the smartest rapper of all time

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

biggie or odb, second jay, em third?

― asfdzxc (asfdzxc), Sunday, 15 February 2004 19:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Paul Barman! He's been to yooniversitee!!!!

― Sym (shmuel), Sunday, 15 February 2004 19:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Big Pun.

― scg, Sunday, 15 February 2004 19:47 (twenty-two years ago)

That one with the hat.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 15 February 2004 19:56 (twenty-two years ago)

MC 900 Ft. Jesus

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 15 February 2004 19:57 (twenty-two years ago)

P. Diddy's done alright for himself.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 15 February 2004 19:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Didn't Young MC win the Weakest Link Hip-Hop special?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 15 February 2004 20:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't know who it is, but he's probably white

― Sym (shmuel), Sunday, 15 February 2004 20:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm assuming you mean lyrically (as opposed to marketing oneself). I'd nominate Pharoah Monch of Organized Konfusion, El-P, Aesop Rock, and Jay Z.

KRS is a lot dumber than white people give him credit for.

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Sunday, 15 February 2004 20:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Mr. Lif

― ryan kuo (ryan kuo), Sunday, 15 February 2004 20:04 (twenty-two years ago)

KRS is a lot dumber than white people give him credit for.

b-b-b-but Knowledge Rules Supreme Over Nearly Everyone!!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 15 February 2004 20:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Hahahahaha

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 15 February 2004 20:17 (twenty-two years ago)

fuck i meant to put an tag on my comment. Shit.

― Sym (shmuel), Sunday, 15 February 2004 20:19 (twenty-two years ago)

an * tag, that is.

― Sym (shmuel), Sunday, 15 February 2004 20:20 (twenty-two years ago)

haha i can't do html. damn it all to hell

― Sym (shmuel), Sunday, 15 February 2004 20:20 (twenty-two years ago)

It's kind've hard to tell, because whoever it is wouldn't necessarily reflect it in his music. Those guys from Dead Prez seem pretty smart sometimes, but other times they seem knee-jerk and naive. Just by reputation maybe GZA? Biggie and Jay-Z are good points, and Eminem might well be really really smart but his anger problems make him do some stupid shit (getting mad at a hand puppet!). ODB!? WTF?

― Dan I., Sunday, 15 February 2004 20:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Canibus.

― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Sunday, 15 February 2004 20:37 (twenty-two years ago)

canibus is maybe the most intelligent writer, but perhaps not smart in the fights he picked. jay-z wins it for me: a sharp writer and a shrewd businessman.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Sunday, 15 February 2004 20:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree with what you say about Jay-Z. But I still feel Canibus has ripped everyone he's battled to pieces.

― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Sunday, 15 February 2004 20:56 (twenty-two years ago)

yes including Eminem

― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Sunday, 15 February 2004 20:56 (twenty-two years ago)

'smartist rapper'

ENTER

Error: cannot computer oxymorons

― JesusMaryChain, Sunday, 15 February 2004 21:01 (twenty-two years ago)

smart'I'st?

smart'E'st?

― JesusMaryChain, Sunday, 15 February 2004 21:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it's with an 'e'

― Aja (aja), Sunday, 15 February 2004 21:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I know....I was making fun of my apparent dISslexia.

― JesusMaryChain, Sunday, 15 February 2004 21:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Ok.

You hear about my new guitar?

― Aja (aja), Sunday, 15 February 2004 21:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Uh, M.C. Hawking?

― Ernest P. (ernestp), Sunday, 15 February 2004 21:08 (twenty-two years ago)

No, what new guitar?

― JesusMaryChain, Sunday, 15 February 2004 21:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Go back to your thread were you said that thing about poetry.

― Aja (aja), Sunday, 15 February 2004 21:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Will Smith of course.

― eleki-san (eleki-san), Sunday, 15 February 2004 21:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Pretty certain MC Hawking takes this.

― Famous Athlete, Sunday, 15 February 2004 21:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Chuck D
I didn't know that Flavor Flav plays
with the roots now.

-
A

― andrew jones (andrew jones), Sunday, 15 February 2004 21:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Madonna

― Aja (aja), Sunday, 15 February 2004 21:40 (twenty-two years ago)

No offense guys, but this thread is pretty asinine.

― djdee2005, Sunday, 15 February 2004 22:07 (twenty-two years ago)

How about the smartest performer in a predominantly white genre?

― subgenius (subgenius), Sunday, 15 February 2004 22:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Paul Barman(brown), Will Smith(accepted to MIT), Paris (stock broker faux-communist). Canibus is a moron, have you heard his song "draft me"? I suppose if spitting non-sensical lyrics that rhyme sometimes counts for smart then El-P is a genius (not that I dislike him). Puff Daddy seems to be a genius.

