BEST GANGSTER RAPPER?

[SliK]

Wu Tang

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if i had to name just one, it'd be ghostface

[I'mShady]

I don't feel comfortable calling Tupac a gangster rapper. Don't know why, In my eyes, he was just signed to a gangster. That's all. That's where the image comes from.

[TheGentlePlayer]

Young Buck

[TonyTilt]

J roc


not J Roc, or the J Roc that was signed up here.

JAY TO THE ARE OH SEE


BRUP BRUP! YEUUH!

representing Sunnyvalle hard as fuck!

HAHAHA YESSS!!!! I just watched the episode with his rap concert! But I'd say Jeezy

[Beak]

Young Buck

Young Buck for sure #2 or tied with 2pac for #1.

[Mathers]

Eminem

For real though, I don't really like that phase of his career. And if I barely like Eminem's "gangster" phase, I don't like much other "gangster" rappers.

So I'm indifferent.

When did Em go through a gangster phase?

2003-2007.

[KillahBee]

Scarface

[EminemBase]

Nas if he counts, or Xzibit.

[RKOunion]

Nas if he counts, or Xzibit.

EminemBase, What's your favorite Nas song and why?

I think N.Y State of Mind is his best. Can never get bored of it. Everything about it is fantastic from the production, lyrics, delivery and flow. It's perfect.

[WakeUpShow]

Nas, Big, Wu-Tang Clan, Celph Titled, Apathy etc...

[Trimss]

I'm getting a lot of hate for this but..

50 CENT.

[EminemBase]

Nas if he counts, or Xzibit.

EminemBase, What's your favorite Nas song and why?

I think N.Y State of Mind is his best. Can never get bored of it. Everything about it is fantastic from the production, lyrics, delivery and flow. It's perfect.

That is actually my favourite Nas song too.

I think that track perfectly complements the use of his rap style - the low-down, grimey, laid back, smooth as fuck flow, the descriptiveness is great and... I'm not sure he's ever been as good again.

Take "Ether" for example, yeah it's a good diss track but when you actually break down the disses, it's just gay puns, it's not very intelligent or original.

Where as the Nas of "N.Y. State of Mind" was eloquent, and he always is... naturally, but it seemed so effortless and poetic on that track, everything about it works. He sounds completely natural but everything he says / the way he says it has some substance.

And, it has my favourite Nas line...

"I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death"

I also really like "I Can", which I'm not saying is one of his top tracks, I mean... I know the chorus is a little cheesy but the intent is noble and his execution is excellent. And the way he breaks down history, lyrically, so smoothly on that track, is great.

[EminemBase]

Take "Ether" for example, yeah it's a good diss track but when you actually break down the disses, it's just gay puns, it's not very intelligent or original.

I actually agree with this, I always thought Jay-Z had the better diss, he added more creativity with a lazy-delivery, no aggression, just chilling, probably his way of not taking Nas seriously, the track was filled with clever lines and quotables and not only for a diss track, and it's musically incredible. The fourth verse of Takeover is a strong competitor for my favorite verse of all time tbfh. It was a lot more than a diss track with some puns.

I feel a huge amount of curiosity that forces me to ask you which diss do you think is better and why, EmBase.

Okay well I'll come out and answer you right away. I think "Ether" is a better diss track.

Now I noticed you said which 'diss' I think is better which doesn't necessarily mean song as, they both are still songs too remember, and I think even in a diss that's part of it, as if your diss is more musically and rhythmically memorable, it's better.

As for actual lines, I think Nas took it and overall had more substance. Jay had a few nice ones but I also think he had more generic lines that could be thrown at anybody / they were faceless, and even though still referencing or pointing at Nas, they didn't dig deep and if I was Nas, I don't think I'd listen to much of what he said and be annoyed.

The truth hurts, and they both threw decent, truthful / honest jabs, with Jay saying Nas has a 'one hot album every ten year average' and with Nas saying that Em 'murdered you on your own shit' in reference to "Renegade" of course.

I think Nas sold himself short with those stupid gay puns, that literally is like... babyish and every rapper just accuses each other of being gay, it's so obvious. But he had enough in there which I actually wanted to hear about Jay being said by another rapper, such as the fact Jay is a bit of a blatant plagiarist. He basically took his name from somebody else, then he constantly quotes Biggie and yes, I know what a homage is but, Jay has done it in such sneaky ways like... 'quoting' a Biggie line from an obscure freestyle or something and trying to make it sound like his...

That's my opinion anyway, he could just be genuinely paying respect over and over of course but I seee it as that way because it matches with the rest of his character. You even see it today with him around Kanye. At first he didn't want to pay Kanye much mind and now he dresses like him and, practically emulates him. Jay used to be this slick gangsta rapper, now he's suddenly a conscious, artsy Kanye-esque rapper with scarfs lmao.

And yes I know everybody inspires everybody and nothing is truly 'original' but I just feel Jay more wholeheartedly just... emulates things and comes up with less himself. Even Kanye made a song about him and talked about how he felt Jay copied him (with Coldplay), so it must be something about him that's making everybody think he bites shizzle.

I've gone past the stage of denying Jay is talented, clearly he is and clearly he's made great songs, but it just seems to be in his nature to copy. And that's the most annoying thing about it for me, is, I think he's seen as an innovator when in reality he's not.

I've never heard a critic or rap fan say Em advanced the art form or culture and yet look what he did with his first three albums, in terms of rhyme, flow, concepts, free speech etc.

Anyway, getting off course... so, "Ether" feels more consistent I think. Aside from the stupid gay shit, Nas keeps it's fairly steady in his personal digging, calls Jay out on some character flaws that I think if I was Jay, would bug me. Oh and for once, Nas sounded more energized.

Also, Nas proved himself more with technique (not saying Jay didn't have good skills on his track, but I think Nas was superior), where as Jay once again relied on bragging about his status and the fact he mentioned record sales... to me, that's just lame as fuck. It was especially lame as Jay said "you not on my level" which could sound to imply lyrically or as an artist etc. and then do conclude that Nas is not on his level because of sales... I mean, that's really shit. I can't believe one of the supposed greatest rappers of all time didn't stop and think "I can do better than that"...

I ALSO think the chorus of "Ether" is very good and memorable and just as a track, I think it's more enjoyable and memorable and Nas not only popularized the use of that word to some degree, in respects to dissing, but he also highlighted "Renegade" and ignited that debate for quite a while to come, and even to this day and when Em and Jay performed it together you have people debating it. Not saying they wouldn't have anyway but Nas' line certainly stuck.

If they were both aiming to show how the other one was fake, I think Nas did a better job at peeling away certain elements of Jay's character and the guy he gives to the world and I think he took Jay down a peg or two. Where as aside from the odd line or two (and I only ever really recall the album line), I think all Jay had was some light insults, some generic / faceless jabs and some bragging,

And WOW, favourite verse of ALL TIME... really... to each their own.