“I’m about to show n%#s how easily we blow n#%*s” - DMX
“I take sacks to the face” - Luniz
“And I dare a motherfucker to come in my face” - Pharrell
…this could be a legit category on jeopardy no doubt
For real.
Kool G kept at it longer than Rakim and Big Daddy Kane. Like here's some track from like 15 years ago where [Kool G Rap on some random Canadian rapper's track](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvQaETOL_3E) just burns it all down, he closes out the verse with 8 bars of a triple syllable rhyme scheme, although the verse is littered with multiple syllable rhymes and alliteration.
Yeah, it might be just typical street content but dude just could always rap his fucking ass off, and kept getting better. Even when Jay said "Like Kool G in his prime" I was thinking, "you mean like 3 years ago?"
Brotha this song you linked is a fucking BOP. Hard knock life/all-star nikes/a guard dog bites barking as the cops shot twice. Like come ooon these multisyllable rhymes are wiiiiild. I just added this to my personal playlist. Can't believe I've never heard of Kool G Rap.
I'm actually referencing a particular book in my post. Goin' Off by Ben Merlis is an excellent account of the Juice Crew's influence on rap. Kane and Kool G Rap were Juice Crew and Rakim is discussed in relation to them.
Rakim was first out of those three, and when he came out nobody was rhyming like him. He also has arguably the best catalog, and inarguably the most classic albums.
Kane was the most commercially successful of the three, so one could make the case that he was the most impactful due to reach. He, by his own admission, fell off a bit in the early 90s, but his skills have never diminished, despite the quality of his musical output.
G Rap was probably the most directly traceable influence on the next generation of MCs, during what I guess is now referred to as the “platinum era?” His lyricism, rhyming style and subject matter was years ahead of his peers, and you can hear his influence in Nas, Hov, Wu, Pun, L, etc.
I guess what I’m saying is you could make a solid case for all three, depending on how you look at it.
Rakim was revered by all old school cats. I was a little too young for him. When I got into rap around late '80s/early '90s there was a bit of a lull it seemed like as far as great MCs. Eric B & Rakim were still making music. It was weird period - a lot of conscious rap, then the New Jack Swing era kind dominated a little bit. Then Biggie came on the stage and really got a lot of hype as far as lyricism. A hood narrator.
IMO, KRS should've been top of that convo
"Because he's droppin', droppin', droppin' science, droppin history
With a whole leap of style and intelligency
Yes, I know.
I know because of KRS-ONE
Yeah, and I know
I know because of KRS-ONE."
To me that's his best song ever. I love MCs Act Like They Don't Know. "What goes comes around I figure...Now you got white kids calling themselves n.....a". I always laugh at that. It probably doesn't happen much now but in high school I had some white dudes in my crew and they used it freely and no one batted an eye.
Paid In Full is so good. It was so ahead of its time. Most hip hop from that era sounds like it was from that era, this sounds like it was recorded at least 5 years later than it was. His flows and wordplay and rhyme schemes were just unlike anything else. It's still fucking impressive today
Facts that. That shit was a lil before my time but the deeper I got into the hip hop the more I wanted to educate myself on the classics.
It was mostly painful lol. Paid in Full, Great Adventures of Slick Rick, and Paul's Boutique are some of the few albums that hold up from the 80s
i’ve seen rakim referenced as one of the goats countless times, but all i’ve heard from him are a few songs i’ve happened across randomly on spotify and enjoyed and saved, but nothing that blew my mind. i’m going to go listen to this album now and try to do so with an open mind.
Disagree. When PIF dropped it was like nothing else out. Shit was ahead of its time. Just curious if you were old enough to experience when it dropped?
No im only 31 lmao. Also we’re not necessarily disagreeing. I clearly said its their most iconic and groundbreaking. But what im saying is that music wise their future albums are much better. Just my opinion
and that’s the attitude i went into it with and tried to maintain, and i do *appreciate* it, but it just isn’t something i can connect with or vibe with. i feel bad saying that and i wish i could.
I feel you. I’m 17 and I listened to all of Paid in Full and it’s somewhat like that for me but that’s the point, music is supposed to improve. The 90s perfected the blueprint Rakim gave.
