Today's generation doesn't have a single GREAT rapper

[Pifferry]

Drake is definitely a great rapper, listen from Room For Improvement all the way till now, started off as a Phonte/Joe Budden hybrid rhyming over really smooth R&B type production evolutioned and experimented and has been at the top of the game for a few years now. He's got the classic mixtape So Far Gone, he's got the classic album in Take Care and he's been apart of some many records that will go on to shape this generation for better or worse depends on what you think of this generation. I think he makes good music and just has a dope ear for melodies, hooks and beats and he's proven especially on his early material that he can rap his ass off.

Kendrick Lamar is a great rapper. Lyrics, flow, content, beat selection he has it, his voice isn't the greatest but the man's catalog is full of very good music. All of his official projects really are worthy of critical acclaim, he's is a great conceptual artist and the best storyteller in the game right now.

I feel like those two guys are great everyone else is just good, I take it you consider this generation to be guys who came out in '09 when the Drake, Cole, Kendrick, Cudi, Odd Future, etc. all started popping to now.

Part of the appeal with Kendrick for me is his voice
Especially when he does the changes.

 

[The Devil's Advocate]

ASAP Rocky and Lil B are arguably the most popular new generation rappers that have zero or near-zero radio play. You think they could have pulled that off with weak music?

things that make you go hmmm

yes they could... asap HAD radio play and hits... they just fell off with the music.. but nobody checking for no asap right now

same with lil b... he had the myspace hype and dropped like 1000 mixtapes... nobody cares now


and you relating this to fame... NOT greatness... there's a lot of famous people, doesn't make them great at their job... being the best of the worst in your "not getting radio play" categories doesn't make them GREAT... tell us these GREAT rap bars we get from lil b and asap

when you use the word GREAT, you better be naming people on the level of GREATS... neither one is close to a biggie, jay, nas, scarface, tupac... none of them

 

[SirBiatch]

yes they could... asap HAD radio play and hits... they just fell off with the music.. but nobody checking for no asap right now

Rocky got on with Live.Love.ASAP with damn near zero radio play. "Peso" got some play on New York radio, and that's about it.

Dude was touring the world off one phenomenal internet tape.

"fukkin Problems" was definitely a radio record that got play. I'm not sure if "Wild For the Night" got played (I never heard it). But aside from those two joints, Rocky hasn't seen radio. and I haven't heard his new shyt on any radio station.

LOL at nobody checking for asap right now. Y'all say this every month/year without fail, and are proven wrong every time. Yet you still say it.

same with lil b... he had the myspace hype and dropped like 1000 mixtapes... nobody cares now

Again, LOL. Lil B is probably bigger than he has ever been, particularly because of his NBA trolling.

and you relating this to fame... NOT greatness... there's a lot of famous people, doesn't make them great at their job... being the best of the worst in your "not getting radio play" categories doesn't make them GREAT... tell us these GREAT rap bars we get from lil b and asap

You missed my point.

What I'm trying to say is that Lil B and Rocky actually have genuine movements that were built online and have sustained audience interest over years. Which is impressive no matter how you look at it. Their music actually speaks for itself in an age where rappers are label/cosign-created and only sell units if radio/big labels push them.

when you use the word GREAT, you better be naming people on the level of GREATS... neither one is close to a biggie, jay, nas, scarface, tupac... none of them

I agree. I never said Lil B and Rocky were on that level. They aren't. Check the title.

I was just making fun of the people who shyt on Lil B and Rocky, without realizing that those two are arguably the most successful rappers of this generation with minimal label push. Which tells me that there is something special about them. I'd also add Mac Miller to that list even though I'm not a big fan.

 

[The Devil's Advocate]

Rocky got on with Live.Love.ASAP with damn near zero radio play. "Peso" got some play on New York radio, and that's about it.

Dude was touring the world off one phenomenal internet tape.

"fukkin Problems" was definitely a radio record that got play. I'm not sure if "Wild For the Night" got played (I never heard it). But aside from those two joints, Rocky hasn't seen radio. and I haven't heard his new shyt on any radio station.

LOL at nobody checking for asap right now. Y'all say this every month/year without fail, and are proven wrong every time. Yet you still say it.



Again, LOL. Lil B is probably bigger than he has ever been, particularly because of his NBA trolling.



