No Dirty?

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Rakim, Tupac, UTFO (Doc Ice, Kangol Kid, Educated Rapper)

I think it really depends on what you are basing 'GOAT' on.

If you look strictly at each rapper when at their best, I think there is a legit argument for Eminem. When he's at the top of his game he's one of the greats (and maybe the greatest).

If you look at the overall body of work they've built up, I would say Em is probably top 5, but definitely not number one.

But, if you look at consistency from track to track and album to album, he wouldn't make my top 10.

I think two of the top three rappers of all-time are solidified forever in the history of the game, and those two are Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace and Tupac "Pac" Shakur. They are rap. Even though he had over a handful less albums, I'd place Biggie over Pac as the greatest MC ever. The stylish flow the "King of New York" graced the mic with was unheard of then and has never been touched since his death in 1997.

The third GOAT MC I'd add into this short list of rapping legends is Eric "Eazy E" Wright. Whether or not you liked his youthful high pitch, Wright's contributions to the game of rap alone -- he was not only responsible for creating the second greatest hip-hop group of all-time, the supergroup N.W.A., but also the first, Grammy Award winning Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Without Wright, there is no West Coast rap. There is no Dr. Dre explosion ("you're only 60 pounds when you're wet and wearin' boots" -- remember that, punk ass Dre), no Ice Cube or Snoop Double G Doggy Dogg. No Warren G and funk. No nothing. E took the spotlight from Noo Yawk and shined it on California and a new era of hip-hop was born.

It's time respect is given where respect is due.

Two other MCs that will NEVER find themselves in this discussion but should are Krayzie Bone and AZ. AZ is especially underrated. If you've never checked out his classic 1995 album Doe or Die, I suggest you do right now. He has much the same delivery as the early material of rapping legend Nas, except that AZ is twice the rapper. Believe that.

My personal favorites (I'll pick eight -- and will limit myself to only one BTNH member)

1. Krayzie Bone
2. Eazy E
3. Biggie
4. AZ
5. Too Short (kind of one dimensional, but his style was as chilled as Champagne in the mid '90s)
6. Lord Infamous (of Triple Six Mafia)
7. Tupac Shakur
8. Outkast (can't pick one or the other)

How about the genius who made a lot of these rappers...

Rick Ruben?

And, obviously, guys like Chuck D need recognition as well, which I haven't seen on this thread.

And let's get this Jay-Z shit out of here right now. Without Biggie, he isn't anywhere near this discussion. B.I.G. perfected the mafioso style on Life After Death that Jay-Z would later try and duplicate with Reasonable Doubt and American Gangster, but never lived up to. I like Jay-Z actually, and, as I've noted before, my favorite Biggie song is "I Love the Dough," which Jay-Z guests on. But how anyone can call his collective work the greatest of all-time, is beyond me.

If by Overall body of work you mean Album sales then Em might be top 5....But if you mean overall body of work as all albums, underground stuff, mixtapes, and quality music. Then em doesnt sniff the top 5

I simply meant the quality of the MCs overall work, not just a few good hits, which I consider to be the case with Jay-Z. Maybe it's just me, but much of his stuff is same old Jay-Z. Not enough style for me, even though he carries himself as the vocal equivalent of Giorgio Armani.

You couldn't go by album sales since arguably THE MC of all-time, Biggie, died after releasing just two.

I just realized you weren't talking to me, but I stand by my thoughts.

reclegend22 wrote: I think two of the top three rappers of all-time are solidified forever in the history of the game, and those two are Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace and Tupac "Pac" Shakur. They are rap. Even though he had over a handful less albums, I'd place Biggie over Pac as the greatest MC ever. The stylish flow the "King of New York" graced the mic with was unheard of then and has never been touched since his death in 1997.

The third GOAT MC I'd add into this short list of rapping legends is Eric "Eazy E" Wright. Whether or not you liked his youthful high pitch, Wright's contributions to the game of rap alone -- he was not only responsible for creating the second greatest hip-hop group of all-time, the supergroup N.W.A., but also the first, Grammy Award winning Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Without Wright, there is no West Coast rap. There is no Dr. Dre explosion ("you're only 60 pounds when you're wet and wearin' boots" -- remember that, punk ass Dre), no Ice Cube or Snoop Double G Doggy Dogg. No Warren G and funk. No nothing. E took the spotlight from Noo Yawk and shined it on California and a new era of hip-hop was born.

It's time respect is given where respect is due.

Two other MCs that will NEVER find themselves in this discussion but should are Krayzie Bone and AZ. AZ is especially underrated. If you've never checked out his classic 1995 album Doe or Die, I suggest you do right now. He has much the same delivery as the early material of rapping legend Nas, except that AZ is twice the rapper. Believe that.

I dont like the argument without him there wouldn't be those guys. Just because they started something doesn't automatically make them the best. I could make the comment that Rakim and Krs-1 inspired Biggie to get into rap so that would make them better cause without them there would be no biggie.

reclegend22 wrote: I simply meant the quality of the MCs overall work, not just a few good hits, which I consider to be the case with Jay-Z. Maybe it's just me, but much of his stuff is same old Jay-Z. Not enough style for me, even though he carries himself as the vocal equivalent of Giorgio Armani.

You couldn't go by album sales since arguably THE MC of all-time, Biggie, died after releasing just two.

this is why i dont like Jay z

btw greatest gangsta rapper is cube

That YouTube clip is hilarious. That's exactly what I'm talking about. Jay-Z's a hack.

That is a very good list. Of course Tupac is #1

Young M.C.