Kool G. Rap and Nas finished 10 and 9. Who’s next up on the list?
8. Andre 3000
Representing: Atlanta
It took a long time before I was able to appreciate OutKast. Not to say I was a purist, but…well, I was a purist. No one from outside New York was as good as artists from New York. Shit, prior to OutKast, rap from the SouthEast was booty music a la Luke. To this day, I don’t think Southernplayalisticadillacmusic is a fantastic album. Then “Elevators (Me & You) came out and I had to reset. Turns out OutKast, and Andre 3000, is one of those artists that had to grow into his dopeness. By the time Aquemini came out, everyone from The Source magazine to the record buying public agreed that Dre and Big Boi had something very special. However, it’s only recently that I’ve heard Andre being involved in discussions about the G.O.A.T. Could it be that you don’t know what you’re missing until it’s gone? The fact that Mr. 3000 has been working at a MUCH more leisurely pace for the past five or six years could be why we lap his occasional guest verses up like water in the desert. Although I’m wishing on a star for a solo album (or a new OutKast album!), if we have to receive our Andre 3000 fix by virtue of his guest appearances on songs by Beyonce, John Legend and (ugh…) Ke$ha, then I guess that’s what we’ll have to do…for now.
7. Jay-Z
Representing: Brooklyn
Speaking of growing into your dopeness, listen to pre-Reasonable Doubt Jay-Z some time. Remember “Hawaiian Sophie”? Remember his verse on “Show & Prove” by Big Daddy Kane when he was still rocking the DAS-EFX “iggity” style? Three years after that Kane cameo, Shawn Carter had found the key to being a great emcee. Of course, he’s misplaced that key several times over the years (do you find it strange that Jay-Z’s best selling albums are generally his worst?), but the fact remains that when he wants to be, Jigga is one of the best to EVER do it. EV-ER. Blessed with a combination of swagger (some would call it arrogance), an eye for detail, and the ability to sound menacing as fuck without raising his voice even half a decibel, Jay-Z is the textbook post-golden age emcee. If he was more consistent (and didn’t obviously dumb down his skill set in order to sell records), he could have easily found himself three or four places higher on this list.
8 comments
Michael says:
Jun 16, 2011
This verse:
“True I got more fans than the average man but not enough loot to last me to the end of the week, I live by the beat like you live check to check. If you don’t move yo’ foot then I don’t eat, so we like neck to neck.”
… is one of my favorite hip-hop lyrics. Period. I fully support Andre 3000 being this high on the list.
blerd says:
Jun 16, 2011
The “Aquemini” album still blows my mind to this day. All the way through.
GG says:
Jun 16, 2011
I’ve told this story a few times before, but I was in college the day Aquemini and Vol 2. dropped, left class early and ran my ass across the street to Wherehouse Records to buy both albums. I can’t remember anything I buy today, but for whatever reason, I can remember that day some 13 years ago.
Tyler says:
Jun 16, 2011
Interesting list. I would never put Jay-Z above Nas though.
blerd says:
Jun 16, 2011
I forgot that those came out the same day! I probably, like you, bought both albums at the same time.
Drew says:
Jun 17, 2011
As one who came of age in the mid to late 90s, I fully approve of both of these entries. Although I noticed the Ke$ha joke in the Andre 3000 paragraph, and am hoping against hope that it’s a sick joke. That’s not true, right? …. right?
Seriously, it can’t be true. ::trembles::
blerd says:
Jun 17, 2011
Sadly, it’s true. He appears on a remix of Ke$ha’s “Sleazy”. I hope someone paid him BIG money for that shit.
The Top 40 Emcees of All Time: #6 & #5 | Popblerd!! says:
Jun 20, 2011
[…] to get a headache. After feeling relatively comfortable with my choices up till now, including Andre 3000 and Jay-Z at #8 and #7, respectively, organizing the top 6 turned out to be a fairly Herculean feat. I should correct that. #1 was […]