You missed my point.

What I'm trying to say is that Lil B and Rocky actually have genuine movements that were built online and have sustained audience interest over years. Which is impressive no matter how you look at it. Their music actually speaks for itself in an age where rappers are label/cosign-created and only sell units if radio/big labels push them.



I agree. I never said Lil B and Rocky were on that level. They aren't. Check the title.

I was just making fun of the people who shyt on Lil B and Rocky, without realizing that those two are arguably the most successful rappers of this generation with minimal label push. Which tells me that there is something special about them. I'd also add Mac Miller to that list even though I'm not a big fan.

that's why i said i was with you up until that point.. you went somewhere else with it..


now i don't know about any proof... that's why numbers still matter... nikkas can talk endlessly about what's in the clubs, what's in the cars, what's around them.... until i see some numbers, sales, spins, tour venues, something that is concrete.. but i do see a sustained movement from them

 

[Eternal Tecate]

We have Young Thug

 

[SirBiatch]

that's why i said i was with you up until that point.. you went somewhere else with it..


now i don't know about any proof... that's why numbers still matter... nikkas can talk endlessly about what's in the clubs, what's in the cars, what's around them.... until i see some numbers, sales, spins, tour venues, something that is concrete.. but i do see a sustained movement from them

I wasn't trying to say ASAP Rocky and Lil B are great rappers. they aren't.

My post was just pointing out the hypocrisy of judging them as shallow when in fact, the entire genre at this point is shallow. And even worse: generic. At least Lil B and Rocky aren't generic on top of their shallowness.

 

[PlainSight]

Production has evolved to a degree (well, some producers), but newer artists need to be given time to grow IMO. We only know what we've been exposed to and there's a LOT of new rappers coming out now. All it takes is someone with a unique overall sound and product and that's it.

I'm somewhere in the middle in that I am always ready to embrace that which is new but in terms of skill, presence and character, our previous greats have yet to be matched.

The production though

 

[TenChambers]

Will never understand how something as subjective as music is judged like there is an absolute method to it.

 

[Ronnie Lott]

For the most part, you've got generic turn-up clones on one side and smart-dumb fake-deep generic nikkas on the other. All of them with dull beats, voices and vague/dull rhymes.

LOL at nikkas who criticize Rocky and Lil B for not having 'depth' but listen to Wet Dreamz and King Kunta on repeat.

Y'all don't have a single rapper that says clear mindblowing shyt. In fact, the greatest rhymes I've heard from the new school are from Lil B due to the sheer absurdity, uniqueness, and sincerity in his ramblings.

Rewindable quotables though? Not even close. Y'all really think some new cat is approaching 1/10th the depth of a Nas/Jay-Z/Jeru The Damaja/Kool G Rap etc rhyme?

Y'all as a whole simply don't care about depth. Stop pretending you do when it benefits your stilted logic.

Go ahead and neg and make your usual deflecting comments. The real know exactly what I'm talking about.

you are so out of touch

 

[Ronnie Lott]

Rap is dead and its gonna stay that way

 

[PlainSight]

Will never understand how something as subjective as music is judged like there is an absolute method to it.

This might be my favorite post in this thread.

 

[FlyRy]

It's all completely disposable music. No real content, all bullshyt mumbo jumbo...take obscene amounts of hard drugs, drink as much as possible, don't worry about rent and spend your last dollar partying up on a Tuesday. Oh and have as much sex with as many people as possible. Oh and lots not forget the homo movement is stronger and stronger with every new artist pushed.

Young bucks always defensive about how wack this shyt is, but those of us coming up in the 80's and 90's know what time it is.

And this shyt SUCKS.

so much truth in this post. I pour my energy and time I used to spend discovering new rappers into watching old movies now. Maybe I'm old but all these new rappers suck

 

[Pifferry]

so much truth in this post. I pour my energy and time I used to spend discovering new rappers into watching old movies now. Maybe I'm old but all these new rappers suck

You're old.
Kendrick is fantastic.

 

[FlyRy]

You're old.
Kendrick is fantastic.

i'm a big fan of kendrick. but i started listening to him like 5 years ago. not sure i'd consider him a "new" rapper

but i'm over this genre for the most part..pathetic, juvenile lyrics and immature concepts

 

[Mr.Big Meat McGee]

.....