2010 RAP-UP!!!

Yooooooo!  Ok...I gotta say - I’m curious to see what 2011 has in store because 2010 was an AWESOME year for music, hip-hop specifically.  This was the first year in a long time where there were several releases, all of which were of outstanding quality.  It feels good to know that even though there is still a certain "type" of song dominating the mainstream, it hasn't effected the artist’s approach with taking their time and making quality material.   2010 is also a great representation of how far hip-hop has come, since the beginning.  One could argue that it is highly over-saturated now, but it is that same over-saturation that has brought about so many sub genres within this genre alone - there is truly something for everyone, if you search hard enough.  This is completely different, even if we're just talking 10 years ago.  There are so many options now.  It is also this over-saturation that has forced artists to make better music because record sales have dwindled - Gold is the new Platinum.  Honestly, I think 2010 is the first of many great years to come.  With no further ado, here are the year’s best and worst.  


I figured I’d get the worst outta the way...

WORST, OVERRATED AND DISAPPOINTING ALBUMS

TI - No Mercy - Perhaps going to prison again put a monkey-wrench in Tip's plans for King Uncaged.  Nonetheless, one should not base their opinion of TI off of No Mercy alone.  While No Mercy does have some outstanding moments, they are far overshadowed by the many features and lackluster songs throughout.  It was painfully obvious this album was not only rushed, but there was no serious thought put behind it, not even in the tracklisting.  As a loyal TI fan, I felt misled.  I was had.  I'd been took.  Hood winked.  Bamboozled.  Led astray.   Run a muck.  Hopefully he can deliver a quality album when he finishes his bid.  Hold ya head, Tip. 


Ludacris - Battle of the Sexes - Big ol' wah wah.   Although  “How Low” and “My Chick Bad” proved that Luda has some staying-power in the game, he’s yet to make that solid and cohesive album.  One could argue Back For the First Time and Chicken & Beer - but c’mon son - Luda is ten years deep into the game with no classic album under his belt.  


Ice Cube - I Am The West - Some people didn’t even know this album dropped.  I know it’s tough to follow up stellar albums like Laugh Now, Cry Later and Raw Footage, but I Am The West did not represent the West well.............at all.   


DJ Khalid - Victory - There’s not too much to say about this album that hasn’t already been said about Afghanistan.  While “All I Do Is Win” saved this album as far as sales go, there was honestly only one other song that could’ve made this album worth getting and that was the title track featuring Nas and John Legend.  But even then, that’s two (and a possible) out of twelve songs.  That’s a “one-hot-track, every-six-song” average and that’s so LAAAAAAAAAAAAME.    


Young Money - We Are Young Money - Has there ever been a successful compilation album?  I could be mistaken, but I’d say no.  Jay-Z’s Dynasty album could be the closest, but even that had more than its fair share of hiccups.  We Are Young Money is no different.  Honestly, this album came and went.  “Every Girl” and  “Bedrock” went hard and “Roger That” was one of the dopest beats this year, but that’s where it stops.  

VERSE OF THE YEAR

1. Royce Da 5'9 - "Remember the Titans" - For anybody that ever doubted Royce Da 5’9” as one of the game’s top lyricists:  this oughta shut you up, at least for the time being.  Loyal Royce fans know that this track-slaying was nothing out of the ordinary for him, but this was important in that he stood out amongst industry heavyweights like Fabolous and Lloyd Banks.  When you heard this song, there was no doubt in your mind who stood out.  





2. Nas - "Victory" 


3. Nicki Minaj - "Monster"  


4. Joell Ortiz - "Battle Cry" 


5. J. Cole - "Shade 45 Freestyle" from Jermaine is Here mixtape

Honorable Mentions - 

Joe Budden "Unthinkable Freestyle" 

Royce Da 5'9" - "Deadly Medley" 

Jay Electronica - "Ghost of Christopher Wallace"

FAVORITE PERSONAL SONGS  

These songs weren't necessarily singles, just some of my favorites released that I had on rotation.   

