So from time to time, I find it in my day to go look through some of the singles that may be posted on the main page. Sometimes the song is good, sometimes its bad but thats just the way that hip hop is at the moment. You're going to have a mixture of garbage, high quality garbage, and of course, theres always the real music.
When the members on the main page have the chance to reply to some of these songs and leave their comments, one of the things that I have noticed is that nine out of ten times an argument will occur about the artist being better than another artist, or how this artist is better than every other artist for one reason or another. I must say that although I find these discussions/arguments quite amusing, a lot of the people who argue for their represented artist don't really put down too many facts. They tend to just name albums and call them classics, or say that they rap about things that matter.
So as a way to assist with these arguments, I have come up with a guideline that you members can choose to use, if you like, when gauging one rapper/emcee from another. I tend to use the following.
Flow-What it sounds like. Is it repetitive? Does it bring energy?
Delivery-How they approach every beat. Is it like everyone elses? Is it easy to replicate or does it actually take a craft?
Wordplay-Wordplay is the way in which they place the words in their verses. Synonyms, pace, breath control, vocabulary and how they use it in a verse. For example, instead of saying you make me mad with the results, an artist might go "Im repulsed at the results". It means the same thing but the new word enhances the flow and decorates the wordplay.
Simile - is nothing but a comparison using 'like' or 'as'. It's very simple to do but if done right, it is great for battles and freestyles. But because anyone can do a simile, if an artist is known for just similes, it dosen't make them talented, it makes them one dimensional and corny.
Metaphors- Metaphors are also a comparison, but you don't use like or as. Ex. "A dam is a wall to water. It blocks the (outward) movement of water."
Creativity- This is pretty simple. No artist should always sound the same, if you do then you probably suck.
And just to close things out, just because an artist talks about things that matter, does not mean that they are great rappers. Rapping about politics while another artist raps about big breasts and shiny cars dosen't make that conscious rapper superior lyrically. So stop please be conscious of the lyrics. And last but not least, SWAG has nothing to do with anything and it does not constitute someone being a great rapper so dont use it in an argument.
COMMENTS
Simile - is nothing but a comparison using 'like' or 'as'. It's very simple to do but if done right, it is great for battles and freestyles. But because anyone can do a simile, if an artist is known for just similes, it dosen't make them talented, it makes them one dimensional and corny.
^^^HAHAHAHA we all know you meant Lil' Wayne with that!
haha ElectroG thats exactly was i was thinking
SWAG has nothing to do with anything and it does not constitute someone being a great rapper so dont use it in an argument
that one to
umm i think this is by LYRICALTHOUGHT my nig
good criteria...U had me laughin at tha SWAG line tho..fucc tha swagg bullshit...i nevr believed in it i mean as a rapper u gotta hav sum swag but basically it should be natural..i.e jay-z,young jeezy,
fuck this ...this is hip hop stop being so damn technical, we dont need to rate rappers, thats the prob wit a lot of u internet bloggers, just enjoy the music and listen to wut u like, no need to hate cuase a rapper doesnt fit inside ur box, gtfooh wit this bs
Papoose Need To Take a Look At Daat Flow Part Because Ma Dude Flow Is Daa Same Shit Daas Waas Holdin Hiim Back n Lil Waynes a Herb But White People Think Daas Wat Make a Perfect Rapper
haha what is this hip hop 101 by the way check spider loc and 40 glocc of g-unit chasing lil wayne in the street on thisis50.com, trash the comment if u want but just thought some of u would want 2 see it
Ward, ur name is will, ur def a white person
Chalieboy, ur name is Chalie, ur def a retard!
THATS FUNNY AZZ SHYT HOW EVRY THOUGHT WEEZY WEN HE SED SIMILIES CUZ DATS ALL WAYNE DO...AND DID ANY OF YALL NIGGAZ NOTICE HOW MADD DIS NIGGA SCOOP GOT ABOUT THE ARTICLE...I THINK HES STARTED TO REALIZE THAT HIS FAVORITE RAPPER LIL WAYNE DOESNT FALL UNDER ANY OF THE POSITIVE NOTES OF WHAT A GOOD RAPPER IS...DAT NIGGA BITCHN...LOL
BROOKLYN STAND UP...BEDSTY, NOSTRAND IS DA AVE COME HOLLA
^ ChalieBoy
who the fuck are you talking about "you a white boy." motherfucker you white!!!