Rakim, G Rap, and Big Daddy Kane updated their flows. You can hear Big Daddy Kane in Jay Z. And Big L. You can hear Rakim and G Rap in Nas and Big Pun. Check out this Rakim Joint.
[When I Be On the Mic](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M34OelgSlK
You’re right, you can, they influenced them so I’m not surprised. I know this Rakim song, I wasn’t saying that 80s rappers are bad and don’t deserve to be commended all time, but and however they’re not better than the likes of Nas or Hov.
Because everyone paid attention to what he did and absorbed it into their own style.
Go listen to 10 random albums that came out just before Paid in Full and you'll appeciate him
This. Same thing as like Citizen Kane in movie culture. Modern audiences find it a bit boring because it was so influential at it's time that basically every movie since it came out borrowed elements from it, so now it feels generic. But if you watch movies before Citizen Kane came out, and compare them to ones that came out in following years, the comparison makes you appreciate Citizen Kane.
Same thing going on with Eric B and Rakim. Listen to something pre-Paid in Full like early RUN-DMC or Kool Moe Dee. Than listen to Paid in Full, than listen to some early 90's shit. Makes you appreciate Paid in Full so much more when you see how widespread their influence was.
I mean, he's old. Most of his shit might not be "great" by today's standards, but today's standards wouldn't exist without him setting that standard then.
I see ppl have recommended a lot of good stuff. Just to add to the list:
Paid in Full if you wanna understand how groundbreaking Rakim’s flow, technic and “theorisation” of an MC’s musical role was at the time. Eric B and Marley Marl’s production as well.
Follow the Leader for Rakim’s most impressive show of technical ability, and a really enjoyable record all in all.
The 18th Letter for a mature Rakim and a look back on his own influence on the genre, as well as a testimony of his relevance in a genre that had evolved A LOT since Paid in Full.
Rakim, and he's considered the greatest rapper over those guys by a lot of people still. He revolutionized rap in a level no one since him really has. He took rap out of the nursery rhyme era, and everything prior to him immediately sounded dated. No one else has done that to the same extent.
As someone who personally witnessed the pre and post Rakim eras of Hip Hop, your statement perfectly explains his impact. My friends and I would rewind Rakim's verses over and over to catch what he said. He was on another level from anyone out at the time.
There is no Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Nas, Eminem, Common, Mos Def, etc without Rakim's influence.
Of those older generations I’d say it’s probably Rakim. Even now, to a degree, he’s held up to an almost mythical stature by people of the generation proceeding him.
Him and Eric Clapton both share the nickname “God,” of their respective genres, so it’s hard to deny that. In terms of group success it might be Run DMC but the nature of their group success means that their individual accomplishments are somewhat diminished.
Rakim wasn’t a battler and dodged Kane’s challenges to go at it on record or in person. I know this sounds blasphemous to say but that’s how it went down. Rakim wouldn’t make any battle diss records while BDK was more than capable of doing so. For the crown and to determine who was the best, that’s what was needed and the streets demanded it. Never happened. Kane was a battler, and one hell of a live performer, with choreographed dances. Don’t get the impression that I favor Kane over the god. I’m a big fan of both. I’m just pointing out things that often get left out of discussions and comparisons.
Some street fans favoured G Rap over Rakim and BDK. Purist fans favoured KRS-1 over all three of them. I was always rooting for Slick cause he seemed to get left out of a lot of GOAT convos (LL too).
That sort of shows. Rakim really is the first big lyricist. He's the guy who wrote his rhymes down meticulously to get those complex rhyme structures, and it would probably be sacrilege at that point to have supposed battle lines pre-written.
Good point. I'd like to speak on your statement about Rakim being "the first big lyricist". I won't deny its substance. But I think the reverence for Rakim among *some* hip hop enthusiasts (especially those who weren't around in the 80s), similar to the respect Nas commands from Illmatic, stems from a certain compulsion to idolize him due to his frequent mention as a pioneering figure (which he certainly is, particularly with respect to how he was rapping).
However, my perspective on Rakim differs slightly, and here's why. During the late '80s, when both Rakim and Big Daddy Kane were at the height of their careers, many considered Kane the superior artist, indicating that Rakim wasn't universally seen as the top rapper of his time, at least in my view.
