Is scarface universally accepted as top 5 in hip hop?

[CashmereThoughts]

Or is it just mostly southern people who relate to the music and want the south to have its own tupac or biggie, iconic figure...

I'm not well versed on his music, I've listened, I even bought "the fix" because it was rated 5 mics. But when his name comes up in these top 5 convos I just don't get it.. I didn't feel like I was listening to a "great MC" he was just ok to me.

 

[CHITLING flavored CEREAL]

scarface is deep.....i can understand what your saying though.... his wordplay isnt on par with other greats usually mentioned in the top 5 or even those of second tier legends like redman,etc.... i cant be mad at someone putting him in their top 5 just not me

 

[puppetmaster]

nah, Face has a legit top 5-10 argument when you look at his discography IMO. The Diary alone solidifies his stake. Few cats are able to be as vulnerable/honest on wax as he is and be as authentic.

he's not everyone's cup of tea if you're looking for commercial appeal especially .



-P-

 

[CSquare43]

Anyone sleeping on Face is really missing out on some incredible music...he's got too many dope songs to even list...

Scarface - Never Seen A Man Cry


[Verse 2: Scarface]
Imagine life at it's full peak
Then imagine lying dead in the arms of your enemy
Imagine peace on this earth when there's no grief
Imagine grief on this earth when there's no peace
Everybody's got a different way of endin' it
And when your number comes for service then they send it in
Now your time has arrived for the final test
I see the fear in your eyes and hear your final breath
How much longer will it be til it's all done?
Total darkness and ease be at all one
I watch him die and when he dies let us celebrate
You took his life, but his memory you'll never take
You'll be headed to another place
And the life you used to live will reflect in your mother's face

[Verse 3: Scarface]
I hear you breathin' but your heart no longer sounds strong
But you kinda scared to die and so you hold on
And you keep on blacking out and your pulse is low
Stop trying to fight the reaper just relax and let it go


Because there's no way you can fight it though you'll still try
And you can try it til you fight it but you'll still die
Now your spirit leaves your body and your mind clears
The rigamortis starts to set, now you outta here
You start your journey into outer space
You see yourself in the light but you're still feeling outta place
So you standing in the tunnel of eternal light
And you see the ones you never learn to love in life
Make the choice let it go but you can back it up
If you ain't at peace with God you need to patch it up
But if you ready close your eyes and we can set it free
There lies a man not scared to die, may he rest in peace

 

[puppetmaster]

Anyone sleeping on Face is really missing out on some incredible music...he's got too many dope songs to even list...

Scarface - Never Seen A Man Cry
Never Seen a Man Cry - Scarface - YouTube

[Verse 2: Scarface]
Imagine life at it's full peak
Then imagine lying dead in the arms of your enemy
Imagine peace on this earth when there's no grief
Imagine grief on this earth when there's no peace
Everybody's got a different way of endin' it
And when your number comes for service then they send it in
Now your time has arrived for the final test
I see the fear in your eyes and hear your final breath
How much longer will it be til it's all done?
Total darkness and ease be at all one
I watch him die and when he dies let us celebrate
You took his life, but his memory you'll never take
You'll be headed to another place
And the life you used to live will reflect in your mother's face

[Verse 3: Scarface]
I hear you breathin' but your heart no longer sounds strong
But you kinda scared to die and so you hold on
And you keep on blacking out and your pulse is low
Stop trying to fight the reaper just relax and let it go


Because there's no way you can fight it though you'll still try
And you can try it til you fight it but you'll still die
Now your spirit leaves your body and your mind clears
The rigamortis starts to set, now you outta here
You start your journey into outer space
You see yourself in the light but you're still feeling outta place
So you standing in the tunnel of eternal light
And you see the ones you never learn to love in life
Make the choice let it go but you can back it up
If you ain't at peace with God you need to patch it up
But if you ready close your eyes and we can set it free
There lies a man not scared to die, may he rest in peace

Song is 19 years old. Message still quite potent and visual, I "understand" why young cats don't wanna go back and listen to older hip-hop (doesn't appeal to their current interests) but damn is it frustrating because we have some real gems in our culture waiting to be re-discovered.



