I'm feeling both of these artist to the fullest but if I had to pick one of the two emcees it would be Common...what you think.

One
____________________________________
Ricochet aka Rick Rude aka {You got too many names}

OKAY Uncle Ricochet- Giving You True Wisdom Since 2001

Shouts 2 Da One Shot Fam

"If I don't like it, I don't like it, that don't mean that i'm hatin'"- Common

Can I get a freakin record deal!!!

"I stay on ya mind like great sex, you ain't on my mind i'm thinkin bout pay checks"- Jay Dee

F--- a quote.

http://members.blackplanet.com/RickRude

Hit me up @ AIM: RicochetDaEmcee1

http://chegrand.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-havent-given-up-this-place-just-yet.html

like THIS

"You're here, I'm pleased" Jilly from Philly

Sites that I contribute to:

http://www.livefrommemphis.com

http://www.geeksofdoom.com

like mace!


the source mic ratings 1990-2001


@@@@@
-edutainment (funny in the annivrsery issue they left this out...but i have the ice cube issue when they first started rating albums)
-people's instintive travels and the paths of rhythm
-amerikkka's most wanted
-let the rhythm hit em
-all for one
-de la soul is dead
-illmatic
-life after death
-aquemini
-niggaz4life* (not reveiwed but in summer issue 92 they mentioned it as a 5mic classic)

@@@@1/2
-sex and violence
-buisiness as usual
-business never personal
-whut thee album
-breaking atoms
-death certifacate
-buhloone mindstate
-the chronic
-enter the 36 chambers
-southernplayerlisticadillacmusic
-life after death
-the infamous
-only built 4 cuban links
-illadelph halflife
-hell on earth
-bow down
-i am
-murder muzick
-life story
-classic limited edition vol 1
-guerilla warfare
-in my lifetime vol.3
-la rock familia
-ecleftic:two sides to a story
-moment of truth
-supreame clientel
-last of a dying breed
-the truth

the gag mics-
fear of a black planet-@@@1/2
da shinin-@@@
stankonia-@@@@
lootpack-@@1/2
ressurection-@@@1/2
the beatnuts-@@@1/2**
mos def and talib kweli are black star-@@@1/2
the love movement-@@@1/2
fantastic vol 2-@@@1/2

*-source never reviewed, but mentioned in summer issue that it was a 5 mic classic.

**-the only record to change a rating after printing. in the next issue they printed (in fine print that it was a @@@@ mic album)

check the resume

organix-93
(from the ground up)-94
do you want more?!!???!-95
illadelph halflife-96
things fall apart-99
(the legendary)-99
the roots come alive-99
phrenology-2002
the tipping point-2004
(the roots present...) 2004
homegrown: the beginne

took 41 posts to correct this motha'?...slakers

peace

shmooz

"i wanna be a pioneer so trails i blaze"

"hip hop you're the love of my life"

from the tfa intro I thought it was "then the thought up in ya face"

wrongo

bumping dywm the other day on distortion its "then distort up in your face like mace"

Years later i understand why its called distortion to static, I never heard the static until I put on headphones

yeah joe.......i'm feelin' that.......if i had to choose i would have to roll wit' cornbread too........not sayin' that thought don't be rippin' ish..........but i gotta stick with the hometown favorite..........


http://members.blackplanet.com/bonzmalone/

------

"The positions I played, every play, I was making contact, not like that ... Deion Sanders," "He couldn't tackle my wife. He's back there dancing out there instead of hitting." (c) Chuck Bednarik

......in a close race, I'd have to give the trophy to Black Thought. Now don't get me wrong, both of these emcees are great, but Thought has always been my favorite. Maybe we can convince these two to do an album together........


OKAYuncle Double M: Giving You True Wisdom since 2001

DaiLa: "Why are you so quiet?....."
Double M: "I was listening!!!!!"
DaiLa: "Oh.."

"My style's blessed like holy water....."-Double M

"I don't get strokes, muthafucka.........I GIVE 'EM!!!!!!"-Jim Brown

"I got techniques drippin' out my buttcheeks, sleep on my stomach so I don't fuck up my sheets"-The Notorious B.I.G.

"The man that said there is nothing to fear but fear itself..........never met me!"-Triple H

"If Faith had twins, she'd probably have two pacs, get it.......2 pacs?"-The Notorious B.I.G.

"...appreciate life, sit back, don't let it fly right past you"-Talib Kweli

"Every time I try to get a piece of mind, niggas try to get a piece of mine.........so I gotta grab my Piece"-Andre 3000

"I have the scars to prove the clock strikes with her hands." — Saul Williams

"I don't see why people are so scared of music, it ain't gonna bite you." — bnicedh

as in who's better?

no contest

black thought

he has more levels of skills than common. he's the all around super emcee.

shmooz

"i wanna be a pioneer so trails i blaze"

"hip hop you're the love of my life"

common shit is deeper...sometimes even more clever but black thought got common on voice, delivery and word pro-noun-ci-ation. joe.


________________________________________
-knead dough?? hit us up at-www.makindatbread.com
-representin the real since tuesday
-illified illustrated.word.fresh.

*get Lewis Taylor cd's here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000006TEI/o/qid=983465806/sr=8-2/026-0085729-5341211

much cheaper than the regular amazon (they charge $30 bucks) you'll pay 12pounds here which converts to less than $15 bucks.

>common shit is deeper...sometimes even more clever

Not totally true... I think Com has more word play ( in the form of similies and dualities) but who's to say what's clever and what's not... Thought comes through in the clutch!

<but black thought got common on voice, delivery and word pro-noun-ci-ation. joe.

Especially when he apropriately lays otherwise inappropriate stress, on words and syllables--- TIGHT!!!!

Well... in my book... The Black Thought is the "Rhinosaurus in the rap Safari"

Peace,
Mecca 2001 A.D.

"I'm thinkin', "I'm about to go out of my way for his in-store? Fuck That!" I turned the car around, said fuck 3rd Rail, took a nap and rocked my show..." ~~Talib Kweli 03/08/01

"no in fact, when growing up her parents instilled in her that love is black and only black. if u see white love anywhere, KILL IT!" ~~fire 2/19/01

"3:57 am... i am still in the eletric dungeon working on song number 32 (not complete, but demos before we start writing) for massa's "waterbaby" record." ~~qoolquest 3/08/01

"what i want to know is who called that muthafucka a piccolo player?
where im from theres only 2 real ways to handle shit like this paper rock scissors and
slap boxing oh yeah...positive k dissed my grandmothers potato salad last easter. but he got scissors to my paper and as a man i had to accept that. ~~mcScoobySnack 3/10/01

I know there's a move against "vs." posts, but this one is pretty clear cut to me, so I'm giving my opinion:

In terms of techincal skills: Black Thought.

