can we just give them both credit for that run. i know the post seems to be about solo artist, but Big Boi was just a beastly during that run... shit Organized Noize has a big hand in that as well
10. "Came in to post 'Kast" In response to Reply # 6
and I'd say either SPCM or ATL (because of time constraints) until Stankonia. Argue whether or not that album was a classic if you like, but they were on their fucking game.
And really. Back in the day it was just people who didn't listen to rap who said that Dre was clearly the better of the two, and people who listened to the genre knew and respected them as a group. Only recently is it that people who grew up on the shit (or at least say they do) dismiss Big Boi. The man has never been a slouch, or second banana. His musical focus was slightly different, and his celebrity persona wasn't as flamboyant.
13. "It's similar to..." In response to Reply # 10
Mos Def and Kweli early on...people were going nuts about Mos and kinda leaving Kweli out of the conversation. It has everything to do with charisma. Dre and Mos have it in spades. Kweli and Big Boi have it, but not close to the degree that the other two do. But like you said, if you know anything about hiphop you recognize that Big Boi and Kweli are both incredible on the mic.
So yea ... Big Boi is right up there with Dre. In the pantheon of hiphop duos, Outkast is the group that is most evenly matched IMO. De La a close second.
66. "AND the rappity rap category" In response to Reply # 43
nobody was seeing 3000 on the mic during those albums.
------------------------- “The other dude after me didn’t help my case. It was just like…crazy nigga factory going on.” Dre makes no apologies for his own eccentricities. “I was young, and searching, trying to find myself,” he says. “Never did.”-- Andre B
15. "they dont hear u tho" In response to Reply # 4
Cube was the MAN
its hard for people to understand when they wernt there how much he had hh on lock
-------------------- "Good hair"-Uzi
1619 the 1st slaves are brought to American shores thus begins the phrase “mine is better than yours?” (huh?) forced to serve-too broke to by freedom the systematic rape of African culture has begun little time
11. "why you only list Jay's years?" In response to Reply # 7
lol. im guessing 50 was what 03-05 (?-not too good with those years, i stepped away from mainstream rap in a big way), Wayne 06-09, LL 85-97 and 96-97 (?)
and i knew you'd come in with the popular choices. i appreciate you keep mainstream rap in perspective and in the convo within the lesson
8. "RE: What MC has had the best 3-5 year Run to you? : Any Era" In response to Reply # 0
GURU (strongest stuff was throughout the 90's) KRS-One 87-97 (all of the BDP's and his 1st 3 solos) Ice Cube 87-92 (although 87 was NWA & The Posse and 92 was Predator.. both of which are questionable IMO) Rakim 87-92 (Paid in Full thru Don't Sweat the..)
even though I'm a fan of This Aint No Mixtape, i believe his run really started with Pilot Talk and is still going strong. of course some one will come in hear and start yelling about he only an internet rapper or some shit
16. "Kanye '04-'08. His current run nothing to sneeze at either" In response to Reply # 0
But Ye's string of Dropout, Late Reg. & Graduation was a pretty damn good sprint..
Dude had some pretty good mixtapes mixed in there too.. people forget, back in the Mid-2000's Kanye was a frequent fixture in the mixtape game..it seems like so long ago now because of the type of artist he's become now..
#PicABeat Audio Photo series. Where the beat is inspired by the photo.
25. "kanye the ARTIST > kanye the RAPPER" In response to Reply # 20
>all time? wasnt aware anyone felt that way.
lesson threads about kanye always get sidetracked because kanye's weakest skill set is his rapping.
but as an overall artists, i'd put his work up against any other second tier legend. (and for the record, his rapping got a lot better).
when i say "late registration" and "MBDTF" are classic albums, i'm not talking about his rapping. it's the way all the elements come together.
i dig the way all of his layers of sound weave in and out if the track. i like the way his music sounds soulful.
even when he's sampling a song that i'm familiar with, i like the way the old song is recontextualized.
and to be honest, i have a rockist bias, so i like the idea that kanye can walk in the studio and build a track AND rap on it, and that makes me give him more credit than jay-z, who is useless without somebody like kanye at the helm.
so no, the person you're replying to is not alone in his feelings.
i don't know if I'd give kanye the award for this post, but I would consider him.
