazy.
MTV’s “brain trust” (more like brain bust) list was as follows:
10. T.I.
9. Andre 3000
8. Young Jeezy
7. Lupe Fiasco
6. 50 Cent
5. Snoop Dogg
4. Rick Ross
3. Lil’ Wayne
2. Jay-Z
1. Kanye West
Bromwich is the only one on here who has a respectable list. it doesnt include lil wayne. thank god. good job bromwich, you know your hip hop