How To Rate Your Rapper
by on July 18th, 2008
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.



























^^^HAHAHAHA we all know you meant Lil’ Wayne with that!
that one to
WOW JOKESTA MUST THINK WE ARE ALL RETARDED, NEWS FLASH BUDDY
CLEARLY EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT KIND OF MUSIC THEY LIKE, AND WHAT
RAPPERS THEY THINK HAVE GOOD FLOW AND WORDPLAY. EVERYONE BE
DIFFERENT SO THIS IS BULLSHIT LOL.
AND BETYALYFE YOUR A FUCKIN GOOOF IMA TRASH YOU TOO LOL
BROOKLYN STAND UP…BEDSTY, NOSTRAND IS DA AVE COME HOLLA
who the fuck are you talking about “you a white boy.” motherfucker you white!!!
this blog doesnt even have his name in it yal on his dick more than any of his fans
the only thing you could argue with wayne against is wordplay..but thats because you not listening
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhyme_scheme
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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.
Personally, all rappers that I consider great are great for different reasons. Jeezy and Nas are both great IMO, but for different reasons. Their really isnt a criteria on how to judge a rapper IMO.
You must be the one trashing all my comments..ha.
anybody else confused by that?
/>
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.
rick ross didn have one now he has a boss swag but now he does have a fan base.
..fucking homo’s, get a real job
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
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
Original sentence: You’re life is trash
Translation: You are life is trash
go superman off of a roof IDIOT!!!!!
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.
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?
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.
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
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
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
he was jokin around makin up words n shit
jus bein an asshole in da booth so u right also
cuz niggas like
WAYNE 50 n FAT JOE are PUSSIES
n they talk o reckless
my uuncle grew up w/ PUN, JOE, LORD TARIQ, N PETER GUNZ 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
BIG L died on the block he spit about
THATS REAL
but Tru Life
robbed MOBB DEEP in da studio n striped them naked IN QUEENS n sent them home
punched CAMRON in da eye
n busts his guns
HOV need to let him drop
he a real dude
n D-BLOCK…well who names themselves after one of the toughest prisons out there
but BUCK was jus trynna get his rep up
but that cryin w/ 50 shit made him look like a wanksta
it was stupid as hell though
cuz every celebrity’ skeletons come out sooner or later
I’m not 100% sure but I think D-block isn’t it’s own prison it’s a range on rikers
lupe,mos-dep,common,talib…they have everything on that list and they are in their own hip-hop catagory
nas,jay,eminem,styles,kiss,sigel,fab,ghostface most of them have everything up there but may lack 1 or 2 of those catagories
it depends on the listener because you can’t just sum everything up and speak for everyone else
i like raekwon but someone else may thing he is the worse rapper ever and don’t have any of those things up there so it is basically everyones opinion
@ 212SupaGangsta…listen to a song called “brooklyn’s finest” on [Reasonable doubt] with jay and b.i.g…..jay was cocky as hell on that too but his flow and delivery has always been crazy from the jump which most niggas don’t realize jay used to rap fast but switched it up
but i was jus showin how COCKY HOV is
I 1st listened to Reasonable doubt/Brooklyn’s Finest I was like 8…I’m 19 now and what got me is when Jay said
“You crazy, think your little bit of rhymes can play me?/
I’m from Marcy, I’m varsity, chump, you JV/? lol
“While im watchin every nigga watchen me closely, My shit is butter for the bread, they wanna toast me” Woo first line comin out the gate gunnin. Reasonable Doubt is Jay’s trump card cus if you don’t think its in the top 10 hip hop albums all time, well you have very different tastes than i do.
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.
TALKING ABOUT “ISSUES” DOESN’T MAKE YOU THE BEST..point blank.
Here’s my Top 5 lyricist(in no particular order):
Jay-Z
Eminem
Canibus
Rakim
Biggie
Top 5 rappers:
Jay-Z
Scarface
Pac
3 Stacks
Biggie
Best All Around:
Pac
Scarface
3 Stacks
Jay-Z
Biggie
As I said before this editorial breaks down the elements of a lyricist..People like Canibus are great lyricist but aren’t the best rappers..They don’t have the swagger, catch phrases that stick to the fans, nor the style…They are all lyricism, which will eventually bore the fans if they aren’t displaying these elements to keep their attention..Words mean nothing without feeling and creativity..
I know there will be some who disagree but instead of hating put your top 5 up and lets debate intelligently on it..
