I just saw this last night, and I must say this was straight booty. I understand that Run-DMC paved the way for rappers to become millionaires, but I think that you have to take it with a grain of salt because they were a product of Rick Ruben's desire to see white kids like rap. While they themselves were true to hip-hop's genesis, what gets them the accolades is that they crossed over, intentionally. Remember they were not the "Kings of Rap" they were the "Kings of Rock" trying desperately to gain a white audience-which didn't feel rap at all until some white (Beastie) boys went platnium- BEFORE RUN-DMC!!!!!! (check your history). I appreciate Run-DMC, but I think the number one hip-hop artist of all time is LL Cool J. He has the longevity, the lyrical skill, the true hip-hop passion, creativity and the commercial success to be given that title. Even though he isn't my favorite hip-hop artist (not enough social commentary for me, personally), I respect him tremendously for longevity, creativity, and versatility.
I wonder what the criterior was for judging this, because A Tribe Called Quest has to be much higher than 27!!!!!!
. They had the hip-hop passion, the street credibility, the lyrical skill, the record sales, social thoughfulness, production values, musical innovativeness and creativity that warrants at least top five consideration. I think that the "Low End Theory" album has yet to be matched (With "People's Instinctive travels.." and "Midnite Marauders" a close second and third) with its artistry and innovation. At that time, nothing was out that sounded like Tribe, and no one since has been able to come close. Even Outkast can come with some creativity, but it comes off as too gimick-ish to me sometimes. I think Tribe's contributions are highly underated because they actually brought true artistry to rap. When Tribe came on the scene, it wasn't just about rage against societal ills and/or braggadoccio anymore, now you had to actually channel that rage and package that bragging with true artistry and intelligence, which people are still trying to do today and cannot match. Even today, ARTISTS such as Common, Taleb Kweli, Mos Def, Roots, etc. are doing their thing with artistry and thoughtfulness, but it dosen't resonate like Tribe's stuff did in the mid 1990's as far as wide spread appeal and rotation in mainstream circles. Admittedly, rap was at a different place back then, but Tribe is the reason that was different then. Regardless of what was popular in rap ("The Chronic" was out back then, and the whole 'gangsta rap Minstrel show' thing had taken off), you were going to listen to Tribe's stuff because
it was just that good . I can't say that about the true Rap ARTISTS of today.
I am sorry, but the whole Wu-Tang thing I never understood, maybe you have to be from New York or something, but I have never heard anything from them that I thought was remotely relevant. Just my opinion
.
Thank God they didn't have those "Hot Boy- Cash Money minstrels" on the coundown. At least the judges had some scrouples!!!
All in all, these count down things are just ratings grabbers and conversation pieces, nothing will ever be official in these countdowns. But I think it's a good debate.
Blackwatch!!!!!!