BALLZ & LOTUS' Top 20 Lyricists of all time

Tom Chambers · 11-21-2007, 02:30 AM

Me and Ballz decided to do our Top 20 of all time based on Lyrical skill (punches, puns, metaphors, multi's, content, ect.)

1. rakim
Rakim, with miles seperation between him and any other MC, has always had a deep impact in hip hop. Whether you are talking "Paid in Full" with Rakim and Eric B., or "The 18th Letter", which is considered to be one of the best lyrical albums ever. With a stand out flow, complexity, and at times amazing puns and punchlines, there isn't an MC that can say they weren't inspired by Rakim in some way
2. eminem
Though Eminem's legacy has been surrounded by contraversy, doubts, and debate, he has made one of the biggest impact in hip hop, 2nd to rakim himself. He has made dope albums such as Marshall Mathers LP, Slim Shady LP and the Eminem Show. He is one of the few mainstream rappers who can mix catchy hooks, contraversy and lyrical skill together, while attracting a wide array of fans, from gangstas in comptom to white boys in the country.
3. Gza
GZA, part of the Wu-tang clan can easily be placed in the top 5 by any hip hop fan. His album "Liquid Swords" is his stand out album and is known to spit real grimy street shit along with some knowledge. Though not very big on multi's, he is still very intriguing.
4. daddy kane
Daddy Kane - Basically started punchline/battle rapping lyrics and has inspired every rapper with the similar style. Also known for his stand out tracks aimed towards the ladies. One of the few rappers who could do it without being corny or soft. Just about everything duke has dropped has been labeled a classic.
5. g rap
Kool G Rap - The GAOT flower in his prime and helped Rakim, Daddy Kane, And Lord Finesse form multie rhyme schemes in the late 80's. G Raps most known for his mafiaso lyrics and vivid story telling. Many rappers have to dumb down there lyrics to tell stories but not G Rap. Hardly ever does he go outside his rhyme scheme. A living legend and hip hop is lucky he's still dropping music to this day.
6. az
Az - An MC with a stand out flow along with his complex multiple rhyme schemes and vocab. Dropped a classic album "Doe Or Die" and everything after that has been good at worst. Considered as one of the most consistant rappers ever. With little mainstream success he still make those corny mainstream hits once or twice every album out side of "Doe Or Die".
7. masta ace
Masta Ace is quite possibly, one of the best to ever do hip hop music. A long lasting legend in the game, and creating a style which artist such as eminem have been influenced by. Ace is known for making music that is deep and that any average person, whether middle class or dirt poor can relate too.
8. ras kass
Ras Kass - The West Coasts best lyricist of all time. Dropped "Soul On Ice" which is acclaimed as being one of the most lyrical albums ever. Ras doesnt have the stand out flow but his knowledge in hip hop, streets, and books are decades ahead of almost every Mc. Also really solid with punchlines and metaphors though they're nto his main focus. His only real fault is making a complete album. After Soul On Ice he's had trouble with his record labels about switching over to the mainstream, resulting in a poor and shelved album.
9. inspectah deck
Inspectah Deck - A lyricist known for his complex rhyme schemes and his huge vocabulary. Multies and flow are his stand out attributes which many rappers still try to mimic to this day. Was the star on the classic album Enter 36 Chambers, out shining his clique in just about every song. Dropped what many call a classic with "Uncontrolled Substance" and a very solid sophomore album with "The Movement".
10. Canibus
Canibus will always be associated with the LL cool J beef, in which the hip hop legend exchanged jabs with an up and coming sure thing, but it would partly be the blockade stopping canibus from becoming mainstream. Bis is known for his ubelievable use of vocab and intelligence, but many have said that his poor beat selection has held him back from becoming known as one of the best that did it.
11. jay z
After the murder of B.I.G., the Hip hop torch for New York city was handed off to Jay-z. Jay has been a force in the game since his debut drop "Reasonable Doubt" in 1996. His 10th, and most recent, album titled "American Gangsta", which was styled after the movie and helped Jay tie elvis for the most #1 records. Known for his remarkable flow and the rare ability to make a song without ever writing it down, it is no question of Jay's reign of the mainstream.
12. big l
Big L, The hottest thing in the streets of Harlem when his debut "Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous" dropped. Known for his gangsta/hardcore rapping with an agressive flowand his Punchline and Multie Syllable filled verses. While he might have been one demensial there is no denyin his talent.
13 vakill
Vakill, Chicagos diamond in the rough who has been on the underground scene for quite some time, but up till 2003 never released an actual cd. Widely accepted as the "Puchline King" with a list that can go on for days. As many punchline rappers are Vakill isnt one demensional. He can as well as anybody come up with a concept or make a deep track. While his flow isnt anything great his multiple rhyme schemes and punches make it ok.
14 Pharoahe Monch
pharoahe monch - dropped classics with organized konfusion, a modern classic with debut internal affairs, and a very good second album. Known for his vocab, wordplay, and complex lyrics. A legend that has inspired many rappers today.
15 one be lo
One Be Lo, a extremely talented MC, is an MC i can still relate to real Hip Hop. With great content, and keeping a solid lyrical core, there would be no other place he could fit into.
16 copywrite
Copywrite, a talented and promising MC hailing from Columbus, OH. Even though he only has 1 album out, copywrite can be one of the few who can say his "mixtapes are better then yo album". Up until "The Jerk" he was widely known for clever puns, but with Jerk, he expanded his horizons into a bit or storytelling and deep songs, while still holding his usual swag and mixing in his puns.
17 reef
Reef The Lost Cauze, farily new to the rap scene appearin in 2001 and Regarded by many as Phillies finest. An MC with very diverse mixture of lyrical composure of battle raps, yet can make a creative concept.
18 talib
Talib Kweli, a back pack rapper who has been grouped in with the likes of mos def and other "positive vibes" rappers is known to be one of the few rappers who can pack a punch of lyrical skill, and still bring relevent content.
19 Cormega
Cormega - Known for his dark/hardcore/raw lyrics with a laid back flow and his on going beef with fellow queens bridge MC Nas. One of the most diverse MC's of all time. Good battle rapper, story teller, topicals, you name it he does it great.
20 biggie
Biggie, easily reguarded as the face of New York Hip hop in the 1990's, known for his hardcore style of rap with a grimy flow and just as grimy voice. Biggie has been considered by big mainstream NY rappers to be the G.O.A.T., and its very possible since he laid down a blueprint for the rest of eastcoast rappers.

