1994-1996 Nas is the only perfect rapper in history

[Frida Giezman]

The rappers yall are naming to try and refute the thread title are ridiculous and shows you don't understand rapping, smh.

Like who?

 

[Devil Plisken…CMS]

That title belongs to Ice Cube from 88-91

 

[Pop123]

Facts

It Was Written is the greatest Hip Hop album of all time
Illmatic is the 2nd greatest Hip Hop album of all time

IWW is great...but has become overrated particularly on this forum. I think Nas's rhyming style advanced a bit from Illmatic to IWW...but the beats on IWW were a B- at best...and like 2 of them songs could have just been left off completely. I could name madd albums better than IWW. I cant name many albums better than Illmatic

 

[Devil Plisken…CMS]

IWW is great...but has become overrated particularly on this forum. I think Nas's rhyming style advanced a bit from Illmatic to IWW...but the beats on IWW were a B- at best...and like 2 of them songs could have just been left off completely. I could name madd albums better than IWW. I cant name many albums better than Illmatic

IWW isn’t the greatest album ever
It’s a great follow up
Classic material
Classic single
Classic remix

 

[UpAndComing]

IWW is great...but has become overrated particularly on this forum. I think Nas's rhyming style advanced a bit from Illmatic to IWW...but the beats on IWW were a B- at best...and like 2 of them songs could have just been left off completely. I could name madd albums better than IWW. I cant name many albums better than Illmatic

Oh ok. I can't name any albums better than IWW, that's why I put it at the top

 

[ThirdAct]

While 94-96 Nas also would also be my pick for the most perfect rapper (more like 91-96 Nas, actually - and 99-02 Nas isn't far behind), Cube being put into the discussion isn't laughable. He was amazing in his prime. Maybe not as "technical" as that Nas era was, but he put down some of the most witty lyricism with some of the most searing social/political criticism I have ever heard. He's top 10 no question.

 

[Devil Plisken…CMS]

While 94-96 Nas also would also be my pick for the most perfect rapper (more like 91-96 Nas, actually - and 99-02 Nas isn't far behind), Cube being put into the discussion isn't laughable. He was amazing in his prime. Maybe not as "technical" as that Nas era was, but he put down some of the most witty lyricism with some of the most searing social/political criticism I have ever heard. He's top 10 no question.

I’m fukkin around

Cube was The Man

 

[Ya Sinning Mane]

Big aint never been this intricate like this in his life
Would like some of his stans to qoute summin as nice as this

Alexa play who shot ya

well played sir

 

[LiveFromLondon]

Alexa play who shot ya

Big was spitting 1+1=2 bars, he aint got the algebra of Olu Dara

 

[King P]

You obviously haven't listened to Big or you wouldn't have even posted that lol. There's a reason he's called the rap Alfred Hitchcock & Nas even called him Langston Hughes & Stanley Kubrick. Nobody painted a more vivid picture in their rhymes than Big. Try listening to Nikkas Bleed or Somebody's Got To Die

You have fans creating mini movies to Big's songs

Big's storytelling is top notch no doubt.

But as much as I love Big (he's in my Top 5), Nas is just on another level as far as lyrical dexterity IMO. Way more layered. Big's advantage is his flow/delivery/mic presence, which carries him.

I wrote this in a Big vs. Jay thread, and my thoughts on Big apply here too

I've always said that when it comes to lyricism, Big has the most digestible lyrics of any top tier rapper. Which is his appeal lyrically. Biggie is the ultimate "sounds great" rapper. Like it's better to listen to Big's lyrics than to read them. Which isn't a bad thing at all (love Big, so I'm not trying to diss him). It is what it is.

 

[Amor fati]

Nas's verse gave me Goosebumps on this, not many MC's can give me goosebumps there's only a few like Pac, Bushwick and etc

 

[malbaker86]

Nas's verse gave me Goosebumps on this, not many MC's can give me goosebumps there's only a few like Pac, Bushwick and etc

Copped a live crock, chopped it up, hit my block off with Gators

Man i gotta go bump that now

 

[malbaker86]

Big's storytelling is top notch no doubt.

But as much as I love Big (he's in my Top 5), Nas is just on another level as far as lyrical dexterity IMO. Way more layered. Big's advantage is his flow/delivery/mic presence, which carries him.

I wrote this in a Big vs. Jay thread, and my thoughts on Big apply here too

Plus Big got chopped down before his time, we gotta take that in account in comparing the two

 

[Surreal]

Nas and Kurupt during that time were the epitome of the best emcees

 

[2ATMsYouSteppinOrWhat]

Nas and Kurupt during that time were the epitome of the best emcees