Top 5 Hip-Hop lyricists?

I didnt see any good hip-hop threads, so I figure this was a good place to start. I will reserve my list until a few posts have been made.

Also...who are the best 5 MC's overall, which aren't necessarily the best lyricists?

[edit on 27-3-2006 by DaFunk13]

Nobody???

No hip-hop fans? Terrible.

Here's my fav's in no particular order

Wu Tang
Eminem
Canibus
Biggie
2Pac

Also I was going to say Klashnekoff but he's a UK rapper so not many people would of heard of him

I'm a hip-hop fan. But I'm old. I can't differentiate between all this lyricist/MC stuff, I just know what I like.

First album purchase in the genre was Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five - The Message.
Second album: IceT - Power (Still own the original vinyl I bought back in '88)
Third Album: NWA - Straight out of Compton (I love Eazy-E )

Like I said I'm old.

Are any members of these goups considered good lyricists?

You ain't that old. I still dig Eazy. He is definately a legend. Same with the whole group you listed. Nice to see some old hip-hop heads still around.

I've been listening to a lot of old Kool G Rap.

I dunno about best, because you know, it's all subjective. Two of my favourite: Jeru the Damaja and Tim Dog.

Easy-E or NWA
Grandmaster Flash
House of Pain (Ol' Skool Jump)
Sir Mix-a-Lot
2Pac
Eminem
Jay-Z
Ludacris
Public Enemy
Hmmm, maybe 50 Cent or D12

Personally I've been digging on a few unknown artists at the moment. I'll play some in podcasts in the future.

eminem
ludacris
heltah skeltah
dead prez
method man
odb

I used to like nwa and eazy e quite a bit, i cant listen to it without busting a gut laughing. some genious rhymes.

Ol'Dirty Bastard
Gold Chains
Ludacris
Dr. Octagon
WHO????? MIKE JONES!
Slim Thug
Methodman
Kottonmouth Kings

Eminem and 2Pac are the only two I would consider to be the best of all time.

KRS One, Zack De La Rocha are high on my list. Come to think of it - Click for amazing tune (lyricists lounge volume 1)

[edit on 28-3-2006 by Xeros]

[edit on 28-3-2006 by Xeros]

Well in no order...

Lyricists:

Chuck D
Eminem
2Pac
Notorious B.I.G.
KRS-one

Overall:

2Pac
Notorious B.I.G.
Nas
Wu-Tang Clan (as a unit they gotta be top 5)
Run DMC

I feel the need to send out some love to a few Canadian artists:

Kardinal Offishall
Saukrates

reggie noble aka redman aka dr.trevis
X Tha Beast Dmx
razor sharp rza rectah bobbydigital
busta rhymes turn it up!!!!!!!
Nas is like a living legend my poetry is deep i neva fell
thats the top 5 if biggie was still here he'd be my sixth vote but no doubt
biggie ills

Originally posted by shingen
reggie noble aka redman aka dr.trevis
X Tha Beast Dmx
razor sharp rza rectah bobbydigital
busta rhymes turn it up!!!!!!!
Nas is like a living legend my poetry is deep i neva fell
thats the top 5 if biggie was still here he'd be my sixth vote but no doubt
biggie ills

I forgot about nas and busta

love nas and busta



also, KRS one, his name popped in my head as soon as i saw this, then it promptly popped back out and i couldn't catch it quick enough to type it down.

ah well


xzibit's got some pretty rockin lyrics, too.


some old rascalz is gooooood.
I think alot of OGC's stuff is amazing.

I think Wu Tang would be one of the top, though.

even individually, some of them boys are just plain ol awesome.

raekwon (only built 4 cuban linx) stand outs, and i love gza

GZA is an amazing lyricist.

KRS-one
Jehst
Klashnekoff
Eminem
Immortal Technique

Originally posted by parrhesia
eminem
ludacris
heltah skeltah
dead prez
method man
odb

I used to like nwa and eazy e quite a bit, i cant listen to it without busting a gut laughing. some genious rhymes.

yeah nwa was wellknown for those rhymes
ice cube what!!!11

but also wanted ti note i like how you got ludacris on ya top five
alot of peolple be sleepin on the south

I'm more into Underground Hip Hop then the ones media shows, but there are some sommercial rappers I like.

-Sound Scientists (Shlek)
-Danger Mouse
-MF Doom
-Atom tha Immortal
-Masta Killa
-Ghostface Killah
-Jedakiss
-The Coup
-D'n'A (British Hip Hop)

Forgot these four...
-Jin
-Supastition
-Freestyle
-Planet Asia

lol not a top 5 list, but I just like so many people

[edit on 28-3-2006 by Striker122]

dont forget about cannibal ox

Does Zach De La Rocha count as a hip hop bloke?

He writes some amazing stuff.