1. Kanye West - "Lost In The World" 


2. Rick Ross - "Tears of Joy"





3. Lupe Fiasco - "The Show Must Go On"


4. John Legend and The Roots - "Little Ghetto Boy"


5. Nas & Damien Marley - "Africa Must Wake Up"

Honorable Mentions - 

Kanye West - "Joy" 

Curren$y - "Audio Dope" (and "Example")

Reflection Eternal feat. Jay Electronica, J. Cole and Mos Def - "Just Begun"

J. Cole - "Autograph"

Lloyd Banks - "Take Em To War"
David Banner and 9th Wonder - "Be With You"

FAVORITE PERSONAL NON-RAP SONGS 

Non rap songs that I bumped all year. 

1. 30 Seconds to Mars - "Kings and Queens"


2. Travie McCoy - "I Need You"


3. The Black Keys - "Tighten Up"


4. Lyfe Jennings - "Statistics" 


5. Janelle Monae - "Cold War" 

Honorable Mentions - 

B.o.B. - "Lovelier Than You" 
Paramore - "Brick By Boring Brick" (late 2009)
John Mayer - "Assassin" 

Kid Cudi feat. Kanye West - "Erase Me" 

R. Kelly - "When A Woman Loves" 

Kings of Leon - "The Face" 

NON-RAP ALBUM OF THE YEAR 

(Alternative, R&B or Hip Hop Influenced)

 1. Janelle Monae - The Archandroid 

2. Cee-Lo - The Lady Killer 

3. The Black Keys - Brothers

4. Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown

5. Elton John and Leon Russell - The Union

Honorable Mentions - 
Travie McCoy - Lazarus 

Bruno Mars - Doo Wops and Hooligans 

Robert Plant - Band of Joy

MIXTAPES OF THE YEAR

 1. J. Cole - Friday Night Lights 

2. Joe Budden - Mood Muzik 4

3. Wiz Khalifa - Kush and Orange Juice

4. Fabolous - There Is No Competition 2

5. Big KRIT - K.R.I.T. Wuz Here 

Honorable Mentions - 

Maino - The Art of War 

Wale - More About Nothing 

Yelawolf - Trunk Muzik 

SINGLES OF THE YEAR

1. B.o.B. feat. Bruno Mars - "Nothin On You"


2. Rick Ross - "BMF"


3. Eminem - "Love the Way You Lie"


4. Kanye West - "Power"


5. Wiz Khalifa - "Black and Yellow" 

Honorable Mentions - 

The Roots - "How I Got Over"

DJ Khalid - "All I Do Is Win" 

Ludacris - "How Low"
Joe Budden - "Follow My Lead"
Big Boi - "Shutterbug"

ALBUMS OF THE YEAR

1. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - If anything, Kanye should definitely go down as having one of the best comebacks we’ve ever seen.  Just a year ago he was the world’s most hated celebrity.  This year, he once again raised the bar not only for himself, but for music in general.  Production-wise, this album is flawless.  Seamlessly incorporating many of the elements from his previous albums - live orchestration, autotune, soul samples, heavy synthesizers, and unorthodox drum patterns, song structures and arrangements, Kanye was able to create something new, different and exciting.  The other phenomenon about this album is that there were no traditional radio singles.  None.  Perhaps “All of the Lights”, but not really.  And for those who follow Kanye’s career as a lyricist, few would argue the fact that he’s come a long way since College Dropout.  Perhaps his genius “Good Friday’s” marketing strategy ruined the surprise element of the album’s release, but there is no doubt that he made an instant classic that can and will be played and studied for years to come.  Kanye takes the #1 spot for many reasons, but for me - I find it remarkable that even with three (arguable) classics under his belt, he hasn’t lost a step.  Making one classic album is difficult, ask Ludacris. But try making a second.  Then a third.  Then a fourth.  Not to say that it’s impossible, but you have to be of some extraordinary talent to maintain that level of creativity on a consistent basis.  Thank you Kanye, for once again for taking creativity a step further and showing us how to make G.O.O.D. Music.  Standout songs - “Dark Fantasy”, “All of the Lights”, “Devil in a New Dress”,  “Hell of a Life”, “Lost in the World”  