In terms of personality and voice: Common.

Thought may have the better chance at taking the overall crown, cause so far Com wins personality by default cause Thought has no personality.

"cause thought has no personality"?????

damn, that's a bold statement!

peace

shmooz

"i wanna be a pioneer so trails i blaze"

"hip hop you're the love of my life"

>"cause thought has no personality"?????
>
>damn, that's a bold statement!

Possible Post-Jack:

I'd have to make a list to be sure of this, but I think Black Thought just might have the least personality of any MC at his talent level in history. I don't think it's a bold statement: 99% of the time he raps about the most basic thing every MC has ever rapped about (his flyness, his crew's strength). He dosen't do it with any noticable character traits (i.e. Jay-Z's aragonce (sp?), Eminen's shock effect, etc). He dosen't reveal many likes and dislikes, the few that he does wouldn't do anything to make him stand out in a crowd ("I drink Ginsing" - anything else from TFA?). He dosen't talk about his past, present or future except as it relates to him batte-rapping. He has a characterless voice, similar to Nas', so that dosen't help. He did show some character on DYWM with all the "Essaywhumain"-ing, singing on one track, and an overall happy-go-lucky attitude and tone to his voice. But that was it, except for the "love joints", which have become routine at this point. So when I look over his carrear, of all the MCs at his talent/skill level in history, I can't think of one with less of a personality. Nas? Monch? G Rap?

thought is a member of a group. he can't just go aorund forcing everyone to make songs about him. you gotta understand that. you'll get to see more sides of him when his album drops, i'm sure.

exellent point!

you are absoulutely right.

jokes i got jokes.

i think riq has too much pride to be vulnerable to really state a posotion on any lifestyle. and people in his life know him too well. so it's hard for him to "lie" ("i got a dog, with a solid gold bone") cause of the blue collar mc position that he/we put ourselves in, everyone knows that if any of us would purchase an iced out rollie, we would have to sell our cribs. so i think to a fault tariq is too honest to even create a "lifestyle" for himself.

it's like since he established himself as an "mc's mc" he feels like he has to stick to his guns. i mean come on what kind of lifestyle is he going to offer you that will be interesting? one that he dosn't follow? he has a conscience but i doubt he's gonna be talking bout bucking some pigs now that it's popular to do so.

i mean what is our life anyway? get up at 6, watch a movie on tourbus, sleep, smoke herb, check in hotel, eat, interview, soundcheck, dressing room, show, try to get ass, pack, bus next day......

that is the life of most cats on the road. the weed song has been done before. none of y'all can relate to a modernday middlepassage that transports us from city to city.

female to male ratio at our shows are about 1 to 30 so the whole "i just wanna love you/ female angle/ bitches be throwin themselves at me" thing is out cause we don't attract that type of female (albeit hoochie factor is low, and all righteous females ain't all that....uh righteous but that's another post....) and being as though our lives are filled with real women. it's kinda hard to do the player role thing (would love to fill black sheep's void cause im a smartass) with a clear head because women damn near run our lives. and everybody talks about it.

the whole thug angle is out cause i don't believe in advertising strength because someone is always gonna wanna call your bluff on some underestimate shit. i believe in non violence, but i ain't no fool. and trust me. the few cats who tried to test us almost got some bullets in they ass. i may be old school. but i ain't no old fool.

riches. well, i ain't rich. and who's gonna care that i copped a $400 record this week.


so where do you go? specially when you was raised on 4 of the worlds best braggidocious mc's: kane(pre hand cast player), g-rap (pre drug dealer awol), rakim (pre god), and krs(pre bookworm) (ok...LL too)

that is how riq was raised. kane and g-rap. braggin and boastin. and tariq ain't all BNB either. he does observational shit. and the occasional soundtrack lets him follow the story. but the jazz angle is too cutesy to be taken seriously...thus that's why we killed it after DYWM.

most cats crucify com for a different thing. him being him. he's too soft. or lost edge. or too homophobic. or whatever.

so i think riq has great stage presence (when he's on...i mean in the zone, he's untouchable) he definately a master of words. his voice is his voice. which i think is fine. jigga has a normal voice but he dresses it in sarcasm. so that's his character. dre has an accent so there is his character. i noticed the strength in riq's voice when he did "you got me" with erykah and i was in the audience. he dosn't use his second voice on stage (like big has studio voice, then screamin onstage)
he has an extreamly commanding voice.

so no accent. no external thing going on (ala outkast, or 80's dela) no voice (tip, dre) no easy to spot lifestyle (jigga, dead prez)

and what you have is an mc. in the classic sense of the term "mc"
i mean what is de la talkin bout in "ohh". right. or redman in "ill be that". brag rhymes but in other forms. tariq aint no rah rah nigga so.....

i actually think playing the middle keeps the mystery about him in. sorta like a curious factor goin on.

stay tuned.








the source mic ratings 1990-2001


@@@@@
-edutainment (funny in the annivrsery issue they left this out...but i have the ice cube issue when they first started rating albums)
-people's instintive travels and the paths of rhythm
-amerikkka's most wanted
-let the rhythm hit em
-all for one
-de la soul is dead
-illmatic
-life after death
-aquemini
-niggaz4life* (not reveiwed but in summer issue 92 they mentioned it as a 5mic classic)

@@@@1/2
-sex and violence
-buisiness as usual
-business never personal
-whut thee album
-breaking atoms
-death certifacate
-buhloone mindstate
-the chronic
-enter the 36 chambers
-southernplayerlisticadillacmusic
-life after death
-the infamous
-only built 4 cuban links
-illadelph halflife
-hell on earth
-bow down
-i am
-murder muzick
-life story
-classic limited edition vol 1
-guerilla warfare
-in my lifetime vol.3
-la rock familia
-ecleftic:two sides to a story
-moment of truth
-supreame clientel
-last of a dying breed
-the truth

the gag mics-
fear of a black planet-@@@1/2
da shinin-@@@
stankonia-@@@@
lootpack-@@1/2
ressurection-@@@1/2
the beatnuts-@@@1/2**
mos def and talib kweli are black star-@@@1/2
the love movement-@@@1/2
fantastic vol 2-@@@1/2

*-source never reviewed, but mentioned in summer issue that it was a 5 mic classic.

