Of all the ways to judge an MC, judging them on their voice seems the most unfair because they really can't control that.

And yet, a dope voice can make a mediocre MC seem great (see Tupac). And their have been some great lyricist whose voices knock them down a notch or two. My vote:

Best Voices in Hip-Hop: Tupac, Biggie, Mos Def

Worst Voices in Hip-Hop: Talib, Chance (at times "Nananana")

Who you got?


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

great, beyond his voice. It was a combination of everything.

2. It's not just voice, but how they use it, and how they deliver. Perfect example is seeing that certain rappers sound amateur on their old material because they didn't have the confidence yet, and didn't know how to use their voice.

With that....it's hard to really say who has the worst voices. Boosie's voice is squeaky, annoying, and actually funny, but it's perfect with his delivery, and going on top of the beats he uses.

The most distinct ones to me are probably DMX, Snoop, Dre, Kendrick (who used to rap in a low voice), Wayne, and a few others.

For some reason, Fat Joe's voice and overall delivery is one of the few that has just worked for a good 20 years, and never sounds out of place.

though. I love Kendrick but his voice takes from his greatness. Yes I said it.



>great, beyond his voice. It was a combination of everything.
>
>2. It's not just voice, but how they use it, and how they
>deliver. Perfect example is seeing that certain rappers sound
>amateur on their old material because they didn't have the
>confidence yet, and didn't know how to use their voice.
>
>With that....it's hard to really say who has the worst voices.
>Boosie's voice is squeaky, annoying, and actually funny, but
>it's perfect with his delivery, and going on top of the beats
>he uses.
>
>The most distinct ones to me are probably DMX, Snoop, Dre,
>Kendrick (who used to rap in a low voice), Wayne, and a few
>others.
>
>For some reason, Fat Joe's voice and overall delivery is one
>of the few that has just worked for a good 20 years, and never
>sounds out of place.


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

I always thought Kanye had a weak voice. Still do. Arrogance, humor and great beats have carried him though.

Kweli used to annoy me too. That voice + early career squeezing 8 syllables into the space of 5 took a bit away from him, but he's overall a very dope lyricist so not thaaaaat much.
______________________________________________________________________________

cscpov.blogspot.com

"There's a fine line between persistence and foolishness..."
-unknown

"To Each His Reach"

<=========================================
https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PYzh4v9cSf4FDnq3yMQyqNqh79o=/800x0/filters:no_upscale%28%29/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4079674/jlio.0.gif

being a baby.

worst: eazy e, tho he used it well. Em, cuz he intentionally doesn't use his regular voice, either whining or screaming too much.

adding black thought for best and jcole when he's not singing.

Best: Scarface, The Notorious BIG, Fat Joe, Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, pre-Encore Eminem, Pre-Grand Champ DMX, Q Tip, Juicy J, Jadakiss, Ghost

Worst: Talib, Puff, DJ Paul, Kendrick, Ab Soul, Canibus, Young Jeezy, Raekwon

worst voice list


Different strokes I guess

His voice cuts through anything. Considering how loud the Bomb Squad music was it needed to be.

but I wasn't sure if it was appropriate since I wasn't sure if folks from other regions would agree and I was basing my opinion on my East Coast bias.

Defari and Chali 2na come to mind as very good voices.
______________________________
http://i.imgur.com/v2ye7l2.jpg

I mean a lot of these new rappers are just as bad or even worse, but I don't even count them or even know half their names. Don't care either.

Best: Chuck D, Nas, Kane, early Snoop, Scarface

Some of the Best:
Rakim, Kane, GURU, Buckshot, Rock, Parrish Smith, Mos Def, Black Thought, Xzibit, Method Man, GZA, Scarface, Ice Cube, DOC, Q-Tip

Some of the Worst:
Sadat X, Keith Murray, Greg Nice, Lil Wayne, Eazy E, 50 Cent, Fabolous

>Some of the Best:
>Rakim, Kane, GURU, Buckshot, Rock, Parrish Smith, Mos Def,
>Black Thought, Xzibit, Method Man, GZA, Scarface, Ice Cube,
>DOC, Q-Tip
>
>Some of the Worst:
>Sadat X, Keith Murray, Greg Nice, Lil Wayne, Eazy E, 50 Cent,
>Fabolous


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

Sadat's is dope too

In that the distinctive trait is more it's uniqueness rather than simply its range or ability to convey an emotion.

Even guys like Lil' Wayne, who may have one of the few voices that I don't like, has an immediately recognizable voice.

But some voices that I do like:

Chuck D, Black Thought, Kendrick (because it's distinctive), GURU (obviously), Grand Puba, Q-Tip, Xzibit, Andre 3K, T-Mo, Dr. Dre, Snoop, RBX, Kurupt, Luda, KRS, Roots Manuva, Pac, Cube, DOC, BIG, Common, Fatlip, Method Man, Ghostface, CL Smooth, LL, Lauryn, Queen Latifah, Ice T, Both MC's from Camp Lo, Mos, Greg Nice, Lupe, Dilla, Pun, Del, Dave from De la, Zach de la Rocha, Royce, Phonte, Freddie Gibbs

Best: Dr. Dre, GZA, BIG, Nas, KA

Worst: Madlib, El-P, French Montana, Danny Brown, Capadonna

Fat Joe, Rampage the Last Boyscout, Phil the Agony

Nicky Minaj, Azealia Banks, Lil' Kim and Foxy.

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

Best is probably Chuck D

Some have better voices than others, but even guys like Danny Brown, Chance, Eminem, and Kendrick sound great to me when their material is on point.