It seems like a popular thing to self proclaim now with Jay-Z and Lil' Wayne both claiming to be "the best rapper alive." So the question is, from a critical standpoint, who is the best rapper alive and why?


Personally, I think Jay-Z is the best rapper alive because of his sick flow and lyrical ability. He has the ability to connect to the listener at an unmatched level, which I think explains his album sales success.

However, as Lil Wayne claims that he is the "best rapper alive since the best retired," this leads to the question of who is the best rapper since Jay-Z retired? Lil' Wayne does have some incredible flow as well, but I don't know if he's the best active rapper right now. Any thoughts?

Some of my candidates: Cam'ron, Lil' Wayne, Chamillionaire, Talib Kweli, 50 Cent....still gotta think about it tho.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: b.taylor,

Rakim, Kool G Rap, and Big Daddy Kane are still breathing, right?

You know what lol....Any southern rapper to claim he's the best rapper alive amuses me. He's alright, but I wouldn't even consider him the best southern rapper alive let alone the best alive period. Andre of Outkast is probably the nicest emcee in the south (When he chooses to be an emcee and not all gay) But T.I.'s wordplay is far better then Weezy's and Ludacris's metaphors and punchlines can be witty at times. I don't even know if Weezy F. Baby (Please say the baby) knows what a metaphor is.

Kats needa also broden thier spectrums. Jay ain't the best rapper alive either, although he has the TRL fan base convinced he is through mass marketing of the Black Album.

But I'll give yall some names to think about...

Canibus, Common, Chino XL, Ras Kass, Royce Da 5'9", Guru, and Jada Kiss

A lot of the rappers previously mentioned are popular throughout the Hip-Hop world, but also do not have a meaningful, soulful and clear message. The few rappers that do are: Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli and Pharoahe Monch.

My personal choice is Common for his amazing lyrical talent, sweet flow and positive influence.

Black Thought (The Roots)
MF Doom
Talib Kweli
Common
Nas (pre-2000)
Mos Def


a few of the only rappers who don't follow the formula "fuck you-i'm the best-i'll kill you-i have lots of money-i love women-i'm the best-fuck you-i live in excess" but not in those words

To me the best rapper in the world is Sage Francis, he already convinced me with "Crackpipes", but "A Healthy Distrust" and the track "Slow Down Gandhi" was almost superimposing.

"Making you think you're crazy is a billion dollar industry"

b.taylor....i dont really know what to say..have you listened to ANY rap EVER before 2004ish?? what is good about 50 cent?? his mumbling words? rhyming nympho with nympho? the only part of your criteria he seems to meet is the ALIVE part..go download some kool g rap or something

At this very moment in time, Lil' Wayne is the best rapper alive because even his MIXTAPES are popping off. Both "Dedication" mixtapes are so fucking good. I'd say two is better than one, though.

The guy gets progressively better and better with every single record, mixtape and verse he does! You can't really fuck with that. Down where I'm (South) from you talk bad about Wayne and people are on you.

Yes, T.I. probably made the best rap RECORD of the year with "King" (and again, T.I. is kinda unfuckwithable here, too), and T.I.'s started to look like an actual superstar this year, so he's in the running.

I'd fuck with Bun B, too. I mean he's formulaic how he writes, but he can destroy any young dude from any where just about any time, any way, any day.

I'm biased toward the South, though, what can I say?

quote:

Originally posted by Spleen-and-Ideal:
To me the best rapper in the world is Sage Francis, he already convinced me with "Crackpipes", but "A Healthy Distrust" and the track "Slow Down Gandhi" was almost superimposing.

"Making you think you're crazy is a billion dollar industry"

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for females rapping, but Sage Francis is just a little bitch.

Based on consistency, I'd have to go with Common.

On overall albums in their career, probably Jay-Z.

Blessings Fellas,
For real, The south has some vets that outspit the average. Scarface, Big Mike, Luda(New School) Lord 3-2, Big Mello (R.I.P.)DOC (from Texas Baby). Yall forgot the Bay Area Cali got some real Spitters: E-40 (Game tight), Yukmouth, Messy Marv, B-Legit, Spice One, Compton: MC EIHT got it on loc, Big Hutch(SCLA), King T, Kurupt. Metaphor wise, Check out Ice T's old joins when Cats was still battlin. He got spits that rip LL to pieces. East Coast: If KRS ONE isn't on your lips, you just don't know hip hop (thats the real) KRS (HANDs DOWN). He just got the energy. Pac and Em can't touch him.
Don't forget cats that laid the foundation. Craig G, Kane, Just Ice (still nice)

Aight.. Listen To Lil wayne.. then all of you will rethink what you put.. he is outstanding.. his lyrics are FIRE. Im not even From the South and i know that shit.

