Even in the 80s nikkas like LL, NWA and run dmx was outselling Rakim, g rap and Kane. It has always been a niche thing for New York nikkas and backpackers to hold out as most important for an emcee to be considered nice. Not to say everyone else didn’t care but it has never been the most important thing, the actual music has always been preeminent. LL ran hip hop in the 80s wasn’t the nicest lyricist, Cube in the early 90s, wasn’t the nicest lyricist, Biggie in the mid 90s, even though Nas ran circles around him lyrically, Pac in 96, Dmx, Wayne, Jeezy, Future, Drake, etc etc. none of them were the top lyricist at their peak and still ran the game in their peak. The best lyricist has never been the top emcee as far as the general audience. Kendrick is the closes but it’s a couple nikka alike Lupe and Black Thought who would out rap him lyrically.
