There are a couple of ingredients that separate an average rapper from a great rapper. There are some rappers that have been in the game for a long time that are respected for that, but are not necessarily considered great rappers. Of cos, some fans, out of sentiment, might classify them as great, but in the real meaning of the word, they are not. I don't want to name names, but I am sure you can think of some. So what makes a rapper great? There a couple of ingredients necessary, but the most important thing is not just having great rap skills, but being able to perfect that skill, and mould it into what the public can connect with. By that definition I don't necessarily mean going commercial, but at least being able to make a song. There is a difference between having rap skills, and being able to make a song.
I think this is one ability a lot of underground rappers lack. That is why you sometimes see a lot of mediocre or average rappers having more commercial success than really skilled ones. While I was in college, there was this rapper that could freestyle for days...you could throw any word at this guy, and he would make a rhyme about it on the spot. This dude was the freestyle champion for as long as I could remember. Everyone respected him, but he just couldn't make a coherent song. An example of a rapper like that is Papoose. My apologies to all the Pap fans out there, but I am just stating the truth. Apart from the song Joe featured him on about 5 years ago, I don't think he has been able to make a song that got radio play. I remember hearing his Alphabetical Slaughter song about 10 years ago on a Kayslay mixtape, and thinking- this dude has to be the next big thing. Dude rapped with every letter of the alphabet (all 26 of them) in sentences, and then when he got to Z, he started rapping back from Z, until Kayslay stopped him. But all that skill can only get you a couple of thousands of fans (who would probably illegally downloaded your songs), you have to make actual songs to become great.
Even the great Biggie had to make actual songs, and not just depend on his crazy wordplay and confidence on the mic. His first single ever, Juice was an actual song...a melodious song with a catchy hook. This is the reason why a rapper like Kanye West (who isn't super lyrical or super skilled as a rapper) would continue to be top 5 when it comes to relevant rappers in Hip Hop right now. He is a producer first, and makes actual songs. That's why he is so valuable to Jay-Z right now. Anyway, apart from the ability of making actual songs, there are some other ingredients that can make a rapper great. Flow, dope lyrics, consistency, dope production, an ability to connect with listeners emotionally, narrative skills, an amusing story of some sort, humour controversy...
Let's consider a great rapper like Eminen. The fact that he is white has helped him sell a couple of more millions than if he were black, but if it was just left to colour, he definitely wouldn't have been as great as he is right now. At the moment, based on his last 2 albums, and features on other rappers album, I would say what is getting him rated high is majorly his flow and delivery. But, I have followed him right from when his first track hit radio. And what got people to listen to him was the humour in his lyrics, the story he had to to tell, his narrative, controversy, dope production from Dr Dre ofcos, and also guidance from Dre...come on, how can one loose with all these qualities? Apart from Slick Rick, Nas, and Ghostface, I really don't know many rappers that can narrate a story like Eminem. Eminem was something else...back in the day, I would have to always rewind his songs, cos I would just be getting what he said on the first line, while he was on the third line. If you really want to know what made Eminem great, asides from all the crazy delivery and wordplay, go and listen to his first two albums.
Look at a rapper like Slick Rick. Of cos, not everyone listening to rap nowadays know who slick rick is. Even I was late on listening to him. Well, he released his first album, The Greatest Adventures of Slick Rick (1988) when I was 7, so you can't blame me. I listened to some of his new tracks from the 90s, but it wasn't until about 5 years ago, when I went back and downloaded his first album did I know why he was so respected This guy is the best story teller Hip Hop has ever seen, period!!! His narrative was just crazy. And his stories...he would tell a full story with a song, and it was like you were watching a movie. I think this is what makes Slick Rick considered amongst the greats in Hip Hop history. If you wanna be an all round skilled rapper, or you just love rap songs with some substance, then you definitely should pick up his Greatest Adventures of Slick Rick album.
50 Cent had the hunger when he came in the game. He had blown it with his first shot circa 99/2000, so with his return in 2003, he put his all in it. He had allegedly survived 9 shots, so he had a story everyone wanted to hear. He had a good flow, and rode the beat well. He was beefing with Jarule, so there was also the ingredient of controversy in there. And ofcos, he had beats from Dr Dre, and that meant dope production...and also guidance from the good doc. I hope you are taking notes? And now you know why a one dimensional emcee like Lloyd Banks can't make it past being referred to as the punchline king. His flow is virtually the same on every other song, and he doesn't have any other ingredients to make people overlook that, even though he has dope punchlines.
I can put Busta Rhymes and Ludacris together, and say they are great majorly cos of their flow & delivery. They deliver on the beat the way no one else can, and they always have the element of surprise with their flow...they know when to switch up the flow so that they don't become redundant and bore people. And they also have dope lyrics, so they appeal to the 20% of rap fans that actually listen also. They also have ears for great beats, and make cool songs. Kendrick Lamar has a crazy flow, and he would demolish any of his peers on a song together. I think his Section 80 album is super dope. I do have a concern tho...with his album single, Swimming Pool, it is almost like he is now conscious that a larger audience is listening, and he is trying to hard to please them. This are just might thoughts, but I think he might have a little problem with his actual studio album.
Tupac is considered one of the greatest and his music still sells more than a decade after his death cos he also had a lot of the ingredients I mentioned above. He had a way of connecting with the emotions of listeners, cos he always put his heart into it. He was consistent while he was alive, and even after his death. He wasn't too lyrically complex or anything, but he was very conscious and political with his lyrics. He rode the beat brilliantly...in fact, when I just started listening to rap in the mid 90s, it was the way he rode beats that attracted me to his songs. And ofcos, he also had the whole controversy going for him...the whole thing with Biggie.
Nasty Nas came in the game with dope lyrics, a vivid lines, and almost flawless delivery. But even with all that, and Illmatic being considered one of the best rap albums ever, he wouldn't have been as great as he is now if he had just stuck with that formula. People were vexed when he switched up with his second album (It Was Written), but they don't know that was the best decision Nas ever made in his life. And ofcos, thanks to Steve Stoute for that. Stoute was his manager around the time, and advised him to make more songs that can actually be played on radio...actual songs, and not just tracks with dope lyrics being spewed out. And without compromising his lyrical abilities, Nas went ahead to make one of the most creative lp's to ever hit stores...and his most commercially successful album till date.
People can hate Rick Ross all they want, call him a C.O every chance they get, but the man keeps winning. He damn near has been consistent on the scene for the last 6 years or so. And what makes him a great rapper? They are some of the ingredients I mentioned earlier. He knows how to pick dope beats and make actual songs. He is above average with his lyrics, and delivers them well. He has been consistent with it, and with the team he has built, he has been able to stay relevant even more.
Although I am the biggest Nas fan and I think he is the best to ever to it, I would be kidding if I didn't point out the fact that no one embodies what makes for a Greatest Of All Time Rapper like he does. He is consistent...his longevity can not be questioned. He got the flow; he knows how to connect with the public; he makes actual songs with dope production.
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