67. "his weakest skillset is his own beatmaking" In response to Reply # 25
------------------------- “The other dude after me didn’t help my case. It was just like…crazy nigga factory going on.” Dre makes no apologies for his own eccentricities. “I was young, and searching, trying to find myself,” he says. “Never did.”-- Andre B
24. "The more I think about this..." In response to Reply # 23
The more I think that Common is the best answer and I would love to hear an argument for someone that was on a higher level than Common between 94 - 00.
I can see Cube, I guess. But Cube was never at the same level of Common lyrically.
Not to mention Common's run includes Bitch N Yoo.
Resurrection - One Day... - Like Water For Chocolate
Guest spots for De La, Roots, Black Star, Pun, Beatnuts, Brand Nubian, Pete Rock and the list goes on.
Joint on Soundtracks and Comps like Soul In The Hole, A.I.D.S., Hi-Tek etc.
This guy was on a high level of MCing for a good 7 years.
Common at the height of his powers is as good as it gets imo. Everything he did between '94-'00 was great. And while Resurrection and LWFC are the 2 best albums he ever made, in '97 on ODIWAMS you could argue as an MC he was in his prime.
39. "^^^^this is just it." In response to Reply # 38
Totally agree. Resurrection and LWFC were better overall albums but he was never better on the mic than he was on ODIAMS (and during all guest appearances/b-sides/mixtapes during that period).
42. "Ice Cube > BIG too...but y'all ain't complaining" In response to Reply # 33 Thu Jun-21-12 03:11 PM by TRENDone
2pac is the most complete hip-hop artist of all-time. His 1st 5 yrs as a SOLO artist > anybody else. Only ones close are Cube & Eminem...Jay-Z & Scarface? Nope!
2pac's solo career was legendary even before All Eyez On Me.
Ice Cube came from one of the greatest hiphop groups of all-time. His producers Dr Dre & Bomb Squad were legends before he went solo.
That's why I put both 2pac & BIG...first to say both after 25 responses smh
BIG's first 3 yrs solo is arguably better than Pac's
49. "Let's go over Pac's career before Death Row, shall we?" In response to Reply # 47 Thu Jun-21-12 06:19 PM by TRENDone
yknow...before hip-hop purists started hating on Pac.
Nov 1991: 2Pacalypse Now (2x Platinum, Gold before death) singles: Brenda's Got a Baby, Trapped
1993: Strictly 4 My NIGGAZ (Platinum before death) singles: I Get Around (gold), Keep Ya Head Up (gold)
1994: Me Against The World (debut #1, 2x platinum before death) singles: Dear Mama (Platinum, #1 hip-hop, #9 Hot 100), So Many Tears
let's not forget the album cuts and of course, the movies:
-Juice -Above The Rim -Poetic Justice -he also directed his first video, Mac Mall - "Ghetto Theme"
name me another a solo hip-hop/rap artist, any era, that had a better first 3 years as a SOLO artist than Pac. Cube? How about a rap artist that started solo...Snoop/Eminem/Nas/50/BIG? not the greatest lyricist, doesn't have the greatest album, but say it with me...
"Most Complete Hip-hop Artist of All-Time"
I'm also starting to call him the #SnapbackGeneration's Bob Marley
51. "RE: Let's go over Pac's career before Death Row, shall we?" In response to Reply # 49
We talking about as an MC/Rapper ......not movies...so if we are just talking about as a rapper...who had the best run..There are plenty that rival your post
Rakim:
1987 Paid in Full ...arguably the Best Hip Hop LP ever (Top 5 on ALL LIST!) "I Aint No Joke" "Eric B. is President" " Move The Crowd" ..shall I continue? 1988 Follow the Leader ..basically created the Blueprtint to the way almost every East Coast MC rhymed after him...This is legendary impact back to back on first 2 LP's .."Microphone Fiend" "Follow The Leader" "Lyrics of Fury"........no need to list anymore.. 1990 Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em ..do I really need to go into detail? 1992 Don't Sweat the Technique ..."What's On Your Mind" might be the coolest "chick/mack" song I ever heard in Hip Hop...
