First let me say that this list is of who I feel are my Top5 >>FAVORITE<< rappers. Meaning that they might not be the best to ever do it in your opinion, but these are just who I like.
I mean, for me...
in at number 5 is.....a TIE between newcomers Big Sean & J. Cole.
To be honest, I haven't followed their careers too long right, but from what I've heard they are better than a lot of established artists. They have their swagg. They have lyricism and humor. They have some popularity. They have respect from big-time artists already. These two guys have come in and have set the game on fire. It may not be the most recognized fire, yet, but I have a feeling that these guys along with a couple others have the potential be the future of Hip-Hop. With Big Sean you have someone to kind of fill the party, club, yet lyrical and punch-line oriented rapper (ex: Lil Wayne). Then with J. Cole you get a more conscientious rapper. Deeper subject matter and more complex lyrics (ex: Nas). But we'll see what happens once their first albums drop. Big Sean's should dropping in a couple of weeks and J. Cole's in a month or so.
Number 3...Lupe Fiasco. I mean, you should've seen this comin'. I did an entire blog about him. There's really nothing else I can say that I didn't already say in the Lupe blog. He's a beast lyrically. Honestly I really feel like there MAY be only two or three better...maybe. If you really listen to how he says what he says, it's just unreal. And it's not even when he's just telling a story, or when he's talking about something of substance. Even when he's just bragging about himself, he just does it better haha. If you listen to his mixtape Enemy of the State, the subject matter isn't as serious as his albums' content. It's more light, and yet still deep if that makes sense. I will say this though, his Lasers album disappointed me, but I know there were other people and issues involved that kind of changed what he planned and it was noticed. But 2/3 of his albums have been awesome!
Number 2....Jay-Z. I mean this is self explanatory. It's Jay-Z. Jigga Man. HOV. Cmon now. I don't feel like there's a real need to really explain why I like him. He's just good. Really REALLY good at this whole being a rapper and rapping thing. Lyrically he's one of the best all time. Diverse in subject matter. One minute he's telling a story about the rise and fall of a drug dealer (Fallin') Another minute he's talking about gettin with a girl (Excuse Me Miss). Then he's talking about the harsh streets and realities of the ghetto (D'Evils) or the greatness of the city he calls home (Empire State of Mind). I mean there's really nothing he hasn't touched on either on his own songs or with a verse as a featured artist. I mean the list goes on and on, but I'll get more detailed when I talk about the greatest rappers.
And number 1....Kanye West. Why is he my favorite rapper? Well he first came on the scene with Twista and Jamie Foxx on Slow Jamz. Had one of the most quotable and notable hip-hop lines of all-time with "Gotta light skinned friend look like Michael Jackson. Gotta dark skinned friend look like Michael Jackson." That line made me want to know who he was. Then he came out with hit, after hit, after hit, after hit. I was new to the whole hip-hop thing at first so I really didn't go out and buy albums when College Dropout came out, but by the time Late Registration came out, I was already at the store gettin' it. Gold Digger was the song that removed Nelly from being #1 on my list back in '05. And once I listened to the entire Late Registration album, it was official. The beats he does are different than most rapper's beats. He actually talks about real things in his songs. He has a wide range in subject matter. His lyrics can be funny, haunting, can cause thought and reflection, and some are just good punch-lines. He's so diverse in what he does and what he can do. His production and musicality is pretty much unmatched by any other rapper. The production on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was just so indescribably good and different. I love music, and you can tell by the music he makes that he does as well. His lyrics have gotten better with every album. I mean, I really don't know what else to say. He's my favorite rapper, and I feel like he's one of the best dead or alive...but we'll get to the Top5 Greatest list later...
So those are my Top5 FAVORITE rappers: 5. Big Sean & J. Cole 4. Lil Wayne 3. Lupe Fiasco 2. Jay-Z and 1. Kanye West
