Top 10 Lyricist Dead or Alive Since 1985

[KUPUSTAA]

what song is at 0:17?

[Godisfinger]

Your list is very different than my own personal. Except you put that bitch Eminem on the list; a lot of these cats are mad. Rakim is the bomb, so is KRS & Big L. But there are definitely ten emcees that are better than all of these. Man there are nine of 'em in one group.

[difficultsyllables]

This list is backwards. Big L is better than Eminem, and Eminem is better than Canibus

[wilzusuki]

were is pun

[festeelerfan]

what are the kool g rap/canibus songs? great list too, i think em and L should be switched. canibus should be 4, monch should be 3. and i think nas is #1. only real omission i think is GZA. and im not sure that KRS is a great lyricist...also inspectah deck. not much material but he consistently drops amazing verses. he could be 10. and i love that black thought is on here, he gets overlooked way too often. that verse on no alibi is beautiful

[Geosautus4u]

which nas song as this, anyone know???????

[rarenature]

@Geosautus4u

Actually this is Nas' verse on AZ's "Mo Money, Mo Murder, Mo Homicide"

[sharpazn]

KOOL G RAP AND RAKIM FUCK YEAH!!!!!!

[chaldoking95]

pac over everyone



[66simonsimon]

what is the song that eminem sings, about pac and biggie

[ivandro2010]

@66simonsimon he mentions them in Marshall Mathers

[mylesdu]

what criteria is this list built from?? meaning what factors (besides opinions) are being used to make this list? exactly what makes these mcs the greatest? i mean i see cannibus in there and pharoa monch so obviously impact on hip hop isnt a factor. either is influence. so what is being used? what would exclude AZ, Prodigy, and Cormega from this list since lyrically they are better than a few MCs on this list??

[ChyllakaPhantomMoto2]

@mylesdu i think he built this off thier underground popularity and flow

I personally think this could hav been made better

[rarenature]

@mylesdu

The criteria are built based on continuity of flow, elocution, thought pattern, and complexity of lyrics. Unfortunately, this is not something easy to describe. I like Prodigy and Cormega but neither of them would even make my top 25 list. AZ on the other hand could definitely be considered as an alternate for a couple people that are at the bottom of my top 10.

[mylesdu]

@rarenature ok thats cool. you just gotta state ur criteria right from the rip cause theres dozens upon dozens of these lists that never state exactly what their basing their opinions off of. and its hard to believe you wouldnt put P in his prime up there when u got KRS-One. Both P and Cormega could rap circles around that dude. Its just strange to see him up there yet u said that influence and impact are NOT part of ur criteria but elocution and complexity is. KRS is kinda nursery rhyme

[rarenature]

I can see your point regarding KRS. I guess to a certain degree I added KRS out of homage. Understand in the mid 80s KRS's style "internal rhyming" was regarded as very complex. It difficult to compare emcees of different eras. The styles of some later emcees are built upon earlier emcees. That being said, even if I remove KRS from the list, Prodigy and Cormega are decent but still would not make a top 10. It would probably be a toss up between Pun, AZ, maybe Lord Finesse.

[7SAINTSCANSPIT]

Man, ya'll sleepin on Soulja Boy...Super man that hoe, Yoooouuuu LOL...Just clowning LOL

[horiblevideo]

immortal technique has some good ass lyrics too

[ChyllakaPhantomMoto2]

you are also missing a huge piece to this puzzle

pappose- alphabetical slaughter

im glad someone knos what rap is

[cosmose102]

@ChyllakaPhantomMoto2

i say this list is missing alot, pappose, atmosphere, an0maly, brown bag allstars, flight distance, look them up and get educated, glad you know what rap is man aha

[ChyllakaPhantomMoto2]

@cosmose102 i kno all but the last 2 i didnt even kno they exsisted

[ChyllakaPhantomMoto2]

BIG L is too low granted he doesnt sound as tight as some but he should be like 3-1 still good list but eminem is never higher the big l

[dexraces]

great list but Gangstarr is missing and should be in the top 5.



[manzo0025]

nas or eminem should always be #1 on any list

[TheColorfulCube]

decent list

[GreenScreen619]

KRS One has a HUUGGGEEEE fuckin nose..couldnt even pay attention to his rap lol

[chiptooth06]

black thought at 10? are you stupid?

[bonhomme12345]

what's the black thought's song at number 10???

