Top 10 Hip Hop Groups...

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

 

If you were to list the "Top 10 Solo Rappers", no doubt that Andre 3000 would make my list, but not Big Boi. "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" and "ATLiens" were classic CD's without a doubt, and "Aquemini" were near classics, but after that they fell off IMO, and so did there Hip Hop sound(Actually that was after "Stankonia", but "Stankonia wasn't as good as their 1st three CD's, it was too much mainstream for me).

 

Too me, while they are a Top 5 group, I just can't place them above Wu-Tang, Public Enemy, and BDP.

 

I've got a bone to pick with this Outkast logic. I despise when people write off certain hip-hop as being too mainstream. Either its good, or it isn't, and then either its underground or its mainstream. The amount of people listening to a group shouldn't dictate how you feel about it. Anyway, while Andre has definitely lost his taste for hop-hop, Big Boi certainly hasn't. Speakerboxxx has some great hip-hop on it. Don't throw Big Boi out with Andre's weird ass bath water.

 

When I said it was too mainstream, I meant they were trying their hardest to have mainstream sucess instead of putting out a classic CD. They were always mainstream since their 1st CD, their 1st 3 CD's(2 classics and 1 near classic) sold over 5 million.

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

Yeah, they got madd airplay on tv and radio since like 96'. Winnin' awards and shit, the first Southern rappers to do so.

[Guest DRH 502]

I've always wondered why Eminem shouts Andre rather than Big Boi out in his "list" in the song Till I collapse??

 

It goes:

Reggie (Redman)

Jay Z

Tupac and Biggie

Andre from Outkast

Jada

Korrupt

Nas

 

Blah blah was Andre ever like innovative or tremendous with lyricism?? I remember him being decent to above average at best and that was at his peak...

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

I've always wondered why Eminem shouts Andre rather than Big Boi out in his "list" in the song Till I collapse??

 

It goes:

Reggie (Redman)

Jay Z

Tupac and Biggie

Andre from Outkast

Jada

Korrupt

Nas

 

Blah blah was Andre ever like innovative or tremendous with lyricism?? I remember him being decent to above average at best and that was at his peak...

 

Andre 3000 was always considered suprior to Big Boi, and Andre 3000 is in my Top 10 dead or alive. He's an amazing lyricist. You really have to listen to his lyrics closely to get a true gasp of his lyrics, because of his ackward flow(not bashing it, because I'm a huge fan of his flow, but sometimes words slip by you when he raps).

[Red Baron 0]

Public Enemy

Wu-Tang

N.W.A.

Onyx

Outkast

A Tribe Called Quest

Geto Boys

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

carlito's opinion is irrelevent.

f*ck

 

C'mon now, don't need to censor yourself.

 

Outkast is the best rap...entity? Group or not, they put out better rap albums than anyone else so whatever list with groups should have them top it.

 

If you were to list the "Top 10 Solo Rappers", no doubt that Andre 3000 would make my list, but not Big Boi. "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" and "ATLiens" were classic CD's without a doubt, and "Aquemini" were near classics, but after that they fell off IMO, and so did there Hip Hop sound(Actually that was after "Stankonia", but "Stankonia wasn't as good as their 1st three CD's, it was too much mainstream for me).

 

Too me, while they are a Top 5 group, I just can't place them above Wu-Tang, Public Enemy, and BDP.

 

I agree with the first two albums being classic, but unlike you I put Aquemini on a higher level. To me it's the best rap album I've ever heard. It's got over an hour of music with no filler, it goes off on a variety of topics, it is much more experimental than the first two but it pulls it off. They tried a bunch of different things and were successful at it. To me they are what hip hop is all about; making innovative music with a stamp that makes it your own. They didn't try to copy anyone else and did it their own way. On top of this, they were able to speak on a variety of issues, mostly dealing with the black community, without coming off as preachy or lame.

 

The best of both worlds in terms of lyrics and production, which is why I think they're the best group.

 

I am not really a fan of Wu Tang Clan, I have not heard much but I have 36 Chambers and while it's good, it didn't blow me away or anything. Public Enemy I'm not a huge fan of either.

 

Whoever has listed NWA is wrong. Most overrated rap group ever.

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

I've always wondered why Eminem shouts Andre rather than Big Boi out in his "list" in the song Till I collapse??

 

It goes:

Reggie (Redman)

Jay Z

Tupac and Biggie

Andre from Outkast

Jada

Korrupt

Nas

 

Blah blah was Andre ever like innovative or tremendous with lyricism?? I remember him being decent to above average at best and that was at his peak...

 

Andre 3000 was always considered suprior to Big Boi, and Andre 3000 is in my Top 10 dead or alive. He's an amazing lyricist. You really have to listen to his lyrics closely to get a true gasp of his lyrics, because of his ackward flow(not bashing it, because I'm a huge fan of his flow, but sometimes words slip by you when he raps).