Top 5 up and coming:
Trae the Truth ( if he gets the right promotion)
Joe Buddens( if he ever gets the promotion he deserves)
Saigon ( if he ever gets the right promotion and stop region hating)
Stat Quo ( if he gets released from Aftermath or Dre drops his album)
Ya Boy ( same as the others as far as promotion)
u kept it 100
but my top 5 LYRICISTS in NO ORDER
KRS ONE
RAKIM
BIG L
JAY-Z/JADAKISS
BIG DADDY KANE
TOP 5 RAPPERS
5.LUDA
4.STYLES P
3.JADA
2.JAY-Z
1.BIG L
ALL AROUND in NO ORDER
LUDA
JAY-Z
JADAKISS
BIG L
BIG DADDY KANE
UP COMERS
Jae Millz (if he gets da right promo n GOES BACK TO HIS OLD FLOW)
Crooked I ( promo )
Buckey of D-BLOCK ( he’ll be a good lyricist w/ da right promo )
Corey Gunz ( he got a lil buzz but needs more promo )
Bully of D-BLOCK ( w/ a right promo he’s a Styles p/ Kool G Rap in da makin )
Top 5 Rappers (which is really the same thing as your all around category, since lyricism is a subcategory of rap)
1) Pac
2) Nas
3) Big
4) Jay
5) Cube
Honorable mention to Face, KRS, Rakim, Dre, Em, Big L, 3 stacks and a few others i can’t think of rite now
Top 5 up and comers:
1) Crooked I (spits nuthin but fire, mite be the best out right now IMO)
2) Saigon (crazy lyricist, with promo could go big)
3) Bishop (with Dre, anything is possible)
4) Joe Budden (might have missed his chance already)
5) Nino Bless (Mixtape was off the hook)
“I’m the best/ even when I’m cynical/ angle these beats like the pentagon whenever my pen involved ain’t nothing here minimal/Countin my bread/My account like a brunch at a synagogue/get it yall that’s a whole lotta bagels…”
Man just give him a listen you’ll understand.
first off wayne use of simlies aint corny..creative as fuck
second wtf there a blog telling me how to rate the shit im listen to?? WTF
3rd that list above me alllllll fucked up!!\
both them
I’m the bomb like tic tic
I wear bright red like a girl toe
I told a tool box bitch its hammer time
ONE THING THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO LISTENING TO MUSIC IS THE LISTENING ASPECT!! MOST PEOPLE ONLY JUDGE OR COMPARE MUSIC, SO THEY DON’T GET THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF APPRECIATION OUT OF THE MUSIC!!!! JOE BUDDEN MADE A VERY POWERFUL AND TRUE STATEMENT IN WHO PART 2 WHEN HE STATED THAT MOST PEOPLE ACT LIKE THEY CAN’T LIKE MORE THAN ONE RAPPER AT A TIME!! ALSO WHEN HE MADE THE STATEMENT, THAT THERE ARE MORE CRITICS THAN FANS!!! I CAN’T STAND READING COMMENTS OF IGNORANT PEOPLE WHO ARE BIASED AND TOTALLY BLINDED BY THE ARTISTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY INFATUATED WITH!!! I LISTEN TO ALL MUSIC, BUT I AM A FAN OF WHO CATCHES MY EAR AND ATTENTION WITH MORE THAN THE NORMAL JIBBER-JABBER OF EVERYDAY!! JUST RHYMING WORDS ISN’T ENTERTAINING, SIMILIES USED TOO OFTEN IS CORNY AND IRRITATING!! ONE THING THAT I USE IN MY FORMULA IS SUBJECT MATTER AND REMAINING ON TOPIC!! GREAT BLOG!!!!!!!!
you are very hillarious.I’m coming back from the mall and you are trying to be extremely hard over the net and what point are you trying to make lol? we just had a blog about e-thugging and you are setting the trend once again lol, and i’m not paying out of my pockets because i have scholorships but you most likely wouldn’t know what one of those are because that explains your ignorance and lack of knowledge mr.I WANT TO BE FROM THE HOOD BUT NEVER STEPPED FOOT INTO ONE LOL!!! , and WOW i’m so proud of you that you work at burger king haha, you are making soooo much money @ 7.00’s an hour =] and by the way, i’m not a thug or gangsta or would ever want to be one you clown, now go kill yourself because you are a waste of defsounds space and a waste of life which your mom should of swallowed you because your ignorance is at an all time high _
did i burn you that bad?