I listen to some of Lil' Wayne's music, and in between his random drug dealing and ass beating references, there is some talent (just not much). I'm not sure if that is your signature or one of his lyrics (possibly both) if it is the latter, it simply displays why I can't hold 'Weezy' in high regard; unintelligible lyrics. Some of his singles are catchy and fun, they just aren't particularly 'good.'

Greezy, look into some of the artists mention in the thread, you may find something you like:

Nas
Common
Mos Def
Ghostface Killah
MF Doom

That's the thing tho with Dirty South Rap right? Like, you can't blame it for its non-profound lyrics... Southern Hiphop is all about being club-friendly and sick faster beats, so they're not about being politically or lyrically charged like east, west or north. When I listen to southern rap I don't really care much about the lyrics, I just bump to tha beats.

Of all the dirty south tho, I like listening to Z-Ro (check out Let The Truth Be Told), Lil' Flip (especially U Gotta Feel Me) and Chamillionaire. Interestingly enough, I don't think any southern rapper would make it in any of my "Best Rapper Alive" lists.

There will be, forever, certain things that divide the dabblings of white liberals into rap music from the streetwise hip hop fan (who, let's not kid ourselves, is black, Latino or maybe white).

For rap music to appeal to both sides, it has to have that je ne sais quoi "street" quality. Kanye has it and still appeals to middle America. So does Outkast.

Nas does, too, but he's really marginalized himself from both crowds lately. Plus he's not very prolific and eschews a lot of hip-hop business tactics, which alienates him a little from the streets.

Common is barely street-worthy outside Chicago, his hometown. He's conscious boho shit which is kinda "ehhhh" to a dude on the street. Common is more for liberal white people than gangsta types.

Mos Def does well with both groups, but he's barely doing music any more. He's drifted pretty far off the street culture's radar since his Rawkus days.

Ghostface is VERY street and appeals to a small and growing sect of liberal dabblers. I know plenty of hood dudes who have been on Tony Starks for close to a decade now.

MF Doom is almost exclusively for nerdy white fans of rap music and hip-hop culture. I've met maybe three black fans of MF Doom ever.

EDIT: I just want to say that that divide is more than a little noticable here. As someone who knows both sides of that divide well, I leap over the cultural gap every day of my life.

quote:

Originally posted by Yay!:
MF Doom is almost exclusively for nerdy white fans of rap music and hip-hop culture. I've met maybe three black fans of MF Doom ever.

This is strange. I know a lot of white kids have recently gotten into DOOM since he did the DangerDoom thing, but the last time I saw him, which was last year, we white folks were definitely the minority, and the concert was in Boulder, CO! I'm white, not nerdy(I prefer intellectual), and don't really know a lot about hip-hop culture, and DOOM is probably my favorite right now. But he was recommended to me years ago by a very "street" black man in one of my local record stores.

EDIT: I just want to say that that divide is more than a little noticable here.[/QUOTE]

By over here, do you mean the U.K.?

When I said "here" I meant this thread.

quote:

Originally posted by Yay!:
When I said "here" I meant this thread.

I see that now. For some reason I read "over here." I'm still having trouble with some of those statements, mainly because they don't jibe with my personal experience. And what do conservatives (black or white) who listen to hip-hop like?

Latinos (I am Canadian by birth, parents are Chilean immigrants) and Blacks might be more homogeneous with respect to "which side" of hip hop they're akin too. I think it's actually white (American/Canadian) people who are somehow divided.

You've got one camp who's "middle", intellectual, and liberal. This group usually (there's exceptions) can't relate to extremely street thuggy hiphop so they look for rap that caters to the kind of flavor they're more attuned to.

Then there's the wiggers (I have friends who are... trust). (I'm sorry for being politically incorrect, but I don't have another word for it Am I gonna be censored?) I'm not saying they're not as intellectual, liberal or wealthy as the preceding group. I am not saying that at all. I have wigger friends in university who are definitely very intellectual and "middle"... I dunno, they just act that way; they definitely "act" way more street. I guess it's just a matter of consequence that the kind of hiphop they listen to is also more street.

quote:

Originally posted by Carlito's Way:
Latinos (I am Canadian by birth, parents are Chilean immigrants)

Thanks for including that. I always wondered why you'd use some Spanish if you're from Toronto!