2. Rick Ross - Teflon Don - Call him what you want, but Rick Ross knows how to make an album.  Honestly, I thought he hit his creative peak with Deeper Than Rap - and so it is with this review that I’d like to eat my words.  Rick Ross made a certified classic with Teflon Don.  Musically, he’s always had a sophisticated approach to his production, especially with the Justice League-laced “Maybach Music” series.   While Deeper Than Rap was a solid project in its own right, Teflon Don is his monumental album where everything came together perfectly: production/arrangement, lyrics, and style.  You can hear a certain confidence in his voice that was missing on his previous three albums.  If there is one thing we all can learn from Rick Ross, it’s that it pays to know a thing or two about music.  Good music will always prevail.  Even when your street credibility is on the line because people are labeling you the worst name you can be called as a gangsta rapper - “The Police”.  He also made one of my favorite songs this year with “Tears of Joy”, featuring Cee-Lo.  BAWSE!!! Standout songs - “BMF”, “Free Mason”, “Tears of Joy”, “MC Hammer”


3. The Roots - How I Got Over - It was tough putting The Roots at #3.  I went back and forth with this one all year.  In my opinion, this is The Roots’ best work since Game Theory - and honestly, I think this blows Game Theory out the water.  It could be the consistency in production that most Roots albums lack.  It could be the content, intelligence and overall delivery of Black Thought.  It could be the overall feel of the album and how appropriate it is to the current times. Whatever it is, The Roots nailed it on this one.  My only wish was that it was promoted better, because it should’ve been a top-selling album.  More people need to hear this project - especially those who cry that real music is dead.  Standout songs - “Now or Never”, “How I Got Over”, “The Day”, “Doin It Again”, “The Fire” 


4. Nas & Damien Marley - Distant Relatives - I can’t lie, this album had to grow on me.  Perhaps it was because I was turned off to the African theme about it - not because I don't wanna hear about Africa,  but because I didn’t wanna to get preached to.  If it's about Africa, trust me, I’ve heard it and seen it before.  I get it, we know that everything and everyone comes from Africa and that it is the motherland.  My question was - how are you going to present this in a way we’ve never seen?  It was just “ok” when I first listened through it, but I found myself always going back to throughout the year.  The beauty of Distant Relatives is that it incorporates many of the same universal themes that made Bob Marley such a historic icon:  Peace, love, friendship, betrayal, leadership, unity, religion, grief, motivation vs. despair.  This album isn’t simply about Africa, at least not entirely.  This album is more about bringing different cultures together and accepting each other for our differences.  Africa just serves as the common denominator between everyone.  Standout songs - “Strong Will Continue”, “Leaders”, “Count Your Blessings”, “Africa Must Wake Up”, “My Generation”

5. B.o.B. - The Adventures of Bobby Ray - Many argue that this isn’t a hip-hop album, but I’ve been listening to B.o.B. since “Cloud 9” and “Haterz” so he’ll always be a rapper in my eyes.  The Adventures of Bobby Ray is a breath of fresh air: fun, eclectic, different, youthful, lyrical, thought provoking and most of all - universal.  The Adventures of Bobby Ray is one of the most innovative (and slept-on: creatively not commercially) albums we’ve heard for many reasons, but one in particular: it is the first true alternative hip-hop album.  B.o.B. was able to incorporate rock and alternative music in a way that has been tried by others in the past, but never perfected.  It doesn’t hurt that he has a decent singing voice and plays the guitar.  There is an energy behind this project that is missing in most hip-hop projects released.  An energy reminiscent of The Pharcyde.  I enjoyed the fact that B.o.B was able to have fun and show that it is ok to be a nice guy.  Furthermore, he was finally able do away with the Andre 3000 comparisons and establish his own lane with this album.  Standout songs - “Airplanes”, “Past My Shades”, “Ghost in the Machine”, “Fame”, “Lovelier Than You”

Honorable Mentions - 

Curren$y - Pilot Talk, 

Drake - Thank Me Later 

Bun B - Trill OG

Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot

See ya in 2011! 