[Sgtkillbot]

@bonhomme12345 No alibi

[Shutupdangit425]

what song is at number 8 and at number 3?

[gduphamster]

Big L should be 1 nas should be 2 and eminem should be 3

[MrJazzHOP]

I take a acre for you, fertilize the soil And make it boil, til it produce black oil The shorty sweet as, the flavor of forty divas Photos and features, worth more than mona lisa’s It’s lady lucious, tender touches my blood rushes Smiles and blushes, on billboards and buses And me, I’m just a bronze skinned calm gentleman Slim fit and open arms mellow wit a don’s grin Ghetto disciplined, could be your confidant beyond friend It’s one of allah’s men, Rakim, show me love

[Sgtkillbot]

what song is number 10?

[TheMastercarr]

@Sgtkillbot The Roots-No Alibi

[Sgtkillbot]

@TheMastercarr Thank you soo much :)

[corness8]

What canibus song is used

[gigicusco]

And biggies really lyrical too

[gigicusco]

WTF WHERES BIGGIE HES THE MASTER OF FLOW AND WORDPLAY I CALL FOR A REMAKE OF THE LIST!!!!!

[HackingTheLaw]

@gigicusco Who cares what you say.

[gigicusco]

@3CA1 Jay-Z is actually lyrical as fuck Check out his Reasonable Doubt days he goes hard

[treetrunkss940]

@gigicusco hahahahaha



[ButchWhip]

This a lesson for all to learn, Never respond to someone you know who has mind cramps and thier thinking is just ASININE !

[ILO713]

MY BOY RAKIM IS ABOVE ALL!!!!

[DLcKxFTR]

@getupandgetalife  take out Em and add guru

[DLcKxFTR]

Top 10 (No order) Nas, MF DOOM, MF Grimm, Big L, O.C, Immortal Technique, guru, Gza, Biggie, aesop rock.

[ButchWhip]

Anyone who would put Canibus on this list is beyond being reached ! Yall forgot L.L. finished his Ass Off ! Rakim Will Always Be # 1 ! Who do yall think gave Nas and the rest their lives to do what they do ! And for ANY LIST not to have Jay or Big is Not Credible @ ALL ! And the Laydi's Deserve their on list, They EARNED THAT ! SMH.

[3CA1]

@ButchWhip Jay Z is not lyrical rofl

[TheKinglyR]

immortal technique?

[Sgtkillbot]

What song is that at number 10

[ss2lakhan]

@getupandgetalife just replace Eminem with someone else lol, like Nas or Rakim

[ss2lakhan]

lol at 10 im like isnt that black thought, why'd he put some ila fifth thing

[MrBlazerboy35]

you have no idea what your talking about

[3therock3]

L is better than Em no doubt

[IceGlock]

Whats Kool G Rap's song!!!!!

[weakndefenceless]

i hate that everyone thinks that since eminem is the best selling artist in the world right now, he beats out everyone, which is complete BS.

[IceGlock]

What's the song from Kool G Rap?

[UnchainedRevolution]

@IceGlock The Realist-Mobb Deep ft Kool G Rap

[IceGlock]

@UnchainedRevolution Thanks :)!

[IceGlock]

@UnchainedRevolution thx

[The12Jacob]

Eminem & Nas are the greatest Lyricists of all time.

[philski96]

I would really like to see the list of emcee's and tracks written on the description

[sweffe96]

Pretty much impossible to find anything from theese lyricist :< Such a shame.

[EnterTheWuTang1]

have allok at my best emcee's of all time video on my channel

[festeelerfan]

Great list. personally id have nas as #1. i just dont think he can be touched lyrically. also id switch big l and eminem, and maybe put pharoahe higher. and id have the GZA on here too

[bandicoot2ps1]

woah the list is completely wrong because black thought is no.10

[billybobhoe817]

K-Rino should be #1 in this list.

[EnterTheWuTang1]

@billybobhoe817 agreed, i'm glad youagree have alook at my best emcee's of all time video on my channel

[MJrealhiphopandkobe]

People forget how good of lyricists Big L and Big Daddy Kane were, yes nas is good but he didn't have the flow as good as them and they had so manyyyyyy rymes one after anothe, they were ill. People like Canibus and K-Rino are good lyricists too and eserve good spots they have great lyrical meaning not just combinding words, to have mad rymes like kane and L sometimes

[TheAsianWorm]

@yeaitsmesowhat2 I hope that's a joke, anyone who can't diss another rapper well is proved to be shit - hopsin, even with something which wasn't that fantastic, killed novi novak. The fact that he responds to all the comments on his youtube videos with smiley fucker comments and how he lets out a 'cute' smile at the end of every one of his punchlines expands on the little bitch he is. At best, he's average.

