Better MC Rakim vs Nas

[the rhyme king]

nas is a mixture of kool g rap and rakim nas writes his muti's like g rap
but the complex patterns come from rakim

 

[JayBaldacci]

I'm comparing them because they are some of the greatest lyricist hip hop has to offer and just got tired of seeing Drake and Rhianna threads and wanted to talk about hip hop on a hip hop forum for a minute.


Who did you pick? Why?

i wasn't just talking about you, i was saying in general people compare them when there's really no similarity at all. this is a good thread. the other day i was thinking about making a "why do people compare rakim and nas" thread.


nas easily for me. he's got all types of music in his catalog.

 

[Pool_Shark]

You're posting songs from years after Nas came out. Nas never really rapped about rapping. illmatic was about the hood and he started getting conceptual with It Was Written.

Can you elaborate on this.

This is a hard one... I feel that from a technical standpoint, Rakim is a better MC. He started doing something, that was revolutionary at that time.
Suddenly every other spitter sounded bland in comparison.

But.
No one's perfect, there were aspects where he was clearly
lacking.
And this is where Nas came into the picture, he took Rakim's style, added his own elements, and made it into something unique. Wouldn't say better, but ... I feel he is a more "complete" MC.


Nas.

I see what your saying with Nas being a more complete MC, and yeah Rakim does have a lot of songs about just rapping. Nas has his faults as well so that might level the playing field.

 

[NormanConnors]

Nas easily. From a technical standpoint, Rakim raised the bar for emcees. But the thing is he was mostly rapping about rapping. Nas raps about life.

seems to me you haven't studied the R's catalog

 

[egolessindigo]

granted rakim birthed nas' style, Nas did so much more with it, the ground nas has covered in his verses reference wise, he will be remembered as greater

 

[the rhyme king]

granted rakim birthed nas' style, Nas did so much more with it

what does nas do that rakim can't do lyrically.

 

[Emperor Sol]

Nas is not better than Rakim and Rakim is not better than Nas.

Remember, even Nas said it himself:

"Pac, Nas and Big
Ain't no best"

I prefer Rakim over Nas and think he's a slightly better MC (which is just my opinion), but realistically speaking, I don't think either of the 2 are on a level where they can really ever be compared. If either of the 2 died today, they would both go down as GOATs in rap's history.

I like Rakim and Nas for different reasons but prefer Rakim as a rapper over all.

 

[egolessindigo]

what does nas do that rakim can't do lyrically.

nas is a lot more poetic, i don't think rakim could have conceptually created "Rewind"

 

[Pool_Shark]

He has a point though. You said their similar though when they really aren't. Like dude said, Nas is more like Tragedy, or his peer AZ.

i wasn't just talking about you, i was saying in general people compare them when there's really no similarity at all. this is a good thread. the other day i was thinking about making a "why do people compare rakim and nas" thread.


nas easily for me. he's got all types of music in his catalog.

I guess at face value I see similarities, they both are considered GOAT, if someone post a top 5 these are the too lyrical cats that usually end up contending for the top spot.

 

[the rhyme king]

nas is a lot more poetic, i don't think rakim could have conceptually created "Rewind"

ok

 

[Miracle Violence]

Rakim is the GOAT. Nas is not in contention for that title, regardless of what his legions of Stans believe.

 

[JayBaldacci]

also rakim would never slow down his rhyme scheme and try to do something like "who killed it" which relies more on concept and allegory than rhyming technically.

 

[rapdonttweet]

Can you elaborate on this.

Not sure what there is to elaborate on. Nas didn't rap about rapping like Rakim did. illmatic is an album about hood life.

Rakim rapped about how good he was at rapping. He didn't start expanding his content until years after his classic albums and after other emcees were already doing it. Yes he came first, but he was actually pretty late to the game as far as conceptual raps or diverse content.

 

[JayBaldacci]

Rakim is the GOAT. Nas is not in contention for that title, regardless of what his legions of Stans believe.

how is rakim the goat? and how would rakim be in the running for it while nas isn't?

 

[Pool_Shark]

Not sure what there is to elaborate on. Nas didn't rap about rapping like Rakim did. illmatic is an album about hood life.

Rakim rapped about how good he was at rapping. He didn't start expanding his content until years after his classic albums and after other emcees were already doing it. Yes he came first, but he was actually pretty late to the game as far as conceptual raps or diverse content.

Thanks

Thinkin of a master plan
Cuz ain’t nuthin but sweat inside my hand
So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent
So I dig deeper but still comin up with lint
So I start my mission- leave my residence
Thinkin how could I get some dead presidents
I need money, I used to be a stick-up kid
So I think of all the devious things I did
I used to roll up, this is a hold up, ain’t nuthin funny
Stop smiling, be still, don’t nuthin move but the money
But now I learned to earn cos I’m righteous
I feel great! so maybe I might just
Search for a 9 to 5, if I strive
Then maybe I’ll stay alive
So I walk up the street whistlin this
Feelin out of place cos, man, do I miss
A pen and a paper, a stereo, a tape of
Me and eric b, and a nice big plate of
Fish, which is my favorite dish
But without no money it’s still a wish
Cos I don’t like to dream about gettin paid
So I dig into the books of the rhymes that I made
To now test to see if I got pull
Hit the studio, cos I’m paid in full

Thats a story telling track. Sure his subject matter was not as varied at the beginning but what he lacked in concepts and stories, he made up for it with his innovations and technical skills.