**-the only record to change a rating after printing. in the next issue they printed (in fine print that it was a @@@@ mic album)

check the resume

organix-93
(from the ground up)-94
do you want more?!!???!-95
illadelph halflife-96
things fall apart-99
(the legendary)-99
the roots come alive-99
phrenology-2002
the tipping point-2004
(the roots present...) 2004
homegrown: the beginne

Well, i think that just about sums it up.


"As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and it's place remembers it no more" -Psalm 103:15-16, NKJV

I forgot about that, cause with how dynamic Thought can be live, he'd be the one making 99% of these other MCs look like wallpaper next to him on stage. To the Roots-hardcore who've all seen you guys live, Thought has a personality because of his live performances. I should have given him that one. But since hip-hop is a studio art now, and for the sake of posterity, I judge MCs by how they sound on their albums.

>who's gonna care that i copped a $400 record this week.

what record?

peace.

"ask beavis, i get nothing but head" Big L

yeah!!!

________________________________________
Ricochet aka Rick Rude aka {You got too many names}

OKAY Uncle Ricochet- Giving You True Wisdom Since 2001

Shouts 2 Da One Shot Fam

"If I don't like it, I don't like it, that don't mean that i'm hatin'"- Common

Can I get a freakin record deal!!!

"I stay on ya mind like great sex, you ain't on my mind i'm thinkin bout pay checks"- Jay Dee

F--- a quote.

http://members.blackplanet.com/RickRude

Hit me up @ AIM: RicochetDaEmcee1

http://chegrand.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-havent-given-up-this-place-just-yet.html

while you list all of the things that black thought can't or won't talk about, you neglect to mention that common doesn't talk about thuggery, blingery or punny chasery either...and that hasn't stopped him from doing conceptual songs such as "song for assata" and "retrospect for life". i whole-heartedly disagree with the idea that non-thugs and non-ballers should be excused from talking about more than rocking mics.


"clearly you are a fucking idiot. don't come up on this website and name some kool dj herc character, and think your punk ass is some hard core head. i'm sorry, does dj herc have an album, website or single? or is he just one of your boys who makes bootleg copies out of his garage? dilated peoples may not be the strongest mc's ever, but guess what? people have heard of them, much unlike your good friend kool jerk, or whatever the hell his name is." -- okayplayer's resident hiphop historian sistasoul

"the anarchist notebook" -- spring 2001

http://www.vigilism.com

"i whole-heartedly disagree with the idea that non-thugs and non-ballers should be excused from talking about more than rocking mics."

why should an emcee be obligated to rhyme abouit anything. if thought wants to rat-a-tat-chat about the same old thing then so be it. that's his thing. that's his style. that's his personality. in fact, that's what i think makes him such a great emcee. does he ever get boring? no. it's the same thing but he comes through strong every time.

i'll ask this; who's the smarter person? the one who knows a little about everything or the one who knows a shit load about one thing?

why can't the one who knows a lot about one thing be just as smart as the other?

why can't black thought be just as good (i think better) than com?

(strange analogy but that's all i can think of right now)

peace

shmooz

"i wanna be a pioneer so trails i blaze"

"hip hop you're the love of my life"

where has thought said he needs to be for political activism and worrying about having a child?

don't put rules on your emcees...

Much love,
Kyle

****************************************
sellin' sigs since 1999
****************************************

much love,
Kyle

Detroit..Let's GO!!! May 12th Dilla Walk for Lupus...Belle Isle...

http://walk.lupusresearch.org/goto/blackeyedskeez

Even a Dollar can HELP..


http://www.myspace.com/jedikyle
http://www.detroitderbygirls.com/

quest said that black thought's possible topics are limited because he doesn't talk about drugs, money or murder. and that's untrue. look at common. or mos def. or public enemy. or the countless rappers who talk about everything under the sun except for those topics.

you can like who you like, son.

i'm just saying that the "there's nothing to talk about" reasoning is faulty.


"clearly you are a fucking idiot. don't come up on this website and name some kool dj herc character, and think your punk ass is some hard core head. i'm sorry, does dj herc have an album, website or single? or is he just one of your boys who makes bootleg copies out of his garage? dilated peoples may not be the strongest mc's ever, but guess what? people have heard of them, much unlike your good friend kool jerk, or whatever the hell his name is." -- okayplayer's resident hiphop historian sistasoul

"the anarchist notebook" -- spring 2001

http://www.vigilism.com

>quest said that black thought's possible
>topics are limited because he
>doesn't talk about drugs, money
>or murder. and that's untrue.
>look at common. or mos
>def. or public enemy. or
>the countless rappers who talk
>about everything under the sun
>except for those topics.

but my question is. what do you care about? sometimes a mofo just wanna keep some shit to himself. im sure he could talk about a lot of things. but im sure there is a reason why he dosn't open up.

mos talkin bout the ecology is cool. and kast talkin bout a 14 year old pregnant jawn is cool. but that is where they're at in life. i for one knows that riq's life is pretty much boring. and the company he keeps (ala biggie who kept story tellin thugs around) is pretty much cats doin the same thing in life.

i admire riq for being riq. what if common became a domestic abuser (anti light) or mos started flossin his ass off (anti got)
or any life changing thing that occurs to an artist that states a end all statement. ("no matter how much money i get, im still living in the projects") it's risky.

and in this genre, if it ain't money cash hoes....

do cats really care?








the source mic ratings 1990-2001


@@@@@
-edutainment (funny in the annivrsery issue they left this out...but i have the ice cube issue when they first started rating albums)
-people's instintive travels and the paths of rhythm
-amerikkka's most wanted
-let the rhythm hit em
-all for one
-de la soul is dead
-illmatic
-life after death
-aquemini
-niggaz4life* (not reveiwed but in summer issue 92 they mentioned it as a 5mic classic)

@@@@1/2
-sex and violence
-buisiness as usual
-business never personal
-whut thee album
-breaking atoms
-death certifacate
-buhloone mindstate
-the chronic
-enter the 36 chambers
-southernplayerlisticadillacmusic
-life after death
-the infamous
-only built 4 cuban links
-illadelph halflife
-hell on earth
-bow down
-i am
-murder muzick
-life story
-classic limited edition vol 1
-guerilla warfare
-in my lifetime vol.3
-la rock familia
-ecleftic:two sides to a story
-moment of truth
-supreame clientel
-last of a dying breed
-the truth

the gag mics-
fear of a black planet-@@@1/2
da shinin-@@@
stankonia-@@@@
lootpack-@@1/2
ressurection-@@@1/2
the beatnuts-@@@1/2**
mos def and talib kweli are black star-@@@1/2
the love movement-@@@1/2
fantastic vol 2-@@@1/2

*-source never reviewed, but mentioned in summer issue that it was a 5 mic classic.

