Elzhi might be the dopest/most technical MC

[Regular_P]

He's got a new album dropping on the 25th. Just dropped a single called Jason.

Honestly his peak was Elmatic lyrically. If he could rhyme like that over dope original production he would have a classic imo. Closest was probably Jericho Jackson but I wouldn't ever call it a classic and El is one of my favorite rappers.

I consider Elmatic a classic. No blasphemy but I bet if people listened to that before Illmatic, they'd prefer Elzhi's version because of the updated production. I get it's not a truly original album but it's flawless and he successfully remade a classic.

For the thread topic, I agree. He's technically perfect. "Cleaner" than Lupe Fiasco, who can overdo it with the wordplay at times.

 

[Big Dick]

As far as pure skill I always had him and Lupe as my top 2.

 

[TheDarceKnight]

What’s his best album?

had he hit a better album than Grey Hair by Reks? Which I thought was a good album.

I think you’re gonna get a lot of mixed answers. In terms of just hearing his raw skills, Europass or The Preface are probably the best projects. Black Milk produced 90% of those. If you want more personal, artistic song content and less bars on bars on bars, check out Jericho Jackson or Lead Poison.

A lot of people are going to say Elmatic, and if you like Illmatic tribute style albums you’ll like it. He basically flips all the Illmatic songs with his own take on them. It’s not my favorite though.

And if you want to hear his early stuff, Witness My Growth is a big mixtape of assorted older material.

BTW did you hear R.E.K.S. by Reid? That might be my favorite from him. Reks and Elzhi both have new albums dropping this month too.

 

[EA]

Elzhi is in my top 5

I never understood the criticism that he just raps because pretty much all of his projects except The Preface and Europass are mainly introspective. When you factor in his music with SV as well, he’s a lot more well rounded than people wanna give him credit for.

 

[BIGDENNIS10UK]

I think you’re gonna get a lot of mixed answers. In terms of just hearing his raw skills, Europass or The Preface are probably the best projects. Black Milk produced 90% of those. If you want more personal, artistic song content and less bars on bars on bars, check out Jericho Jackson or Lead Poison.

A lot of people are going to say Elmatic, and if you like Illmatic tribute style albums you’ll like it. He basically flips all the Illmatic songs with his own take on them. It’s not my favorite though.

And if you want to hear his early stuff, Witness My Growth is a big mixtape of assorted older material.

BTW did you hear R.E.K.S. by Reid? That might be my favorite from him. Reks and Elzhi both have new albums dropping this month too.

I heard some Of the R E K S album, but I remember I really like grey hairs, can’t remember why I got the album, cos it’s not an artist I really follow, must’ve heard a good review somewhere.

I’ll check out one if the albums you mentioned and see how it is

 

[NormanConnors]

facts

 

[NormanConnors]

that could be true but it doesn't lead to the dopest music always...

I can tell when a rapper works more on having ill verses rather than a dope song. different skill sets. Elzhi has been on hits with slum of course so he can find that groove but not often. At some point you wanna hear more than rap gymnastics or rappers flexing skills. I'm a fan and will always be off potential but son has to get well rounded.

Royce was kind of like this for years up until recently then his writing became a lot more solid and fleshed out rather than bar flexing.

how you can listen to El's entire catalog and come to the conclusion breh is not well rounded? He can do everything.

 

[Korady]

I consider Elmatic a classic. No blasphemy but I bet if people listened to that before Illmatic, they'd prefer Elzhi's version because of the updated production. I get it's not a truly original album but it's flawless and he successfully remade a classic.

For the thread topic, I agree. He's technically perfect. "Cleaner" than Lupe Fiasco, who can overdo it with the wordplay at times.

Personal classic for me as well, but I wouldn't call it a classic in general since it's the closest thing in Hip Hop to a cover album.

 

[Playaz Eyez]

I love that he’s such a dope lyricist that’s intricate without being corny, preachy, and holier than thou.

how you can listen to El's entire catalog and come to the conclusion breh is not well rounded? He can do everything.

Cause his post was terrible

 

[Shadow King]

how you can listen to El's entire catalog and come to the conclusion breh is not well rounded? He can do everything.

Most people think that being a songwriter and a great MC are mutually exclusive.

 

[nahnah]

that could be true but it doesn't lead to the dopest music always...

I can tell when a rapper works more on having ill verses rather than a dope song. different skill sets. Elzhi has been on hits with slum of course so he can find that groove but not often. At some point you wanna hear more than rap gymnastics or rappers flexing skills. I'm a fan and will always be off potential but son has to get well rounded.

Royce was kind of like this for years up until recently then his writing became a lot more solid and fleshed out rather than bar flexing.

His catalogue is full of all kind of dope songs, original concepts, storytelling etc. The fukk have you been listening to breh

 

[ShaDynasty]

The preface, elmatic, along with many dope features prove his high caliber.

He seems like a scared of success guy, he could be huge with his talent, but he wants to be comfortable in his indie niche.

 

[Awesome Wells]

that could be true but it doesn't lead to the dopest music always...

I can tell when a rapper works more on having ill verses rather than a dope song. different skill sets. Elzhi has been on hits with slum of course so he can find that groove but not often. At some point you wanna hear more than rap gymnastics or rappers flexing skills. I'm a fan and will always be off potential but son has to get well rounded.

Royce was kind of like this for years up until recently then his writing became a lot more solid and fleshed out rather than bar flexing.

This right here.

Ras Kass spoke about this before. A lot of dudes got inspired by what was going on in the underground in the mid-90's, and started emulating what was being done around that time, with all the lyrical gymnastics and all that. But there aren't many dudes who can do that and actually say something in a way that hasn't been said a million times before by more superior underground MC's. At a certain point, it's going to come down to songs and albums, and they typically don’t have the catalogues that really stand out. I remember Scarface saying he hears a lot of cats saying shyt like, "the lyrical individual, who is mystical and spiritual, and a miracle". He said, 'They rhyme all that shyt and didn't make anyone feel anything." And he's right, lol.

Being a technical MC is more than structure and just making a bunch of shyt rhyme. That's the easy way out. You not only have to do that, but you also have to throw personality and humor, storytelling, style, emotion, etc., on the table. When you're able to do all that, then you're ready to be mentioned with the greats. Speaking of Kass, what he did on Soul on Ice is a perfect example. That was masterful. Sean Price and Pun, G Rap, Monch, Black Thought. Lupe is definitely another one. There are a lot of dudes that have done it and dropped classics. But I've never considered Elzhi to be in that class with those dudes. I like some of his shyt, but never heard anything from him that I was super impressed with.

 

[Amestafuu (Emeritus)]

His catalogue is full of all kind of dope songs, original concepts, storytelling etc. The fukk have you been listening to breh

yes and not one classic album

how you can listen to El's entire catalog and come to the conclusion breh is not well rounded? He can do everything.

so where is definitive body of work?

I'm a fan and I listen but I won't pretend dude's albums flow sorry

people listing Ellmatic as one of his best albums says enough... it's a cover album and honestly the band outdid him on that joint. 2 rappers did their take on Illmatic... Fashawn and Elzhi
only one of them got the Nas nod. Ellmatic is a solid example of my criticism. it's boring and uncreative... doesn't add anything to the original or expand the vision. He's just flexing rap muscles not making solid songs on that joint.

 

[Conscious Pilot]

Yeah he’s up there. Dude is an exceptional emcee. An alien rapper.