[Rbennion100]

1.Nas 2. Rakim. 3.Canibus 4. Talib Kweli 5. Biggie 6. Mos Def 7.Black Thought 8. GZA 9. KRS 10 . Big Daddy Kane

cant beleive all of u have slept on the GZA!!!! Liquid Swords!

[iqmom2]

is the first one black thought ?

[mrrealer]

Bahamadia, Pharoahe Monch, KRS One, Big L, Eminem, Big Daddy Kane, Can-I-bus, Nas, Kool G Rap, Rakim

I missed the very first one, but he does have a very good set of people here.

[hiphoplegend1]

Rakim,KRS-One, Biggie, Nas, LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Jay-Z, Kool G Rap, Ice Cube, Chuck D

[IceGlock]

@hiphoplegend1 you forgot Pac

[hiphoplegend1]

@IceGlock Pac is in my top 20 not my top 10

[IceGlock]

@hiphoplegend1 oh ok :)

[mrcallofdutyman1]

dude em should be NR 1

[gamemastershit]

you overrate rakim ! krs is one of the best out there and RIP big l

[iqmom2]

No andre 3000 or mos def?

[organikness]

redman should be on there

[ciciaol123]

Yew missing Mose Def/ Wale/Common/Lupe/Ezy E/.............ican go for days! for top 5

[MrGucciboy237]

what about immortal technique

[908Trane]

I Think Big L is Alot Betetr Than Em if Only He was Still ALive.

[Miamimattg13]

Rakim.

Nas

Lupe

L

[winkthewinki]

1. B.I.G

2.EM

3.PAC

4.CUBE

5.PUN

[JuarezRudy]

Love ur list & these rappers in it :) but wheres 2pac bro? he wrote the dopest lines! lol

[TheMonkeysoop]

i feel like a fool for not knowing the one from 1:20 man... :(

[818pablito]

@MrBaphomet616

man i been posting how to get this song for weeks and i finally got it, simply by saying sumthin worth doing for. like for money lol

thanks buddy

but no 5 dollar =p

[mcnesta80]

Best best of list ever. For me Melle Mel is God and Rakim is Jesus but it's the same idea. I'm from Australia, so thanks for showin me the first two. Based on the rest of the list, I'm willing to take your word for it they belong and I'll check them out.

[bobsquad19]

lupe fiasco up sll allday..

[818pablito]

can anyone tell me the song of koolgrap?

il send u $5

[mmckoy24]

I stick with my statement about Lupe and dont say he doesnt have the catalog because lyrically nobody I've heard is touching him imo

[TheeSchmidt44]

Who's the 3rd guy to rap after the girl? and whats the song called?

[mrrealer]

@TheeSchmidt44 BIG L

[TheColorfulCube]

@rakimthegod1 K-Rino is the smartest lyricist. He's like the father of Canibus.

[TheColorfulCube]

canibus is overrated. he has deep songs and great imagery. but technically he sucks. he aint that good with syllables.

[LilFlickzDaOG]

Anyone know the Canibus song? Been looking for it forever.

[AnalogBurnout]

Where are the beastie boyz hahah

[hulknorris100]

eminem shitted on canibus lolz

[xhoni123456]

@hulknorris100 dr cphd >>>eminem

Easily

[sEby146]

@xhoni123456 Bis fell off after beefin with Em. Em got at his heart, Bis was lyrically better. Em hit him with facts, and had a bigger fan base.

[xhoni123456]

@sEby146 LYRICALLY bis>>eminem

anytime

[TerminallyILLMusic]

rhyme asylum

watch?v=QBxYn1ighoU

listen to that and have your mind blown

[jajaja4506]

Nas song please

[re707]

U should check out Apathy, reks, Akrobatik and some other modern underground artists incase u havn't already, theyre sick as hell

[icecryp]

omg u got em at 5 lol em is by far the best on this list...where is PAC?? DMX?? JAY Z?? get it together cuz

[TheBharatdarira]

you missed out ice cube and biggie smalls

[transformers167]

wats the name of bahamadia's song in ur video?