Wayne stans need 2 read this shit, props Show
why is wayne yal favorite nigga to hate
this blog doesnt even have his name in it yal on his dick more than any of his fans
not just wayne stans, all of them, AND the haters.
My First Blog I'm Expecting Plenty of feedback
A plaque proves ur one of the best in the game? so by ur logic soulja boy one of the best i mentioned Wayne because he's meant to be "the best rapper alive" but ask yourself how many of those catergories does he excel in? hmmm need a few minutes to think?
all of em and no one is forcin you to listen to him so get ova it then, i dont understand why niggas always tryin to covince everyone who and who not to listen to we can all pick our own outlets thats whats good about music there isnt juss one artist and everyone shouldn like 1 nigga, yal juss wastin ya time wit it lil wayne or jay z bein tha public best isn gonna stop ya favorite rapper from makin songs music is an art not a sport.
it was good, i liked it, could of used a few more examples on the the def
good breakdown, on how to judge an mc.
Rhyme scheme is a lot more important than some of these, but maybe that's just me...
I accidently posted this below just trash the other one.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhyme_scheme
Take for example, this line from Just Don't Give a Fuck by Eminem
"I'm buzzin, dirty dozen, naughty rotten rhymer,
Cursin at you players worse than Marty Schottenheimer"
He rhymes "naughty rotten rhymer" with "Marty Shottenheimer." That's six syllables that he rhymes in that particular line, whereas most rappers typically rhyme 2-3 syllables at a time.
lil wayne excels in all those catergories?! what u been smokin goddamn no wonder u got joker in ur name
They're propping me because he could have left out any other category and argued that it was because they all fell under wordplay. I could also argue that flow and delivery are the same thing, but that's neither here nor there. I feel rhyme scheme should have been up there because to me, it's at least as important as any of those other skills and is the most overlooked skill in rap, and is the reason why hip hop is dead these days; but to each his own i guess...
I feel u but i think that was included in flow and delivery
@ rawtoon U cant post under every comment dumbass
Well i am, but i aint one to hate, i use to listen to him though
Swag jus an excuse 2 have wack lyrics. A niggas lyrics may b wack but he sound cool sayin them. WTF
Good blog, you on point with all this. But in my opinion I think every rapper has their own faults in their music. Like artists like Talib has a great delivery but his flow sometimes come out as boring which is why I think fans of trap rappers can't really listen to that. And rappers like Jeezy got the creativity and he brings alot of energy. He's not very lyrical and his subject is very limited were as Talib talks about all types of topics. I listen to both types of artists whenever I want to listen to some deep shit or just something with a light listen that you can act wild to. Foreal I don't there is no such thing as a perfect rap artist.
i feel you dawg cuz most girls will listen to plies before styles p anyday thats what i was tryna say every rapper is marketed to a certain audience and its up to tha people that listen not any standards
Talib be flowin on the tracks. I think LyricalThought should have added tone of voice, cause Banks monotone is just too damn boring.
you make a good point but all of that Fits into wordplay and delivery, so its mentioned
You should listen to Big Pun then.
Bad rappers use "swag" as a way to validate themselves. Just ask Rocko, Shawty Lo, etc.
Sounds lik Lupe has all those qualities to me
co-sign
I dont think you did your research homie, Jay been Cocky from the get go. Thats why a lot of people didnt like him back in the day and swag is just a corny way to say stage presence or Charisma and Hov Definitely had that From day one
you talkin bout jay z in those hawaiin shirts??
true... but swag wasn't that important as it is to "certain listeners" now a days
swag is basically setting trends with sneakers and clothes and jewlery and shit. you can have the lamest swag and rock busted clothes until the day that you die but if you put it down on the mic and keep it 100 i can give a rats ass about your swag because i'm going to ride with you because you are putting out good quality music
No offense but thats not swag. Swag isnt even a word, thats called being Marketable, and all you have to do to be marketable is be decent looking and dont say anything to stupid.
and most artist dont come out with these trends, their stylist tell them what to wear how to wear it and what will be hot, Artist get way to much credit
cosign theshow,
absolute non-cosign jerseycity.. you have it completely fucked up.. swag has nothing to do with clothing or sneakers, did you not think before you commented.. idiot
Swag is how you carry yourself..most of the time its in an arrogant cocky way..basically feeling, acting like, and letting everyone know your the shit and will always be
lol wow
my life is trash but i attend a private university with a 3.0 gpa lol, go kill yourself, and your correct translation for your lack of grammer is
Original sentence: You're life is trash
Translation: You are life is trash
go superman off of a roof IDIOT!!!!!
yeah? while YOU'RE busting YOUR ass in YOUR little private school paying 30 grand a year, i make double that and im 18... but i must admit YOU'RE one jersey city nigga i'd hate to run into on campus.. are you gonna tell me your name is clarence?