**-the only record to change a rating after printing. in the next issue they printed (in fine print that it was a @@@@ mic album)

check the resume

organix-93
(from the ground up)-94
do you want more?!!???!-95
illadelph halflife-96
things fall apart-99
(the legendary)-99
the roots come alive-99
phrenology-2002
the tipping point-2004
(the roots present...) 2004
homegrown: the beginne

>mos talkin bout the ecology is
>cool. and kast talkin bout
>a 14 year old pregnant
>jawn is cool. but that
>is where they're at in
>life. i for one knows
>that riq's life is pretty
>much boring. and the company
>he keeps (ala biggie who
>kept story tellin thugs around)
>is pretty much cats doin
>the same thing in life.

my problem with this is that all these cats are writers, as is black thought. delivery aside, thought has as keen an eye and individual a writing style as the above-named emcees. shakespeare didn't have to live out each one of his plays. but thought only flexes those specific muscles sporadically, on cuts like 'panic?!?!', or the love joints..he's like nas with the vivid detail but he projects the narratives out at you too. dunno, brother seems like he's got much more to say, more techniques to display - but he isn't standing still either..or maybe it's like the jbeez song 'so much shit inside my brain, couldn't explain, you wouldn't understand'. but somebody said somewhere you're gonna drop a bomb you don't want to muffle the bang with just 'eh.' lyrics, or vice versa with the music.
_______________________________

seize your time! - marley/wailers

exciting, isn't it - treach/naughty

i as an mc have gone through similar thoughts about my own personality on the mic. I have a whooole lot of opinions and things/feelings to express but just about all of my stuff has been on some lyrical magician type diezel battlelike strong superior delivery shit with my persona leaking into it in subtle ways, and i was thinking about whether or not i wanted to try and open up my mind for my listeners to see and i very much do want to (its a goal) cuz i think for 1 its a challenge 2 it would give me more strength and 3 i believe thats what i want to be able to do with my music/rhymes i want to be able to express my personal self and feelings as freely and clearly as i do in my poetry...now as for thought, i believe like someone else said that this kinda keeps the mystery about him which is cool, personally thought is my fav mc and the one who has impressed me the most (he makes me want to improve when i think i have hit a peak) and i dont think he needs to chnage his subject matter unless he feels like it and he can still be the best mc if he didnt, and dont 4get that hes in a group too (someone else mentioned this) wait for masterpiece theatre and see what happens when its all him

-------------------------
love what you do
and do what you love

i guess deciding how much of yourself you want to reveal is one of the challenges of being an artist. black thought is obviously happy being enigmatic and distant. but i think people embrace artists like biggie, tupac, jill scott and erykah because they let the audience "know" them through their music.

but i still don't think having a "boring" life means that someone can't talk about a wide variety of issues. i don't think it's a coincidence that the roots most universally-liked songs are topical ("silent treatment", "what they do" and "you got me").


"clearly you are a fucking idiot. don't come up on this website and name some kool dj herc character, and think your punk ass is some hard core head. i'm sorry, does dj herc have an album, website or single? or is he just one of your boys who makes bootleg copies out of his garage? dilated peoples may not be the strongest mc's ever, but guess what? people have heard of them, much unlike your good friend kool jerk, or whatever the hell his name is." -- okayplayer's resident hiphop historian sistasoul

"the anarchist notebook" -- spring 2001

http://www.vigilism.com

i see what your point is but i don't the roots are all about following what's "universaly liked". otherwise they wouldn't be doin' what they doin'.

you know?

and as for the 'personal connections' through song that you mentioned about com and erykah. well, i think that's a good 'extra' quality for an artist to have. but in my opinion that's not what makes an artist good. it's the skills. thought's got crazy skills. the roots got crazy skills.

so why not brag about them skills?

basicaly my point is that thought could rhyme about an effin' tissue and it would be strong.

i really understand what you're saying but previous to this post have were you ever listening to the roots and turned it off cause you were sick of the subject matter of the rhyme?

i think not...

peace

shmooz

"i wanna be a pioneer so trails i blaze"

"hip hop you're the love of my life"

Thank u ?uest. Thats what I thought about riq, but u obviously know him better than anyone on here. I'm glad that I was right in my oppinion though.

Stay strong

Lexx

iamlexx.com
newvintagegroup.com
aim: lexx3001

"modern day middle passage"

now THAT would be a deep concept for an "on the road"-type song!!!!!!!!!!!!

birds

by mentioning Jigga in that post I assume you feel that he is in the same category or on the same level as the other mc's you mentioned no (Dre, Com, BT)? Just wondering. I have always been curious as to how ?uest rates jigga amongst other mc's...


malcolm

"all he talks is mc skills, weed and women"

then last week I popped in illadelph halflife for the first time in a while. I used to hate the hypnotic and some other cuts were too different/scary before (uni verse at war, one shine)

whole album- banger, better than tfa

if youre not happy with what hes spitting on this cd then youre asking for too much

Thought in a landslide. Better voice, better flow, better lyricist as far as battle-rhymes go. He may not touch on as many different topics as Comm does but he's an all-around better MC. peace.

https://soundcloud.com/matt-koelling-666011203

www.somethinginthewudder.com

https://twitter.com/nostrabombus

https://www.facebook.com/matt.koelling.96

https://www.instagram.com/something_in_the_wudder/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-koelling-438a80

>Thought in a landslide. Better voice,
>better flow, better lyricist as
>far as battle-rhymes go.

