Who's the best living hip hop artist/rapper??

Question

No 2pacs or B.I.G.s Has to be alive. I say it's DMX.

Answer 1

"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants." Sir Isaac Newton

This is question is super subjective. That means based upon what type of "rap" you like you will see different answers. You can tell that by the answers that have been given already.

I can tell the people that like "Dirty South" rappers, "East Coast" rappers so on and so on.

So who is the "BEST". Okay, who's been around the longest and can still release a song and have it be relevant? Who's been able to chart in 3 different decades? The 80's, 90's and the 21st century? If that is your "criteria", then how can you NOT say that LL Cool J is the best rapper? Maybe Dr. Dre but his very early 80's stuff was NOT HITTING to me anyway with those sequine shirts on the album cover and all that.

If your "criteria" is "Who's Hot Now?" then Eminem has to be the "best" rapper. The boy is funny as a Mugg and that is an element that has been lost with all these super hard Mega Thugs rappers. Someone forgot to remind people it is cool to have a sense of humor.

If your "criteria" is who is accepted in more diverse regions of the country then it is probably a toss up between Redman and E-40. Personally these are two of my favorite rappers. These two dudes are hilarious, their music is tight and they keep it more real than skid marks in White da dunt da dunts.

If you judge by speed and content then Twister is the best rapper. He's like a Hayabusa with a microphone DEEEZAAAMN!

Overall my criteria would be who has the best contract and made the most money. So the rappers that can "retire" now and afford the lifestyle they enjoy now are the "best rappers". So, if that is the critieria then Puffy, Master P, Nelly or Russell Simmons are the best rappers. I know perfectly well that Russell isn't a performer. Without Russell though you wouldn't be able to ask this question.

Ultimately, I ain't mad at nobody. I wish everyone could sign a good deal and make the money while the window of opportunity is available. Then, be smart like Roxanne Shante and GET OUT!
Then again, I'm a dreamer.

I have a better question. Who is Joseph Saddler? If you can't answer this question without going to a search engine, you probably aren't even qualified to be in this discussion. Without this individual the music wouldn't be what it is today. PERIOD.

Yeah. I'm just an old school blah blah blah blah blah. That's right. Unlike most people that will offer an opinion I CAN actually handle all aspects of performing the music EXCEPT for the business part. Either way, being involved in the rap music industry is like breaking down in a raggedy car 50 yards away from a KKK meeting as a Black Man. Only difference is you have black people killing other black people over jealousy and Sound Scan ratings.

Who cares about all that other stuff? The money is what matters and that why EPMD/ The Hit Squad and all those guys fell out (Oh, duh...That's "old school"). Why are people shooting at Busta Rhymes while he is just trying to work? Haters! That's all.

I'm personally sick of that kind of mess. After Tupac and Biggie were killed for no reason at all besides petty jealousy and what not. People "forget" and move on. I will never forget and move on, because hip hop is not about "forgetting and moving on". Hip Hop is about remembering and achievements. Without remembering, there's not "transform" scratch, there's no 1/4 - 3/4 ryhme build up that has been popular for the last twenty years and is still used today.

Rap is a commercial animal now. Business executives package some mess up force feed you what they want to hear. The industry COULDN'T WAIT for Tupac to die because then they could hire their own personal thug with a demo and tie a rag around his head and have him rap for your entertainment.

This is why people who have been buying, performing and listening to this music for the last 25 to 30 years try to pass on the history. Many of the new rappers know the history. Then again, this is the nature of "fans".

Especially "American" fans. American fans are the worst! Let me use a favorite "new school" saying. "Oh, that's old school"... So now all the sudden since it happened ten or twenty years ago it is no longer relavent. It's all good though because these "old school" artists are getting their money overseas, minus the threat of death and drama.

Since this generation is so into being ignorant let me run a saying by you that is easy to grasp.

"Those that ignore history are DOOMED to repeat it."

Before you call me a "Hater" or whatever. Understand I make 28 dollars an hour using skills that began when I started spinning turntables and DJ'ing parties. I need a record deal like I need a hole in my head. Holla.

Answer 2

Jay-Z hands down!! He is the best living rapper. there are some really good ones though I do like DMX a lot especially his new song "Lord Give me a sign" that song is great. I also like Camron ironically since him and Jay are beefin right now and I love my husbands music. He has a myspace page if anybody wants to listen to him it is www.myspace.com/skab777. And then I like eminem he is a lyrical genius!! Really there are some really talented rappers but honestly the best ones are dead.

Answer 3

Since you didn't name a time frame, I'm gonna say it is a tie (IMHO) between LL and Rakim. And to Resonating Frequency: the answer to your question is Grandmaster Flash and I didn't have to go to a search engine to find out :)

Answer 4

Missy Elliott.

Answer 5

I liked when dr dre and snoop dogg did songs together (nuthin' but a g-thang) so i gotta say those guys o and derek k try a tribe called quest

Answer 6

Playa Fly hands down from memphis

Answer 7

Nas

Answer 8

smh @ some of the answers. I'ma go with Lil Wayne or Common.

Answer 9

WEll, to tell you the truth, I don't think there is a good one alive. To much sex, drugs, and violence in it all. If you find a rap song without those things in it, I'll give you five bucks.

Answer 10

Emimem