Why are KRS-One and Rakim considered great?

Question

I really would like to know, I'm not hating on them. But can someone give me some incredible lyrics by either of the two. Sorry, I just can't stand listening to either of their music because of how pathetic the beats are.

Good rap music has to have great lyrics and great beats. That's why I like Immortal Technique. Perhaps if Rakim or KRS were of a more recent time, I would enjoy them because their beats would be less archaic.

Preciate it ANT, just what I was looking for. That is good.

Answer 1

Rakim is a pioneer credited by many for actually changing the cadance, flow & ryhme pattern of mc's when they were still sounding a little like "Rapper's Delight-classic hip hop song". But its debateable, there were others around who also had more complicated rhyme deliveries. Ex. Kool G. Rap
His lyrical content was considered un-matched also by most, with complex similies, metaphors & concepts. Here's a verse:


I learn to relax in my room and escape from New York
And Return through the womb of the world as a thought
Thinkin how hard it was to be born
Me being cream with no physical form
Millions of cells with one destination
To reach the best part that's life's creation
Nine months later a job well done
Make way cause here I come
Since I made it this far can't stop now
There's a will and a way and I got the know-how
To be all there is to be and more
To see all there is to see before
I'm called to go back to the essence
It's a lot to learn so I studied my lessons
I thought the ghetto was the worst that could happen to me
I'm glad I listened when my father was rapping to me
Cause back in the days they lived in caves
Exiled from the original man and strayed away
Now that's what I call hard times
I'd rather be here to exercise the mind
Then I take a thought around the world twice
From knowledge the form back to knowledge precise
Across the desert that's hot as the Arabian
But they couldn't cave me in cause I'm the Asian
Reaching for the city of Mecca visit Medina
Visions of Nefertiti then I seen her
Mind keeps travelin I'll be back after I
Stop and think about the brothers and sisters in Africa
Return the thought through the eye of a needle
For miles I fought and I just fought the people
Under the darks skies on a dark side
Not only there but right here's an aparthied
So now is the time for us to react
Take a trip through the mind and when you get back
Understand your third eye seen all of that
It aint where you from it's where you at
Even the "Ghetto"

Krs-ONE(Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone) AKA "The Teacher" is known for excellent lyrics,
that includes all the ingredients listed for "Ra". But his career is defined for his tendecy to "educate" fans in his songs-albeit-in a entertaining way (he coined the phrase "edutainment"). His covers subjects like history, politics, social issues etc. (Not that Rakim didn't) His flow is also highly energetic. Heres a verse.

I'll play the nine and you play the target
you all know my name so I guess I'll just start it
or should I say, "Start this," I am an artist
of new concepts at their hardest
cause, yo, I'm a teacher and Scott is a scholar
It ain't about money cause we all make dollars
That's why I walk with my head up
when I hear wack rhymes I get fed up
Rap is like a set-up, a lot of games
a lot of suckas with colorful names
I'm so-and-so, I'm this, I'm that
huh, but they all just wick-wick-wack
I'm not white or red or black
I'm brown.. from the Boogie Down
Productions, of course our music be thumpin'
others say they're bad, but they're buggin
let me tell you somethin' now about hip hop
about D-Nice, Melodie, and Scott La Rock
I'll get a pen, a pencil, a marker
mainly what I write is for the average New Yorker
some mc's be talkin' and talkin'
tryin' to show how black people are walkin
but I don't walk this way to portray
or reinforce stereotypes of today
like all my brothas eat chicken and watermelon
talk broken english and drug sellin'
See I'm tellin, and teaching real facts
The way some act in rap is kind of wack
and it lacks creativity and intelligence
but they don't care cause the company is sellin' it
It's my philosophy, on the industry
Don't bother dissin me, or even wish that we'd
soften, dilute, or commercialize all our lyrics
Cause it's about time one of y'all hear it
And hear it first-hand from the intelligent brown man
A vegetarian, no goat or ham
or chicken or turkey or hamburger
'cause to me that's suicide self-murder
let us get back to what we call hip hop
and what it meant to DJ Scott La Rock...

Both are known as great "battle" mc's & are versatile artists who cover a wide range of topics. They also accept social responsibility for their lyrics & influence.

Answer 2

KRS-One's The Message (with Boogie Down Productions)
and Rakim's Lyrics of Fury (with Eric B.)
are their best songs. If you like 'em you'll understand.

Answer 3

I'm rated "R"...this is a warning, ya better void,
Poets are paranoid, DJ's D-stroyed,
Cuz I came back to attack others in spite-
Strike like lightnin', It's quite frightenin'!
But don't be afraid in the dark, in a park,
Not a scream or a cry, or a bark, more like a spark;
Ya tremble like a alcoholic, muscles tighten up,
What's that, lighten up! You see a sight but,
Suddenly you feel like your in a horror flick,
You grab your heart then wish for tomorrow quick!
Music's the clue, when I come your warned,
Apocolypse Now, when I'm done, ya gone!
Haven't you ever heard of a MC-murderer?
This is the death penalty,and I'm servin' a
death wish, so come on, step to this
hysterical idea for a lyrical professionist!
Friday the thirteenth, walking down Elm Street,
you come in my realm ya get beat!
This is off limits, so your visions are blurry,
All ya see is the meters

Answer 4

Yes they are considered great becuase, they paved the way for most of the rappers that we listen to now but, they also played a big role on the religon of hip-hop a sub culture!

Answer 5

if you only listen to music for the beats, u mine as well just be buying/downloading the instrumentals

Answer 6

DJ Premier-Classic.

That is just a sample. Then come back.

Answer 7

They are great pioneers

Answer 8

ur lame