Baller · 11-21-2007, 02:33 AM

props geeee....

Nokster · 11-21-2007, 03:28 AM

waaaaaaaaaaaaaack

Tom Chambers · 11-21-2007, 03:47 AM

^pfffttt....oh yes...don't forget about the beat.....

Nokster · 11-21-2007, 04:18 AM

^ who is you?

Baller · 11-21-2007, 04:09 PM

nok is a nas lubba...nuff said

Doc Glokk · 11-21-2007, 06:28 PM

wheres nas
im not gonna comment on anything else... all i got to say is wheres nas?

Chow Mien Gunna · 11-21-2007, 06:50 PM

lol dis looks mor lik of a top 20 favourite list...i wouldnt say these r da best of all time

ILLogic · 11-21-2007, 08:34 PM

WHAAACCKKK. Some of those ain't even in the top 50 lyricists of all time category, but w/e.

:ninja: · 11-21-2007, 09:53 PM

this is a whack list... and

at Eminem being #2 let alone top 20

Rebel INS {CF} · 11-23-2007, 01:19 PM

Copy ?!?! NOOOOOOOO !

Tom Chambers · 11-24-2007, 04:13 AM

Quote:

^ who is you?

^lotus AKA sagacity

Quote:

Me and Ballz decided to do our Top 20 of all time based on Lyrical skill (punches, puns, metaphors, multi's, content, ect.)

^points to....

11-21-2007, 03:28 AM	#3
Nokster ♫, $, & ♀ = Life. Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 8,878 Repped: 748 Repped 2,427 Times in 830 Posts Neg Reps: 44 Neg Repped at 103 Times in 84 Posts	waaaaaaaaaaaaaack __________________ You Up Yet? My Punchline's Like Gut Checks - I'm Raw Dogg, I'm Rough Sex - I'm All That, I'm Up Next/ I'm God Bless, I'm Success.. So Fuck Stress/

11-21-2007, 04:18 AM	#5
Nokster ♫, $, & ♀ = Life. Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 8,878 Repped: 748 Repped 2,427 Times in 830 Posts Neg Reps: 44 Neg Repped at 103 Times in 84 Posts	^ who is you? __________________ You Up Yet? My Punchline's Like Gut Checks - I'm Raw Dogg, I'm Rough Sex - I'm All That, I'm Up Next/ I'm God Bless, I'm Success.. So Fuck Stress/

11-21-2007, 04:09 PM	#6
Baller Vulture Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NM Posts: 3,040 Repped: 105 Repped 232 Times in 138 Posts Neg Reps: 67 Neg Repped at 59 Times in 39 Posts	nok is a nas lubba...nuff said __________________ Get mad at it, half beast, half addict Half ass it, and be better than rap bastids