This 1987-1992 literally CHANGED Hip Hop and Mcing my brother...By the way, Tupac is one of my favorite artist and his passion on the mic is second to none..
"Highly developed spirits often encounter resistance from mediocre minds."-Albert Einstein
52. "RE: Let's go over Pac's career before Death Row, shall we?" In response to Reply # 51 Thu Jun-21-12 06:32 PM by TRENDone
>This 1987-1992 literally CHANGED Hip Hop and Mcing my >brother...By the way, Tupac is one of my favorite artist and >his passion on the mic is second to none.. >
all good! Pac was definitely influenced by Rakim. but i will refer to Pac as a "hip-hop artist" or "rapper" before calling him an "MC" so i guess i can see why no one mentioned him. But I'm shocked no one mentioned BIG!
Since hip-hop became a worldwide phenomenon not just on lyrics alone, i included other forms of artistic expression like movies, and factor in other things like passion on the mic, charisma, content, range (all 4 are traits of a great MC), cultural impact.
i didn't even think of saying rakim simply because i didn't witness the beginning of his career, only saw the after effects. So now I gotta throw in LL Cool J to the list of names.
53. "RE: Let's go over Pac's career before Death Row, shall we?" In response to Reply # 52
Oh, I feel you my G. Much respect. Yeah, I remember Rakim from that time and trust me, rap changed after him. But yeah, as an artist, Tupac is next level. Dude was an amazing individual with regard to talent...we lost him 2 soon..
"Highly developed spirits often encounter resistance from mediocre minds."-Albert Einstein
56. "Question for everyone: " In response to Reply # 0
What's your start/end sate for Jay's run? I think Black Album was the end but can't quite figure out the start. Reasonable Doubt is Reasonable Doubt but the Vol series are a mixed bag (better than they get credit for but I digress).
61. "I actually revisited Vol 1 and 2 not too long ago..." In response to Reply # 59
They were better than I remembered. They completely fail at being cohesive statements but Jay was blacking out consistently. When's the last time you listened to them?
62. "Uuummmm a while ago..." In response to Reply # 61
but that's my point ... as albums they don't stand the test. I'm sure he was lyrically good, as he generally is. But if we're talking about a good run of albums, those weren't it. As far as I remember at least.
63. "Oh, and I should make clear..." In response to Reply # 61
I'm actually someone who always enjoyed Vol. 3. The beats were understated, Jay did his thing. I just didn't think it was a GREAT album, at all. It had very low lows. At times put me to sleep. But the highs are really good.
65. "Oh wait I read your first response wrong..." In response to Reply # 64
My bad, I thought u were talking about Vol 2 and Vol 3
I did listen to Vol 1 recently. And I liked it a lot more than I remembered as well. It still had some lows but shit like "Where I'm From," "Million and One Questions/Rhyme No More,"* and "You Must Love Me" are among the better songs of his career
Vol 2 I'll have to try again and get back to u. I just remember being underwhelmed by how single driven that album was. But I'll let u know, maybe as soon as tomorrow.
*slightly off topic question: which beat did you like better, Million and One ?'s or Rhyme No More? I always preferred Rhyme No More by a long shot but they are both great.
71. "RE: Oh wait I read your first response wrong..." In response to Reply # 65
A Million and one but, I think the beat for "Where I'm From" is better than both (which is ironic as it's pretty much The Hitmen doing a Primo impersonation).
Im revisiting Vol 2 right now and it's still sounding good to me. The singles do tend to stand out but some of them still hold up as prime examples of (sigh) "Tunnel Bangers." "Money Ain't A Thing" is still horrible though.
>*slightly off topic question: which beat did you like better, >Million and One ?'s or Rhyme No More? I always preferred Rhyme >No More by a long shot but they are both great.
70. "going by og poster's rules 98-01" In response to Reply # 56
vol2 vol3 the dynasty blueprint
while eminem had the suburbs & nelly had the non-rap/top40 fans. jayz could do no wrong in these 3 years. he was officially the top cat in nyc and that means ALOT 1st platinum albums
74. "Yeah, I was thinking....that's probably it" In response to Reply # 70
even though I think the first two albums have better songs on them than even that set, if you were to pick 3 years out of the Jay-Z run it probably would be those. you get his hits and his album cuts in the same breath.