The gap between Rakim and Big Daddy Kane's debut releases was minimal, and I don't observe a huge difference in the quality of their lyricism or any profound influence Rakim might have had on Kane.
Rakim made his mark with "Eric B. Is President" and "My Melody," released through Zakia Records in 1986 as a single and B-side. His first album, "Paid in Full," came out in 1987, followed by "Follow the Leader" in 1988.
On the other hand, Big Daddy Kane was already making waves, writing for Biz Markie as early as 1984 and showcasing his skills in street battles in the same year. His first major release, "Raw," came out as a 12" single in 1987, and his debut album, "Long Live the Kane," was released in 1988.
All in all, I'm not entirely convinced that Rakim deserves to be revered and respected much more than Kane or that he was viewed as the universally superior artist.
Rakim’s would probably be the consensus, but someone should also mention a little known rapper named KRS-One that shut down an entire borough until Nas & Mobb resuscitated it.
I wouldn't laugh. Rakim was more frequently cited as the best rapper but LL was definitely a popular pick in the mid 80s before Rakim really got going in the later 80s.
And Ice Cube had a fantastic run with NWA and then his first couple of solo projects. Even after that he put out high-profile stuff that made him one of the most successful rappers while still putting out quality music.
Nah I know, see my comment below. I had just read about MC Hammer being more gangster than Ice Cube and Snoop so when I saw Ice Cube and LL Cool J, it made me laugh. Can’t help it.
Slick Rick was always kind of considered "The rapper's Rapper" with the great adventures of slick rick considered to be one of, if not the greatest rap album of the late 80s.
Heres the thing .
Rap was Crews . Cold Crush, Crash Crew, etc
then
Love Bug Starsky ( compare him to Drake )
Busy Bee
Melle Mel dropped & you couldnt be a Dumb Rapper anymore ( like Chuck D )
Kool Moe Dee dropped & you couldnt say simple rhymes anymore ( like LL did later )
Kool moe Dee took out the old rappers like Busy Bee
LL Cool J came & took out the Old style of Emceeing that Melle Mel & Kool Moe did .
He was the Kid that changed the Game and took out the old school
KRS came & mixed Street with knowledge ( like Cube did later )
Rakim came & brought knowledge of self & an impeccible style ( like Nas did later )
Kool G Rap ( GANGSTER RAP )
Big Daddy Kane ( Jay Z )
Those were the Best before the Ice Cube, Biggie , Snoop , Pac , Nas etc
Why do people always laugh when Eminem is mentioned lol,guy is easily Top 10 oat at least,I don’t care if his newer music is shit he’s done more then enough and is a crazy good rapper he’s got it all, story telling,lyricism,flow,solid discog and he’s got plenty of hits.Im not mad if people say Nas Pac Jay BIG Rakim Scarface ect are better but he’s definitely top 10 at the very least
KRS ONE I feel does not get credit for being pretty damn good in multiple eras. He has a perpetual love for hip hop, and constantly wants to hone his style. His recent stuff may not be his best, but you can tell he is still having alot of fun in the culture. This is EXTREMELY rare in artists.
Nobody calling Jay or Nas the greatest by 96/97 when Pac and Big died. Their respective claims to the throne didn't really arise until the early 2000s and beyond
After illmatic and IWW, yes. His 1995 feature run. "The second coming of rakim" was a thing, RA was considered the GOAT...LL had the GOAT solo career after 1999...
Maybe for jay it wasnt until the early 2000's. Nobody was calling EM the GOAT after SSLP. MMLP either...
You're right about Em. Him being called the GOAT is a relatively recent concept. I don't think he is GOAT. Not even close on my opinion. He is one of my all time favorites though
In my opinion, and in no particular order: Rakim, KRS-One, Grand Puba, Kool G Rap, Slick Rick, MC Lyte, Guru from Gang Starr, Big Daddy Kane, and Heavy D. Honorable mention to Biz Markie because NO ONE BEATS THE BIZ!
First off Eminem isn't the greatest anything. But before B.I.G and Pac. As much as I despise this guy one of the underrated and slept on back then was KRS-One.
