The question comes up over and again. Who is the best emcee of all time? Is it Tupac, or Eminem, or Jay-Z or maybe someone else? What does it mean to be an emcee or a rapper? Is there a difference? In private conversation across the World, people love hip-hop music and to debate who they think is the greatest in their opinion. In 2007, shadesradio.com had a show called True School in Session where we discussed such topics in depth. Here is part 1 of this critical yet comical analysis and argument about who has the right to be called the most important emcee to Hip Hop.
Kurt Nice
Kurt Nice aka Kurtiss Jackson is a behind the scenes pioneer in the Hip Hop Kulture, creating the first nationally distributed video mix tape series, Shades of Hip Hop, in the late 1990s. Since touring the country with the Stop the Violence Movement and the Temple of Hip Hop as KRS-ONE’s National Marketing Director, Kurt Nice has been a constant commentator on conscious Hip Hop and its relevance to the new rap music of today, through radio and cable appearances. contact Kurt at info@hiphoplives.net
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Kurt Nice aka Kurtiss Jackson is a behind the scenes pioneer in the Hip Hop Kulture, creating the first nationally distributed video mix tape series, Shades of Hip Hop, in the late 1990s. Since touring the country with the Stop the Violence Movement and the Temple of Hip Hop as KRS-ONE's National Marketing Director, Kurt Nice has been a constant commentator on conscious Hip Hop and its relevance to the new rap music of today, through radio and cable appearances. contact Kurt at info@hiphoplives.net
I reviewed the list again, and you are right. Every one on the list is a dope Emcee. My initial reaction was a bit over the top. I thought KRS was ranked too low, Run too high. Nas too low, Jay too high. Teaching Hip Hop is not required to be an Emcee, but subject matter of lyrics should be considered. What are you talking about when you ryhme?
Oh, yeah. Who was number 1???!
You gotta check out part 2 to see who is our number 1. Check it out and tell me what you think.
Best Emcee of all time? Tha Teacha! Check the live show. Who can move the crowd? How many on this list are real EMCEES? Total body of work, live shows, teaching Hip Hop. No one even comes close.
Teaching Hip Hop is not necessarily a quality a quality of a dope emcee. Everybody on the list is a real emcee, no doubt about that at all.
Don’t get offended this is obviously just an opinion. However, if you have a different choice, be prepared to explain why and defend your position with shit that makes sense.