By Brian Defiant

Who’s the greatest MC of all time, who’s the best rapper of all time, best performer, everybody has their own opinion of the best and worst. If it’s about Image, it’s LL Cool J. If it’s about street cred, it’s Rick Ross. If it’s sales it’s Will Smith (Or Hammer!). Lyrics only Mos-Def. Relevance Common. If it was the Rapper Prototype Award Jadakiss (He just looks like he should be the greatest rapper of all time to me). The problem is….none of these guys reach my Top Ten. But like I always say, “Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and most of them stink.” And since no one has a bigger stinkier ass than me, I’m going to give MY opinions on the Top 10 ARTISTS of all time. (Rappers, Lyricist, Songwriters, MCs) I will not put anyone in because “They have to be there.” (Sorry Cool G Rap and Rakim) I will not put someone in because they are my personal favorite rapper (sorry Obie Trice). And I will not leave anyone out because I don’t feel them personally. (yeah right) I base my list on 3 criteria:

1) (A) Classic Album

Platinum isn’t a must but If I can put it in whenever I’m on a road trip and let the whole damn thing play, its my definition of classic. I also want that HIT that was on the radio, and that HIT you would only know if you had it.

2) (H) Classic Hits…(note the “s” no one hit wonders)

Those songs that EVERYBODY knows. From the dude on the corner, to the woman at the register. Some may like them, some may not, but they were everywhere. On the radio, video, in the stadium, and they still may flare up on the radio from time to time.

3) (L) Lyrics: The flow the versatility of it. How well were they spittin, what the hell were they talking about…. How did that one line go that you had to hear 3 or 4 times before you could recite it, and will that one hot line be hot 5, 10, 20 years from now….I think so.

And nothing else!!!! Not street cred, not looks,not status, not because magazines say so, not even beats (though that helps). So without further ado…

10.Ice Cube

(A) Lethal Injection

(H)Today Was A Good Day, Bow Down, Check yo Self

(L)Yella Boy’s on your team, so you’re losin,

Hey yo Dre, stick to producin.

Callin’ me Arnold, but you Been-a-dick

Eazy E saw your ass and went in it quick…………. Death Certificate’s No Vaseline

Anybody who has a problem with Ice Cube being on my list can check themselves before they wreck themselves. I personally didn’t feel ANY of Cube’s stuff when he came out solo. Plus I was a little too young to appreciate it. But when No Vaseline dropped, It had the type of lyrics that give the soberest saint bitter-beer-face. (you smell that?) That diss was at least 10 years ahead of it’s time. So was cube. Besides being a battle tested lyrical assassin, he made crossover hit after hit solo before excelling with the Westside Connection. I also don’t want to hear that because he’s been out of the game for so long that somehow diminishes what he did while he was in it. Go throw on Bop Gun and read the rest of the list.

9.Nasir Jones aka Nas

(A) Illmatic, Hip Hop Is Dead

(H) If I Ruled The World, Hip Hop Is Dead, Who’s World is This?

(L) A place where death doesn’t reside,

Just thugs who collide

Not to start beef but spark trees,

No cops rollin by

No policemen, no homicide,

No chalk on the streets. No reason,

For nobody’s momma to cry ……………. Godson’s Thugz Mansion

Truth Time: When Nas first came out, more than half of y’all didn’t know what he was REALLY saying. I was in the minority. Not only did I understand him , I understood him enough to know that half of y’all didn’t understand him, if you can understand that. If you can’t (or won’t admit it) then you’ll never understand why Nas is in my bottom 3. I’ll take it one step further….. the ONLY reason Nas is in my bottom 3, is because Hip Hop Is Dead was the second best Hip Hop album in 2006. (See number 6 for the first). The truth is a lot of y’all turned on him when Jay dropped The Takeover. But I got on board with Ether. It let me know, that when focused, Nas was and is as good as Y’all wanted him to be. Still I feel that Nas best songs were on Hip Hop Is Dead and weren’t given the run they deserved.