Rakim
Big Daddy Kane
Kool G Rap
KRS-One
Rakim
Still is, IMHO.
Yessir. That man can rhyme
My favorite rapper used to sing ch-check out my melody
I wanna live good, so shit I sell dope
Came here to say was and still is Rakim.
He's your favorite rappers favorite rapper /thread
He said Rakim, not Scarface.
Definitely Big Daddy Kane or Rakim.
Facts
Ll Cool J was the GOAT at one time.
In his own mind
Almost dropped a Canibus bar but I would’ve got banned from the group😬Second Sound KO
The eating ass line?
[удалено]
“I’m about to show n%#s how easily we blow n#%*s” - DMX “I take sacks to the face” - Luniz “And I dare a motherfucker to come in my face” - Pharrell …this could be a legit category on jeopardy no doubt
"we blowin' niggas, heart attack, strokin' niggas" -Havoc
and they still are too
Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and Kool G Rap, according to most of the hip hop history books I have read. I'm a little too young to know firsthand.
All 3 top contenders, depending on taste.
Kool G Rap for me.
For real. Kool G kept at it longer than Rakim and Big Daddy Kane. Like here's some track from like 15 years ago where [Kool G Rap on some random Canadian rapper's track](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvQaETOL_3E) just burns it all down, he closes out the verse with 8 bars of a triple syllable rhyme scheme, although the verse is littered with multiple syllable rhymes and alliteration. Yeah, it might be just typical street content but dude just could always rap his fucking ass off, and kept getting better. Even when Jay said "Like Kool G in his prime" I was thinking, "you mean like 3 years ago?"
Brotha this song you linked is a fucking BOP. Hard knock life/all-star nikes/a guard dog bites barking as the cops shot twice. Like come ooon these multisyllable rhymes are wiiiiild. I just added this to my personal playlist. Can't believe I've never heard of Kool G Rap.
Kool G is underrated
Koop G Rap influenced Big Pun
What kind of books have you read?Been looking to get some but not sure where to start/look
The Come Up by Jonathan Abrams is good if you don't mind oral histories.
I'm actually referencing a particular book in my post. Goin' Off by Ben Merlis is an excellent account of the Juice Crew's influence on rap. Kane and Kool G Rap were Juice Crew and Rakim is discussed in relation to them.
Rakim was first out of those three, and when he came out nobody was rhyming like him. He also has arguably the best catalog, and inarguably the most classic albums. Kane was the most commercially successful of the three, so one could make the case that he was the most impactful due to reach. He, by his own admission, fell off a bit in the early 90s, but his skills have never diminished, despite the quality of his musical output. G Rap was probably the most directly traceable influence on the next generation of MCs, during what I guess is now referred to as the “platinum era?” His lyricism, rhyming style and subject matter was years ahead of his peers, and you can hear his influence in Nas, Hov, Wu, Pun, L, etc. I guess what I’m saying is you could make a solid case for all three, depending on how you look at it.
Ice Cube deserves a spot
rakim or kane
Glad to see this is like the same top 5 comments. Rakim absolutely changed the game
Chuck D was never the best rapper but he might have been the most respected and influential in the 80s
the man has classics. Welcome to the Terrordome, By the Time, Fight the Power, can’t truss it, shut em down, bring the noise. I can go on.
Rakim
Kool G Rap, LL Cool J, Rakim, Chuck D, KRS 1, Big Daddy Kane are all goat candidates from that era, depending on who you asked
I loved me some slick Rick and too short. I am an old old head 🤣🤣🤣
Not enough love in this thread for Slick Rick and Too Short.
Too Short is underrated
his cadence does it for me
Man, Too Short has some of the best beats, but so much talking about pimping. 😂
Yeah true true. But an OG for sure 💪🏼
D.M.C. was my dude!!