“If I don't know where I'm comin' from, where will I go?”

What up hip hop heads!!! Sooooooo in the middle of my last blog, my sister Affry (short for Afriika) raised an interesting question - “Where are hip-hop's John Lennon, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, John Coltrane, Janis Joplin, etc??”......I had to let that one marinate for a bit....then a little bit longer...

At first I didn't understand where she was coming from. To me, this question was no different than the cliche statement “hip-hop ain't what it used to be”, which makes me cringe inside. While I am someone who cherishes everything about the past, I feel that what was done in the past is...well...in the past. What about now? I mean, the past was great, but I always like to see what can we do in the present to improve our future.

Why do we study our past? In hopes to learn something from it so we don't make the same mistakes, right? After thinking about her question more, I still felt unsettled because deep down I knew there was, in fact, something special about the artists she mentioned that was missing in many of today's artists. Something bigger than talent. Bigger than the music itself. I decided to listen to the artists she mentioned with her question in mind. I listened to these artists with a fresh ear and thought about exactly what was going on during the time in which that music was released, and how was the art reflecting that? After all, art is supposed to imitate life, right? I realized the art is just one part of the bigger picture. The same way we look to our athletes to be role models on and off the field – we look to our musicians to do the same thing, for the greater good of the world and our future. This made me wonder, what legacy will our current artists leave once their time is up? How will we remember them?

John Lennon is someone who represented peace and nonviolence, the same way Martin Luther King did. During the time when our country was at war in Vietnam, John Lennon was one of the biggest voices in entertainment to speak out against it. He was so influential, former Senator Strom Thurmond sent a secret memo to deport Lennon from America by taking away his visa, because he was seen as a danger to Richard Nixon's reelection in 1972.

Janis Joplin was that rebellious spirit who played a key role, artistically, in the Women's Liberation Movement. Prior to this period of time, women were denied rights and discriminated against – in addition to being looked at as simply sexual objects who should just “cook and clean” around the house. Janis Joplin represented the free and liberated women.

I look at these artists and compare them to today's. How will we remember today's popular artists? What is their overall message? While it's not fair to to compare today's artists to yesterday's based on their specific actions because we are living in a different era, something can be said about the rebellious nature these artists had. There will always be something to fight for: in the 1960s and 70s there was racism and sexism so that brought about the Black Power Movement and the Women's Liberation Movement. In the 2000's we still have racism and sexism in addition to prominent issues like political corruption, freedom of religion and gay rights. 

Right now, most artists are afraid. Afraid to speak out. Afraid to be different. Afraid of criticism. Afraid to do what's unpopular. Afraid of gossip and rumors about us. Afraid of what people think about us. And most of all - afraid of the consequences if they act out against opposing forces. It's easier to play it safe. Think about it like having a best friend that see's you getting bullied and beat up for no reason, but instead of jumping in the fight to help out or break it up, he (or she) runs the opposite direction, in fear of getting hurt themselves. It's easier to run. But like the old saying goes, you gotta stand up for something or else you will fall for anything. Afraid should never be in an artist's vocabulary.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying every artist has the responsibility to be a martyr – everyone isn't that strong. What I am saying is that every artist has the responsibility to be creative, innovative and thought-provoking in their own right. Every artist has the responsibility to push the envelope just a little. Whether with your words, with your message, or with your image – every artist should have their legacy in mind every time they touch the mic or put an album out. If not, then why do it?