Battle rhymes you say, have you heard the Bitch in You? Common is a true lyricist, he is mad versatile. You have to look at his whole body of work. Can I borrow a dollar, Resurrection, One day & LWFC, not to mention all his guest spots. I have never heard Common come weak, but I have heard Black Thought come weak (Pete Rock's album).

"took a picture of the truth & tried to develop it, had proof, it was only recognized by the intelligent"-COMMON

Whatever, we'll agree to disagree. Of course I've heard the bitch in you, I'll still take Thought all day every day. Never heard Comm come weak? Can I Borrow..? is a weak album, I don't care what anyone says. Thought was weak on Pete Rock's album? No weaker than Comm was on the same album. peace.

https://soundcloud.com/matt-koelling-666011203

www.somethinginthewudder.com

https://twitter.com/nostrabombus

https://www.facebook.com/matt.koelling.96

https://www.instagram.com/something_in_the_wudder/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-koelling-438a80

shiiiiiiit....he wore adidas but aint have no stripes/ hold dicks better thanhe hold mics......man ppppp--pppp p pp ppleeeeaseeee ffffff ooool.

________________________________________
-knead dough?? hit us up at-www.makindatbread.com
-representin the real since tuesday
-illified illustrated.word.fresh.

*get Lewis Taylor cd's here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000006TEI/o/qid=983465806/sr=8-2/026-0085729-5341211

much cheaper than the regular amazon (they charge $30 bucks) you'll pay 12pounds here which converts to less than $15 bucks.

but I have heard
>Black Thought come weak (Pete
>Rock's album).


okay. i need some honesty here. real genuine honesty. like real honesty. and i'm only asking this cause i heard this once before and i investigated. and i found out i was right.

so here's my question.

is that really your opinion?

or did you get swayed by that source review.

cause personally i heard weaker. the overall song is whatever (pete is known for this pipe dream "im saving this beat for the nas comeback album" thing) and the original beat fit that bitch like a glove.) i won't call it stellar on some "y'all know who" shit. but i most def won't say that shit was any weaker than com singing "well lop bop doo banga bop bam boo!" on "take it easy". or some parts of ressurection.

riq ain't always 100%. but damn if he ain't least half consistant in the past 6 years.

the source mic ratings 1990-2001


@@@@@
-edutainment (funny in the annivrsery issue they left this out...but i have the ice cube issue when they first started rating albums)
-people's instintive travels and the paths of rhythm
-amerikkka's most wanted
-let the rhythm hit em
-all for one
-de la soul is dead
-illmatic
-life after death
-aquemini
-niggaz4life* (not reveiwed but in summer issue 92 they mentioned it as a 5mic classic)

@@@@1/2
-sex and violence
-buisiness as usual
-business never personal
-whut thee album
-breaking atoms
-death certifacate
-buhloone mindstate
-the chronic
-enter the 36 chambers
-southernplayerlisticadillacmusic
-life after death
-the infamous
-only built 4 cuban links
-illadelph halflife
-hell on earth
-bow down
-i am
-murder muzick
-life story
-classic limited edition vol 1
-guerilla warfare
-in my lifetime vol.3
-la rock familia
-ecleftic:two sides to a story
-moment of truth
-supreame clientel
-last of a dying breed
-the truth

the gag mics-
fear of a black planet-@@@1/2
da shinin-@@@
stankonia-@@@@
lootpack-@@1/2
ressurection-@@@1/2
the beatnuts-@@@1/2**
mos def and talib kweli are black star-@@@1/2
the love movement-@@@1/2
fantastic vol 2-@@@1/2

*-source never reviewed, but mentioned in summer issue that it was a 5 mic classic.

**-the only record to change a rating after printing. in the next issue they printed (in fine print that it was a @@@@ mic album)

check the resume

organix-93
(from the ground up)-94
do you want more?!!???!-95
illadelph halflife-96
things fall apart-99
(the legendary)-99
the roots come alive-99
phrenology-2002
the tipping point-2004
(the roots present...) 2004
homegrown: the beginne

>is that really your opinion?
>or did you get swayed by
>that source review.

DAMMMMM! I didn't think about it, in fact I haven't heard Pete Rock's album for a while but for some strange reason I thought to my self "Thought came off weak on that track". Well I just listened to it now and dammmmm, I just played myself. I have officially disgraced myself as an okayplayer, I guess the media does have an influence, even on the subliminal tip.

"took a picture of the truth & tried to develop it, had proof, it was only recognized by the intelligent"-COMMON

Yeah, Thought did come weak on that track, I don't even now what the mic rating for the album was. I think the track itself was weak and Thought kind of blends in with the beat.

Com came nice on that album tho. "Beef it was finna be, my appetite for destruction is finicky" that is the joint...

peace...

https://twitter.com/onnextlevel

i didnt think thought came weak on pete rock's album, i think common has come weak b4 on his own album (but hey this is all opinion thats why i hesitate to post on vs joints). common's battle rhyme on bitch in yoo was great but it cant compare to thought's consistent dominance

-------------------------
love what you do
and do what you love

his cadence is impeccable.
i've heard com slip up and fudge word cadence to fit beats...
thought just flows mellifluously over tracks... plus, anytime u can do a soundtrack song in 4.5 minutes that sums up the entire plotline of a 1.75 hr film, u got my utmost respect.

com is beauty, though.

http://postbourgie.com
http://stacialbrown.wordpress.com

Black Thought is nice, but Common is best emcee ever. Oh yea way are we choosing anyway they both stand among the elite emcees of all-time.

if u dont want to choose then y r u giving us a common's the best post?

-------------------------
love what you do
and do what you love

________________________________________
-knead dough?? hit us up at-www.makindatbread.com
-representin the real since tuesday
-illified illustrated.word.fresh.

*get Lewis Taylor cd's here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000006TEI/o/qid=983465806/sr=8-2/026-0085729-5341211

much cheaper than the regular amazon (they charge $30 bucks) you'll pay 12pounds here which converts to less than $15 bucks.

My choice is Black Thought. Common is a badass, but Thought is my favorite Mc by far.

Depends on what you're looking for: Black Thought and Common are both deep, but I think Comm touches people on a more 'sensitive' level. A lotta girls feel him. I think Black Thought is more so an intellect/philosopher whereas Common is more 'intellect/introspective' M.C. You wanna make a fair comparison..compare Common to Talib Kweli and Black Thought to KRS....that oughta start some sh--!!

