How come Black Thought is one of the greatest lyricists ever but is never in anybody’s top 10 rapper list?

[WaveCapsByOscorp™]

He’s skilled for sure. But for entertainment value, after two tracks, I’m a little bored.

Can’t pretend like that doesn’t matter. Or, can’t pretend because I don’t wanna listen to a whole album with that same sound that there’s something wrong with me.

 

[DJ Paul's Arm]

Because your casual music listener isn’t trying to listen to “giving you individuals invisible rituals” lyrical miracle type shyt but he’s definitely one of the GOAT lyricist. Ain’t nobody topping this.

 

[CashmereThoughts]

I rarely ever hear someone mention Black Thought when talking about top 10’s.

Not enough commercial success?

Just overlooked?

solo album catalogue. he just started dropping solos

 

[CashmereThoughts]

He’s skilled for sure. But for entertainment value, after two tracks, I’m a little bored.

Can’t pretend like that doesn’t matter. Or, can’t pretend because I don’t wanna listen to a whole album with that same sound that there’s something wrong with me.

his range/depth of subject matter is entertaining to me.Cheat coeds was my most listened to album last year

 

[bzb]

black thought aka the bad lieutenant is definitely a top 5 lyricist of all time on my list. technical mc on lock, cadence, coherent, clearly spoken. also one of the best freestylers of all time, not just saying words that rhyme together, but telling a story.

roots albums do you want more, illadelph, things fall apart, are classics and really highlight how dominant of an mc he is. def in my top 5. up there with the likes of rakim, kool g, nas an them when it comes to delivery and flow.

 

[aboss4real24]

He doesn’t have a solo career. Plus the Roots as a group is underrated so of course Black Thought will be underrated.

But let’s talk about why KRS One and Big Daddy Kane are never on any top 10 lists.

Krs is in alot of people's top 10

 

[CashmereThoughts]

this might actually be better than the flex freestyle

 

[Dafunkdoc_Unlimited]

The answer…is no

There IS no answer other than personal opinion, ie, 'subjective'.

Think of your own Top 10 and dudes would argue you TO DEATH about every person you chose.​

 

[IsThatBrothaMouzone?]

Depends.

Spitting bars/superb flow and lyrics vs making memorable music are two different things.

It's kind of like R & B. Some people got A+ voices but make B+ music. Others have B+ voices but make A+ music. All depends on what you value more.

 

[I'm Blackman]

He's phenomenal and in my top 10. Usually people's top 10s are based on solo classic albums and hits and culture impact. As a solo artist many greats lap him in those areas. So it depends on the metrics you use.

For me it's his skill and his music (last few years has been crazy) that has him in my top 10. Bruh got a book coming out I'm looking forward to. His free audible one that came out was fire.

Also some of his simplest lines hit the hardest. His rhyme schemes are dumb crazy but he has little lines that always stick out for me.

"Being a black man has been a job"
"I'm chasing chicken like a chupacabra nikka"
"back when local r and b was just as soulful (sole full) as orthopedics"

 

[Taadow]

He's in plenty of artists top 10 as lyricists. Most top 10s are based on albums or sales, carrying a wave or city, album impact and such. As lyricists he's consistently on artists top 10. He's more of your rappers favorite rapper.

Came in2 say this.

While OP has a point and I rarely hear him in fans’/critics’ Top 10/20 - I have heard of a number of rappers giving Thought props. Particular Pun (PBUH) and Rakim off the top of my head.

And while I retrospect his ability, he is not I’m my Top 20 because (as many of you have brought out) of catalogue.
I don’t care if he has never put out a solo, Roots albums are basically him solo. But he doesn’t have The Landmark records/hits to rank that high. He’s like Ras Kass. But there are very few singles that can fucc wit’ “The Next Movement“ lyrically.

 

[Taadow]

But let’s talk about why KRS One and Big Daddy Kane are never on any top 10 lists.

I have Kris at #7
Kane at #12 (but I could be persuaded to switch him for my #10, who is Kool G Rap)

 

[TEH]

I have Kris at #7
Kane at #12 (but I could be persuaded to switch him for my #10, who is Kool G Rap)

What’s your top 15

 

[Amo Husserl]

Because hip-hop, a black art form, segregates individuals from groups. All rappers aren't a monolith... you're a bigot if you think otherwise.

Yo, the big wheel keep turnin' like Ike's and Anna Mae's
The church kitchen hustlin' dinners every Saturday
Pull over, let me grab a plate, I tend to gravitate
Towards how fish dinners from a styrofoam platter taste

Division one, yo, wait a min', where we get our rhythm from?
Continuum, still swingin' like a pendulum
Here the women come, sing it like Sarah Vaughan
Heard 9th up in a house from North Carolin'
Ain't no mannequin challenge, but y'all paralyzed
It's gettin' cold outside, a word from the wise

Y'all nikkas better bundle up
But I bet it be a hotter summer, not for nothin'
Yo, the cops get down, especially when it come to us
nikka better be a Rockefeller
Get that out your pocket fella, sang acapella
Ain't a damn thing really changed as far as I can tell it
Another soul with no name, the helicopters hunted
Look like a couple of days before the doctor comin'
But that's my little cousin, watch him for me
I think the world tryna sock it to me
It kinda feel like everything is out of pocket for me

Black Thought been top five.

 

[Kyle C. Barker]

this might actually be better than the flex freestyle

Jesus