 

 

That's the smartest post this dude has ever made.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

Not really, he's stating what most people already know.

 

Though good on him for telling DRH.

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

Right.

 

I'm sayin', he actually said something to someone and informed them, without being a fag about it.

 

No offense, CB, it's just alot of your posts are wack, or make me think, 'damn, this dude's a duoche", but it's just certain things you say, or the way you say them.

 

Overall, you seem to be an alright brother.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

He tends to take things personally on a messageboard way too much. Dude needs to learn how to chill.

 

I'd like to hear some justification for NWA. It seems that most of the people listing them aren't really giving much. I can't see it happening. I think the fact that the only two people who were good at what they did (Cube and Dre) went on to do much better things once leaving. That's pretty damning evidence.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

Whoever has listed NWA is wrong. Most overrated rap group ever.

 

Too a certain extent, but at the same time it was problay the most influential rap group of all time, and help bring not only "Gangsta Rap", but "Rap" as a whole into the mainstream. It also help produce 3 of the biggest rap icon's of all time(Eazy, Dre, and Cube), and help display the amazing ability's of 2 people who wound up being some of the best to ever do what they do respectivly(Dre on production and Cube with lyrics).

 

Straight Outta Compton was a classic, and displayed the amazing writting ability of a young hungry Ice Cube(ghostwritting for Eazy and Dre on this) and the production of Cube and Yella. MC Ren was always underrated IMO.

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

Eazy-E funded the group, Dre and DJ Yella made the beats, IceCube and MC Ren wrote the lyrics.

 

They were the first group to ever go gold with no radio or tv play.

 

They basically brought Westcoast hiphop to the fore-front of rap for the first time.

 

Every rapper who ever claims to be a gansta, talk about 6-4's, hittin' switches, that whole West Coast style that all the WC rappers after NWA also lived? They got that from NWA. There were other Gangsta Rappers on the East Coast at the time, but they were just called Hard Core Rappers then. There were also other West Coast cats coming up at that time, like compton's Most Wanted, who EmCee Eiht was a part of.

 

It's just that NWA came out and the entire Hip-Hop world changed.

 

That NWA style is all throughout hip-hop now.

 

Chucks - Chuck Taylor Converses - come from the West Coast rappers making them popular, same with bandannas, saggin your jeans, tons of other influences that go throughout not only rap music, but the entire Hip Hop culture.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

I'll give you the mainstream part as it certainly opened a lot of eyes as to what was going on in the ghettoes of South Central LA, when most people had no idea places like that existed. I failed to take that into account when people made a list like this. I will admit their influence is huge, although whether that's a good thing or not is debatable.

 

However, as far as the music was concerned I'm not a fan. The first three tracks on Straight outta Compton are good, but the rest that don't really feature Ice Cube suffer because of it. MC Ren I find to not have very good flow or lyrics (dude was a real bad ma'fucka, I will give him that) and I think never really offered anything. Eazy was really bad and was only popular because he was a charismatic guy who fucked a lot of women (and we all know how that ended). Ice Cube was an amazing writer, but I still say that being the humble beginnings for two guys that would go on to do greater things afterwards only hurts their rep, since Cube and Dre should get props for their solo stuff rather than this group effort.

 

Good production with some bad rappers. This is a problem on the second Chronic album too; too many of Dre's friends hurting the overall flow of the songs.

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

Shit dude, The first Chronic was like that too. Tons of guests, and a couple of songs on both albums that don't even have Dre rapping on them.

[Black Lushus 0]

I can go with what YPOV is saying...MC Ren is nothing special and yeah, Eazy E was pretty much crap. I can really only listen to songs featuring Cube, otherwise I get bored.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

Shit dude, The first Chronic was like that too. Tons of guests, and a couple of songs on both albums that don't even have Dre rapping on them.

 

I don't mind that Dre isn't rapping, it's just that the friends he chooses on his second album were a lot worse.

 

I don't really like him rapping much at all, most of the best songs on the first Chronic have someone else carrying the song, like Snoop. In fact some of my favourite songs are on it don't have him at all.