To answer Affry's question – Where are hip-hop's John Lennon, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, John Coltrane, Janis Joplin (among others)? I can't tell you because only time will. We're talking about musicians who have made an impact and spoke for an entire culture and generation. We're talking about musicians who were fearless and spoke their minds regardless of the consequences. Musicians who are passionate about their craft – with or without money and fame. NWA. Public Enemy. 2 Live Crew (freedom of speech!). Rakim. A Tribe Called Quest. I feel like 2Pac and B.I.G were probably the last artists of that caliber. We have many artists who have made an impact on our culture in the 2000's and have the potential of being legendary in that right: Jay-Z, Nas, Eminem, Lil Wayne and Kanye West. I think the problem we're having nowadays is that we've seen everything, so no one is impressed by much anymore – or we're automatically skeptical. So when Kanye West says on national television “George Bush doesn't care about black people.”, we brush it off as a publicity stunt. When Jay-Z, who was once known as a party rapper, writes a song called “Minority Report”, it's overlooked because people say “he's trying too hard to be taken seriously.” When Young Jeezy makes “My President is Black”, all people hear is “...my Lambo's blue...” and miss the entire point of the song. When Nas names his album Nigger, we look at it as a publicity stunt even though that was the exact same title of Dick Gregory's autobiography written in 1964. When Eminem writes a song like “K.I.M.”, we think it's simply for shock value.

My point is maybe it's too soon to tell who our legends will be because we're still in the moment. Yes, we have our opinions on our popular artists right now, but when you're able to step back after all is said and done, you can give a more accurate view on who were the most influential. The same way Berry Gordy and Motown were looked at as “too commercial” and “crossover” during their time – now their legacy speaks for itself.

I think we'll be able to answer that question in 10 or 15 years when we look back at the 2000's and see what was going on in the world – and how did the music reflect it.

“If I don't like it, I don't like it – that don't mean that I'm hatin...”

Ok....this discussion seems long overdue so it's time to put it all out on the table. First – a brief history lesson: Soooooooo circa 1995 – 1997, Diddy's (then Puff Daddy) Bad Boy Entertainment was the first to popularize the term “playa hater”. This was meant to call out those “hip-hop purists” who were at opposition with the lavish lifestyle that was branded by Bad Boy in its hay day. Since then we've heard different variations of the term used (Hater, Ph. D, and one that should never be used in 2010 - “hater-aid”). It seems like we've seen every version of a “hater” song released. Needless to say, it is a common and sometimes overused term in our culture.    

My question is this...what makes someone a hater?

Lately, I feel like I've had to passionately stand up for some of our popular artists – not because I feel like they're God's gift to hip-hop – but because they are unfairly criticized. Don't get me wrong...if you've listened to their music with an open mind and realized it's not your cup of tea, I can't be mad at you. But if you're upset that they're always on the radio so you call them “wack” or “overrated” - that's just unfair.

For instance, I've talked to friends who've introduced me to Drake's music when So Far Gone was popular. They sold me onto him: said “He is the future!”, “He's the best thing to happen to hip-hop!”, etc. Now, since he's gotten popular, they refuse to listen to him because they don't “feel him anymore.” “Why?” I ask, out of curiosity. “They just don't rap like they used to.” This confuses me because unless I heard a different version of Thank Me Later, not much has changed in Drake's flow and formula since So Far Gone: same monotone flow, same rhyme scheme, same punchline setup, same style of hooks. I've also heard people say “he can't rap.”, which is the biggest pile of bs I've ever heard. Let it be known: Skee-Lo can't rap. Are we comparing Drake's talent level to that of a Skee-Lo?! I can see the argument in saying he can't sing...but Drake can rap circles around most rappers out right now. Do not sit here and tell me Drake does not have talent. You may not like his style or delivery, but that's completely different than saying he has the inability to put words together. That's just harsh.  


I think it's funny that the same people who used to complain about the state of hip-hop - crying that they're tired of artists glorifying violence, misogyny, and ignorance - are the same ones who dislike Drake: an artist who is the complete opposite of these images. He's clean cut, fairly positive, smiles, dresses nice, articulate, non-violent, caters to women and he sings. Where's the problem?