"...I'm outta this, cause I've mastered the astral..." - Baatin, Slum Village.

hit me up -

gettingheadinthemensroom@work.com

IG: amadu_me

"...Whateva, man..." (c) Redman

Thought has been my favorite emcee since he ripped UNIverse (with Com). Thought's delivery cannot be tested, while lyrically he has the ability to stretch a punchline for more than one bar (I'm like a faucet/monopolpy's the object/there ain't no way to cut this tap/ you got to get wet/your head is throbbin and I ain't said shit yet.)Com is tied for a close second with Kweli, and I love these emcees for many different reasons. All three of these emcees have progressed with each release, but Thought keeps solidifying his place everytime I hear him rhyme.Com is not the battle emcee that Thought is, and he definitley has more flav (ie. Real Nigga Quotes and Cold Blooded) but Thought drops a quotable everytime he picks up the mic.

>Com is not the battle
>emcee that Thought is

Common isn't a battle emcee? Go and listen to " Bitch In You" "1, 2 Many" "Dooinit" and "Making A Name For Ourselves" then tell me my dog can't battle!!!!

OnE
________________________________________
Ricochet aka Rick Rude aka {You got too many names}

OKAY Uncle Ricochet- Giving You True Wisdom Since 2001

Shouts 2 Da One Shot Fam

"If I don't like it, I don't like it, that don't mean that i'm hatin'"- Common

Can I get a freakin record deal!!!

"I stay on ya mind like great sex, you ain't on my mind i'm thinkin bout pay checks"- Jay Dee

F--- a quote.

http://members.blackplanet.com/RickRude

Hit me up @ AIM: RicochetDaEmcee1

http://chegrand.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-havent-given-up-this-place-just-yet.html

Not to mention "Hungry"

he can battle but thats not his strongest skill, thought has him beat in that area im sorry

-------------------------
love what you do
and do what you love

damn, damn, damn...

2 of my 5 favorite emcees all time....
Common is my 2nd favorite all-time...he reminds me of myself
Thought is my 5th favorite all-time...all around dopeness...who is a better lyricist...? thought - who is more entertaining...? petey wheatstrow - better in battles...? thought - better in life lessons...? com

Tariq Trotter is the better emcee

Lonnie Lynn is better for me (and u, too)


like I said, #5 vs #2.......the 1st "vs" post that was worthy of a response from the Source....





*******and dat's all I got to say bout dat******

This question was in my head for the longest! At first Thought was my favorite emcee because he has the best flow of ANYBODY. No one can touch his delivery in my opinion. However, when I started writing myself I started liking Common better. Com touches a lot more topics than Thought does. I believe Com is the best point blank. But each emcee has their own category. I see it like this:
Black Thought: The Emcee
Common: The Thinker/Author
Andre 3000: The Poet
Nas: The Storyteller
etc. So it's kind of hard to pick who's the best. It all depends on who "you're" feeling. But since the question was on who's the better "emcee" I'll have to go with Thought. I do however like Com better. I like Andre 3000 better than both of them, only because he looks for new rhyme forms when he writes his verses (i.e. Gasoline Dreams, So Fresh, So Clean, Red Velvet etc.) plus he vocalizes.
Peace & Love Y'all

"I'm feeling better than ever what's wrong with you?" -Andre 3000

Wait, that shit doesn't make sense to y'all. I said Com was the best and then I said I like Andre better than both of them. What I mean is that Com is the best for writing songs (i.e. A Song For Assata). However, I feel Andre more and like his style better than both Thought and Com. They're all different emcees and they're all at the top of "their" class so we can't argue over who's the best.

Quest is it true The Roots are comin' to South Africa sometimes this year?

well put......apples cannot be compared wit tangerines...
but crippie can be compared to schwag!!!!!!!!!

its like saying..."who do you love more? your mom or dad?"
both of these cats, in my opinion, superceed most emcees. they've changed the name of "hiphop" to "thoughts that you can vibe or headknock to". along with them, come mos def and talib. to forget them is unjust.
you smell me?(dont actually sniff me tho, i dont like that shit)
peace
BLESSED- bringing you minimalistic opinions since 10 minutes ago.

"opinions are like assholes- everybody gotta have one"
~~method man

Oooh. Tough question. I am naturally inclined to say Black Thought, only because I am biased. I heard Black Thought first. But then I think about it, and truthfully, there is no clear winner in my book. These two exist on two different plateaus of greatness, exuding equal magnitudes of skill, but in different and unique areas. Nitpicking about Black Thought's personality or Common's diction is a ridiculous way to make a choice. Both of these guys can shine in any arena, whether it be a battle, some consciousness, love, or anything else, and that is all that matters. -Peace

He's just more enjoyable to listen to. The way he twists/changes word, enunciates, and just rhymes in general is much more pleasing to the ear than Common's delivery. Com, though at times has better lyrics, can be a bit, dare I say, boring to listen to. I remember first time I heard him (im a newbie, heard him on TFA), I thought his voice was bland. Since then, my viewpoint has changed {his voice isnt actually that bad to me anymore}, but Thought has a better voice and delivery. Com can be offbeat at times (though the iambic pentameter on Cold Blooded was impressive), but Thought's voice is just naturally on beat.

Com does, at times, outshine Thought as far as 'personality' goes, but Thought has personality himself.

anyway, despite my Thought praising post, my vote goes for Black Thidought by a narrow margin .. hehe

-zero¹

he'd smoke all my incense and leave petunia embroided sweater dresses all over my house.

Might scare off any potential girlfriends

"It's terrible sometimes, inside, that's what's the trouble. You walk these streets, black and funky and cold, and there's not really a living ass to talk to, and there's nothing shaking, and there's no way of getting it out-that storm inside. You can't talk it and you can't make love with it, and when you finally try to get with it and play it, you realize nobody's listening. So you've got to listen. You got to find a way to listen."- James Baldwin "Sonny's Blues"

"Power concedes nothing without demand. It never has and it never will."- Frederick Douglass

Listen to all their collabos to get a better idea....
in each one BT came off better than COM ...
especially UNIVERSE at war..
Act 2 com came off almost as nice but you couldn't front BT came off ill...especially the live version when BT got the crowd involved.."it was alllllllllll for you ".