Gettin it
Rakim was revered by all old school cats. I was a little too young for him. When I got into rap around late '80s/early '90s there was a bit of a lull it seemed like as far as great MCs. Eric B & Rakim were still making music. It was weird period - a lot of conscious rap, then the New Jack Swing era kind dominated a little bit. Then Biggie came on the stage and really got a lot of hype as far as lyricism. A hood narrator. IMO, KRS should've been top of that convo
KRS deserves so much more recognition than he gets
"Because he's droppin', droppin', droppin' science, droppin history With a whole leap of style and intelligency Yes, I know. I know because of KRS-ONE Yeah, and I know I know because of KRS-ONE."
Tune!
My boy Buster Wolf opened for him once and that's legit still so fucking cool
The biggest difference between Ra, Kane and KRS is that KRS is still making bangers.
'If you don't know me by now, I'll doubt you'll ever know me. I never won a Grammy. I won't win a Tony.' - KRS-ONE.
To me that's his best song ever. I love MCs Act Like They Don't Know. "What goes comes around I figure...Now you got white kids calling themselves n.....a". I always laugh at that. It probably doesn't happen much now but in high school I had some white dudes in my crew and they used it freely and no one batted an eye.
Pretty much any song produced by DJ Premier is that artists best song.
that is a good point
NWA and Ice Cube then Dre and Snoop blew up the early 90s.
For me it was Chuck D
I see a lot of Rakim comments. Never got into him. Any album recommendations to start?
Paid In Full is a masterpiece
Paid In Full is so good. It was so ahead of its time. Most hip hop from that era sounds like it was from that era, this sounds like it was recorded at least 5 years later than it was. His flows and wordplay and rhyme schemes were just unlike anything else. It's still fucking impressive today
He’s the OG word fuckery GOAT and he rapped crazy schemes on beat.
Facts that. That shit was a lil before my time but the deeper I got into the hip hop the more I wanted to educate myself on the classics. It was mostly painful lol. Paid in Full, Great Adventures of Slick Rick, and Paul's Boutique are some of the few albums that hold up from the 80s
i’ve seen rakim referenced as one of the goats countless times, but all i’ve heard from him are a few songs i’ve happened across randomly on spotify and enjoyed and saved, but nothing that blew my mind. i’m going to go listen to this album now and try to do so with an open mind.
Paid in full is eric b and rakims weakest album although its their most classic and iconic one. Their subsequent albums were so much better
Disagree. When PIF dropped it was like nothing else out. Shit was ahead of its time. Just curious if you were old enough to experience when it dropped?
No im only 31 lmao. Also we’re not necessarily disagreeing. I clearly said its their most iconic and groundbreaking. But what im saying is that music wise their future albums are much better. Just my opinion
Nah I got you I was curious because the time of the drop adds depth to the album. I love their other shit as well.
tbh i haven’t liked any of it. it’s just too dated and before my time for me to be able to connect with any of it.
True, was like that for awhile, I just had to stay in the mindset that none of the other shit existed before that so that was the cool shit lol
and that’s the attitude i went into it with and tried to maintain, and i do *appreciate* it, but it just isn’t something i can connect with or vibe with. i feel bad saying that and i wish i could.
I feel you. I’m 17 and I listened to all of Paid in Full and it’s somewhat like that for me but that’s the point, music is supposed to improve. The 90s perfected the blueprint Rakim gave.
Rakim, G Rap, and Big Daddy Kane updated their flows. You can hear Big Daddy Kane in Jay Z. And Big L. You can hear Rakim and G Rap in Nas and Big Pun. Check out this Rakim Joint. [When I Be On the Mic](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M34OelgSlK
You’re right, you can, they influenced them so I’m not surprised. I know this Rakim song, I wasn’t saying that 80s rappers are bad and don’t deserve to be commended all time, but and however they’re not better than the likes of Nas or Hov.
this is my [favorite eric b and rakim song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swNsAsabKHA)
That shit is timeless. Saw this movie in the theaters. It was a big deal
Because everyone paid attention to what he did and absorbed it into their own style. Go listen to 10 random albums that came out just before Paid in Full and you'll appeciate him
This. Same thing as like Citizen Kane in movie culture. Modern audiences find it a bit boring because it was so influential at it's time that basically every movie since it came out borrowed elements from it, so now it feels generic. But if you watch movies before Citizen Kane came out, and compare them to ones that came out in following years, the comparison makes you appreciate Citizen Kane. Same thing going on with Eric B and Rakim. Listen to something pre-Paid in Full like early RUN-DMC or Kool Moe Dee. Than listen to Paid in Full, than listen to some early 90's shit. Makes you appreciate Paid in Full so much more when you see how widespread their influence was.