8.Lil Wayne

(A) The Carter II

(H) Go DJ, Lollipop, Shooter

(L) And to the radio stations,

I’m tired of being patient.

Stop being rapper racists (you)

Region haters (you) Spectators (you)

Dictators (you) behind door dick takers

It’s outrageous

You don’t know how sick you make us

I want to throw up like chips in Vegas

But this is Southern face it. If we too simple,

Then y’all don’t get the basics ……………….. The Carter II’s Shooter

It was almost as hard to put Lil Wayne in my top ten as it was to leave him off. But as I started typing his explanation in my “Honorable Mentions” section I realized he should be in more than the person he bumped off. (I’ll let you guess who) Wayne makes up for his lack of content with superb lyricism and metaphors. Not only did he carry the Hot Boyz, he also consistently carries every artist he features with. Though his hit singles don’t quite fit the criteria, he is too hot to be denied.

7.Calvin Braudus aka Snoop Dogg

(A)Doggystyle

(H)Whats My Name, Gin And Juice, Murder Was The Case

(L)But uhh, back to the lecture at hand

Perfection is perfected, so I’m a let em understand

from a young G’s perspective

And before me dig out a bitch I have to find a contraceptive

You never know she could be earnin her man and learnin her man

And at the same time burnin her man

Now you know I ain’t with that shit, Lieutenant

Ain’t no pussy good enough to get burnt while I’m up in it ……….. The Chronic’s Nuttin But a G Thang

From the hood to Fatherhood Snoop has always been one of rap’s most versitile spitters……when he chooses to be. He could paint a picture of hood life and consequences like Doggystyle’s Murder Was Tha Case or reflect on life in the B-side hit Natural High. As far as the artist himself, you always know what you’re gonna get from Snoop: Blue flag wavin, west coast reppin, pimp stroll mackin, chronic break taking, G shit….. every time …. and few did it better.

6.Kanye West

(A) College Dropout

(H) Jesus Walks, The Wire, Gold Digger, Stronger

(L) Damn ‘Ye, it’d be stupid to ditch you,

Even your superficial raps is super official.

R-R-R-Roc pastel with Gucci on,

With TV’s in the ride, throw a movie on.

Said he couldn’t rap, now he at the top where dude belong

Cause I dookied on any song that they threw me on, gone … Late Registration’s Gone.

No, I don’t care how long he’s “been in the game”. Kanye became relevant on his first Album. I never understood why it seemed like everyone wanted him to fail. Then it was time for the sophomore jinx. Kanye had none of that. This is also where beats come in to play. Having the best beats available, and understanding the difference between a song and a track set Kanye apart from his “new school” peers. I have no doubt that in 10 years when you throw on Stronger in a stadium….it will still pump up the crowd and the players.

5.Ludacris

(A) Back For The First Time, Red Light District

(H) Saturday, Area Codes, What’s Your Fantasy?

(L) I’m never goin nowhere so don’t try me,

My music sticks in fans veins like an IV.

Flows poison like Ivy, oh they grimy.

Already offers on my 6th album from labels tryin to sign me

Respected highly, HIIII MR. O’REILLY

Hope all is well, kiss the plaintiff and the wifey ………… Red Light District’s Number One Spot.

Ludacris is one of the “what’s right” class in hip hop. So many claim to be the “King of the South” Ludacris let’s the music speak for him. From the gulliest of freestyles in Back For The First Time’s Mouthing Off, to Chicken N Beer’s pantie wetting Splash Waterfalls, when it comes to content, Luda’s closer to the top than this ranking gives him credit for. While some of his Albums are stacked more than others, you would be hard pressed to find one Ludacris album with any less than 2 or 3 HITS on it.

4.Marshall Mathers aka Eminem

(A) The Eminem Show, The Marshall Mathers LP

(H) My Name Is, Guilty Concence, Sing For The Moment,

(L) I’m sorry, there must be a mix-up

You want me to fix up lyrics while the President gets his dick sucked?