I used Drake as a point of reference because of his current popularity, but this could be said about any popular artist: Kanye West, T.I., Jay-Z, Lil Wayne...even Wiz Khalifa – but on a smaller scale. My point is that we need to learn how to listen to music objectively and stop listening for faults. The only thing that should matter when you listen to something is “how does it make you feel?” That's it. Different artists have different strengths. Paul Wall is one of the worst rappers to ever go platinum, but for some reason “Sittin' Sideways” stayed on repeat at one point in time for me. Am I not allowed to like The Roots and Paul Wall at the same time? I can't like Jay Electronica and Waka Flocka Flame?  If I judged every artist on their talent level or lyrical content, half of my 400 gigs of music would be deleted. I would never describe Triple 6 Mafia as the most talented rappers on earth, but dammit, their music makes me feel good. Does that make you look down on me?

It baffles me because we don't know how to listen to artists objectively. Example - I'm not a fan of Chuck D. Yeah, I said it. I'm just not. At least not as a rapper. Lyrically he does nothing for me. Is he in my top 5? Not even close. Top 10? Not at all. But I recognize this man is intelligent and incorporates poetic devices in his writing. I understand he was the face of an entire hip-hop generation in the late 80's. I have a huge respect for him. Unfortunately, his music just doesn't reach me the same way that Nas' does...or Jay-Z. Of course I grew up in a different era, so that's part of it. But I do recognize his impact on the game.

So back to my original question....what makes someone a hater? 


I think a hater is someone who dislikes something without proper reason. Right now, it's a trend to not be a fan of current mainstream hip-hop. We like to prove how wise and omniscient we are by showing off our useless music knowledge, name dropping unknown underground artists and complaining how “music isn't what it used to be”, the same way our parents did when we were growing up.

In addition, we as a people love to root for the underdog. We love to see someone overcome obstacles and make it to the top. Maybe it's us embracing movies like Scarface and Forrest Gump. Maybe it's the constant teachings of David and Goliath as kids in Sunday school. Whatever it is, we love to see someone succeed against all odds. And at the end of the day, that's what hip-hop was built on. Making something out of nothing. But here's the problem: We're also crabs. The same way we wanna see that person succeed, we don't want them to get “too” successful. God forbid. We love artists when they're “underground” and virtually unknown because of the novelty of it all. We feel like we have something that no one else has, and it feels great! But the minute that artist “crosses over” and becomes mainstream.......it's on to the next phenomenon. Happens every time. 



I challenge you – the next time you find yourself saying something negative about a mainstream artist – ask yourself is it because you're truly not feeling it? Or have you just trained yourself to not like what's popular, without giving it a neutral and unbiased listen? Can we learn to accept artists for what they are and the roles they play? We can't truly expect every rapper to speak on the plight of society or say something deep and profound. Not to say we should support ignorance all the time, but we need to lighten up! And if at that point, you still don't like it....then I guess you ain't hatin...

"...who's the best Emcee's?"

Yessir...it's that time again! I feel bad for MTV because BET pulled a straight up jack move on their “Hottest MC's in the Game” concept and created their own. This one is debating the hottest emcee's in the 21^st century (the past decade). First thing's first...there must be some clarity on the criteria on which these emcee's were judged. The decision was based on a rapper’s: flow, lyrics, subject matter, cultural impact, dough, and as needed in the arsenal of a 21st Century rapper –digital skills (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, their own website, etc.). BET's list is as follows:

# 10: Rick Ross

# 9: Jadakiss

#8: Young Jeezy

#7: Drake

#6. Ludacris

#5: TI

#4: 50 Cent

#3: Kanye West

#2: Lil Wayne

#1: Eminem

with Eve, The Game, Fabolous, Gucci Mane, Nelly as honorable mentions.


Personally, I think it's bs they left Jay and Nas off the list because they "came up in the 90's", but hey, these are their rules so I made my list based off of their criteria, not mine.  

