What makes a rapper good?

[Legacy]

I'll probably get bashed for this but whatever.

What makes a rapper good? Flow, lyrics, what else?

 

[Notorious]

<div class="quote_poster">Carter Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'll probably get bashed for this but whatever.

What makes a rapper good? Flow, lyrics, what else?</div>

I dont know about anyone else, but for me its everything. The flow,the beat, the lyrics,etc. All of it.

 

[B.e.]

To be a complete rapper you need: flow, wordplay, creativity, subject matter, and delivery.

 

[Voodoo Child]

Nothing really, it's very arbitrary.

There's no set definition for being a "good rapper."

Lyrical content is universally accepted as a qualification though, and more importantly to me, social awareness is also important.

Other than that, it's an extremely subjective and very image-based genre.

 

[Chutney]

Yea, you really have to be flexible in your expectations, IMO (but then again that is probably just personal preference). I enjoy artists that have some depth and approach social/philosophical issues. But, I'm also willing to let that criteria slide for rappers that are exceptional with their words (clever punchlines, imagery, etc.).

 

[umair]

creativity and consistency.

 

[phunDamentalz]

if he's from one of the 5 boroughs that's a great start....
Wu-Tang
Jay-Z
Nas
Mobb Deep
Run DMC
Rakim
Grandmaster Flash
LL Cool J
Notorious B.I.G.
M.O.P.
Talib Kweli
KRS One
EPMD
Public Enemy
Juelz Santana
JR Writer
Big Pun
Kool G Rap
Jadakiss
Fabolous

need I go on?????

 

[Bobcats]

^ You think Juelz Santana is a good rapper?

 

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">Bobcats Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">^ You think Juelz Santana is a good rapper?</div>
He is from Harlem, so yes.

 

[B.e.]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Juelz Santana</div>

The F outta here.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">if he's from one of the 5 boroughs that's a great start....</div>
NYC dudes stay with that regional biased bull ish.

 

[Bobcats]

<div class="quote_poster">MrJ Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">He is from Harlem, so yes.</div>

Not sure if your being sarcastic or not, but I think he's pure garbage.

 

[Voodoo Child]

Reading the few posts above mine reminds me about how rap today is all about publicity, advertising, and image, not music.

Thanks for the friendly reminder.

Early-to-Mid 90's Rap >>> Modern Rap

(although that's kind of common knowledge)

 

[B.e.]

<div class="quote_poster">Voodoo Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Reading the few posts above mine reminds me about how rap today is all about publicity, advertising, and image, not music.

Thanks for the friendly reminder.</div>
I'm sure you could make a good assumption based on posts from kids on a message board couldn't you?

Of course the game isn't as good as it was, but people over over exaggerate the state of the game right now.

 

[Bobcats]

<div class="quote_poster">Voodoo Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Early-to-Mid 90's Rap >>> Modern Rap</div>

No doubt. Most rappers these days are pure crap.

 

[Voodoo Child]

<div class="quote_poster">A.F. Venom Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'm sure you could make a good assumption based on posts from kids on a message board couldn't you?
</div>

Or I could make that assumption based on decades of listening to hip-hop and being there from its first days to now.

 

[phunDamentalz]

<div class="quote_poster">A.F. Venom Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">

The F outta here.
</div>
wow you're such a loser
trust you to find the one rapper on there,
uhm any comments about the other 17 mr. rap critic?
step off and listen to Rick Ross and other great Florida rap legends.

 

[Bobcats]

<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">wow you're such a loser
trust you to find the one rapper on there,
uhm any comments about the other 17 mr. rap critic?
step off and listen to Rick Ross and other great Florida rap legends.</div>

You had some great recommendations (Wu-Tang, KRS-One, Biggie, Mobb Deep etc.), but seriously, Juelz Santana? The guy has whack ass rhymes.

 

[phunDamentalz]

<div class="quote_poster">Bobcats Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You had some great recommendations (Wu-Tang, KRS-One, Biggie, Mobb Deep etc.), but seriously, Juelz Santana? The guy has whack ass rhymes.</div>
I listed him as an up and coming guy I don't think he is KRS ONe or anything but for commercial rappers he's better than a lot of other new rappers like lil wayne of course

 

[Bobcats]

I'm like
I'm nice
Still pitching
Still flipping
So come **** with the boy
I'm still pumping the boy
I'll still dump on the boy
Blue steel pump to the boy

If that's a verse of an up and coming rapper, then I think the rap game is in serious trouble (as if it isn't already).

 

[Chutney]

Dude, he's terrible. Lil Wayne is better.

"Eh, Eh, Eh."

I want to punch him. Otherwise a good list, though.

 

[B.e.]

<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">
step off and listen to Rick Ross and other great Florida rap legends.</div>
I don't even listen to many southern artists, hit and miss kid. Nice try though. Not to mention even Rick Ross is better than Elz....

Why did you make a list of artists when the thread says, What Makes A Rapper Good. Not who is a good rapper.