“your mother should’ve swallowed you”
but yea u gettin at that nigga
Wayne’s use of similes is boring 50% of the time..Secondly, why hate on our list when you didn’t put one up yourself so that we could dissect it since you disagree with ours..That’s my opinion and I don’t ask you to agree..The beautiful thing about hip hop is there’s always different opinions on rating emcees..That’s why there’s not one artist that outsells everyone else on a consistent basis..But put your list up and then talk to me pimpin..
Now as far as everyone else there’s also a category for your personal favorites..I didn’t include that but here’s my favorites…
Scarface
Pac
Jay-Z
Devin
3 Stacks
Buddens
Kiss/Styles P
8ball (the old version)
MC Eiht (the old version)
B.G. ( it’s all on you volume 1 and 2 version)
Ghostface/Method Man
Twista (Adrenaline Rush version)
Music is no different than Politics or Religion…
“if you don’t agree with me, you’re wrong.”
that’s how it’s always been, how it is and how it’s always gonna be.
the fact that some 2nd rate blogger is gonna try to force bullshit guidelines upon anyone is hilarious.
seriously… you guys need DEFferent day jobs. (word play)
stick to postin songs (late as hell) and postin rumors.
you’re much better at that.
THE BEST RAPPER PERIOD I DONT CARE WHAT NO ONE SAYS
1) Chamillionaire (most slept on…dude just on another planet)
2) Lil Wayne
3) Eminem
4) Lupe Fiasco
5) Jay-Z
and if its all your relying on then your garbage
Flow = 3
Jus bcuz of his voice
He sounds dead
Delivery = 3.5
Wordplay = 3.5
Similes = 3.5
Metaphors = 4
Creativity = 4.5
Curren$y has said sum different shit than most rappers
Flow = 3/5
Delivery = 3.5/5
Wordplay = 4/5
Similes = 3.5/5
Metaphors = 3.5/5
Creativity = 4.5
I switched da scores of Wordplay n Metaphors intentionally after I thought about it harder
Overall rating = 3.66
3.66 = pretty good
/> Guys, A mexican dude was actually murdered by a bunch of white highschool kids in PA. No one has been charged. Remember Jenna 6, well this shit happened for real in the opposite. PLS, keep up on this STORY. Make sure these fucks pay. Im Counting on you Datpiff.
(As for the article Broke.Lo, that’s straight bullshit. No one deserves that kind of treatment, I don’t give a damn what popped off. You know the cop is lying, there is no doubt it was racially motivated.)
Flow = 4/5
Delivery = 3.5/5
Wordplay = 4.5/5
Similes = 3/5
Metaphors = 3/5
Creativity = 5/5
Overall Rating = 3.83
Note: I still like listenin 2 Curren$y more, lol
Overall rating =
Chuck D
Ice Cube
2pac
Andre 3000
Eminem
B.I.G.
Jay z
50 Cent
Nas
Jadakiss/Juels santana/Lil wayne
Big Pun
M.c. Lyte
Chamillionaire
Jeezy
B.G.
Remy ma
Slick Rick
Snoop Dogg (esp. freestyles)
Young Buck
Rick Ross
Lloyd Bank$
Scarface
Mystical
Ma$e
Mia X
Kurupt
Bun B.
T.I.
Big Daddy Kane
Lil Kim
Rakim
Big L
M.C. Ren
Saigon
fabolous
Hussien Fatal (Outlaws)
Khadafi (OutLaws)
Lupe / Kanye West (cry baby)
Kam
Some of the dopest that even done it.
Anyway, this is a good topic. i choose who i listen to by the flow, delivery n all that.. in my opion, if you’re a rapper and none of those qualities show in your music, youre wack.
Oh..in response to the simlie and metaphor thingy…I believe wack or simple rappers overly use similes. Metaphors display the lyrically talented rappers.
Lol…@ the people who dislike Lyrical Thought.
…Funny how corny & one dimensional get associated with Wayne so easy.
Good Blog!
P.S. Anyone wanna have a discussion about two rappers? Let’s Go! I’m curious to notice how this Blog will effect what you people say…
Nas
Big Pun
Slick Rick
Jay-Z
B.I.G
Raekwon
Luda
Jada
Kanye
Eminem
Faverite producers- Primo, Rza, Kanye, 9th Wonder, Pharell
That’s a pretty hard list..Some I don’t really agree with it even though I like them..It’s just they ain’t my favorites..Soula Slim was one of the most slept on too…It’s a lot of people that slept on Fatal first album..That was my shit back in 98/99..
