It's technically good. I just dislike what he's rapping about these days, I guess (which is really what he's been rapping about forever, but it feels weird coming from a 40 year old rich white dude).

It's kind of an unsatisfying discussion when it comes up, in my opinion. A lot of people end up saying Jay Z because of his body of work even though he never seems to be anyone's favorite MC in terms of mic skills.
Then you have guys like KRS One and Rakim whose body of work isn't as big as JayZ's but when they're at their best they're better than he is.
Same thing with PMD. His best is better than Jay Z in my opinion, but a pretty small body of good work.
I think Biggie is my favorite just in terms of mic skills. I don't think he's lyrically as strong as some others though.
My favorite rap act would probably be Tribe based on Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders. And of the two emcees I always preferred Phife.
My favorite album would probably be Paul's Boutique. There's hundreds of cool samples, clever lines and great songs. I once read Rakim say that he could make 5 albums from Paul's Boutique samples. You couldn't even make that album anymore with all the stuff they used, via the Dust Brothers.

Understood. I just thought the lyrical way he put this one together, especially the flow of Love Game with Kendrick Lamar, was outstanding.

I had to find the lyrics, read along, and still couldn't keep up with it.

Jay z to me, died when he said in a song that he basically had to tone down his lyrics, and his album sales, soared. If that isn't what selling out is, then I don't know what is.

As for favorite Albums.

All eyez on me by Tupac is the greatest for me.

Industry dirty secret here. Dr Dre hasn't really produced a lot of his hit songs.

He gets submissions from his team. He will tweak them a little, get big name rappers on the track and then take all of the credit.

The best one out of that whole bunch was The D.O.C.

Greatest rapper?
 

An oxymoron.

Out of the big three from N.W.A I'd probably say:

1. Ice Cube
2. Dr. Dre
3. Eazy-E

The D.O.C was the shit too. Loved that No One Can Do It Better album. "The Formula" was my jam.

everyone ALWAYS undersells MC goddamned Ren

I'm not going to rank guys by number, but I will throw a few thoughts out there. Early Nas was ****ing sick. He has to be in the conversation.

Eminem is super talented and his flow is top notch.

Ice Cube was great when he was with N.W.A. and the first few years after he left.

Krayzie Bone from Bone Thugs -n- Harmony may be the most underrated rapper of all time. The dude can hang with anybody on any track but gets no mention in these types of conversations.

Tech N9ne is unbelieveable at times. Super underrated.

Biggie may be the best ever. It's tragic that we only got two full albums from the dude. Storytelling, rhymes, flow....he had it all.

Pac....I'm not a big fan of Pac, but I understand why other folks dig him.

Jay-Z is great, and in the top ten ad far as rappers, but I think mostly he's an example of how to market and sell yourself.

Andre 3000 - Just wow. This dude shines like no other. He makes very little music that I don't enjoy. Very talented and smart.

Lil Wayne......most overrated rapper ever. Just terrible. He was fine when he was young and a member of the Hot Boyz, but as a solo rapper he shouldn't be taken seriously.

Eminems new album has been a disappointment, btw. It's decent, but he screwed up by naming it MMLP2.

MC Ren's first solo record was dope as ****.

I liked the sound of his voice, no homo.

I can dig MC Ren.

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