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Michigan Mike · 07-18-2008, 03:22 PM

Seeing Rakim on so many lists is surprising, but awesome.

**Ste** · 07-18-2008, 05:50 PM

Why, many consider him to be the greatest of alltime?

Shaw13 · 07-18-2008, 05:56 PM

My Top 5:
1. Nas
2. Big L
3. Talib Kweli
4. Big Punisher
5. Mos Def

**Rabid** · 07-18-2008, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killswitch

Personally I wasn't much of a fan of Lil Wayne before I heard the Carter III album, but after listening to the whole thing today it was impressing to hear the album was pretty solid from top to bottom.

Agreed. I enjoyed every track except La La

Spiked. · 07-19-2008, 02:05 AM

Nas's new album is fucking awesome.

**King Kenny** · 07-19-2008, 02:21 AM

1) Eminem
2) Rakim
3) Nas
4) Ice Cube
5) Dre/with all the other collobaations (at the time)

Michigan Mike · 07-19-2008, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ste

Why, many consider him to be the greatest of alltime?

The people who know about him. Most people around here seem to think Lil Wayne is the greatest thing since sliced bread, so seeing some decent lists is kind of shocking.

**Strike One** · 07-19-2008, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michigan Mike

Seeing Rakim on so many lists is surprising, but awesome.

I hear that. A list without Rakim at or near the top is null and void, imo.

Michigan Mike · 07-19-2008, 03:43 AM

Definitely should be. Rakim is in my mind the most innovative rapper of all-time. Before him lyrics were simplistic and crude. Just look at some of the big acts in Hip Hop before Rakim you've got Whodini, Run DMC, Melle Mel...I'm sure I'm missing a lot, but it's like 4am so yeah. Anyways while those weren't necessary bad they were on a much lower level of lyricism than is existent in rap today. Rakim is the one who truly pioneered the complex lyrics, multi-syllable rhyme schemes and meaningful metaphors that would be the mark all of the best rappers.

btw Black Thought deserves tons of props too. Glad to see him getting a lot. Illadelph Halflife may be the best "slept on" album of all-time. Most people don't know about it, but those who do know how great that it is.

**Strike One** · 07-19-2008, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michigan Mike

Definitely should be. Rakim is in my mind the most innovative rapper of all-time. Before him lyrics were simplistic and crude. Just look at some of the big acts in Hip Hop before Rakim you've got Whodini, Run DMC, Melle Mel...I'm sure I'm missing a lot, but it's like 4am so yeah. Anyways while those weren't necessary bad they were on a much lower level of lyricism than is existent in rap today. Rakim is the one who truly pioneered the complex lyrics, multi-syllable rhyme schemes and meaningful metaphors that would be the mark all of the best rappers.

btw Black Thought deserves tons of props too. Glad to see him getting a lot. Illadelph Halflife may be the best "slept on" album of all-time. Most people don't know about it, but those who do know how great that it is.

Finally someone else around here realizes just how much of an innovator Rakim was. People want to run around talking about Lil' Wayne, but there might not have been a Lil' Wayne if Rakim hadn't birthed the whole art of modern rhyming.

And as for Black Thought, he's in my Top 5 as well. It'd be absurd for him to be anywhere else but in my Top 5, seeing as he's one of the greatest rappers I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. Illadelph Halflife is my absolute favorite Roots album and probably in my Top 5 favorite Hip Hop albums ever. I never get tired of it.