Big L would’ve been that dude had he lived..He’s in that class with Pun and Biggie..He didn’t get a chance to put out enough material but half the rappers out bit his style including Jay and the rest he’d run laps around…
I think i’d have to run with Just Blaze over Pharrell…I’d even go with Timbo first..A lot of people sleeping on Organized Noise too..
P.s. about bein a Lil Wayne fan….. (Sarcasm)!!!!
If u suck u just suck. U put the pen 2 da pad n write wats on ya mind rite it’s not our fault wat these niggas write sometimes comes out sounding retarded.
Swag is not important, Wayne couldn’t survive in the late 90’s-mid 2000’s, that’s when rap was at it’s best look at the record sells, don’t blame ringtones n limewire, blame the rappers (((sorry south)))
My top 5
Jay-Z
Big
Pac
Rakim
Nas
Jay Z (no one alive is better to me period!)
B.I.G (the best in every catagory if you rate by any standard, no one living or dead is nicer)
Big L
Canibus (nice as hell, but had terrible production and poor promotion)
Jada Kiss/Lox
Nas
Hell Rell/Dipset
B.G (I really feel this dude, but if you rate by Lyrics standards most wont like him)
M.o.p
Ludacris
Camron (357 and pull it era)
Ice Cube
Mobb Deep
Big Noyd (Mobb Deep affiliate)
Cormega (I like him, but he’s not amongs the elite, he just nice to me. He killed everybody on that firm joint on Nas album “It was Written” him and Foxy Brown)
RedMan
Wu Tang (the old Wu, I dont feel most of thier new shit, but they definitly earned thier spot amongt the elite)
Scareface
50 Cent (he not as nice as he was when he first came out. Listen to 1st major release “Guess who’s back?” for that raw uncut Fif, that’s some of his best)
Lloyd Banks (lyrical monster punch lines metephores and all, but not as established cause he needs to aquire more albums to show he’s consistant, he’s diffinitly underated)
2 Pac (one of the greats. but has always lacked versitility. see Pac and Bone Thug vs B.i.g feat. Bone)
this is not by far the only rappers I like, but were some of the first to come to mind. Lil Wayne is not on the list, but I do like him, he’s just ok to me, his singles be hot. The albums are ok, he’s very over rated in my opinion. I don’t believe he’s as talented as any of the above mentioned artist, but none the less he’s talented. That’s just my opinion
this is good criteria to judge rappers i wouldve added beat selection though and to the people sayin how you gonna tell me how to judge rappers i like…how the fuck do you judge a rapper if it aint what that criteria says. thats why yall crankin dat supaman
I think Dr. Kanye West is one of the brightest.
Not because of what he is doing now (destroying beats) but simply because at the age of 25, I’ve NEVER heard anyone with such potential. You can only compare him to the likes of Nas, jay-Z, common…etc.
DaKush talkin bout u crank dat, that shit is 4 kids yo, aint nobody doin dat shit n NY. This aint hiphop nomore, only popular artists go platinum like corny ass Soulja Boy lol. He’s a disgrace, I wanna hear him freestyle or battle somebody.
That’s why I listen to a lot of old shit cuz todays rap is too comercial, like Jadakiss said “hiphop belongs to tight pants wearin rappers”
Am I blind or was Jadakiss not at all mentioned in this blog? There’s a new guy too, LOS. Check him out….his mixtapes are free on DatPiff…. Guilty Until Proven Innocent, G5 Certified Fly, and G5 Special Edition. Tell me he won’t be in your top 5 one day!!!
Flow: 10/10 just listen to illmatic, stillmatic, untitled, & it was written. enjoy said!
Delivery: 10/10 has alwayz been on point his whole career. Ether ate up Jay-Z! King of NY is Nas!
Wordplay: 10/10 just listen to hope please if you think any different bout my rating
Simile: 10/10 just got mad skills yo. eat up your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper.
Metephore: 10/10 classic is what nas is about. listen to life’s a bitch, just a moment, rest of my life, fetus for prove!
Creativity : 10/10 just da best, went mainstream for a minute but came back to his roots. albums don’t sell much nomore. which is a shame cuz plies and wayne is nowhere near on nas’s level and two ok discs is outselling and classic. what a shame.
Nas prefect rating. may have flaws but not much. Nas is numba 1 Greatest rapper alive and eva! learn it