[Annabelle 0]

anyone denying nwa's influence on music in general is completely out to lunch. don't let the violent, mysoginist, gangster overtones sway their undeniable affect on rap. firstly, dr. dre's production essentially spawned everything that ice cube, tupac, and essentially all of death row put out for the next 8 or so years. and it made all of them very very rich. secondly, the glorified lifestyle of living in a gang infested ghetto certainly lends itself to all of the shock value rap of the past few years with 50 & g unit. hate them if you must, but they're hardly overated. and really, never on a grand level had the plight of inpoverished black people every been brought to light for music listeners. they were so effective as mc's that they could shockingly convey the horrific nature of the lives of those in their neighborhood. no one knew who the crips or bloods were until them. that demonstrates the power & influence they had as a group over all of america. their albums were mostly purchsed by white frat boys. there was something their that let to the break out of gangsta rap in america. it was captivating. they grabbed ahold of the masses and fucked up popular music. they're responsible for rap as it stands right now. i'd say as much as anyone; run dmc & bdp included. in retrospect its easy for us to debase what easy e & ren did as mc's, but in nwa, they played their roles perfectly. they covered every spectrum of what it took to shock & captivate their listener.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

Ice Cube was an amazing writer, but I still say that being the humble beginnings for two guys that would go on to do greater things afterwards only hurts their rep, since Cube and Dre should get props for their solo stuff rather than this group effort.

 

Good production with some bad rappers. This is a problem on the second Chronic album too; too many of Dre's friends hurting the overall flow of the songs.

 

Dre and Cube do get more credit for what they have done after NWA then they do with NWA. Most people view NWA as Eazy's group.

 

Chronic album was fine IMO. RBX, Snoop, Kurupt, Daz, Warren G, Nate Dogg, Lady of Rage, that some serious shit right there.

[Red Baron 0]

MC Ren > Eazy E.

 

Eazy E had no flow.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

MC Ren > Eazy E.

 

Eazy E had no flow.

 

As far as MCing goes, I agree.

 

But Eazy had more swagger and a much bigger impact on the rap game then Ren. But I still like MC Ren...

 

"WHO IS HE? THE BLACK N*GGA THAT THEY CALL REN!"

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

Shit dude, The first Chronic was like that too. Tons of guests, and a couple of songs on both albums that don't even have Dre rapping on them.

 

I don't mind that Dre isn't rapping, it's just that the friends he chooses on his second album were a lot worse.

 

I don't really like him rapping much at all, most of the best songs on the first Chronic have someone else carrying the song, like Snoop. In fact some of my favourite songs are on it don't have him at all.

 

Oh no doubt, my favorrite song on The Chronic is "Stranded On Death Row" and Dre's not on it.

 

Just keep in mind, Dre may have a smooth delivery, but he don't write shit.

 

Hell, Royce The 5'9" ghost-wrote the tribute song to Dre's dead brother on The Chronic 2001.

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

anyone denying nwa's influence on music in general is completely out to lunch. don't let the violent, mysoginist, gangster overtones sway their undeniable affect on rap. firstly, dr. dre's production essentially spawned everything that ice cube, tupac, and essentially all of death row put out for the next 8 or so years. and it made all of them very very rich. secondly, the glorified lifestyle of living in a gang infested ghetto certainly lends itself to all of the shock value rap of the past few years with 50 & g unit. hate them if you must, but they're hardly overated. and really, never on a grand level had the plight of inpoverished black people every been brought to light for music listeners. they were so effective as mc's that they could shockingly convey the horrific nature of the lives of those in their neighborhood. no one knew who the crips or bloods were until them. that demonstrates the power & influence they had as a group over all of america. their albums were mostly purchsed by white frat boys. there was something their that let to the break out of gangsta rap in america. it was captivating. they grabbed ahold of the masses and fucked up popular music. they're responsible for rap as it stands right now. i'd say as much as anyone; run dmc & bdp included. in retrospect its easy for us to debase what easy e & ren did as mc's, but in nwa, they played their roles perfectly. they covered every spectrum of what it took to shock & captivate their listener.

 

QFA

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

Shit dude, The first Chronic was like that too. Tons of guests, and a couple of songs on both albums that don't even have Dre rapping on them.

 

I don't mind that Dre isn't rapping, it's just that the friends he chooses on his second album were a lot worse.

 

Explain to me how Kurupt, Daz, Lady of Rage(Best female MC of all time next to L.Hill), Warren G, Nate Dogg, RBX are alot worse?

 

All are good to great MC's(espically Kurupt).

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

Shit dude, The first Chronic was like that too. Tons of guests, and a couple of songs on both albums that don't even have Dre rapping on them.

 

I don't mind that Dre isn't rapping, it's just that the friends he chooses on his second album were a lot worse.

 

I don't really like him rapping much at all, most of the best songs on the first Chronic have someone else carrying the song, like Snoop. In fact some of my favourite songs are on it don't have him at all.

 

Oh no doubt, my favorrite song on The Chronic is "Stranded On Death Row" and Dre's not on it.

 

Just keep in mind, Dre may have a smooth delivery, but he don't write shit.

 

Hell, Royce The 5'9" ghost-wrote the tribute song to Dre's dead brother on The Chronic 2001.