11-21-2007, 06:28 PM	#7
Doc Glokk Tha Doctor Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,438 Repped: 51 Repped 15 Times in 10 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	wheres nas im not gonna comment on anything else... all i got to say is wheres nas? __________________ PeAcE tO tHe StReEtS

11-21-2007, 06:50 PM	#8
Chow Mien Gunna Baller Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: The Fuck Posts: 352 Repped: 82 Repped 26 Times in 8 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	lol dis looks mor lik of a top 20 favourite list...i wouldnt say these r da best of all time __________________

11-21-2007, 02:30 AM	#1
Tom Chambers AkA Sur-Vis-U-All Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 11,274 Repped: 132 Repped 477 Times in 296 Posts Neg Reps: 19 Neg Repped at 66 Times in 53 Posts	BALLZ & LOTUS' Top 20 Lyricists of all time BALLZ & LOTUS' Top 20 Lyricists of all time Me and Ballz decided to do our Top 20 of all time based on Lyrical skill (punches, puns, metaphors, multi's, content, ect.) 1. rakim Rakim, with miles seperation between him and any other MC, has always had a deep impact in hip hop. Whether you are talking "Paid in Full" with Rakim and Eric B., or "The 18th Letter", which is considered to be one of the best lyrical albums ever. With a stand out flow, complexity, and at times amazing puns and punchlines, there isn't an MC that can say they weren't inspired by Rakim in some way 2. eminem Though Eminem's legacy has been surrounded by contraversy, doubts, and debate, he has made one of the biggest impact in hip hop, 2nd to rakim himself. He has made dope albums such as Marshall Mathers LP, Slim Shady LP and the Eminem Show. He is one of the few mainstream rappers who can mix catchy hooks, contraversy and lyrical skill together, while attracting a wide array of fans, from gangstas in comptom to white boys in the country. 3. Gza GZA, part of the Wu-tang clan can easily be placed in the top 5 by any hip hop fan. His album "Liquid Swords" is his stand out album and is known to spit real grimy street shit along with some knowledge. Though not very big on multi's, he is still very intriguing. 4. daddy kane Daddy Kane - Basically started punchline/battle rapping lyrics and has inspired every rapper with the similar style. Also known for his stand out tracks aimed towards the ladies. One of the few rappers who could do it without being corny or soft. Just about everything duke has dropped has been labeled a classic. 5. g rap Kool G Rap - The GAOT flower in his prime and helped Rakim, Daddy Kane, And Lord Finesse form multie rhyme schemes in the late 80's. G Raps most known for his mafiaso lyrics and vivid story telling. Many rappers have to dumb down there lyrics to tell stories but not G Rap. Hardly ever does he go outside his rhyme scheme. A living legend and hip hop is lucky he's still dropping music to this day. 6. az Az - An MC with a stand out flow along with his complex multiple rhyme schemes and vocab. Dropped a classic album "Doe Or Die" and everything after that has been good at worst. Considered as one of the most consistant rappers ever. With little mainstream success he still make those corny mainstream hits once or twice every album out side of "Doe Or Die". 7. masta ace Masta Ace is quite possibly, one of the best to ever do hip hop music. A long lasting legend in the game, and creating a style which artist such as eminem have been influenced by. Ace is known for making music that is deep and that any average person, whether middle class or dirt poor can relate too. 8. ras kass Ras Kass - The West Coasts best lyricist of all time. Dropped "Soul On Ice" which is acclaimed as being one of the most lyrical albums ever. Ras doesnt have the stand out flow but his knowledge in hip hop, streets, and books are decades ahead of almost every Mc. Also really solid with punchlines and metaphors though they're nto his main focus. His only real fault is making a complete album. After Soul On Ice he's had trouble with his record labels about switching over to the mainstream, resulting in a poor and shelved album. 9. inspectah deck Inspectah Deck - A lyricist known for his complex rhyme schemes and his huge vocabulary. Multies and flow are his stand out attributes which many rappers still try to mimic to this day. Was the star on the classic album Enter 36 Chambers, out shining his clique in just about every song. Dropped what many call a classic with "Uncontrolled Substance" and a very solid sophomore album with "The Movement". 10. Canibus Canibus will always be associated with the LL cool J beef, in which the hip hop legend exchanged jabs with an up and coming sure thing, but it would partly be the blockade stopping canibus from becoming mainstream. Bis is known for his ubelievable use of vocab and intelligence, but many have said that his poor beat selection has held him back from becoming known as one of the best that did it. 11. jay z After the murder of B.I.G., the Hip hop torch for New York city was handed off to Jay-z. Jay has been a force in the game since his debut drop "Reasonable Doubt" in 1996. His 10th, and most recent, album titled "American Gangsta", which was styled after the movie and helped Jay tie elvis for the most #1 records. Known for his remarkable flow and the rare ability to make a song without ever writing it down, it is no question of Jay's reign of the mainstream. 12. big l Big L, The hottest thing in the streets of Harlem when his debut "Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous" dropped. Known for his gangsta/hardcore rapping with an agressive flowand his Punchline and Multie Syllable filled verses. While he might have been one demensial there is no denyin his talent. 13 vakill Vakill, Chicagos diamond in the rough who has been on the underground scene for quite some time, but up till 2003 never released an actual cd. Widely accepted as the "Puchline King" with a list that can go on for days. As many punchline rappers are Vakill isnt one demensional. He can as well as anybody come up with a concept or make a deep track. While his flow isnt anything great his multiple rhyme schemes and punches make it ok. 14 Pharoahe Monch pharoahe monch - dropped classics with organized konfusion, a modern classic with debut internal affairs, and a very good second album. Known for his vocab, wordplay, and complex lyrics. A legend that has inspired many rappers today. 15 one be lo One Be Lo, a extremely talented MC, is an MC i can still relate to real Hip Hop. With great content, and keeping a solid lyrical core, there would be no other place he could fit into. 16 copywrite Copywrite, a talented and promising MC hailing from Columbus, OH. Even though he only has 1 album out, copywrite can be one of the few who can say his "mixtapes are better then yo album". Up until "The Jerk" he was widely known for clever puns, but with Jerk, he expanded his horizons into a bit or storytelling and deep songs, while still holding his usual swag and mixing in his puns. 17 reef Reef The Lost Cauze, farily new to the rap scene appearin in 2001 and Regarded by many as Phillies finest. An MC with very diverse mixture of lyrical composure of battle raps, yet can make a creative concept. 18 talib Talib Kweli, a back pack rapper who has been grouped in with the likes of mos def and other "positive vibes" rappers is known to be one of the few rappers who can pack a punch of lyrical skill, and still bring relevent content. 19 Cormega Cormega - Known for his dark/hardcore/raw lyrics with a laid back flow and his on going beef with fellow queens bridge MC Nas. One of the most diverse MC's of all time. Good battle rapper, story teller, topicals, you name it he does it great. 20 biggie Biggie, easily reguarded as the face of New York Hip hop in the 1990's, known for his hardcore style of rap with a grimy flow and just as grimy voice. Biggie has been considered by big mainstream NY rappers to be the G.O.A.T., and its very possible since he laid down a blueprint for the rest of eastcoast rappers.