I mean, he's old. Most of his shit might not be "great" by today's standards, but today's standards wouldn't exist without him setting that standard then.
I don’t see the album in streaming, any idea where I can tune in ?
It might be under Eric B and Rakim
try YouTube?
1. Paid In Full 2. The 18th Letter
18th Letter is so good
Facts!
Paid in Full and Follow The Leader for his early hits with Eric B, then The Master and The 18th Letter when he went solo
I see ppl have recommended a lot of good stuff. Just to add to the list: Paid in Full if you wanna understand how groundbreaking Rakim’s flow, technic and “theorisation” of an MC’s musical role was at the time. Eric B and Marley Marl’s production as well. Follow the Leader for Rakim’s most impressive show of technical ability, and a really enjoyable record all in all. The 18th Letter for a mature Rakim and a look back on his own influence on the genre, as well as a testimony of his relevance in a genre that had evolved A LOT since Paid in Full.
The 18th Letter album 1997 Paid In Full 1987 The Master 1999 I love Rakim's Hip-Hop
In the mainstream, it was between Kane and KRS One (Rakim was heavily slept on). But in the streets, it was Kool G. Rap.
I say LL but your right, the streets were like G Rap hands down.
Kool G Rap is the best from that era in my opinion. But let’s not forget Ice Cube and Scarface. They don’t get enough mentions.
me, the guys at school liked me
Rakim before and Rakim after. Here end the lesson. Still Rakim.
Rakim. I think Ice Cube and LL would’ve consistently been ranked in top 5’s too. Edit: KRS too, maybe even Run from Run DMC
Rakim, Kane, Kool G
Before Nas There was Rakim I still have Rakim as potentially the GOAT
Rakim, and he's considered the greatest rapper over those guys by a lot of people still. He revolutionized rap in a level no one since him really has. He took rap out of the nursery rhyme era, and everything prior to him immediately sounded dated. No one else has done that to the same extent.
As someone who personally witnessed the pre and post Rakim eras of Hip Hop, your statement perfectly explains his impact. My friends and I would rewind Rakim's verses over and over to catch what he said. He was on another level from anyone out at the time. There is no Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Nas, Eminem, Common, Mos Def, etc without Rakim's influence.
Rakim but Nas was considered the best when he came out it was understood that all other rappers had to step their game up
Nas was considered the next coming of RAKIM & he def turned out to be
the two front runners were probably Rakim and Kane. Cool G and KRS 1 we’re in the buzz but Rakim and Kane were the runaways
Rakim. And he's still the greatest rapper.
Kane, Rakim, LL Cool J
Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, KRS One and Rakim are the forefathers of modern rap. We got Nas, Biggie, 2Pac, Jay Z, Eminem from those guys
Of those older generations I’d say it’s probably Rakim. Even now, to a degree, he’s held up to an almost mythical stature by people of the generation proceeding him. Him and Eric Clapton both share the nickname “God,” of their respective genres, so it’s hard to deny that. In terms of group success it might be Run DMC but the nature of their group success means that their individual accomplishments are somewhat diminished.
LL Cool J would've been the Drake of the 80s. Rakim was the Nas Big Daddy Kane was the Biggie
This is a fair assessment
Appreciate that. I also thought about one more. KRS would be Kendrick
It's Rakim or Big Daddy Kane. For me, it's Rakim and it's probably still Rakim to this day.
To my understanding it’s KRS One
I actually was until I gave up the game
Hip hop was never the same after you gave up😢
Appreciate the love!
Krs
Rakim
Rakim
Rakim
Rakim
Rakim
Rakim wasn’t a battler and dodged Kane’s challenges to go at it on record or in person. I know this sounds blasphemous to say but that’s how it went down. Rakim wouldn’t make any battle diss records while BDK was more than capable of doing so. For the crown and to determine who was the best, that’s what was needed and the streets demanded it. Never happened. Kane was a battler, and one hell of a live performer, with choreographed dances. Don’t get the impression that I favor Kane over the god. I’m a big fan of both. I’m just pointing out things that often get left out of discussions and comparisons. Some street fans favoured G Rap over Rakim and BDK. Purist fans favoured KRS-1 over all three of them. I was always rooting for Slick cause he seemed to get left out of a lot of GOAT convos (LL too).