My list is:

10. Lupe Fiasco – I thought it was a crime to leave Lupe off of this list. Sure he's not a platinum selling artist, but where he lacks in sales, he makes up for it in: creativity, artistry, lyricism, skills, digital skills, subject matter and cultural impact. Again, he's not a platinum selling artist...but Lupe can go on tour whenever he likes because he has a cult following that will attend his concerts and buy his albums everytime he drops. He has a cult following that will protest outside of Atlantic Records, demanding they give his highly anticipated Lasers album a release date. Lupe said it best: he's not in the game to sell millions of records. He's only here to provide balance. For every Gucci Mane, you need a Lupe, and vica versa. That goes a long way, in my opinion. Also - there's not a better lyricist to come out since Lupe. He is the best bar for bar lyricist to come out since Eminem. Flow, subject matter, lyrics, technique.  Name a better rapper? (besides the OG's: Jay, Nas, Em)........don't worry, I'll wait....

9. Young Jeezy – Ayyyyy! Jeezy showed us that less is more. When I first heard him, I never thought I'd ever include him on any top 10 list...he was a joke to me. But he has proven me wrong over time. Young Jizzle may lack lyrical complexity, but he proves you don't need wordplay as long as you have a little depth and substance. Think DMX in his prime. Jeezy has a knack for being motivational in his music. He makes you wanna get up and grind by painting a vivid picture, showing you the ups and downs in his story. Impact on the game? Lemme ask you this...you know what a “Young Jeezy beat” sounds like, right? You know when someone is using that “Jeezy flow” right? Most importantly, you know where rappers got their adlibs from, right? 'Nuff said.

8. Fabolous – How do you leave Loso off this list? He's been in the game since 99, cranking out hit after hit. "Can't Deny It", "Holla Back Youngin", "Trade It All", "Can't Let You Go", "Into You", "Breathe", "Baby", "Diamonds", "Make Me Better"...I can keep going.  Sure his first solid album came just last year with Loso's Way, but one thing's for sure – he's always been a dope emcee. Fab has had bars for days, but his problem was his delivery – at least until recently. He's probably the best punchline rapper in the game right now. In addition to his skills on the mic, Loso is killin the game via twitter. He's learned how to keep people interested and has gotten reactions out of everyone from Usher to 50 Cent. How's that for digital skills?

7. Ludacris – LUDA! There's no way you can mention this past decade without mentioning Ludacris. If we were only critiquing a rapper's flow, he'd be in the top 3 easily. Luda's always been a beast lyrically – his only weakness is putting together cohesive albums. It's impossible for him. I think Theater of the Mind is probably his most solid effort, but even that had its hiccups. Aside from that, he definitely had a huge impact on the game and the sales to go with it.

6. TI – I have this argument with people all the time. Why isn't TI ever listed in anyone's top 5? He....1.) has a catalog of hit records longer than every artist but Jay-Z, Nas, and Em. 2.)  He's sold millions of albums. 3.)  To say he's not a dope lyricist is a crying shame, especially after he murked Jay, Ye and Wayne on “Swagger Like Us” and finally 4.) He gave birth to many of our “trap-star” rappers that are popular today. So why? Why won't TI ever be in anyone's top 5? I think we all laughed when he claimed to be The King of the South on his debut I'm Serious. 5 albums later, I guess he had the last laugh. Aside from his poor decision-making abilities, TI has consistently cranked out hit after hit, while not compromising his skills as a lyricist.

