Best Rapper Alive - 1988

[Inspect Her Deck]

This is the first official thread for a series I'll call 'Best Rapper Alive'. Basically, in this thread (http://www.thecoli.com/threads/revi...list-how-can-we-make-it-more-accurate.465427/), I discussed Complex's article that covered this very issue.

I thought we'd do a Coli spin on things and vote for who we believe to be the rap MVP of each year. I will be going from 1985-2015 but the threads won't be made in ascending or descending order. Just random.

Basically, I will be listing contenders as poll options for MVP of any given year and y'all get one vote to vote for your MVP.

POINT SYSTEM
I will only reward the top 5 finishers of each poll.

1st place = 10 points
2nd place = 5 points
3rd place = 3 points
4th place = 2 points
5th place = 1 point

The reason the remaining 4 places matter is because when all is said and done, I'll be tallying up points to see who finishes in the top 10 ever. This is done to reward consistent top 5 placers in multiple years even if they never won the MVP for one given year.

CONTENDER PRE-REQUISITES
There's only one real pre-requisite. You must have a project released in that year (whether an album, mixtape, EP or similar). This matters more to me than it does to you guys since I'm making the poll options, but just so y'all know this is the angle I'm coming from. Snoop Dogg cannot be in contention for 1995 for example.

As for groups and duos, if there's a standout member I will put them for contention if I deem them worthy enough e.g. Andre 3000 for 1998 or Ice Cube for 1988.

As for number of contenders per thread, it will depend on the year. A year like 1994 will likely have 10-15 contenders (max poll option is 15), but for 1985 it could be 5-6 only.

If your desired contender for any year is not one of the poll options and you plan to vote for that person, please make it known in the thread so I can add a poll option. DO NOT complain about an artist missing if you don't have intentions to vote for him/her.

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What a year we have for this one. Welcome to 1988!

I thought I'd also make a new hashtag for y'all to follow, so you can keep up to date with every thread release. Let's go with #BRAColi.

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

#bracoli

#tpc

probably the toughest decision to date. I think this is the most stacked poll we've had, maybe tied with 1994.

Gotta consider the emergence of NWA and Ice Cube.

Slick Rick debut and Big Daddy Kane, both classic albums.

But my vote goes to Chuck D. The jump from the first album to It Takes a Nation was gargantuan and unlike Straight Outta Compton where rapping was evenly distributed amongst members more or less, Chuck D pretty much handled this solo.

He wasn't the most impressive technician with the fly shyt or the most colourful storyteller. But he hit the hardest, and he gets my vote.

 

[Da King]

88-92 it's Cube

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

88-92 it's Cube

I'm not complaining

 

[Ron Fox]

88-92 it's Cube

Cube was my favorite and king of the early 90's but Slick Rick owned 1988. Rick shook up all the new jacks in 88. The dude from 1985 finally drops an album and now becomes just as big as Doug E fresh but without his help.

 

[Alexander Wiggin]

I got love for eazy e and mc lyte but how they're in the top 10 but g rap isn't

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

Y'all shouldn't be quick to forget Ra or KRS either

Follow the Leader was a huge jump in the already extraordinary lyricism Rakim displayed on Paid in Full. Hell I think Rakim stole the show in 1988 in terms of lyrics with the title track and Lyrics of Fury.

Then you have My Philosophy KRS-One. The iconic album cover. He made some song writing developments of his own from Criminal Minded.

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

I got love for eazy e and mc lyte but how they in the top 10 but g rap isn't in there

G Rap will be in for 89

Eazy-E only on the basis of productivity (SOC and Eazy Duz It) and Lyte because its one of the greatest female albums of all time.

 

[Illeye buckmatic]

By far the toughest poll

 

[BmoreGorilla]

This is a tough one. Im thinking either Kane or Slick Rick but idk yet

 

[Alexander Wiggin]

G Rap will be in for 89

Eazy-E only on the basis of productivity (SOC and Eazy Duz It) and Lyte because its one of the greatest female albums of all time.

ok it makes sense. But G rap should be in there just for the symphony verse alone, not to mension poison and road to the riches whih all dropped in 88

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

ok it makes sense. But G rap should be in there just for the symphony verse alone, not to mension poison and road to the riches whih all dropped in 88

I feel you bro but rules are rules we put in the album release instead of singles etc. just to make life easier

but you can count G Rap's prolific 1988 contributions and add it to what he did in 1989 when/if you decide to vote for him in 89

 

[Inspect Her Deck]

voting is scarce so far...

everyone must be thinking real hard

 

[MidnightMercenary]

Took a while for me to pick but I voted for Chuck D

It Takes a Nation was by far my favorite album of this year

 

[Grand_Verbalizer]

either Slick Daddy Cube or Blast Master Rakim the Kool Chuck