Do we have another case of e-thuggery on our hands? let me get reign on the phone...
no way, jerseycitynigga is as hard as they come, i wouldnt fuck with him
I had to create an account just fa dis shit.... my nigga spelled "Grammar" wrong.... and u say u got a 3.0
@talloroybjay
The reason why is cause you can count jay out of two of those catagory's compared to the definition creativity and simile. people always compare him to B.i.G. and on most songs he sound's the same.
I dont agree with there definition of creativity while it is creative to switch up your flow from song to song I think creative is the ability to make a song come to life, not just your everyday three verse and a hook.
Thats a really good point, Props for that one
well i respect what your saying
but can u name one all around rapper who has done it all better then him, and if u can.
can u supply some evidence?
According to defsounds definitions up there eminem in no way am I saying em is better than jay nor do i beleive jay is better than for the simple fact that their both on diffrent pages when they rap and it's unfair to compare em's record sales to jay-z cause em will when with the white people and dre's fans.
but according to defsound definitions:
Flow: eminem has great flow he alway's bring alot of energy some people may say it's repetitive cause they think all he raps about is his mom wife and daughter but those people must not own a em album and beside's every rapper has something they keep talking about from day one.
Delivery: em's delivery is flawless he can rip any beat and he always bring a certain craft.
Wordplay: Em's word play is rediculus probly one of the best i've heard
Simile: Em is never compared to any other rapper infact every rapper say's that em is in a lane all by himself.
Metephore: I wouldnt say he's the best with metephore's I actually think nas is the best with metephore's but em is up there.
Creativity: No one I mean no one switch's up the flow more than shady and that's a fact listen to criminal and count how many times he swtich his flow.
i think it's both
Simile: Em is never compared to any other rapper infact every rapper say's that em is in a lane all by himself.
jbsmooth...eminem was gettin compared to nas and AZ wen he first hit it big cause they had good vocabulary for rappers and makin sense. and listen to yellow brick road he switches his flow crazy on that song and still kills it
One nigga that definetely had all that in the bag was Big L
HELL YEAH GOOD LOOKS
BIG L IMO IS DA GOAT
I PUT DAT NIGGA OVER EVERYBODY
HE RAPPED ABOUT EVERYTHING
SWITCHED HIS FLOW
ALWAYS STAYED ON TOPIC
DELIVERED
NOBODY WAS FUCKIN WITH HIS WORDPLAY, SIMILES, NOR METAPHORS
HE WAS THE ULTIMATE MC...BUT HIS OWN BLOCK BUCKED HIM N WE LOST HIM
NICELY done....
but yea nowadays.......many rappers don't have 2/5 of these categories
but this is how i rate my niggaz
its all tru
n to da dude who said Jigga had no swag back then.....LISTEN TO REASONABLE DOUBT
on 22 two's he ended dat shit sayin
"Nigga u broke WTF u gon tell me?"
IMO...thats swag...VERY cocky...but swag
a lot of rappers imitate that swag today so please explain wat u talkin about
um then im guess im wrong about him then, i still view him as a clown though so its all good
na JAY-Z was a clown too like when he freestyled w/ BIG L in '95
he was jokin around makin up words n shit
jus bein an asshole in da booth so u right also
thanks for the help bitch. now i cant rate them like the fuck i want
is there a category for niggas who talk about stuff they dont do and niggas that do what they speak
LOL it should be
cuz niggas like
WAYNE 50 n FAT JOE are PUSSIES
n they talk o reckless
my uuncle grew up w/ PUN, JOE, LORD TARIQ(BX rapper), N PETER GUNZ(C. GUNZ popz) in da BX
n FAT JOE got his ass beat like ay day
but niggaz like D-BLOCK, BEANS, TRUE LIFE, n etc...
TALK RECKLESS CUZ THEY ARE RECKLESS