Listen to the first verse from the Ultimate and tell me BT is not the greatest live performer in rap right now !!!

I definately agree with Thought being the best live performer, that I have seen anyways. Thought does have a better delivery than Common but don't let that shit fool you into saying Thought is better. To say Thought came off better on Act Too is insane! Did you hear Com's lyrics? That's one of the best verses ever wriiten.
"her daddy had beat her, eyes all Puff"
"got caught up in Hype Williams and lost her direction"
"under the counter love, so silently i treat her"
"tried to make a hit with her but my dick went soft"
" not picky with who she choose to date"
& the last fucking 8 bars are the illest!
my man, you need to go analyze that song again.

In terms of lyrics and deep meaning Com got em and not by much
In terms of flow all I have to say is listen to the live version
( by the way I was AT THAT SHOW in the bowery ballroom )
Com sounded like he was running out of breath during that song..
Thought only ran out of breath ONCE during a 4 hour set...
with lyrics like these you act like COM was rhyming with Mase..


The anticipation arose as time froze
I stared off the stage with my eyes closed and dove
into the deep cosmos
The impact pushed back, the first five rows
But before the raw live shows
I remember I'se a little snot-nosed
Rockin Gazelle, goggles and Izod clothes
Learnin the ropes of ghetto survival
Peepin out the situation I had to slide through
Had to watch my back my front plus my sides too
When it came to gettin mine I ain't tryin, to argue
Sometimes I wouldn'ta made it if it wasn't for you
Hip-Hop, you the love of my life and that's true
When I was handlin the shit I had to do
It was all for you, from the door for you
Speak through you, gettin paper on tour for you
From the start, Thought was down by law for you
Used to hit up every corner store wall for you
We ripped shit, and kept it hardcore for you
I remember late nights, steady rockin the mic
Hip-Hop, you the love of my life

Analyze that !

>Com sounded like he was running
>out of breath during that
>song..
>Thought only ran out of breath
>ONCE during a 4 hour

yo i am not on riq's nuts. com knows he is my brother. and i am laughing so hard. cause it was this very thing (out of breath so bad he slobbed on himself) that kept "ressurection" and "her" off the live album.

we just knew rash was gonna halucinate.





the source mic ratings 1990-2001


@@@@@
-edutainment (funny in the annivrsery issue they left this out...but i have the ice cube issue when they first started rating albums)
-people's instintive travels and the paths of rhythm
-amerikkka's most wanted
-let the rhythm hit em
-all for one
-de la soul is dead
-illmatic
-life after death
-aquemini
-niggaz4life* (not reveiwed but in summer issue 92 they mentioned it as a 5mic classic)

@@@@1/2
-sex and violence
-buisiness as usual
-business never personal
-whut thee album
-breaking atoms
-death certifacate
-buhloone mindstate
-the chronic
-enter the 36 chambers
-southernplayerlisticadillacmusic
-life after death
-the infamous
-only built 4 cuban links
-illadelph halflife
-hell on earth
-bow down
-i am
-murder muzick
-life story
-classic limited edition vol 1
-guerilla warfare
-in my lifetime vol.3
-la rock familia
-ecleftic:two sides to a story
-moment of truth
-supreame clientel
-last of a dying breed
-the truth

the gag mics-
fear of a black planet-@@@1/2
da shinin-@@@
stankonia-@@@@
lootpack-@@1/2
ressurection-@@@1/2
the beatnuts-@@@1/2**
mos def and talib kweli are black star-@@@1/2
the love movement-@@@1/2
fantastic vol 2-@@@1/2

*-source never reviewed, but mentioned in summer issue that it was a 5 mic classic.

**-the only record to change a rating after printing. in the next issue they printed (in fine print that it was a @@@@ mic album)

check the resume

organix-93
(from the ground up)-94
do you want more?!!???!-95
illadelph halflife-96
things fall apart-99
(the legendary)-99
the roots come alive-99
phrenology-2002
the tipping point-2004
(the roots present...) 2004
homegrown: the beginne

believe it or not I think his performance during Communism and when he first came on ( I forgot what song it was ) really was good and hyped up the crowd. That part surprised me. I think that Com is one of the ..fuck that...THE BEST LYRICIST right now ( Pharoe comes a CLOSE 2nd .
Black T is just a better MC . Listen to the Ultimate one mo time and think " when was the last time DMX, Cash Money or Jay-Z ever got a foreign crowd chanting their lyrics to an U N K N O W N
song like it was the summer jam. You swore the Ultimate was the Zurich equilivant of DWYCK listening to that crowd ....

that's a good point
also had us screaming the lyrics here like we knew em, backinaday
but we speak english

uh...

i was at the bowery show too!...for those who have the limited edition of "roots come alive", check com on the cd-rom version of "clones"...when it is time for malik's final verse, thought takes over and switches up the style as usual...you can see common in the background getting charged...it's apparent how much respect he has for thought's ability to rock the crowd...overall, nothing against com, but it's between thought and mos in my opinion...winner to be determined after the release of "masterpiece theatre".

please!!! dont ruin my songs!! jk yo 4real i really dont want to be listening to act too (love of my life) and be thinking about who came off better, thats pretty fucked up like collabos are contests to see who comes off better, please people, they made a GREAT song with no intention of outshining the other i mean cumon the song is beautiful with both of them contributing their respective brilliance so why do this, maybe u can talk about UNIverse cuz its not about something in particular but even on that joint it just shows them both killin it in their own respective ways

-------------------------
love what you do
and do what you love

I can't believe I actually read Thought is a better lyricist and all around emcee than Com. That's ridiculous. What does Thought talk about other than his skills, hip hop, and women???? You wanna know?? I'll tell you, NOTHING!!!! Now, don't get me wrong, I like Thought and he has a ill delivery and flow, but he is on the same shit track after track after TRACK. There is NOOOOO difference in what you get from Thought from one album to another. However, Com can give you ALL aspects of being a emcee. Battle, stories, political, bragadocious, love, etcccc. When I think of the two best ALL-AROUND emcees in the game, I think of Dre and Com.