― D Aziz (esquire1983), Sunday, 15 February 2004 22:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Isn't Young MC also, like, an economist or something? Not that that necessarily makes him smart. (I'm not even sure John Kenneth Galbraith is all that smart, to tell you the truth.)

(And does David Banner have his Master's Degree yet? He was working on one, right? More than I can say.)

― chuck, Sunday, 15 February 2004 22:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Measuring the intelligence of artists in genre that shuns traditional modes of success by discussing what college some of them went to?

The best hip hop album that just came out is called "College Dropout." Kanye is smarter than Barman.

― djdee2005, Sunday, 15 February 2004 22:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Uh, M.C. Hawking?

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 15 February 2004 22:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Pick one of the following:

1) Random member of the Last Poets
2) MC Hawking

― Lord Custos Omicron (Lord Custos Omicron), Sunday, 15 February 2004 22:35 (twenty-two years ago)

(xpost)

― Lord Custos Omicron (Lord Custos Omicron), Sunday, 15 February 2004 22:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Are you absolutely sure that hip-hop "shuns traditional modes of success" djdee?

(Not that it has any bearing on who the smartest rapper is.)

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Sunday, 15 February 2004 22:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree with djdee...how can anyone tell? from their lyrics? then who is the "smartest rocker of all time"? are lyrics the same thing as intelligence? interview savvy?

but whatthefuck, it's just a messageboard. i go for:

Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Mr Lif or Jay-Z

― paulhw (paulhw), Sunday, 15 February 2004 22:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Pretty largely, yes it does.
I'd say a huge portion of it revolves around the idea of succeeding in the United States outside of the established paths of success, I.E. college.

― djdee2005, Sunday, 15 February 2004 22:57 (twenty-two years ago)

refers to tico obv.

― djdee2005, Sunday, 15 February 2004 22:57 (twenty-two years ago)

>>who is the "smartest rocker of all time"?<<

David Lee Roth attained perfect scores on both his English and Math S.A.T.'s, I believe. But of course, again, that's only one variable to take into account out of many. And several acclaimed hip-hoppers deinitely appear to have thicker thesaruses at their disposal.

Timbaland is probably a musical genius, if anyone cares. And he definitely raps sometimes (livelier than many people mentioned on this thread, as far as I'm concerned.)

I would also like somebody to explain to me how Mos Def or Talib Kweli, say, are smarter than Missy Elliott and Eminem. (Or Schooly D or Tigra or Bunny or Spoonie Gee or Lil Jon or the Real Roxanne or Roxanne Shante or any member of Trickeration or the Ying Yang Twins or Kris Kross, for that matter.) All I know is that, for smart guys, those two guys sure do make a whole lot of deadly dull music.

(I still don't understand what's so fucking brilliant about Jay-Z words, either, but what the hell. I still kinda of like the guy sometimes. And he definitely has a better nose for business than I do.)

― chuck, Sunday, 15 February 2004 23:10 (twenty-two years ago)

A better question is why anyone uses alma mater as proof of intelligence, regardless of their musical form. Going to an Ivy League (or equiv.) school is as much about your class, connections and luck as it is about intelligence. (Something like 75% of the students at the top-ranked schools come from the top quarter of income/wealth, 3% come from the bottom.)

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Sunday, 15 February 2004 23:14 (twenty-two years ago)

search: RAS KASS - Soul On Ice (Priority, 1995)

― boxcubed (boxcubed), Sunday, 15 February 2004 23:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm sticking with Canibus. I know this thread was about who rapped the smartest, but I'm pretty sure he's is easily one of the most intelligent people that rap too.

― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Sunday, 15 February 2004 23:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Is there really a guy named MC Hawking or are you all taking the piss?

― Dan I., Sunday, 15 February 2004 23:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Who is the smartest rocker of all time?

― Sym (shmuel), Sunday, 15 February 2004 23:41 (twenty-two years ago)

The richest one, obviously.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 15 February 2004 23:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan: http://www.mchawking.com

― Famous Athlete, Monday, 16 February 2004 00:16 (twenty-two years ago)

hmm, don't have the time to go too deep, but: why are talib/mos smarter than eminem/missy?

the positives:
because they are historically aware, and talk about history, which is a vital part of intelligence.
because they are self-reflexive in an interesting way
because their themes are more multi-faceted.
because their wordplay and articulation is literary, rather than only musical

but seeing as these points are clay-pigeons (ever noticed how it's easier to criticise than stand up for something?), here's why eminem/missy aren't (and i'm assuming using them as an example is based on their "musical smarts," cos they never said anything profound):

eminem doesn't understand his role in american culture, has lost his sense of humor, is self-relfexive only in relation to his fame (and the hurt it brings him), and, let's face it, never introduces any concept of white american working class struggle beyond the most obvious cliches. he has also never demonstrated interesting musical homage, any sense of literary knowledge, any sense of his city's history, any reference to black/white relations beyond the music industry...you know all this.

