Best Rap Lyricists

[Practitioner]

I'm pretty big into lyricism when it comes to rap, and was just wondering who others thought are/were great lyricists. To justify this decision, I would really like to see 3 (or more if you would like) songs this artist has performed that made them lyrically profound to you. Also, quotes from any songs would be cool too. I'll definitely get my own opinion out later, but I would like to hear from others first

[hugepatsfan]

Andre 3000

I don't think I even need to post 3 songs to justify that answer... but I will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW3h3tk3iME

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZoKceHYqMU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8KoJQChzA8

Scarface, Eminem and Nas are other guys I really respect as lyricists too, but 3 Stacks is more my style.

[Buckwheat]

Andre 3000

I don't think I even need to post 3 songs to justify that answer... but I will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW3h3tk3iME

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZoKceHYqMU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8KoJQChzA8

Scarface, Eminem and Nas are other guys I really respect as lyricists too, but 3 Stacks is more my style.

I was gonna say Scarface, Em, Rakim, or KRS but nah.

For more modern artists, I really enjoy Earl Sweatshirt's lyrics.

[Buckwheat]

Mos Def

Mathematics
Brooklyn
Ms. Fat Booty

[hineswardfan]

Mos Def

Mathematics
Brooklyn
Ms. Fat Booty

The mighty Mos!

[B-Ray]

Eli Porter

[Diehdcubsfan2]

Like I was telling Buck in the Cubbie forum. Its Tonedeff for me.

For an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIFxZHymPr4
The second verse is just so beautiful.

[netsgiantsyanks]

MF DOOM

every one of his songs.

pharoahe monch

oh no(ft mos def & nate dogg)
what it is
stress(when he was with Organized Konfusion)

[netsgiantsyanks]

"raps like star wars only the stars die, its no sequel/beat 3 cases, see 3 po's(C3PO)

"came out of the fallopians blastin', pharoahe hungrier than ethopians fastin'"

[Ezio]

3 stacks.

[Practitioner]

Awesome, some great names and I listened to some songs from each. I actually never listened to the ATLiens album, but its pretty sick now that I have. I was a stankonia and Southernplayalisticadillacmuzic listener before following other less main-stream heads. Mos Def is ill, pharoh is obviously great and will never be fully recognized for his skill. I used to be a huge Em fan, but when radios pushed his last few albums I felt his lyricism dropped off to accommodate a different crowd (which wasn't me).
My blood gets pumpin when I'm bumpin:
Canibus: Dr. C PhD, Levitibus, 100 Bars, Buckingham Palace, Box Cutta Blade Runna, Channel Zero, Lyrical Fitness (soooo many more..)

Big Pun: Twinz (feat fat Joe), NY Giants, Capital Punishment, Brave in the Heart, Off Wit His Head

Rakim (older Rakim: Follow the Leader (with Eric B), and the 18th Letter --> both were completely coconuts at the time for me): When I'm Flowin, the Saga Begins, Follow the Leader, R.A.K.I.M. (8 mile track),

old Eminem: Just don't give a f*, Infinite, Low Down Dirty, Amitville, Sh** Can Happen

Big L: Fall Back, The Heist (Revisited), Holdin it down

Biggie Smalls (preffered the lyricism over Tupacs story-telling, but great era overall for rap): Juicy, Dead Wrong, Hypnotize

There are some less known rappers I feel are talented as well, but they are mostly seen battle rapping (still their lyrics are bananas): Reign man, murda mook, Reeseman.. there are so many over looked rappers, but these are who I respect lyrically... they all have amazing freestyles as well.

[ColtsSpursTerps]

Awesome, some great names and I listened to some songs from each. I actually never listened to the ATLiens album, but its pretty sick now that I have. I was a stankonia and Southernplayalisticadillacmuzic listener before following other less main-stream heads. Mos Def is ill, pharoh is obviously great and will never be fully recognized for his skill. I used to be a huge Em fan, but when radios pushed his last few albums I felt his lyricism dropped off to accommodate a different crowd (which wasn't me).
My blood gets pumpin when I'm bumpin:
Canibus: Dr. C PhD, Levitibus, 100 Bars, Buckingham Palace, Box Cutta Blade Runna, Channel Zero, Lyrical Fitness (soooo many more..)

Big Pun: Twinz (feat fat Joe), NY Giants, Capital Punishment, Brave in the Heart, Off Wit His Head

Rakim (older Rakim: Follow the Leader (with Eric B), and the 18th Letter --> both were completely coconuts at the time for me): When I'm Flowin, the Saga Begins, Follow the Leader, R.A.K.I.M. (8 mile track),

old Eminem: Just don't give a f*, Infinite, Low Down Dirty, Amitville, Sh** Can Happen

Big L: Fall Back, The Heist (Revisited), Holdin it down

Biggie Smalls (preffered the lyricism over Tupacs story-telling, but great era overall for rap): Juicy, Dead Wrong, Hypnotize

There are some less known rappers I feel are talented as well, but they are mostly seen battle rapping (still their lyrics are bananas): Reign man, murda mook, Reeseman.. there are so many over looked rappers, but these are who I respect lyrically... they all have amazing freestyles as well.

this
my top 4 in order
Canibus, Big Pun, Kool G Rap, Big L

[Buckwheat]

this
my top 4 in order
Canibus, Big Pun, Kool G Rap, Big L

Your sig is hilarious because Canibus's lyrics don't even make sense. "Real" Hip-Hop right there!

Canibus can't put together five lines that make sense and he has little creativity in making a good overall song... comparing to Kanye West, who does lack lyrical ability, but is superior to everyone in creatvity in all forms. Just kind of cute.

[Practitioner]

Your sig is hilarious because Canibus's lyrics don't even make sense. "Real" Hip-Hop right there!

Canibus can't put together five lines that make sense and he has little creativity in making a good overall song... comparing to Kanye West, who does lack lyrical ability, but is superior to everyone in creatvity in all forms. Just kind of cute.

^^no.

nothing about that sounded right. i understand not everyone can handle his voice, but really, little creativity? He created a song called poet laureate infinity --- 1000 bars (atleast that's what's claimed), and it was created so dj's could mix it any way they wanted and the lyrics would still make sense. Has any artist from any genre done anything of that magnitude or that creative?

[Buckwheat]

^^no.

nothing about that sounded right. i understand not everyone can handle his voice, but really, little creativity? He created a song called poet laureate infinity --- 1000 bars (atleast that's what's claimed), and it was created so dj's could mix it any way they wanted and the lyrics would still make sense. Has any artist from any genre done anything of that magnitude or that creative?

You know why it makes sense when remixed in every way? Because it didn't really make sense in the first place.

And Canibus had one good album in his entire career. He has talent and I will never deny that.. but his music is ****ing awful. It's not just his voice. It's the fact that his beats typically suck and he goes nowhere with his songs. He uses a lot of big words, cool. They don't make sense when spliced together.

He has a load of talent. But he does not make well-rounded song and the only time he came close was on No Return. If you want to listen to 1000 bars of mostly nonsense, go ahead. I'll stick with something that I can vibe to and hear something that has an overall appealing sound. Being a good lyricist isn't about just throwing around a large vocab and hoping a few lines can be seen as "metaphors" by over-thinkers. It's about great structure, great story, great word usage in a logical manner to clearly express a point and purpose.