At a time when Hip-Hop should have been transcending into something that naturally should be greater than what it is now, a lot of fans and so-called Hip-Hop Headz got confused & hypnotized over the many years of what a true EMCEE is! When a part-time fans hear the same SHIT (songs) over and over again, of course they think that their artist is “Neo.” Then these part-time fans want to try and debate/convince someone unbiased (or biased to the culture) that <insert rapper’s name here> is heat; C’MON SON Corporate America/industry/empire sold dreams, money, and cars to sellouts (<insert rapper’s name here>). The industry/empire pretty much bamboozled, hoodwinked, & convinced a mainstream, corny, & phony artist, who by no means was making a mark on the Hip-Hop scene anyway, that they can make millions if they sell out to the “evil empire's” brand of rap. From there anybody and everybody thought they could do this...this grew into singles & ringtones. Everybody does one hot single and/or ringtone and blows up commercially. What happened to the classic albums with 12-14 tracks; all hot. Don't fool yourself in thinking that no matter how thorough the rhymes maybe, if an artist 'raps' over a beat that this is automatically Hip-Hop. It takes a lot more than rapping. This also applies to the true emcee or close to it that abandoned their culture for dollars. In no way am I suggesting that artist should go poor to accommodate me and headz like me (this is another discussion when talking business); what I am saying is this, Hip-Hop is bigger than one person and two songs! I had a discussion with my brother from another; we discussed this very topic of 'Top' whatever list. He's a Hip Hop head; however, our list was far apart. Now this is in no way insinuating his list was booty (because it was quite legit) but he was concerned that they were way off for us to have basically the same taste. I told him because like in any culture there are subcultures with their own perceptions, truths, conceptions. He said, "we need to sit down & come up with a bona fide & legit criteria for list composition"
With that said, I can't tell you who should be on your list but I DAMN sure can tell you who AIN'T on it...
TOP 5/10 LIST CRITERIA
At the end of the day, KRS-1 already told us what the criteria is! Artist such as Melle Mel, KRS-1, Jean Grae, Biggie (RIP), Styles P, Jakk Frost, Smiff & Wesson (Salute General Steele), Yaasin (Mos Def), Talib Kweli, Beanie Sigel, AZ deliver music that identified what the criteria is...A DOPE MC IS A DOPE MC; period, dot!
Now there are sub-list under this (if applicable or desired): 1) Lyricist (Dragon [see post Jean Grae's Home For Gifted Dragons]), 2) MC and 3) Rapper. Now before some of y'all blow a fucking gasket, let me elaborate a little...[NOTE: MC and lyricist are often used interchangeably but either one can never be confused with what a rapper is]
A lyricist (a dragon) is a mutant with super powers and is immortal who understands that this type of lyricism is a privilege, not a right. I believe it is imbedded within and is bestowed upon a fortunate few individuals that is lyrically beyond talent. Everyone doesn't have that gift (difference between gift and skill).
An MC are those who has the uncanny ability to formulate words lyrically, has the lyricist 'DNA', masters of their craft, sits at the table of royalty amongst the immortals, and could never; never, ever, ever be confused with a rapper.
A rapper are those wingnuts (fucktards) who, for the most part, really likes the Hip Hop culture but will never be considered an immortal. In the quest to be the best, they are easily influenced by delusions of grandeur. They easily and consistently side with the empire because, quite frankly, it really isn't in them...they went all in to be the best in something, anything within Hip Hop music other than the best at their craft “just to get a rep”. Financially, this will make sense depending on your integrity and greed so I'm not discussing that. I'm just reiterating that a rapper does not equate to MC and/or lyricist and vice versa.
SO STOP PUTTING RAPPERS ON TOP 5/10 MCs/LYRICIST LISTS. THEY'RE RAPPERS AND DESERVING OF THEIR OWN LIST!!! Fans and so-called fans, stop taking the easy way out! Stop settling for market friendly, commercial friendly artist that lost their way paper chasing! THAT AIN'T HIP-HOP!!!
RAP IS SOMETHING YOU DO, HIP-HOP IS SOMETHING YOU LIVE!
...from the immortal words of Jean Grae, “SCRABBLEBEOTCH”Salute
Philly aka @Philly2AZ aka Mr. Who is That aka Mr. Pause Tape Prince
UNO
HIP-HOP NEVER STOPS!
