With all the latest controversy surrounding Vibe.Com’s Best Rappers Ever List , I thought it would be perfect to discuss not only the controversial list, but exactly what makes a rapper “the best.”

 

Joe Budden was one rapper in particular who had a problem with the list. He was quoted saying:

“…you mean to tell me Method Man is a better rapper than me?” 

Now some may say yes, others may say no, but is that really what is important? Today we put so much emphasis on being the “Best Rapper” that we never take the time to truly analyze exactly what that means. What happened to the days when rappers respected the craft or better yet when music lovers respected quality music?

 

With the latest dance song craze, it’s easy to get sucked into catchy hooks. But let’s be honest, most of these songs and dances just look like modern day minstrel shows minus the black face. Let’s take Soulja Boy for example, no disrespect to what he does, he makes tons of hits, but is there any real quality to his music? Will he go down as being one of the greatest rappers who ever lived? Probably not. Now let’s take Talib Kweli for example, lyrically gifted and able to tell a good story, just some quality Hip Hop. Yet, he is not as recognized as Soulja Boy. Am I the only person who sees a problem with this?  This list shows just how vain the Hip-Hop Community is becoming.

 

Some of the rankings on this list include Prodigy is 15, Will Smith is 16, Mc Hammer is 17, Juvenille is 8, Black Thought is 14, ODB is 11. Are you kidding me? How did Will Smith or Mc Hammer make the greatest rapper list?

 

“Certain people, certain brands, certain publications should lose f*cking their rights to discuss Hip-Hop.”

 

Now, I’m obliged to agree with Joe Budden because this list is terribly flawed. If you are going to discuss someone who is the best rapper, sales alone or being a pioneer simply doesn’t cut it.  Hip-Hop is more than just record sells and popularity, if you are going to discuss Hip-Hop you must dig deeper than the superficial and even the mainstream. How can you have a greatest rapper list and not have Jean Grae or Mos Def, and since when is ODB a better rapper than Black Thought? There is a difference between being a great artist, and a great rapper and/or emcee. I plan to examine exactly what those differences are.

 

Now I don’t believe that Joe Budden is the greatest rapper to ever live, but his place on the list was crazy compared to some of the people who were ahead of him. I recently got some slack for not liking his album Padded Room, which is cool but to me, it wasn’t the best that he could do. However, if Budden was put up against half of the rappers that graced Vibe’s list, I think he could easily demolish them. He has good reason to be offended. If someone disrespected your craft, I’m sure you’d be upset too.

 

So in saying that, was Budden just being a cry baby or actually making a valid point? Have we as supposed Hip-Hop lovers lost sight of the true art of rapping? I gathered a series of questions that I truly wanted to know the answers too. I believe these questions will help determine exactly what the “greatest rapper” is. Many have professed to be the best, but if put to the test, could they easily prove it?

 

Here are the questions:

1. What constitutes a good rapper?

2. Who in your opinion is the best rapper (alive or dead)?

3. List your top 5 rappers of all time and why?

4. What is your idea of a bullsh*t rapper?

5. What’s the difference, if any, between a rapper and an emcee?

6. Is lyrical content or flow more important in determining a quality rapper, or a mixture of both?

7. Can you be a bullsh*t rapper and make hits?

8. Is Lil Wayne the best rapper alive, why or why not??

9. What do you think about rappers like Soulja Boy, Bow Wow and the GS Boys?

 

I put these questions together because many of us have our Hip-Hop terminology all wrong. I asked my fellow college-bound peers these specific questions simply because I was looking for specific answers. I think it’s about time we stop tip-toeing around the subject and call a spade, a spade. So, does the greatest rapper exist?

 

This is what the people had to say:

 

“A good rapper is someone who speaks sense and knowledge…not just ignorance or stupidness. Best rapper…Nas. Top 5- Nas, Talib Kweli, Lupe, Rakim, Eminem. Bullsh*t rapper…is someone who just raps for money and fame and not the music. Rapper is someone who is doin stuff over beats and music…an emcee doesnt need all that…just his mind and voice. Its a mixture of both lyrical content and flow to determine quality. You can be a bullsh*t rapper and make hits…just not legendary hits. Wayne is straight garbage..no flow..no lyrical content…no knowledge. Soulja boy ..bow wow….i cant stand. GS Boys are just having fun..dont hate them..but i dont bang em out my car.”  Gerald C. ( Florida A&M University/ Economics)

 

“A bullshit rapper…. Easy. A bullshit rapper destroys rap by putting out catchy ass music that says nothing. Its not different… its no thought to it…. Its kust bullshit that sounds good as a ringtone. What’s the difference,if any, between a rapper and an emcee? Rapper is to emcee as child with fingerpaint is to Picasso. Simple. Is lyrical content or flow more important in determining a quality rapper, or a mixture of both? I would say they go hand in hand but I give the extra 1% to lyrical content. Thought is what makes a  song great.. Somethin that makes you pause and hit rewind.Can you be a bullsh*t rapper and make hits? They seem to be doing it now! Is lil wayne the best rapper alive, why or why not?? We went thru this already X……….. hell the fuck no. He had a chance before he jumped into this rock and roll Im half rocker crazy bullshit….. I was with him until that started. What do you think about rappers like soulja boy, bow wow and the GS boys? I see them like the people in the 80s who had hits,.. but they didn’t play a huge part on music… youll look back like…. Wtf was I doing?” Raven N. (University of Cincinnati /C.I.S)

 