missy: has confused sexual politics (big girl and proud, or want to lose weight? both? sure, but put it more profoundly), has never said anything political or literary, knows her history only as far as the early hip hop/malc x/garvey refs...ie, pop culture, draws on the most overused and trite ways to commemorate death/loss of friends...etc

i could do this for others, but i don't get it: what's the point in bringing up party rappers? after all, the genre is (still, just) about lyricism, not picking a good beat, or exploiting the market.

― paulhw (paulhw), Monday, 16 February 2004 00:21 (twenty-two years ago)

haha!

― cinniblount (James Blount), Monday, 16 February 2004 00:26 (twenty-two years ago)

omg lol!

― cinniblount (James Blount), Monday, 16 February 2004 00:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Paulhw, you're English right?

― Broheems (diamond), Monday, 16 February 2004 00:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I mean, that post is so beyond the pale ... *throws hand up*

― Broheems (diamond), Monday, 16 February 2004 00:28 (twenty-two years ago)

goddamn that just made my day!

― cinniblount (James Blount), Monday, 16 February 2004 00:28 (twenty-two years ago)

any minute now someone is gonna mention anticon

― boxcubed (boxcubed), Monday, 16 February 2004 00:51 (twenty-two years ago)

How many posts til "book smarts" vs "street smarts"? Yick.

― bnw (bnw), Monday, 16 February 2004 00:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I think this thread is smartist.

― spittle (spittle), Monday, 16 February 2004 01:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I reckon its Sen Dog.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 16 February 2004 01:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Talib Kweli's entire career is based out of a Black History 101 textbook.
Gimme a break.

― djdee2005, Monday, 16 February 2004 01:14 (twenty-two years ago)

He rhymed "here" with "players", once.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 16 February 2004 01:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Professor Griff is the smartest obv.

― tipustiger, Monday, 16 February 2004 01:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Someone said 900 ft. Jesus. ickk!

― cs appleby (cs appleby), Monday, 16 February 2004 02:06 (twenty-two years ago)

this thread isn't very good. there is a threshold of intelligence in rap for me. odb, biggie, jay and em to me are obviously the smartest. i thought that feeling was more widespread.

let me try to change the focus of this thread: odb vs. biggie. who is smarter? let's do this by example. i won't start.

rockers can't display intelligence in their music as extremely as rap because of the difference in lyrical style.

― asfdzxc (asfdzxc), Monday, 16 February 2004 02:47 (twenty-two years ago)

and paulhw: rappers intelligence in terms of rap

― asfdzxc (asfdzxc), Monday, 16 February 2004 02:50 (twenty-two years ago)

hahah i just ruined my own thread

― asfdzxc (asfdzxc), Monday, 16 February 2004 02:52 (twenty-two years ago)

1. asf...etc. your terms of ref almost don't make sense. rap doesn't have a self-contained and acknowledged idea of what intelligence means. it's only the sum of the ways others write about it: from lyricism, to to business smarts, to innovations in meter/beat relations. pray tell: what is "rap intelligence"? fool.

2. erm, no i'm from new york

and like i said, it's easy to make fun on an issue like this (which, as i said upthread, is stoopid, but let's not take the intenet too seriously).

amyway, if anyone has a reponse that's based more around ideas than cinniblounts cheap shots, cool. otherwise:

another reason why three of my friends (and counting) don't bother checking this site for hip hop threads. i'm not saying i'm right, but it's harder to put forward ideas than make fun.
cinniblount: you suck ass, for real.

― paulhw (paulhw), Monday, 16 February 2004 02:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I reckon it's that dude from Len.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 16 February 2004 02:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I reckon its Apache Indian.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 16 February 2004 03:01 (twenty-two years ago)

rap intelligence is simple, son. your deconstruction dances around the point like the rim of a festering wound. the deal is that rap "smart" is an axiom based on the whole. something very hard to write about. the best way i think is by lyrical example, but basically i'm asking to state an opinion. something we can all say "awes hity!@" about.