5. Nelly – Yep. Nelly's #5, dammit. Why? If we're going by BET's criteria, Nelly is the obvious pick. I remember Nelly at the height of his popularity. Country Grammar – 10 million and some change. Nellyville – 6 million and some change. Even Jay-Z shouted him out saying “...the only rappers moving units is Em, Pimp Juice and us...”. While he gets minimal points on lyrics, he gets major points on flow. His melodic sing-song flow set the standard on how to deliver your lyrics for a hit single. As far as influence goes, he made a good point himself - who sang on record before Nelly? Which rapper incorporated melodic bridges in their songs before Nelly? He may not be your favorite lyricist, but he taught rappers how to re-structure their hit singles. His impact on hip-hop was so strong, he actually made you wonder who really won the battle between him and KRS-One? I'm not saying he did, but his career certainly wasn't damaged by it. Oh yeah, and he put St. Louis on the map. The only place he lacks is digital skills, and I'll say that's probably because he came up before social media took over.

4. 50 Cent – I had a hard time putting 50 at #4, but after thinking about it and BET's criteria: 1. He's still relevant. 2. He has lots and lots of dough. 3. He had a huge impact on the game with his Get Rich or Die Tryin and Massacre albums 4. He's the only rapper with a successful website (thisis50.com). Artistically, he's been a hit or miss with me lately, but one thing's for certain: 50 is probably the most respected (and feared) rapper in the game. Nobody wants it with him. We may even like his interviews more than his music because he's so unpredictable. You never know what he's gonna say about who...and that makes him exciting. Let's not forget, it was 50 that started the whole mixtape-game. He showed us how to build your buzz off of them, which is a formula that's still being used today.

3. Lil Wayne – I admit, I didn't know just how big of rapper Lil Wayne was until I saw his Rebirth album sell almost 800,000 (in this downloading era) without a smash single and a huge mistake by Amazon.com, leaking it six weeks before its actual release date. Even in prison, we feel Wayne's presence. He is the face of the new generation. He's always had the flow, but his lyrics finally caught up when he dropped The Carter in 2004. His work ethic made rappers step their game up, otherwise they'd get left in his dust. There was a point when Wayne was featured on EVERYTHING, in addition to mixtapes circulating throughout the underground market. Only Pac had a stronger work ethic – and it paid off by the time The Carter III sold 1 million its first week. As far as impact goes, there's no denying that Wayne has a tight grip on the game right now. He's introduced the world to Drake and Nicki Minaj and has no plans of stopping, even from prison.

2. Kanye West – Everyone has their opinion on Kanye West: you either love him or hate him. Outside of his many controversial statements and actions, Mr. West deserves the #2 slot for many reasons, but mostly because he is the most consistent across the board in terms of sales and artistry. By this point, you know if you buy a Kanye West album, you know you're going to get nothing less than high-quality music that is timeless. He is one of the few rappers who can say they have (arguably) 3 classic albums under their belt. Even his 4^th album 808's and Heartbreaks set a new musical trend by fusing hip-hop and pop. And although he didn't start out as the best technical rapper, his skills have heavily improved since his 2003 debut. Outside of his artistry and sales, Ye's impact on the game was very evident since he stepped on the scene. In an era dominated by gangstas and thugs, Ye made it cool to be preppy and revived socially conscious lyrics. In addition to resurrecting the careers of fellow Chi-Town rappers Common and Twista, he also introduced the mainstream to underground rappers like Mos Def and Talib Kweli.

1. Eminem –  Make no mistake, if Em were black he wouldn't have sold half the amount of records he sold – even he admits that. But outside of him being the top-selling artist (not just rapper) this past decade - you cannot deny the man's skills as a lyricist. He's not dope for a white guy – he's dope for any guy. Flow? Flawless. Lyrics? Always pushing the envelope. Battles? His track record speaks for itself. And while you may not be able to relate to all of his subject matter, you can relate to his overall story and struggle. You feel where he came from. The amazing thing about Eminem is that his influence and impact stretch beyond hip-hop. This man is the poster child for an entire generation of adolescent teens who observe the many hypocrisies of our society, but have no voice or platform to speak on it. In short - he is every conservative parent's worst nightmare. He has the skills to please any underground hip-hop head, but also has the commercial appeal to sell millions of records.



 

Honorable Mentions: Drake, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, Joe Budden


Thoughts?  Speak on it!