Put it like this, in the discussion Hi-Tek vs Jay Dee post, Quest said Jay Dee is the best ever and explained his reasonings why. He stated, and I quote “jay can demonstrate that he can do it all. and do it well. live shit. sloppy shit. tribe sounding shit. bounce shit. club shit. different meter shit. he has 10 faces.” He also went on to say that primo (in so many words) has been using the same formula on every track and doesn't have the versitality that Jay does, so in turn, Jay is a better ALL-AROUND producer. Well, this was my argument before concerning Black Thought and it's my argument now. Thought uses the same formula and his lyrical content is NOWHERE to be found. Unlike a Dre or Common who can give you "10 faces."




One...Jas

That's what I've been trying to say.

"I'm feeling better than ever, what's wrong with you?"
-Andre 3000

Jas......Couldn't agree with you more. I'd pick Com for all those reasons and one more ...... The way Com can twist words and make everything sound like one thing and mean something else just amazes me. Someone said they'd rather hear Thought's playful, simple lyrics than Com's complexity because it's easier listening. I disagree. If you want an example of what Im talking about listen to the whole first verse of "Resurrection". Just to quote one of the lines "Misdemeanor fell on his knee for the jury" .... Misdemeanor/Felony... Incredible. Boggles my mind. That's my reasoning, as well as everything JAS said

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

There is NOOOOO
>difference in what you get
>from Thought from one album
>to another.

maybe in general sugject matter but he DEFINITELY gives it to you differently on each album trust me you dont want to argue that hes the same on each album, he has the ability to do the same shit in infinitely different ways and always come off dope

However, Com
>can give you ALL aspects
>of being a emcee.
>Battle, stories, political, bragadocious, love,
>etcccc.

thought gives you battle rhymes for days, he can tell a story and paint a picture beautifully and if you doubt me then listen to the girl-joints panic the soundtrack joints and "glitches" is just ridiculously vivid/poetic (amazing), who said being political was an area of MCing? listen to illadelph and see if he doesnt express opinions on joints like what they do and no alibi while still flowing like a magician, bragadocious thats his expertise, hes done the love thing while story tellin u know that (and although he doesnt get all emotional he still does it well)


Thought uses
>the same formula and his
>lyrical content is NOWHERE to
>be found.

have you heard him go from "glitches" to his verse on "locked down"(from dice raw's album) to his guest verses on les nubians "taboo remix" to "panic" to "no alibi" to "silent treatment" and "you got me" and "what you want" to "what they do" to his spots on "mumia 911" and "burnin&lootin"???????

-------------------------
love what you do
and do what you love

Peace...

https://twitter.com/onnextlevel

Nuff said. Amen. Thought is ridiculous but he's not touching Com for overall impact. I saw them rock live at Wetlands, nothing but heads, Com - Thought - Jeru and Dice. Com destroyed the crowd with everything he did and it was mostly freestyles. He just hits you. Thought has always been dope just got better. Com grew into what he is now but I think that makes us closer to him. He's a human MC. On stage he looks like a geeked little kid sometimes. I love that. And he has songs that transcend with an ability to touch life in a way that Thought just can't. I'll have to take Com.

Peace,
BTW

You can't really fuck with Black Thought when he's with The Roots, but as a lyricist, I's say common

NO QUESTION -Black Thought in the 4th round

Thought's flow is like water. All his rhymes are tight.
Thought's voice is better, and thought's really creative with his lines.

Com can rhyme but in all honesty, nowadays com is a part time MC part time hippie (not that that has anything to do with his rhymin). Com is very inconsistent. On his album half the songs sounded like he was freestylin. His flow was mad drousy, like he was sittin in the recording booth takin shots of NyQuill.

Thought...Definitely

see now you're staight trippin.......how'd expect us to choose cause I'm really feelin black thought with the sweetest taboo and common's ma man? can't pick

~sig~
When ppl show you who they are- BELIEVE them. ~Maya Angelou

I've gotta go with Thought. Much respect to Com, but his flow is much more complicated, and as a result, it's not as easy to listen to as Thought's playful, smooth flow.

Hmmmmm... this post made me think: Who's better, Mos Def or Talib Kweli? (I'd go with Mos).

Peace.

_________________________________________________________________

"Hip Hop will simply amaze you
Craze you, pay you
Do whatever you say do
But black, it can't save you."
-MOS DEF

Mos took it to Kweli on that track.

Can I dig it?...
YES YOU CAN!!
Can I DIG it?...
YES YOU CAN!
Well I'm gone...

www.OHHLA.com

I would have to personal go with Common. He such a verstile emcee who can rhyme about almost anything. Common is able to flow off the native tongue with ease. He known to flip ill metaphors and similes. Common is a social n political aware emcee, he is artistically above the norm. Common is a multi dimentional emcee that creates to innovate. Black Thought needs to release the solo album so we all can really understand what is about. Untill then i with man from chi town. I'd suggest that anyone who has not yet heard the album "resurrection" by Common, should find it and listen to it.

It's gotta be Common for me.

<<<<<<<My first born!!! Fresh of my flesh!!!

- I got me a XBOX 360 bootch!!!! Add me! - DJPRYM8
http://live.xbox.com/member/DJPRYM8
http://welcometothehabitat.tumblr.com/

that's one of those battles that could go either ways.between these two i always switch favorites (blackstar are my fave...i mean BOTH cuz i can't decide... WOW, imagine com and thought vs. blackstar... WHAAATT?!?!? that'd be crazy....)

After reading the posts I have found some very good opinions.

I feel like if it weren't for Thought, would you even be on here discussing this? Was Common ALWAYS an okayplayer? NO.

Although,yes,Common can get down with different styles and is politically consious in his lyrics, Thoughts skills have spoken for itself.

Hip-Hop is like a body, you will have a hard time if your body was ALL arms and NO legs, no head,etc. These two represent different parts and where on lacks, the other picks up and fills in the void. These emcee's are also like US. Common represents some of my thoughts, Thought represents my thoughts, Andre definately(being from the south) represents my thoughts, and so do Talib and MOS. The ones we tend to cater to are the ones who all-around speak our toughts OUT LOUD and/or who teaches us something. Thier weaknesses are there because they are HUMAN and NOT DIVINE as some okayplayers think. Thought was butter LIVE and so was Common when I saw them, they both took thier appropriate positions and wrecked it.

Be fair and understand that Thought cannot ALWAYS represent Thought all of the time because he is a part of The Roots, not The Thoughts. He is like a finger on the hand. If you insist on judging him, listen to his solo first.


I have respect for the emcees because together they make good GUMBO! I can't say who is best.

Sudani