doesnt anyone think odb being as smart as biggie is crazy? no it's right. listen to return to the 36 chambers. his flow is fucking unmatchabley ey y ey yi yi yi yi yi sick. i mean like his wordplay is powerful as crackrock. he makes the stars line up or something like, excuse my weak metaphor, but "the rock it don't stop" "balls fragile as eggs (that whole bit before it)," let;s see what else uh i dunno like "shimmy shimmy ya shimmy yeah shimmy yae (a eah eh?"!@) GIVE ME THE MIC SO I COULD TAKE IT AWAY." to me there is nothing to equalize those lines. they are far and away the most powerful rapping (formally too, maybe mostly) i've ever heard. better than any b.i.g.

i wish i had a girlfriend

― asfdzxc (asfdzxc), Monday, 16 February 2004 03:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I reckon it's Pepa.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 16 February 2004 03:13 (twenty-two years ago)

paulhw i'm sorry if not taking you seriously as you take yourself is a 'cheap shot', but since, as you said being 'historically aware' is a 'vital part of intelligence' and you then turned around and said 'what's the point in bringing up party rappers? after all, the genre is (still, just) about lyricism, not picking a good beat, or exploiting the market' (EASILY the most historically ignorant thing uttered on this thread)(which is to say the stupidest thing uttered on this thread - by your definition), i figured i'd return the luv and 'ideas' (which were those again? more to the point, which were your's, and not corny indie fuxx 101 cw?) in kind. tell your three friends (and counting) 'hi' and that i'm not down with their education if i can't dance.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Monday, 16 February 2004 03:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I reckon it's Skinnyman.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 16 February 2004 03:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I heard Del got a robot brain installed so he wins obv.

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Monday, 16 February 2004 03:27 (twenty-two years ago)

fatman scoops?

― asfdzxc (asfdzxc), Monday, 16 February 2004 03:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Defari and J Live both were teachers. In the, you know, traditional meaning of the word rather than KRS's or PRT's.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 16 February 2004 05:18 (twenty-two years ago)

four years pass...

horrible thread

― mkcaine, Sunday, 13 April 2008 17:39 (seventeen years ago)

three years pass...

wow

― ▂▂▅ dr. whiney says brush your teeth ▂▂▅ (Whiney G. Weingarten), Friday, 23 September 2011 18:26 (fourteen years ago)

great thread

― I AM THE CROOT (crüt), Friday, 23 September 2011 18:27 (fourteen years ago)

I reckon it's that dude from Len.

Misread this as that dude from Leno.

― Corn Maze to the Dark Side (Eazy), Friday, 23 September 2011 19:41 (fourteen years ago)

Paul Barman! He's been to yooniversitee!!!!
― Sym (shmuel), Sunday, February 15, 2004 2:46 PM (7 years ago) Bookmark

What the fuck.

― My hetfield very root with me what can I lou? (rustic italian flatbread), Friday, 23 September 2011 19:42 (fourteen years ago)

I don't know who it is, but he's probably white
― Sym (shmuel), Sunday, February 15, 2004 8:00 PM (7 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

o_O

― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Friday, 23 September 2011 19:45 (fourteen years ago)

who needs time travel when a sock can troll from seven years ago!

― runaway (Matt P), Friday, 23 September 2011 19:46 (fourteen years ago)

Yo Kango, I don't think that you're dense
But you went about the matter with no experience
You should know, she doesn't need a guy like you
She needs a guy like me, with a high IQ
And she'll take to my rap, cause my rap's the best
The educated rapper MD will never fess
So when I met her, I wasted no time
But stuck up Roxanne paid me no mind
She thought my name was Larry, I told her it was Gary
She said she didn't like it so she chose to call me Barry
She said she'd love to marry, my baby she would carry
And if we had a baby, she'd name the baby Harry
Her mother's name is Mary, which is really quite contrary
Her face is really hairy, and you can say it's scary
She lives in Mount Airy, her father's a fairy
His wife's a secretary, his son's in military
They forced him to enlist, I guess it wasn't voluntary
His daughter's name is Sherry, his sons are Tom and Jerry
Jerry had the flu but it was only temporary
Back in January, or was it February?
But every time I say this rhyme it makes me kinda weary
It's only customary to give this commentary
Some say it's bad, some say it's legendary
Keep searching all you want try your local library
You'll never find a rhyme like this in any dictionary
But do you know, after all that
All I received was a pat on my back

― ███★★★███ (PappaWheelie V), Friday, 23 September 2011 19:46 (fourteen years ago)

good call, medical school is no joke

― the 500 gats of bartholomew thuggins (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 23 September 2011 19:50 (fourteen years ago)

who needs time travel when a sock can troll from seven years ago!

lol, OTM

― the tax avocado (DJP), Friday, 23 September 2011 20:37 (fourteen years ago)

Sorry for not remembering a sock from seven years ago guys.

― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Friday, 23 September 2011 20:38 (fourteen years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.