[LilFlickzDaOG]

@transformers167 Rugged Ruff

[Israeli3030]

SLUG OVER ALL.

[theycallmechili]

I really don't think Eminem deserves to be on this list.

[sEby146]

@theycallmechili Lyrically i agree Eminem isn't epic shit, but hes got some unique/fucked/good up songs.

[miamiwax]

em should not be on the list. all his raps are about dead people, drugs, or his mom..

[DeeDuckShin]

@miamiwax And all Lil Waynes raps are about himself. Whats your point?

[DefinitelyDD]

SLR (Super Lupe Rap)

[SlimRikkosz]

thank god someone put rakim at #1, god bless you, rakim's a legend :)

[mmckoy24]

Lupe Fiasco > Everyone on this list

[rarenature]

@mmckoy24

I actually though you were joking at first, but then I started thinking.. "humm - this dude is actually serious." Do this, go study Hip Hop then come back and I am confident you will delete that comment yourself.

[mmckoy24]

@rarenature I know hip hop very well......If you knew his work you would understand my statement.......but you can have YOUR opinion

[mmckoy24]

@rarenature If you need a list of songs I can give you some VERY lyrical listening material

[rarenature]

@mmckoy24 - Yeah, send me some of his most lyrical material so I can analyze it. My only allegiance is too nice lyrics, so I will be fair when listening.

[mmckoy24]

@rarenature Failure, Dumb it down, Gametime, Theme Music To A Drive by, Street Stories, Coolest, Life, Glory, Hustlaz Song, Proceed, 4 Real for lyricism

The Cool, Intruder Alert, Coulda Been, He Say She Say - For Storytelling

BMF Freestyle, Words I Never Said, Ghetto Story

Those are just a few but try and decypher the deeper meanings in Dumb it down and Failure. The thing that makes him great is his double, triple and quadruple entendres that go over alot of peoples heads

[krosanknight]

@rarenature fak it post the list on here so we can all go listen

[corky541]

@rarenature just wonderin if you forgot K-Rino or never heard of him. if its the second then look him up cus i think of him as the most lyrical mc ever. he reminds me of a hybrid of immortal technique and rakim. straight fire.

[AlvarezTommy]

@rarenature Where the fuck is K-Rino? He is the BEST lyricist of all time!

[thehiphop420]

@rarenature whoops thats embarassing lol i thought you were makeing up names for the rappers or sumshit, nice list btw i agree with it i woulda added joell ortiz tho

[The12Jacob]

@rarenature Lupe is an amazing Lyricist...

[jaguarsball]

@rarenature haha your funny as hell you just said someone who said Lupe Fiasco is stupid and you have The Teacha and you didnt have Big Pun...Lupe has such complex lyrics you prolly don't even understand his shit....maybe YOU SHOULD GO STUDY HIP HOP....let people have their opinion and don't talk shit

[miamiwax]

@mmckoy24 u got jokes

[laneyj]

@mmckoy24  I'll just say this.. Food & Liquor is a classic imo. But his other 2 albums are trash. The Cool was so disappointing and LASERS is straight garbage (all pop now). But Food & liquor and back (mixtapes Fahrenheit 115 , Touch the Sky, etc) is when he really shined. Now I can't listen to his new crap.

@rarenature...good list man..respect for putting Bahamadia on it! Don't agree with every person on it, but it's still a respectable list.

[mmckoy24]

@laneyj The cool was one of the best concept records ever. Honestly the cool is better then Food and liquor. Lasers if you listen to the lyrics and not the beats is far from pop. Lyric for lyric hes still a beast. Plus have you heard recent songs like SLR? Hes still the best but I respect your opinion but I still by my statement

[laneyj]

@mmckoy24 ..yea... I know the cool is a concept album about the guy from the song of the same name off Food & Liquor. But really, I just don't care for it. While some songs do tell stories and have good messages (Little Weapon, The Die, etc) they just... aren't good songs. I really can't listen to them. However, Food & Liquor is an album full of songs with different stories. Kick Push, Sunshine, He Say She Say, Kick Push 2, and The Cool (the song) are all of varying stores that people relate to

[laneyj]

@mmckoy24 plus if you compare track list of the two then how can you say The Cool is better than F&L? You can honestly play F&L all the way through w/o skipping a song. The Cool has tracks like Go Go Gadget Flow, High Definition (Snoop Dogg on the album, really, ? smh), Superstar, Hello/Goodbye, The Uncool, Fighters, The Die, Go Baby and more that are just garbage imo. I just can't rock with it. Yea maybe he gets an A for effort/concept but it just doesn't sound appealing to me.