He is no way shape or form better than Wayne, pass that dro B. Elz is wack.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">
I'm like
I'm nice
Still pitching
Still flipping
So come **** with the boy
I'm still pumping the boy
I'll still dump on the boy
Blue steel pump to the boy</div>

Thank you....

If he was from Atlanta he'd be accused of killing hip hop.

I'm actually embarrassed for you that you put him on that list that were mainly hip hop legends to. Personally I like some of Wayne's ish, but I know where the line is drawn. Get a grip.

 

[Karma]

I present to you one of the most annoying verses of all time:

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">
Got you working with some ass yeah
You bad yeah
Make a ***** spend his cash yeah
His last yeah
Hoes clown when you pass yeah
They mad yeah
You gon' ride in the Jag yeah
With dad yeah
You could smoke or buy a bag yeah
A grass yeah
Got money I confess yeah
And trash yeah
I'm a Big Tymer ***** yeah
Pulling trigger yeah
A player hater to flip with, yeah
Gon' head and fill it, yeah
I be slanging wood, yeah
Out the hood, yeah
Let it be understood, yeah
It's all good, yeah
Got a ***** screaming large, yeah
On the hard, yeah
A smooth ghetto broad, yeah
I want the broad, yeah
A ***** do a trick, yeah
On the dick, yeah
You claiming you want a bitch, yeah
That ain't ****, yeah
The ***** with the money, yeah
Don't act funny, yeah
Got birds and I'm running, yeah
'Bout a hundred, yeah
</div>

lol, you guys should know who that's by. If not, you're missing some hilarious "rapping".

 

[Chutney]

It looks so much worse when you see them written out.

 

[Voodoo Child]

<div class="quote_poster">Karma Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I present to you one of the most annoying verses of all time:

lol, you guys should know who that's by. If not, you're missing some hilarious "rapping".</div>

You're missing the point. Southern rap is not about lyrical content, it's about style and flava.

People who aren't from the south don't understand the south. That's okay though. Keep on keepin on.

 

[phunDamentalz]

NYC IS hip-hop. end of story.
a lot of music originated in the south - blues, jazz, etc. but hip-hop came from New York.

 

[B.e.]

<div class="quote_poster">Voodoo Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You're missing the point. Southern rap is not about lyrical content, it's about style and flava.

People who aren't from the south don't understand the south. That's okay though. Keep on keepin on.

</div>

Basically.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">
NYC IS hip-hop. end of story.</div>
Rap basically originated in NYC.....whats your point? But slaves said rhymes way before the first rap record was created, so the roots of hip hop can be connected to the south basically.

 

[Chutney]

Yea, hip hop really doesn't have a home anymore. So many different tastes and no specific area is great enough to have a stranglehold over the game.

 

[phunDamentalz]

<div class="quote_poster">A.F. Venom Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">

Rap originated in NYC.....whats your point?</div>
My point is you have to show NYC the proper respect, Mr. Fresh.

 

[Voodoo Child]

<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">My point is you have to show NYC the proper respect, Mr. Fresh.</div>

I don't know about any of that.

That's what I'm talking about with hip-hop today. It's all about my area vs. your area, my rapper vs. your rapper, etc.

Music is music and words are words. When southern rappers put music out, it's meant to be appreciated for its aesthetic qualities. They use words as a tool to help their music flow smoothly. Northern rappers tend to totally miss the boat on that, placing an emphasis on lyrical content. Why not just write a book or some poems? Why do you have to market yourself as a musician if all you're doing is putting an emphasis on your words? Besides, the words aren't even that great half the time. They rarely have any deep meaning, and even if they're clever, any idiot with a rhyming dictionary could write similar lines.

 

[Karma]

<div class="quote_poster">Voodoo Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I don't know about any of that.

That's what I'm talking about with hip-hop today. It's all about my area vs. your area, my rapper vs. your rapper, etc.

Music is music and words are words. When southern rappers put music out, it's meant to be appreciated for its aesthetic qualities. They use words as a tool to help their music flow smoothly. Northern rappers tend to totally miss the boat on that, placing an emphasis on lyrical content. Why not just write a book or some poems? Why do you have to market yourself as a musician if all you're doing is putting an emphasis on your words? Besides, the words aren't even that great half the time. They rarely have any deep meaning, and even if they're clever, any idiot with a rhyming dictionary could write similar lines.</div>

So, do you perfer southern rap over northern?

I've tried listening to southern songs, but the HEAVILY hi-hat based beats and lack of sense/purpose behind the music is a turn off. Not saying East Coast or West Coast or Midwest is better or not (honestly, I grew out of hiphop like 2 years ago, I still listen to it here and there but it's not the same) but any idiot could speak lines like:

"I be slanging wood, yeah
Out the hood, yeah
Let it be understood, yeah
It's all good, yeah"

And it doesn't necessairly sound good aesthetically either. Juvenille's voice is annoying as hell to listen to, especially when he keeps repeating the word "yeah" like a grunt.