Luda said Hov told him the reason he isn’t respected as a lyricist is cause of his crazy music videos

[Westbama Heartthrob]

You could argue that the reason Busta doesn't get his true props is because of his commercial acclaim and how he dominated that lane for so many summers whilst remaining authentic. If he'd dropped the same albums without the chart toppers there would've been threads from heads about the content so Luda has a point in that respect.

Red I've already said should be ranked so much higher than he is because he should have that Cypress Hill level of recognition for all the work he's put in. Same with Afroman who has put out back to back bangers but no one apart from me seems to listen and the dude is wildly entertaining and as real as it gets.






Hip hop has a thing for ice grilling.

At this point, I feel people won't be considered top five unless they rap about the streets

Wish it wasn't the case

Not that nas, big, or pac aren't great rappers, but it seems like almost a rite of passage

Cause it's a lot of great lyricists and a lotta great street rappers

But only those that can do both seem to get the most respect

If nas just made nerd raps he'd have half the respect he gets

Could have the same skillset and everything

But street raps reign Supreme

I've got no problem with rappers rapping about it. Just wish there was more balanced with most people's rankings

 

[Westbama Heartthrob]

"Isn't respected" by who? Like you can't be witty/have fun/experiment with video concepts. You gonna tell Big Boi he isn't respected as a lyricist?


99 times outta 100, that's not what was said in the first place.

Unfortunately, yes

The average rap fan just think he's in Andre's shadow

Then you got contrarians who only drop his name to downplay Andre's skills as a rapper

But when it's time to just talk about all time greats, they won't even say his name

 

[Complexion]

I've got no problem with rappers rapping about it. Just wish there was more balanced the most people's rankings

Isn't that it? Its like versatility be damned and forget using your skills to rhyme about other topics because the fans want street tales of harsh realities and aggressive content, ad infinitum.

Its all so one dimensional and makes rappers afraid to experiment with the pen and talk different. Especially when it comes to humor or being witty. Cam and Fif are prime examples as you saw it in spades on mixtapes and interviews but retail not so much which saw them coloring in within the target audience expectations.

And yet if you do you end up like Luda, Busta or Red. Tough crowd.

 

[Ziggiy]

Its kind of the truth

Image means a LOT in the industry, especially when it comes to music.

Its the same thing for Busta Rhymes. All the zany, creative visuals and loud clothing distracted from the lyrical content.


Nas, Jay, Rakim, Black Thought, Common, anybody you can name as “lyricists” all had a level of seriousness to them. Their singles, videos, and image were all marketed towards their thoughts, feelings, how they viewed the world, etc. Jay less than the others but even HE at first was considered the “Thinking Man’s Hustler”. Nas was the Street Poet. Common was the Chicago Picasso, Rakim was The God, Black Thought’s name really was self explanatory. They didn’t don”fun” in the conventional sense. Hell Nas lead single from his best selling album is a rumination on a Black Man ruling the world and setting it right for black people.

Ludacris didn’t drop a “serious” single/video until Runaway Love, which was already too late in his career for people to think he was anything other than a dope, fun MC with a wicked flow and fantastic delivery.


But artists like Luda were able to parlay that fun, wacky image into millions of dollars so it evens it up for them. Luda got Grammies, Chart topping albums, and he’ll forever have a seat at the Fast & Furious table. So i’m sure he’s not losing any sleep over who puts him in the “lyricist” category

 

[Ziggiy]

Somehow worked for Redman and Eminem.....

Eminem is white. Of COURSE every 14 year old white boy in America found his lyrics about killing his mother, dissing Moby, and women dancing to his salsa profound.

 

[old pig]

more proof that dinner with jay z is overrated as hell

 

[MurderToCassette]

Ems albums are wack

Overall I agree, but Luda has nothing on the level of Eminems first 2 albums. You can have the rest

Luda's first few albums are solid

https://www.thecoli.com/threads/ludacris-music-has-aged-terribly-and-its-high-time-we-acknowledge-it.453697/

There's a 30+ page thread here from 6 months ago with a lotta brehs saying his music aged terribly.

Luda is a dope rapper who made good music but he has no certifiable classic album(s). Redman has 3, and one can make an argument for Eminem. Again, Luda can spit but there's no real weight behind the music.

 

[Mike the Executioner]

Eminem is white. Of COURSE every 14 year old white boy in America found his lyrics about killing his mother, dissing Moby, and women dancing to his salsa profound.

It's always funny when you mention Eminem because even though you don't like him, you have enough knowledge of his songs to make a judgment on him. When most people don't like something, it's usually just out of blind hatred.

 

[Heavy_Handz]

Imagine if Hov spent his whole career making videos like Sunshine

 

[MajesticLion]

Unfortunately, yes

The average rap fan just think he's in Andre's shadow

Then you got contrarians who only drop his name to downplay Andre's skills as a rapper

But when it's time to just talk about all time greats, they won't even say his name

That regional tribalism thing that artists and fans bought into during the early years, all through the Source/XXL era, is hobbling a LOT of people.

 

[obarth]

Jay is right, yet he addressed it in a better way, concerning someone mentioned in the thread: "And I ain't animated, like say a, Busta Rhymes".

It's not just rap, happy go lucky nikkas aren't really respected on the same level in black culture in general. Dwight Howard is one of the greatest centers of all time and easily the best center in the game since Shaq/before Embiid and Jokic. Ridiculousy imposing physique and amazing defensive player. Yet, he had fun and smiled/laughed alot. Meanwhile a Boogie Cousins, who will end up not accomplishing anywhere near what Dwight did, was respected by fans and players a like in part because he had a mean mug 99% of the time you ever saw him

Fans always knew Luda was a lyricist, but he had too many funny bars and his music videos were always outlandish and bombastic. Hence a T.I being held in much higher regard despite Luda selling just as well if not better. The fact he was from Illinois originally and moved to the South, didn't help him when it came to southern fans.I was shocked when I saw so many people really thinking Nelly was going to beat him in their Verzus, but it also made sense, even if I knew it wasn't finna happen.

 

[Redwing80]

nikka was acting like a goofball in all his videos and didn't get serious till Release Therapy. Always been a dope rapper though

 

[7th Letter Specialist]

"Isn't respected" by who? Like you can't be witty/have fun/experiment with video concepts. You gonna tell Big Boi he isn't respected as a lyricist?


99 times outta 100, that's not what was said in the first place.

Nah. But OutKast had videos in the hood, and introspective singles before they got on that different wave. Luda came out the gate w/ hella wild and crazy videos, he never rounded out his single output till Release Therapy

 

[Will Ross]

Luda did not get respect because he never made street music

 

[7th Letter Specialist]

And one thing you gotta keep in mind, even though he had bars he relied a lot more on delivery. That shyt will make basic shyt sound god tier...till you read the lyrics