3 Generational Kings of Hip Hop

[A Pimp Named Slickback]

Big and Pac were considered to be the kings of their era

Nas and Jay were considered (and might still be) to be the kings of hip hop

Snoop, Dre, Rakim, KRS, and so many more have been mentioned among the greats as well

Since 2010, there has been a shift in the culture A changing of the guard

First king: King Kendrick


His work speaks for itself. He will go down as one of the greats. And he still puts out great art

Second king: J. Cole


His work also speaks for itself. He will also go down in history as one of the illest to hold a mic. He continues to murder every feature. The Fall Off album might be coming soon. Just like he "Came Up", he will soon "fall off" and retire

Both of these artists' will have their jerseys in the rap game rafters

2 shining stars of their era

There has always been controversy about who the 3rd one is. Some may consider the 3rd "first" on their list. This thread isnt about ranking though. It's about appreciating future legends

Drake is a phenomenal artist. But I cant put him up there with Kendrick and Cole. Lyrically, Drake isn't up there to me. With the ghostwriting stigma, I dont feel comfortable putting him in that realm

Big Sean, Wale, at one point Chance was considered a king

My 3rd king from this era of MCs. In my opinion:

Big K.R.I.T.



His work speaks for itself just like the previous 2 kings I highlighted. Only difference is, he doesnt get the shine he truly deserves. The attention and acclaim nationwide he's deserved since 2010

That's neither here nor there. He will go down as a legend. Underground or not.

These 3 artists have albums AND mixtapes that have given the rap game life. For over a decade. KRIT and Cole make beats too. 2 of the best producers of their era





Kendrick produced the intro track for Black Panther. So who knows how talented he could really be behind the boards

These are my 3 Kings

 

[L. Deezy]

You lost me with Krit...

 

[L. Deezy]

At some point y'all gotta say Drake. We cant keep ignoring this shyt...lol

I may not like it, but hey this generation loves him

 

[Hostile]

Cole has no presence

 

[SNG]

Big and Pac were considered to be the kings of their era

Nas and Jay were considered (and might still be) to be the kings of hip hop

Snoop, Dre, Rakim, KRS, and so many more have been mentioned among the greats as well

Since 2010, there has been a shift in the culture A changing of the guard

First king: King Kendrick


His work speaks for itself. He will go down as one of the greats. And he still puts out great art

Second king: J. Cole


His work also speaks for itself. He will aso go down in history

2 shining stars of their era

There has always been controversy about who the 3rd one is. Some may consider the 3rd "first" on their list. This thread isnt about ranking though. It's about appreciating future legends

Drake is a phenomenal artist. But I cant put him up there with Kendrick and Cole. Lyrically, Drake isn't up there to me. With the ghostwriting stigma, I dont feel comfortable putting him in that realm

Big Sean, Wale, at one point Chance was considered a king

My 3rd king from this era of MCs. In my opinion:

Big K.R.I.T.



His work speaks for itself just like the previous 2 kings I highlighted. Only difference is, he doesnt get the shine he truly deserves. The attention and acclaim nationwide he's deserved since 2010

That's neither here nor there. He will go down as a legend. Underground or not.

These are my 3 Kings

I fukk with Krit but there is no way you can put him as a big 3 over drake. You might as well say Krit is a personal favorite.

Besides Drake has never got bodied on a feature by both Kendrick or Cole. Plus he’s the most Battle tested out of all the three.

 

[A Pimp Named Slickback]

I created a Spotify playlist called 3 Kings early last month. These 3 have always been my guys

And they all have respect for each other. Collabs, rapping over each others beats







And don't forget Control

The moment when Kendrick laid out who the greats were, and how he wants to reign over every single one of them.

Both KRIT and Cole were mentioned in his verse



KRIT and Cole both responded

KRIT with Mt. Olympus


And Cole with Fire Squad



It's all love between this trio

Like Cole said in the the outro of Fire Squad:

"Today I know that we are the same
Are the same, you and I
Different kind of skin, different set of eyes
Two different minds, but only one God
(It's only one God nikka)
It's for all the kings
Cause deep down I know every poet just wanna be loved"

Gotta give these 3 the flowers they deserve



edit: make sure yall listen to lyrics. I looked up those lyrics and the website said pore instead of poet

 

[A Pimp Named Slickback]

I fukk with Krit but there is no way you can put him as a big 3 over drake. You might as well say Krit is a personal favorite.

Besides Drake has never got bodied on a feature by both Kendrick or Cole. Plus he’s the most Battle tested out of all the three.

You have to be an elite rapper for my 3 kings list. Drake hasn't rapped on an elite level since Sandra's Rose. And he has ghostwriting allegations, unlike KRIT, Cole and Kenny

Kendrick even had those bars about ghostwriters on King Kunta

I swore I wouldn't tell

 

[VegetasHairline]

Aubrey's Angels are gonna be upset with this!

 

[A Pimp Named Slickback]

Not to mention the features they've given us. All 3 get on guest verses and deliver














This track was the only other time all 3 were on a song together (They Ready was in the OP)



Who ever considers who ever to be the GOAT is irrelevant. We gotta appreciate real artists like this while they're active

 

[A Pimp Named Slickback]

3 versatile artists


They FAR surpass the socially conscious rapper box. They are so much more







They are ARTISTS


BUT At the end of the day

They are just men. They're humans making art to express themselves and push the culture forward

 

[Fanservice]

Ain’t no 3 kings. It was Drake, then everybody else. He’s not my favorite rapper of the bunch but he’s by far the definitive rap superstar and chosen one of his generation. Questionable pen game and all.

 

[A Pimp Named Slickback]

Ain’t no 3 kings. It was Drake, then everybody else. He’s not my favorite rapper of the bunch but he’s by far the definitive rap superstar and chosen one of his generation. Questionable pen game and all.

Im not talking about record sales or album sales. Im not talking diamond singles and streams

I'm not talking about "superstars" im talking about kings. Artistically, lyrically, musically, impact, legacy, hip hop

 

[SNG]

You have to be an elite rapper for my 3 kings list. Drake hasn't rapped on an elite level since Sandra's Rose. And he has ghostwriting allegations, unlike KRIT, Cole and Kenny

Kendrick even had those bars about ghostwriters on King Kunta

I swore I wouldn't tell

Ok but nikkaz are acting like he has ghost writers for every song and act like the boy don’t write. Only thing that I will give you is that the nikka read off a blackberry on flex which was wack.

 

[28 Gramz]

Future is the best artist to debut after 2010. I'll take him over everyone named in this thread.

 

[A Pimp Named Slickback]

I fukk with Krit but there is no way you can put him as a big 3 over drake. You might as well say Krit is a personal favorite.

Besides Drake has never got bodied on a feature by both Kendrick or Cole. Plus he’s the most Battle tested out of all the three.

Holistically. Not just battles or getting bodied on a feature

He has been bodied before. Multiple times








Plus the fact that Drake doesnt make the music these 3 do. He isnt traditionally hip hop. He's a mix between Phonte and Keith Sweat

And if we're keeping it a buck, Drake got bodied on his own album



Putting all bias aside, this is one of the reasons why my "3 Kings" are who they are

I'm a hip hop historian. Ask Bron