Top 5 Dead Or Alive??... These Guys HAVE To Be...

[harlem on the rise]

NO Order

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler [+]

Spoiler

IN Order

NaS
BIG
Jay Z
Rakim
2Pac

Discuss...

 

[harlem on the rise]

NO Order

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler [+]

Spoiler

IN Order

NaS
BIG
Jay Z
Rakim
2Pac

Discuss...

 

[dead stokc]

This what N's do when theres no new music huh?
*gets off the stoop & goes back inside*

 

[dead stokc]

This what N's do when theres no new music huh?
*gets off the stoop & goes back inside*

 

[dapper d]

Yeah, I'm cool with that...

My order...

Nas
Rakim
Jay-Z
Pac
Big...

 

[dapper d]

Yeah, I'm cool with that...

My order...

Nas
Rakim
Jay-Z
Pac
Big...

 

[airmaxpenny1]

I would agree in terms of relevance, originality, impact, ability, message that's a pretty standard top 5...Those definitely aren't neccesarily my top 5 favorite MC's are mot listened too, but in terms of greatness i would agree with that list.  The order is just semantics, I personally would put:

1. Big
2. Rakim
3. Nas
4. 2pac
5. Jay

But to play Devil's advocate here are some others I think an argument could be made for:

 

[airmaxpenny1]

I would agree in terms of relevance, originality, impact, ability, message that's a pretty standard top 5...Those definitely aren't neccesarily my top 5 favorite MC's are mot listened too, but in terms of greatness i would agree with that list.  The order is just semantics, I personally would put:

1. Big
2. Rakim
3. Nas
4. 2pac
5. Jay

But to play Devil's advocate here are some others I think an argument could be made for:

 

[jthagreat]

lol a that Stedman pic.

 

[jthagreat]

lol a that Stedman pic.

 

[mossman75]

You can make a argument for Nas,Rakim,.Big, & Pac for a top 5(even through mine may be different)



But for Stedman nah, replace with....

 

[mossman75]

You can make a argument for Nas,Rakim,.Big, & Pac for a top 5(even through mine may be different)



But for Stedman nah, replace with....

 

[jthagreat]

^^word.

His catalog is lacking

Reasonable Doubt || In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 || Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life
Hard Knock Life Bonus || Vol. 3 Life and Times of S. Carter
The Dynasty Roc La Familia || The Blueprint || The Best of Both Worlds
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse (One || Two || 2.1)
The Black Album || Unfinished Business || Streets Is Watching
Kingdom Come || American Gangster || The Blueprint 3
Remix/B-Side/Soundtrack || Miscellaneous​

 

[jthagreat]

^^word.

His catalog is lacking

Reasonable Doubt || In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 || Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life
Hard Knock Life Bonus || Vol. 3 Life and Times of S. Carter
The Dynasty Roc La Familia || The Blueprint || The Best of Both Worlds
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse (One || Two || 2.1)
The Black Album || Unfinished Business || Streets Is Watching
Kingdom Come || American Gangster || The Blueprint 3
Remix/B-Side/Soundtrack || Miscellaneous​

 

[harlem on the rise]

Naw KRS rapped his way out the top 5 LOOOONG ago...

 

[harlem on the rise]

Naw KRS rapped his way out the top 5 LOOOONG ago...

 

[yardfather]

BIG
Pac
Rakim
Jay
Nas
Em
Ghostface
Ice Cube
Scarface
Redman
Dre 3000

All eligible candidates.

 

[yardfather]

BIG
Pac
Rakim
Jay
Nas
Em
Ghostface
Ice Cube
Scarface
Redman
Dre 3000

All eligible candidates.

 

[mossman75]

From Criminal Minded up until his 1995 self titled album thats a 7 album run with no wack material. KRS-one just needs some producton, lyrically he never fell off,he need to upgrade his flow a little


i can't say the same for Stedman



The blueprint was the last album i liked by duke

 

[mossman75]

From Criminal Minded up until his 1995 self titled album thats a 7 album run with no wack material. KRS-one just needs some producton, lyrically he never fell off,he need to upgrade his flow a little


i can't say the same for Stedman



The blueprint was the last album i liked by duke

 

[a beautiful wave]

rest don't matter

 

[a beautiful wave]

rest don't matter

 

[essential1]

My List:
1. Jay
2. Pac
3. Big (he is more of a what if, We can tell he is one of the best to do it off of what we got.. But the sample size is the problem...where as Pac had so much more Material to judge.. BIG would probably be #1 or easily #2 if he had been able to have a few more albums)
4. Nas
5. Rakim

On some of the Devil's Advocate choices:
KRS-One basically went from arguable top 5 and he fell pretty far back the new millennium has not been kind to that man... Common is a great rapper but not good enough for top 5 or close for that matter... LL Cool J is a person who I think gets downgraded (deservedly so) because of everything after G.O.A.T. (DEFinition had some real LL stuff tho) if LL called it a career with G.O.A.T. (would have been a fitting way to go out) he would be much higher than what people put him at now.

 

[essential1]

My List:
1. Jay
2. Pac
3. Big (he is more of a what if, We can tell he is one of the best to do it off of what we got.. But the sample size is the problem...where as Pac had so much more Material to judge.. BIG would probably be #1 or easily #2 if he had been able to have a few more albums)
4. Nas
5. Rakim

On some of the Devil's Advocate choices:
KRS-One basically went from arguable top 5 and he fell pretty far back the new millennium has not been kind to that man... Common is a great rapper but not good enough for top 5 or close for that matter... LL Cool J is a person who I think gets downgraded (deservedly so) because of everything after G.O.A.T. (DEFinition had some real LL stuff tho) if LL called it a career with G.O.A.T. (would have been a fitting way to go out) he would be much higher than what people put him at now.

 

[futuristic]

If I have to pick a top 5 in order...

1. Pac- The complete package(songs, content, catalog, etc.)
2. Nas- Pac beats him by a hair because of the hit-making ability
3. BIG- Probably be higher if the catalog was deeper
4. Jay- Lacks a consistent amount of depth in lyrics, BP3 basically cemented that
5. Eminem- Off of pure ability, he could have been a lot better than he was though