The Fire: Underrated MCs -- Big Pun, Crooked I, Budden, Scarface... And Chill Cuz I Got Common Sense
Published: Friday - July 20, 2007
Words by WWW Dot
And now... your underrated MCs are...
Big Pun -- Ok, you may read Pun's name and ask yourself, "What in the fuck is WWW-dot talking about? Why is Pun on the UNDERRATED list?" Well, I'm gonna tell you why. Pun is underrated because not enough publications and fans put him in the Top 5 of their best MC list. Bottom line... Pun is a Top 5 dead or alive MC, sorry Jada. I'll flip it and tell you the same thing in a different way. Go ahead and do this experiment. Put together a list of your Top 5 MCs. I GUARANTEE (but no money back, bitch) that Pun is better than at least one of the guys on your list.
Big L -- Same as above, but Top 10? If not that high up the list, pretty damn close.
AZ -– Growing up in Queens, we had Nas. Well, when you bumped Nas till the tape (back then we had tapes) broke, AZ was a good alternative. Dude was a poor man's Nas and I say that with the utmost respect. There are few MCs in history of the game that can tell tales of crime like AZ.
Ras Kass -– I'll tell you how underrated this cat is. Some people -- who claim to be hip-hop heads -- first heard Ras Kass' name when he was left a scuffle with the Game with a black eye (see "Ras Kass, The Game Get Into Physical Altercation; Ras Kass Responds"). Wow. This guy has been putting in work for years.
Crooked I -- For argument sake, forget what this guy did for the past 10 years on the Left Coast. Just judging now, Crooked I has got to be your favorite rapper's favorite rapper. I has been absolutely brilliant with his "Hip Hop Weekly" freestyle installments. Last week it was I's line that I posted: "My white tee is pure as God's number / I ain't talking baseball when I'm telling you A-Rod's under."
Talib Kweli & Common -- Let me get my One-take Hov on for a minute. Can I get my One-take Hov on for a minute? Ok, let me tell you why these two cats are underrated. As a matter of fact, I'll let Hov tell you: "If skills sold / Truth be told / I'd probably be / Lyrically / Talib Kweli / Truthfully, I wanna rhyme like Common Sense / (But i did five Mil) /I ain't been rhymin like Common Sense. It's sad, but you Huey "Pop Lock 'N Drop It" fans don't recognize skills. Mos Def certainly belongs in this group too.
Royce Da 5'9 -– Royce... one of my favorite underrated MCs. One of my favorite MCs, period. Nas digs dude's skills too. I could tell you what makes him underrated, but ask your little brother or sister if they heard of Royce Da 5'9. Here, watch this video. I'm going to get something to eat.
Obie Trice -– I'm going to tell you hip-hop fans something real right now. Let me screw y'all into some shit. This dude Obie can spit like there's no fucking tomorrow. Got Some Teeth earned some laughs, but this dude is one real MC. Not a rapper an MC. Obie is sick. The guy is clever and highly lyrical. Oh yes, BallerStatus been knowing dude is nice. "Baby I'm extra large (huge) in magnitude / And Magnums to lubrication that I use / To chose which hole on a hoe I abuse (yes) / Have 'em confused, can't tell who is who." Why Second Round's On Me didn't do more numbers is the root of problems that hip-hop has...
Joe Budden -– People don't say this as bold as I'm about to right now, but Jersey Joe Jumpoff stood toe-to-toe with Hov on his Pump It Up remix. "Like New York been soft since Bin Laden came through and crushed the buildings / tryna restore the feeling/this is to be continued." We're waiting...
Andre 3000 –- Just like I said about Pun, three stacks can't be left off your top MC list. He just can't. I'm guilty, though. It took his fresh batch of recent guest appearances to get me back in good standing with Andre's skills. But he has to be on your Top 10. He's unbelievable...
Big Boi -– Not as crazy as Andre, but crazy nonetheless...
Twista -– Some hip-hop fans have the nerve to say dude is too gimmicky! What!? Actually sit down and break down what Twista saying. He's been nice for a minute...
Scarface -– On influencing rappers alone, Scarface is an important MC. He never gets his just due, though. Nas and Hov spoke praises about him, while they were battling! Face speaks with some of the best conviction in the game.
Memphis Bleek -– Ok, before you shut your computer screen off ask yourself this: How many rappers can have as crazy as a 15-minute stage set as Bleek? Albeit, most of his hits had generous Jay-Z assists, but nevertheless, Bleek still has songs that fans spit verbatim.
Cam'ron -- Killa Cam may have assassinated his own career with the video clip of him standing in front of a crummy hotel pool with his boxers on, but the way he stacks words in his rhymes can't be denied. "I wild with ya nanna / doggystyle on da hamper / You'll get ripped apart, that's it with darts, you kids ain't smart / Pop, pop, pop, I lit the dark, from the wizard door, come get some heart / That's courage and brain, 'caine on several strips / Not from Houston, but shit, call me Lil' Flip." Not bad, when he's really spittin.
David Banner -- Last, but definitely not least is the Mississippi madman, David Banner. This cat has got to be one of the most underrated on his list. He's got crazy skillz, but folks don't seem to recognize. If you don't believe me, listen to his latest single, "9MM/Speaker."
Honorable mention: Jean Grae, the best female emcee no one knows...
I could go on and on, but I think that's the cream of the crop. Here are some honorable mentions, though: Grafh, Tech N9ne, Styles P, Freeway, Canibus (so sue me), Devin The Dude, Dead Prez, Redman, GZA, Raekwon (still underrated).
Poll: Is T.I., Lil' Wayne and Jeezy, the Biggie, Jay-Z and Nas of the South (in terms of popularity)?
I will be in the M-I-A next week, so no Fire on the 27th. But no worries, I'll regroup and reload as we kick off August, ya diig!?p
Editorials & Columns Hustle Harder: Travel Arrangements Recently I traveled down to Washington D.C. to participate in an event called the "Million DJ March," and I realized ... full story
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