11-21-2007, 02:33 AM	#2
Baller Vulture Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NM Posts: 3,040 Repped: 105 Repped 232 Times in 138 Posts Neg Reps: 67 Neg Repped at 59 Times in 39 Posts	props geeee.... __________________ Get mad at it, half beast, half addict Half ass it, and be better than rap bastids

11-21-2007, 03:47 AM	#4
Tom Chambers AkA Sur-Vis-U-All Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 11,274 Repped: 132 Repped 477 Times in 296 Posts Neg Reps: 19 Neg Repped at 66 Times in 53 Posts	^pfffttt....oh yes...don't forget about the beat.....

11-21-2007, 08:34 PM	#9
ILLogic Pharaoh in Ghetto Apparel Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: In God's Head Posts: 3,384 Repped: 13 Repped 129 Times in 74 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	WHAAACCKKK. Some of those ain't even in the top 50 lyricists of all time category, but w/e. __________________ Recognized Thresholds of Negative Stress "Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights make a left" - Ras Kass

11-21-2007, 09:53 PM	#10
:ninja: Banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: From Da Slums Of Shaolin Posts: 2,416 Repped: 937 Repped 139 Times in 54 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 1 Time in 1 Post	this is a whack list... and at Eminem being #2 let alone top 20

11-23-2007, 01:19 PM	#11
Rebel INS {CF} - iLLuminati ~ Rapsody - Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ireland Posts: 11,436 Repped: 150 Repped 629 Times in 297 Posts Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 76 Times in 68 Posts	Copy ?!?! NOOOOOOOO ! __________________ "Fighting Ignorance every day is gettin weary" [name pending] --- The Gateway Drug --- Sometime Soon --- myspace.com/namepending08

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