 

Jay Z ghostwrote the 2 hit singles off that CD for Dre(Still D.R.E and Forgot About Dre).

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

Em ghost-wrote alot of it, like The Watcher, he even does the chorus which many people don't know.

 

Cube, MC Ren, Kurupt, Snoop, 2Pac, Hittman, Mailman, Eminem, 50 Cent, The Game, Rakim, pretty much whoever Dre is chillin' with at the time writes for him.

 

Along with Nas, Jay-Z, Royce, AZ, B. Real, and other emcees have written for Dre as well, like you pointed out with Jay.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

Em ghost-wrote alot of it, like The Watcher, he even does the chorus which many people don't know.

 

Cube, MC Ren, Kurupt, Snoop, 2Pac, Hittman, Mailman, Eminem, 50 Cent, The Game, Rakim, pretty much whoever Dre is chillin' with at the time writes for him.

 

Along with Nas, Jay-Z, Royce, AZ, B. Real, and other emcees have written for Dre as well, like you pointed out with Jay.

 

Add Devin The Dude.

[Annabelle 0]

Ice Cube was an amazing writer, but I still say that being the humble beginnings for two guys that would go on to do greater things afterwards only hurts their rep, since Cube and Dre should get props for their solo stuff rather than this group effort.

 

Good production with some bad rappers. This is a problem on the second Chronic album too; too many of Dre's friends hurting the overall flow of the songs.

 

Dre and Cube do get more credit for what they have done after NWA then they do with NWA. Most people view NWA as Eazy's group.

 

what you talking about? when nwa started they were easy's group, but as history stands, it was dre & cube as the allstars. even talking about straight outta compton compared to niggaz4life, ice cube absence made a difference in the dynamic of the group, as well as how critics responded to it.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

Ice Cube was an amazing writer, but I still say that being the humble beginnings for two guys that would go on to do greater things afterwards only hurts their rep, since Cube and Dre should get props for their solo stuff rather than this group effort.

 

Good production with some bad rappers. This is a problem on the second Chronic album too; too many of Dre's friends hurting the overall flow of the songs.

 

Dre and Cube do get more credit for what they have done after NWA then they do with NWA. Most people view NWA as Eazy's group.

 

what you talking about? when nwa started they were easy's group, but as history stands, it was dre & cube as the allstars. even talking about straight outta compton compared to niggaz4life, ice cube absence made a difference in the dynamic of the group, as well as how critics responded to it.

 

Uh, that's the point I was proving...

 

I'm pointing out that NWA were considered more of Eazy's group, and Ice Cube and Dre made bigger names of themselves after they left NWA and went solo.

 

They are more known for the things they did after NWA, then they are for being members of NWA.

 

When people look back at Eazy, they think NWA right away. That's not the case for Cube and Dre. Infact most people I talk to think of Cube as a member of Westside Connection then they do of a member of NWA.

[Annabelle 0]

no. ice cube made his name in nwa & went solo. dre made his name in nwa & dropped it to go to death row. eazy was left with nwa to rot. ice cube & dre prospered in nwa, eazy did not. eazy started as nwa's leader, but by the end he was a mere pawn in the game. everything cube & dre became was because of their roles in nwa. and more people know of cube from westside connection than nwa? come on. whats next? we're going to start talking about the genius behind onyz & biohazard's musical union? you're musical prowess actually frightens me.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

no. ice cube made his name in nwa & went solo. dre made his name in nwa & dropped it to go to death row. eazy was left with nwa to rot. ice cube & dre prospered in nwa, eazy did not. eazy started as nwa's leader, but by the end he was a mere pawn in the game. everything cube & dre became was because of their roles in nwa. and more people know of cube from westside connection than nwa? come on. whats next? we're going to start talking about the genius behind onyz & biohazard's musical union? you're musical prowess actually frightens me.

 

Do you know what your talking about?

 

Cube never made his name off N.W.A, he made his name off causing controversy with his debut album AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, and the movie "BoyZ N Tha Hood", more then he did ghostwriting for Eazy and Dre. He got more fans in other regions then the West Coast off AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, because of him going to New York to make the album and hooking up with Public Enemy's production team the Bomb Squad. While he was 1st exposed to the media when he was with N.W.A and showed who he is, he never made himself famous while in NWA.

 

And Eazy wasn't a mere pawn in the game after Cube and Dre left him. Remember "Real Mothafuckin G'z"????? The track only got him double platinum. Not to mention before he died, he introduced one of the best groups of all time Bone Thugz and Harmony to the world, and they ended up becoming one of the most selling hip hop groups of all time.

 

And I said most people I know(MY AGE GROUP) think of Cube more as Westside Connection. Growing up(when I was in elementry), "Bow Down" was a huge hit, and everyone was pumpin it that was my age at the time.