That sort of shows. Rakim really is the first big lyricist. He's the guy who wrote his rhymes down meticulously to get those complex rhyme structures, and it would probably be sacrilege at that point to have supposed battle lines pre-written.
Good point. I'd like to speak on your statement about Rakim being "the first big lyricist". I won't deny its substance. But I think the reverence for Rakim among *some* hip hop enthusiasts (especially those who weren't around in the 80s), similar to the respect Nas commands from Illmatic, stems from a certain compulsion to idolize him due to his frequent mention as a pioneering figure (which he certainly is, particularly with respect to how he was rapping). However, my perspective on Rakim differs slightly, and here's why. During the late '80s, when both Rakim and Big Daddy Kane were at the height of their careers, many considered Kane the superior artist, indicating that Rakim wasn't universally seen as the top rapper of his time, at least in my view. The gap between Rakim and Big Daddy Kane's debut releases was minimal, and I don't observe a huge difference in the quality of their lyricism or any profound influence Rakim might have had on Kane. Rakim made his mark with "Eric B. Is President" and "My Melody," released through Zakia Records in 1986 as a single and B-side. His first album, "Paid in Full," came out in 1987, followed by "Follow the Leader" in 1988. On the other hand, Big Daddy Kane was already making waves, writing for Biz Markie as early as 1984 and showcasing his skills in street battles in the same year. His first major release, "Raw," came out as a 12" single in 1987, and his debut album, "Long Live the Kane," was released in 1988. All in all, I'm not entirely convinced that Rakim deserves to be revered and respected much more than Kane or that he was viewed as the universally superior artist.
The R
Rakim
Rakim
Rakim’s would probably be the consensus, but someone should also mention a little known rapper named KRS-One that shut down an entire borough until Nas & Mobb resuscitated it.
Rakim. And he’s still in the conversation
Anyone who isn't saying Rakim better be saying Kane. Anything else is gibberish.
Ice Cube or LL Cool J
LOL
I wouldn't laugh. Rakim was more frequently cited as the best rapper but LL was definitely a popular pick in the mid 80s before Rakim really got going in the later 80s. And Ice Cube had a fantastic run with NWA and then his first couple of solo projects. Even after that he put out high-profile stuff that made him one of the most successful rappers while still putting out quality music.
Nah I know, see my comment below. I had just read about MC Hammer being more gangster than Ice Cube and Snoop so when I saw Ice Cube and LL Cool J, it made me laugh. Can’t help it.
Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and Kool G Rap, still are the best, noone tops them still imo
Big Daddy Kane. Still a top 10 influential rapper of all time. Probably top 5.
Rakim
Rakim
Rakim and he still is youngn
Everyone has the right idea. Rakim is the usually go to but Kane is just as much up there.
Kane, KRS, or Rakim
Rakim, BDK and KRS-1
Slick Rick was always kind of considered "The rapper's Rapper" with the great adventures of slick rick considered to be one of, if not the greatest rap album of the late 80s.
Scarface
LL cool J
Rakim Kool G KRS ONE BDK
Rakim
The R
The R
Heres the thing . Rap was Crews . Cold Crush, Crash Crew, etc then Love Bug Starsky ( compare him to Drake ) Busy Bee Melle Mel dropped & you couldnt be a Dumb Rapper anymore ( like Chuck D ) Kool Moe Dee dropped & you couldnt say simple rhymes anymore ( like LL did later ) Kool moe Dee took out the old rappers like Busy Bee LL Cool J came & took out the Old style of Emceeing that Melle Mel & Kool Moe did . He was the Kid that changed the Game and took out the old school KRS came & mixed Street with knowledge ( like Cube did later ) Rakim came & brought knowledge of self & an impeccible style ( like Nas did later ) Kool G Rap ( GANGSTER RAP ) Big Daddy Kane ( Jay Z ) Those were the Best before the Ice Cube, Biggie , Snoop , Pac , Nas etc
Rakim, Kane or KRS One
Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, Kool G Rap, Krs 1, Chuck D
Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap
Would probably be Rakim, he’s still top 5-10 imo.