“A good rapper? That’s someone with a GOOD producer, a GOOD writer, a GOOD manager etc. A GOOD EMCEE is an artist who can paint pictures, emote true feelings, create thought, make you smile, laugh or cry, even say DAYUM, with just a few clever words- doesn’t matter if they’re positive or negative OR if there’s even any music backing the flow. Bes EMCEE alive or dead: Melle Mell …White Lines? The Message? C’mon on now, the Furious Five set the tone and the standard for much of what hip hop has morphed into today. And even Kanye is going retro with the Melle Mel Boots and shades!Top 5 EMCEES: Melle Mel-set the standard & paved the way Nas- intelligent and hood, showed there’s more to the streets than just partyin’ and bullshi**in’..Tupac-diverse as hell, clever, thuggish, sexy, er;thang all rolled up into one Mos Def– embodies all of hip hop and not afraid to branch out /introduce the public to brothers that can rip it over ANY type of track..KRS ONE-forefather of of conscious hip hop. A Bullsh*t rapper is a studio generated character living a lie. you don’t have to claim a set, hood, or whatever to get respect if you have skills! Lyrical content and flow are important when determining the quality of a Good EMCEE. The lyrics determine where ya head’s at. the flow determine’s whether you’re gonna be sucked in by the combination of music and beat (of the bass, treble and his/her voice) which combined determines whether your attention is gonna stick with them or not. …Yes, bullsh*t rapers makes hits everyday! That’s the bulk of radio playlists today…I don’t think Wayne’s the best rapper alive, but one of the most talented.I think it just goes wasted because he’s overmarketed to the point where he can mumble some sh*t over a track, collect a check and keep it movin. i don’t see that’s he’s necessariy concerned with quality control. Soulja Boy & Bow Ww -ain’t mad at either of them, but it’s nothing I’d listen to or purchase).”  Gs Boys? WTF Who is that?  Andaiye Reeves (Rutgers University, B.A. Journalism)

 

 “A good rapper is someone who does what they know with tha ability to switch it upand tell stories at the same time. Someone who isnt about bullshit.A bullshit rapper is someone who makes dances, has a limited vocab, only raps about money, sex, killing, drugs, etc… The difference between a rapper and an emcee is a rapper is a corporate product of the record label, an emcee is a true spitter who will risk being dropped from his label if it means his intregity is intact. Lyrical content is more important than flow. I wont listen to a song if it aint about shit. Bullshit rappers make hits. Its the formula. Wayne will never be in contention for best rapper alive(or dead) he makes no sense an regurgitates everything he says in hooks other lines and is just all around weak sauce. Soulja Boy? Bow Wow? GS Boys? Should have their eyes, tongue, and ears ripped off to roam deaf dumb and blind. My top 5…Jean Grae, Talib Kweli, Dex-Starr, Common…Lupe Fiasco. Tracy B. (International Academy of Design and Technology, Game Design)

 

“In my opinion, a good rapper is someone whi has a way with words that can be articulated well to their audience. I like to listen to people who can make me think. Some songa about money and sex are fun to listen to, but I would like to hear more.I dont actually have an opionion for any best rappers.I guess I would have to go with these for my top:… Common, Kanye Drake, Tupac, Lil Wayne.  I like a good mixture of lyrical content and flow. I dont wanna listen to soem1 that dont really have anything to say, but I also dont wann just here some1 only givin facts if they can’t flow with it. Yeah, there has been plenty of B.S. rappers who have made hits. (SADLY) Only cus they were kinda catchy. I can’t really say that Wayne is the best… there’s always different that are equally good, but you cant compare them because their styles arent the same. Souljah Boy and them are some that have cathcy sings that a few of us like to kisten to, but dont have much to say. Diamond H. (Triton Community College, major undecided)

 

“Top 5 : UGK, Cormega, KRS-One… Jurassic 5 [Chali 2na]..Pharcyde. What constitutes a good rapper: Talent. The way I look at it is “How hard would it be for me to spit like that, or to come up with those lyrics, including creativity, word play, life experience, etc”. If there is a high degree of talent, then that makes a good rapper. That doesn’t necessarily mean I will enjoy the artist, but I can still respect him (or her) as a talented artist. Who’s the best rapper of all time:I don’t think I need to choose a “best rapper”, I don’t think I could. I’ve listened to so many different artist depending on what’s going on in my life, that it wouldn’t be fair. For example, Pac was very influential when I was going through hard times. On the other hand, when everything was going well and my confidence was peaked I listened to a lot of UGK (Pimp C [rip] and Bun B). My favorite artist’s changes as often as my underwear…(okay not THAT often). What is your idea of a bullsh*t rapper?It has to do with how honest the artists are being with themselves. If you have to dumb-down your music in order to satisfy “the masses” you are a sell-out. To who? Your own damn self. Those who stay true to themselves, and speak from the heart, no matter how crappy a rapper they might be, are not bullshit rappers. what’s the difference,if any, between a rapper and an emcee?… A rapper is someone who can spit and knows it, but an emcee has a presence, a persona, a vibe of sorts. You can feel it even if your just listening in the car or something. For example Devin the dude = Emcee…While members of groups like J5 or Pharcyde = Rappers. Is lyrical content or flow more important in determining a quality rapper, or a mixture of both? Both. Can you be a bullsh*t rapper and make hits?… Clearly that is the case. Birdman & Lil Wayne have been on the Top40-charts for the past 48 weeks. This doesn’t mean they are good musicians. To quote Immortal Technique “If you go platinum, its got nothin’ to do with luck, it just means that a million people are stupid as fuck!” Enough said. Is lil wayne the best rapper alive, why or why not??Ha. I answered the last question before I read this one, I think you know my answer. He’s got no message in his songs. Ugh.. I don’t even want to think about this anymore. what do you think about rappers like soulja boy, bow wow and the GS boys? No comment… I’m done with treacherous artist who enforce stereotypes and give Hip Hop a bad name.” Rob H. (Messa Community College, Music Education, Media Arts)

See The Joe Budden Video and the Actual List Below