-P-

 

[dre]

top tier

that whole "limit it to 5 people" shyt is retarded but with a long catalog full of quality music and arguable classics i can see where people would see he's one of the best

people who speak to the soul and "the struggle" and what not always get more respect than people who may have been more skilled

bragging is relative, scarface's themes are universal

 

[CSquare43]

Song is 19 years old. Message still quite potent and visual, I "understand" why young cats don't wanna go back and listen to older hip-hop (doesn't appeal to their current interests) but damn is it frustrating because we have some real gems in our culture waiting to be re-discovered.



-P-

Funny, I was thinking about something along these lines today on my drive into work. Other music genre's seem to embrace their history, but HipHop doesn't. You're either old enough to remember the (older) music so you appreciate it, or you're one of a very select few that will go back and give older songs a spin.

I don't listen to music outside of HH/Soul/RnB, so I can't speak intelligently on other music, but that's how it seems to be to me...

 

[CSquare43]

Scarface - A Minute To Pray
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10peg2YkJ7M]Scarface - A Minute To Pray And A Second To Die ( Dirty ) [ HD ] + Lyrics ! - YouTube[/ame]

"...It was crazy how it happened
Some nikkaz rolled by in the Riviera cappin
All I could see was a pistol spittin rounds
and the boy was just screamin as he fell to the ground
A woman yelled - get an ambulance
But I knew he was dead, he didn't stand a chance
You shoulda seen him, he was scared
A bullet goes to his chest, and one to his head
He just laid there in silence..
and all I heard was the sirens
Paramedics pulled up..
followed by a law man and then came a firetruck
Put his ass on the stretcher..
but if he survives, I'm willin to betcha
he'll be out for revenge
They patched him up within a week he was back at it again..."

Damn...

 

[puppetmaster]

Funny, I was thinking about something along these lines today on my drive into work. Other music genre's seem to embrace their history, but HipHop doesn't. You're either old enough to remember the (older) music so you appreciate it, or you're one of a very select few that will go back and give older songs a spin.

I don't listen to music outside of HH/Soul/RnB, so I can't speak intelligently on other music, but that's how it seems to be to me...

we move on way too fast in hip hop I think. you gotta have some kinda mixtape in the works, a video etc at all times to stay relevant
(I HATE that we are so caught up on that word)

as opposed to being able to leave em with something dope and letting them marinate on it for a while.



-P-

 

[daze23]

top 5? no

 

[OG Talk]

The majority of "universally accepted" top 10 lists have a min of atleast 8 NY rappers on it...(I've seen many with as high as 9 or all 10) I think that will change going forward because other regions and a younger generation now has a voice in hip hop journalism and media...This wasn't the case in the past...

 

[Mike Statik]

hes not in mine.... but i wouldnt argue that he is a top 5 ever

 

[CashmereThoughts]

top tier

that whole "limit it to 5 people" shyt is retarded but with a long catalog full of quality music and arguable classics i can see where people would see he's one of the best

people who speak to the soul and "the struggle" and what not always get more respect than people who may have been more skilled

bragging is relative, scarface's themes are universal

I think you can talk about "the struggle" and still be highly skilled. Common would exemplify that. I'm not even knocking face, I'm just saying I don't really hear greatness in his raps

 

[CSquare43]

I think you can talk about "the struggle" and still be highly skilled. Common would exemplify that. I'm not even knocking face, I'm just saying I don't really hear greatness in his raps

Not trying to argue, just understand. I'm all for everyone having their own opinions.

How old are you? Where did you grow up? Have you been exposed to much of his music?

 

[CashmereThoughts]

The majority of "universally accepted" top 10 lists have a min of atleast 8 NY rappers on it...(I've seen many with as high as 9 or all 10) I think that will change going forward because other regions and a younger generation now has a voice in hip hop journalism and media...This wasn't the case in the past...

I've seen cube, snoop,dre and other non ny vets asked about their top 5s and all of them were 4 out of 5 NY MCs.