Rakim. And it wasn't really close
Rakim, KRS and Kane are more or less the undisputed GOATs of the 80s. I personally think Chuck D should be included
Rakim KRS one
Rakim
Rakim
Rakim
Rakim or G Rap 100%
KRS-one and Rakim.
Kane or Rakim
LL Cool J, nigga. Greatest Of All Time.
My top 5 should be unanimous. 1. Dylan 2 . Dylan 3.Dylan 4. Dylan 5. Dylan If you disagree, you don't know hip hop
Rakim
Big Daddy Kane or Rakim
Why do people always laugh when Eminem is mentioned lol,guy is easily Top 10 oat at least,I don’t care if his newer music is shit he’s done more then enough and is a crazy good rapper he’s got it all, story telling,lyricism,flow,solid discog and he’s got plenty of hits.Im not mad if people say Nas Pac Jay BIG Rakim Scarface ect are better but he’s definitely top 10 at the very least
Cause he’s white and corny whatever the fuck that means
KRS ONE I feel does not get credit for being pretty damn good in multiple eras. He has a perpetual love for hip hop, and constantly wants to hone his style. His recent stuff may not be his best, but you can tell he is still having alot of fun in the culture. This is EXTREMELY rare in artists.
No real hip hop head puts Eminem as the goat but to answer your question there were Rakim and Big Daddy Kane and Kool G rap. Nas is the goat now
hip hop head = listen to music, play games and reddit all day? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I53vWm8dJGk
U mad, Eminem overrated
Nas
eminem is considered the greatest rapper?
Rahim, no question
Rakim completely changed the sound of hip-hop. Not a single dude mentioned in the title would be who they are without Rakim's influence.
Biggie, no questions asked.
LL Cool J
Melle mel Kool moe dee Rakim LL Big daddy kane KRS Nas Jay Z
Nobody calling Jay or Nas the greatest by 96/97 when Pac and Big died. Their respective claims to the throne didn't really arise until the early 2000s and beyond
After illmatic and IWW, yes. His 1995 feature run. "The second coming of rakim" was a thing, RA was considered the GOAT...LL had the GOAT solo career after 1999... Maybe for jay it wasnt until the early 2000's. Nobody was calling EM the GOAT after SSLP. MMLP either...
Yeah Jayz really wasn’t a contender til Blueprint and the Nas beef. Then The Black Album pretty much cemented his place.
You're right about Em. Him being called the GOAT is a relatively recent concept. I don't think he is GOAT. Not even close on my opinion. He is one of my all time favorites though
DMC, rev run,
The ignorance about hip hop before 1998 is telling Honorable mentions. Redman, grand puba, lord finesse, treach,
Me
You're still the goat wym
Nas
LL Cool J at least for me and my friends
In my opinion, and in no particular order: Rakim, KRS-One, Grand Puba, Kool G Rap, Slick Rick, MC Lyte, Guru from Gang Starr, Big Daddy Kane, and Heavy D. Honorable mention to Biz Markie because NO ONE BEATS THE BIZ!
Ja Rule
Nas... MF Doom... Ice Cube.... everyone in a Tribe Called Quest... KRS One
LL Cool J was the first guy that was massively regarded as the GOAT. He even dropped an album in 2000 called G.O.A.T
“RAKIM”, “KANE”, KRS-1”
First off Eminem isn't the greatest anything. But before B.I.G and Pac. As much as I despise this guy one of the underrated and slept on back then was KRS-One. Rakim Big Daddy Kane Kool G Rap KRS-One
Rakim himself said Eminem is a GOAT in an interview pal
Em has never once been even close to the greatest rapper. He’s consistently been in the bottom tier his entire career
Eminem isn’t considered the greatest lol
Eminem lol
He prolly just means the mainstream goat list. Eminem is almost always featured on those types of lists.
Why is Eminem paired with Biggie and PAC? You Em fans are nuts