Fuck that, take drugs, rape sluts Make fun of gay clubs,

Men who wear make-up Get aware, wake up,

Get a sense of humor Quit tryin to censor music,

This is for your kid’s amusement (The kids!)

But don’t blame me when lil’ Eric jumps off of the terrace

You shoulda been watchin him - apparently you ain’t parents ………. The Marshall Mathers LP’s Who Knew.

Hi kids,do you like violence? Wanna see me stick 9 inch nails through each one of my eyelids? From the first line Eminem made it known he was not the norm. The only question was was he a fad or an enigma? That question has been answered. On every category Eminem’s name can be mentioned with the legends. Classic Albums, Hits, Lyrics, flow, Influence, sales, originality. Eminem is damn near the top of the list in every category. The fact that he keeps maturing after every LP just solidifies him more. Even though he’s not in his own top five he’s in mine.

I got a list here’s the order of my list that it’s in

It goes Reggie, Jay-Z, Tupac and Biggie

Andre from OutKast, Jada, Kurupt, Nas and then me

But in this industry I’m the cause of a LOT of envy

So when I’m not put on this list, the shit does NOT offend me ……. The Eminem Show’s Till I Colapse

3.Tupac Shakur aka Makevelli

(A) All Eyes On Me, Makevelli

(H) Keep Ya Head Up, Dear Mama, Hail Mary

(L)You Know it’s funny when it rains it pours

They got money for wars, but can’t feed the poor… Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z.’s Keep Ya Head Up

Tupac had the God given ability to both say a lot with a little, and a little with a lot. Tupac the poet often touched on the pain and frustrations of growing up in an unstable environment in tracks like Me Against The World’s Temptations and Dear Mama. He could also perpetuate the stereotypes with tracks like Outlaw and Heavy in the Game …… on the same album! That was Pac all the way. For every Keep ya Head Up, there was a I Get Around. For every Hail Mary, there was Blasphemy. For every I Ain’t Mad at Ya there was Hit em Up. It was known that Pac recorded in bunches. So you never knew what mood you were going to get…..only that it would most likely be brilliant.

2.Sean Carter aka Jay-Z

(A) In My Lifetime Vol. 1, In My Lifetime Vol. 2, The Black Album

(H) Hard Knock Life, The Takeover, Show Me What

(L)The man that I am, and damn you don’t know

the harder you go at me, the harder I flow. (Lets do this)

I’m just a mirror reflectin’ ya image. The minuet you

switch up ya’ face, I pick up the pace. (It’s nothing to it)……..Jay-Z Unplugged’s People Talk

I guess I have to do less convincing on why Jay’s number 2 than why he’s not number 1. It’s personal….. I blame Jay for the demise of hip hop. When Jay was at his peak, he was knocking off what we call ICON’s from the rap game’s pedestal. He was the reason why a lot of the “gotta be in theres” didn’t make it to MY top ten. Rakim’s flow can’t see Jay’s … be serious. When he asked Nas “Is it black girl lost, or shorty owe you for Ice?” I was like yeah….that’s a good damn question. He only left enough room for the brightest to climb in, Kanye, Lil Wayne (Young Carter), Luda and so on. When he took his break…. that’s when “slop-hop” put it’s flag in the dirt. Laffe Taffe? White Tees? Tracks like those would have got no play in the hip-hop hay day. Though Jay had heavy influence in the game, none to me, had more on him, hip-hop or rap than number 1……

1.Christopher Wallace aka The Notorious B.I.G.

(A) Ready To Die, Life After Death

(H) Big Poppa, Mo Money Mo Problems,

(L) So instead of makin’ hoes suck my dick up,

I used to do stick-up, cuz hoes is irritating like the (Hiccup)s

Excuse me , flows just roll through me.

Like trees to branches,

Cliffs to avalanches

It’s the praying mantis.