[mmckoy24]

@laneyj Go go gadget flow, high definition, fighters, the die, the uncool, superstar are all good songs plus theres great songs such as the coolest, paris tokyo, Gold watch, Hip Hop saved my life, Intruder alert, Streets on Fire, Little Weapon, Gotta Eat, Dumb it down, Put you on game. But thats your opinion

[mmckoy24]

*Stand

[49ERSATX]

@mmckoy24 u out yo skull

[TheFakeAssGangsta1]

@mmckoy24 Rakim is always number 1. He defines lyrical ability.

[nathangrindrodmillar]

@mmckoy24 he had 2 good albums the one that just came out is shit

[MrNapt]

@mmckoy24 dude lupe is a pop sell out du,b ass.he acts smart but he isnt

[mmckoy24]

@MrNapt Seeing as neither of us know him theres no criteria to judge his intelligence other then his lyrics and hes by far the most lyrical complex rapper Iv heard so nice try and sell out because of one album which still has alot of double entendres and deep meanings? Yeah ok

[MrNapt]

@mmckoy24 HOW THE FUCK ARE YOU GONNA SAY THAT THOUGH? you dont know me either.....so you dont know if i dont know him

[TheColorfulCube]

@mmckoy24 crazy ass. Lupe Fiasco is ok but there are much better rappers out there. you need to broaden your knowledge of hip hop.

[RaqifHart]

Lupe Fiasco - Failure

tell me whos the best lyricist now ^^

[xPAG912]

@070erwin i am kidding lol i know he sucks

[xPAG912]

WHERE IS LIL WAYNE.........................­

[HornyTwinkie]

@xPAG912 Are you serious ?

[070erwin]

@xPAG912 are you fucking kidding me?

[CLOVERCITYY15]

eminem king lyricist

[070erwin]

@CLOVERCITYY15 imo nas,talib,rakim etc. are better than eminem

[dwright05jla]

Obviously no list is perfect, but I really think Talib Kweli belongs on this list, he is a lyrical genius

[xhoni123456]

KOOL G RAP >>>>ANYONE

[Hiph0pAdDict]

Can anyone name the real names of the first 5 rappers?

[rarenature]

@Hiph0pAdDict , I listed all the names at the end of the video.

[NewGenerationProd1]

@rarenature yo son this is the greatest list of all time!!!

[NewGenerationProd1]

@rarenature but i wouldnt put em in front of big l

[rakimkoolgrapwutang]

@rarenature can u tell me da name of da songs used

[Hiph0pAdDict]

Can someone give me a link to The Illa, cuz i cant find any info on him..if anyone knows a link on a album or more info on him i would like you to send it to me..thanks :D

[Teran305]

@Hiph0pAdDict his names black thought this idiot jus gave them homo nicknames in the video

[359prince]

i woulda replaced eminem with immortal technique

[xhoni123456]

REPLACE EMINEM WITH BIG PUN THATS ALL

[xhoni123456]

canibus >>>>>>>>>1 lyricly



[antmayfield]

10) black thought from the roots 9) ?? not sure 8) not sure but sick flow 7) krs one 6) big L 5) eminem 4) ?? 3) doesnt look like him but sounds like canibus 2) nas... my favorite lyricist 1) not sure this guy is sick tho what an ill track 0) rakim there i made this while watching the vid:

[rakimkoolgrapwutang]

@antmayfield 1 is kool g fool dat pic is famous

[DepsOne]

i was feelin' this list til a saw eminem in there

[DepsOne]

man i forgot how ill hypnotical gases was

[MissSmartAss22]

great list 

[frejazz2]

big L was just pure beast!! when hip hop lost him, rap as a lyrical art form lost its appeal to me. @ 2:00 big L lives!

[frejazz2]

big L was just pure beast!! when hip hop lost him, rap as a lyrical art form lost its appeal to me

[Mr2pac1996]

wats the first song called??



[MakaveliWillReturn]

No big or pac .. but em is here? That made no sense to me.. Rakim = Influence of all