who is the best MC in hip hop?
 

recently, Jenn did a post about Rolling Stone's list of top NYC rockers and rappers, and it was mentioned here, while the rock side was pretty solid for the most part (aside of any bands that only appeared in the last 10 years), but the rap portion of the list was quite asskiss in favor of Jay-Z, and quite appalling that The KRS is over, The KRS is over BIDDY BYE BYE

http://www.trapperjennmd.org/2007/03...biddy-bye.html

one year ago MTV did their part to suck up to Hova with this ensemble:

1. Jay-Z
2. Tupac
3. The Notorious B.I.G.
4. Rakim
5. Nas
6. KRS-One
7. Big Daddy Kane
8. Ice Cube
9. Eminem
10. LL Cool J

and this morning this list on about.com spurred some more fire in the camp roast

1. Rakim
2. KRS-One
3. Big Daddy Kane
4. Nas
5. The Notorious B.I.G.
6. Jay-Z
7. 2Pac
8. Kool G Rap
9. Ice Cube
10. Scarface
11. Common
12. Chuck D
13. Redman
14. Slick Rick
15. LL Cool J
16. Big Pun
17. GZA / Genius
18. Lauryn Hill
19. Eminem
20. Black Thought

so who is the Greatest Master of the Mic?

poll in a sec

I'd say Mr.Lif or Method Man, but since they're not on the list, I voted for Notorious B.I.G.

I think it is very hard to say who is the BEST, but in my opinion, the 4 most lyrical, intelligent, forceful, rhymemaster MC's of all time are

Rakim
Chuck D
Slick Rick, AKA MC Ricky D
Guru

well i did have a other option for that reason, there alot if great MCs out there, but since the polls only hold 10 max, i devoted 9 to the consensus "best of" and left the the last one open for other for that reason

edit: dumb trivia post #666 knowledge, before i knew of the 666 connotation with the devil, it was my favorite number along with 6 or 66, hell in catholic school i drew race car and put the number 666 on it, i had no idea there was a certain underlying anti-christian basis to it, but i am sure the teacher was rather perturbed

mf doom or saul williams.

i picked Nas, i have Illmatic on cassette and listened to it endlessly in my car for a long time,

sucks that polls go only to 10 and not to 20, i really wanted to add some killah bees to the mix, mostly Ghostface and Meth, also missing is Big Pun and some underground wonders like Aesop Rock or Ill Bill

i almost put Slick Rick on the poll insted of Big Daddy Kane, but went the other route

biblical scholrs and researchers found out a couple of years ago, after going back to look at the greek source material for the current bible, that they original was mistranslated. (as is to be expected). The actual "number of the beast" given in Revelations is 616 , NOT 666.

This has not gotten much publicity because of obvious reasons. stupid fucking christians and their unquestioning sheep like minds.

i'd have to say it's out of ghostface, andre 3000, and black thought for me.



anyone ever heard mickey avalon?

i like the method man.

I don't know about skills but, tonality-wise, I like Chuck D's voice. And Q-Tip's voice. And Ice-T's voice. And Adroc from the Beasties' whiny nasal voice.

I like Busta and ODB (rip) and Missy Elliott cuz they all strike me as being a bit nuts.

Out of the poll options (not picking "other") I'd pick KRS-One.

But rap-wise I think KAIN (of the Last Poets) is king. (If you like Saul Williams and Mos Def you should love him.)

E-40.

KOOL KEITH!

Busdriver!!

theiy're all awful

14 posts until a negative response? i would've lost that bet, haha.

"best" is nas...he has made questionable musical and image choices, but
his lyricism has always been incredible.

"favorite" for me would personally be redman, who unfortunately is known
to modern hip hop fans mostly for his musical/cinematic/sitcom collabo
with method man. "unfortunately" because a lot of fans don't know about
his early solo stuff, like whut? the album and muddy waters. he's the
best combination of humor, voice and flow in an MC to me. but i can't
call him the "best" because he lacks sorely in overall subject matter. nas
can and has tackled everything.

OK... i love them all...

I'm tragically old school. I was thinking KRS-One, but then realized that I don't actually think he, or anyone, has topped MC Melle Mell of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five on "The Message". Yeah, I know that was just one song, but that's the whole point, I can't think of a track that tops it for vocal poetry.

sprinkle me.

That list is shit. I choose Public Enemy and I'm very partial to the Beastie Boys and the Herd.

Chuck D