Deep like the mind of Farrakhan

A motherfuckin rap phenomenon…..plus…..(The What) Ready to Die

From the moment the Flava in ya ear remix dropped it was on. I think Craig Mack may have been the first noted artist to be out done on his own song. And the first of many by Biggie. Big had his own style, often imitated, never duplicated, yet he could hold his own on a track with ANYBODY, He went back and forth unwritten with the likes of Jay-Z and even lobbed a shot at his then wife Faith Evans on Reasonable Doubt’s Brooklyn’s Finest,. He talked some real pimp shit with Too Short on Life after Death’s The World is Filled. He went stiletto rapid fire with Bone Thug’s N Harmony on the same album with Notorious Thugs. He slowed it down with Shaquille O’neal on the title track of Shaq’s You Can’t Stop The Reign. To the nastiest line I ever heard in my life…on Luke Uncle Luke’s Big Booty Hoes….

I got a bitch that will suck my dick till I nut,

Spit it on my gut and slurp that shit back up,

Ain’t that a slut, She even take it in the butt.

Fuck about an hour,

Then she want a golden shower.

That’s just to name a few. When you can play ball with anyone, you’re a baller. When you can beat everyone on their home court, your a superstar.

Note able Left-offs (Honorable Mentions)

It was hard to narrow this list down to just 10. Certainly a lot harder than I had anticipated. But I feel the need to justify a FEW of my castoffs….. so in no particular order……

Jadakiss

(A) Kiss The Game Goodbye*

(H) The Benjamin’s*, Get ya Hands Up, Hot Sauce To Go*

(L) The streets is still mine, I stay with the still nine

And it’s still on nigga I’m stronger than corn liquor

Like I pink-eyed, niggaz pretend to be weeded

That’s what the industry needed ………… Ride or Die Vol.3’s They Ain’t Ready.

Top 5 lyricist of all time. Jada lacks the mainstream HIT to move him out of My personal top 10 into this more objective column.

The Game

(A) The Documentary, The Doctors Advocate

(H) It’s Okay (One Blood), Dreams, Let’s Ride

(L) And even though sometimes I run loose

You still my homeboy Doc, I’d take a bullet for you

I’m not askin’ you to take my side in the beef

But you told me it was okay to say “Fuck The Police” ………….. Doctors Advocate (Title Track).

Ask me to re-do this next year…. then ask me how Game went from honorable mention, to top 7. The truth is, I don’t have an answer that makes a lot of sense. Even though he has 2 CLASSIC albums under his belt I always felt like he held back some things he could really do, and spent too much time beefing with “losers”.

Obie Trice

(A) Cheers*

(H) Got Some Teeth, Wanna Know,

(L) And your purpose so superfluous

How could I be merciful when

Murkin me’s a mercenary’s goal?

Nigga I got paper, I’ll have ya ass urgently exposed

No emergency’s bringin back your souls

Slugs shatter your bones

For pat-pattin me in the dome

Learn this patter-in, we catch him at home, he wrong

That’s when automatics sporadically

Catch him in the abdomen

Another dirty motherfucker’s gone…………… The Re Up’s Pistol Pistol (remix)

Before Obie got shot, he was bringing something the rap game was starving for … intelligence mixed with humor. He instantly became my favorite rapper. But after he got shot, his mood changed dramatically. So much so that I had to leave him off. This is also where not understanding someone backfires. Not understanding Obie in a “what’s superfluous mean?” or, “I’m only used to four word hooks” type of way, is a far cry from not understanding Nas in a rambling vivid Scarface recap switching subjects within the same bar type of way. Either way, once Obie connects with the majority low brow consumer I’ll really have to do this list over.

There you have it….. The top ten as I see it. My apologies to the Great artists that got left off, Jeezy, Andre 3000, E. Legal, Too Short, Run DMC, Ma$e, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent….. The list goes on. I will now hear arguments or agreements. If you have an issue, do some research first. When you say “Rakim” i’m gonna say “Album” and you better not stutter……Bring it on.

Check out more from Brian Defiant at VAConnection.net, also check out his PUREXclusive Interview here