Tupac vs. Eminem

[vaneesh]

When alls said and done i think Eminem 1st & Jay-Z 2nd will be regarded as the top two greatest.

^^

i am damn sure about eminem..but Jay Z can't say that he'll be in 2nd spot...buh definitely he's among da top 5...Rap Moguls..!!

[EminemIVLife]

When alls said and done i think Eminem 1st & Jay-Z 2nd will be regarded as the top two greatest.

Yeah, commercially. Jay Z isnt in my top 5 emcees tho, maybe if he stopped diluting his music and retired after The Black Album he would have been.

[EminemBase]

Eminem for me. I'll try and explain why...

2Pac had beautiful energy, he was a free spirit, a free thinker, a rebellion and no doubt inspired and influenced Eminem.

But Eminem has surpassed him in so many ways. Forget sales and influence if we're just talking who's better as a rapper should discuss their skills and range.

Eminem has done everything from horrocore to emotional rap and everything in between. 2Pac pretty much stuck to one flow, one style and a handful of subject matters. Namely, black culture, black inner-city life, police brutality and himself.

I think Eminem is better because he's able to write broader without making the content broader. On say for example "Sing for the Moment", Em connects more because he's not only speaking directly to the listener but he's not separating race, religion, background. He's just speaking to depressed teenagers.

This is why so many more can relate to him. That's just one example but he does it in nearly every song, switching from narrator, 1st to 3rd person, placing you in his shoes and doing so by giving you his mindset to experience, he invites you in. No matter who you are.

That's the only downfall for me, of people like Nas, 2Pac and Mos Def. They're all brilliant and Mos Def and Nas particularly are probably my two favourite after Em but they pretty much speak exclusively about black issues, black people and black culture. And they pretty much all act like all white people are rich and have no problems.

It's pretty much bullshit representation. I mean I'm from the UK and there are probably more poor white than black here but whatever, point is, it's URBAN life, not black life, not white life. You have the class system and you have a varitety of races in each. And I think by the way people like Mos Def speak, they alienate white listeners by making them feel they have an agnst against them just because they're white.

There are a lot of poor white people too. Em doesn't distinguish, he just connects on a human level. This is one of the many reasons I think he's better. Then of course you have the lyricism, I think he's more poetic, more ironic... He can be funny, damning, tongue-in-cheek and I think... So many more things than 2Pac could fully achieve and... More effectively.

Oh and of course flows. Em changes flows nearly every track nevermind every album. You take a 99 song verses a 2009 song, they sound totally alien. Even a 99 song vs. a 2002 song. Sounds like two completely different rappers. That's talent. He evolves his style constantly.

Anyway, I could go on forever but I think I can sum it up with this... I think Eminem is better than 2Pac BECAUSE....

Eminem can and has done everything 2Pac could do but 2Pac didn't and probably couldn't do everything that Eminem does. Or even most of it. The arsenal of flows, the immense wordplay... Don't get me wrong, 2Pac was a great lyricist too. But for me, Em wins hands down, any department.

[embm]

#1 em
#2 big & 2pac

[EminemIVLife]

Eminem for me. I'll try and explain why...

2Pac had beautiful energy, he was a free spirit, a free thinker, a rebellion and no doubt inspired and influenced Eminem.

But Eminem has surpassed him in so many ways. Forget sales and influence if we're just talking who's better as a rapper should discuss their skills and range.

Eminem has done everything from horrocore to emotional rap and everything in between. 2Pac pretty much stuck to one flow, one style and a handful of subject matters. Namely, black culture, black inner-city life, police brutality and himself.

I think Eminem is better because he's able to write broader without making the content broader. On say for example "Sing for the Moment", Em connects more because he's not only speaking directly to the listener but he's not separating race, religion, background. He's just speaking to depressed teenagers.

This is why so many more can relate to him. That's just one example but he does it in nearly every song, switching from narrator, 1st to 3rd person, placing you in his shoes and doing so by giving you his mindset to experience, he invites you in. No matter who you are.

That's the only downfall for me, of people like Nas, 2Pac and Mos Def. They're all brilliant and Mos Def and Nas particularly are probably my two favourite after Em but they pretty much speak exclusively about black issues, black people and black culture. And they pretty much all act like all white people are rich and have no problems.

It's pretty much bullshit representation. I mean I'm from the UK and there are probably more poor white than black here but whatever, point is, it's URBAN life, not black life, not white life. You have the class system and you have a varitety of races in each. And I think by the way people like Mos Def speak, they alienate white listeners by making them feel they have an agnst against them just because they're white.

There are a lot of poor white people too. Em doesn't distinguish, he just connects on a human level. This is one of the many reasons I think he's better. Then of course you have the lyricism, I think he's more poetic, more ironic... He can be funny, damning, tongue-in-cheek and I think... So many more things than 2Pac could fully achieve and... More effectively.

Oh and of course flows. Em changes flows nearly every track nevermind every album. You take a 99 song verses a 2009 song, they sound totally alien. Even a 99 song vs. a 2002 song. Sounds like two completely different rappers. That's talent. He evolves his style constantly.

Anyway, I could go on forever but I think I can sum it up with this... I think Eminem is better than 2Pac BECAUSE....

Eminem can and has done everything 2Pac could do but 2Pac didn't and probably couldn't do everything that Eminem does. Or even most of it. The arsenal of flows, the immense wordplay... Don't get me wrong, 2Pac was a great lyricist too. But for me, Em wins hands down, any department.

I read that

[slimshady13]

Eminem for me. I'll try and explain why...

2Pac had beautiful energy, he was a free spirit, a free thinker, a rebellion and no doubt inspired and influenced Eminem.

But Eminem has surpassed him in so many ways. Forget sales and influence if we're just talking who's better as a rapper should discuss their skills and range.

Eminem has done everything from horrocore to emotional rap and everything in between. 2Pac pretty much stuck to one flow, one style and a handful of subject matters. Namely, black culture, black inner-city life, police brutality and himself.

I think Eminem is better because he's able to write broader without making the content broader. On say for example "Sing for the Moment", Em connects more because he's not only speaking directly to the listener but he's not separating race, religion, background. He's just speaking to depressed teenagers.

This is why so many more can relate to him. That's just one example but he does it in nearly every song, switching from narrator, 1st to 3rd person, placing you in his shoes and doing so by giving you his mindset to experience, he invites you in. No matter who you are.

That's the only downfall for me, of people like Nas, 2Pac and Mos Def. They're all brilliant and Mos Def and Nas particularly are probably my two favourite after Em but they pretty much speak exclusively about black issues, black people and black culture. And they pretty much all act like all white people are rich and have no problems.

It's pretty much bullshit representation. I mean I'm from the UK and there are probably more poor white than black here but whatever, point is, it's URBAN life, not black life, not white life. You have the class system and you have a varitety of races in each. And I think by the way people like Mos Def speak, they alienate white listeners by making them feel they have an agnst against them just because they're white.

There are a lot of poor white people too. Em doesn't distinguish, he just connects on a human level. This is one of the many reasons I think he's better. Then of course you have the lyricism, I think he's more poetic, more ironic... He can be funny, damning, tongue-in-cheek and I think... So many more things than 2Pac could fully achieve and... More effectively.

Oh and of course flows. Em changes flows nearly every track nevermind every album. You take a 99 song verses a 2009 song, they sound totally alien. Even a 99 song vs. a 2002 song. Sounds like two completely different rappers. That's talent. He evolves his style constantly.

Anyway, I could go on forever but I think I can sum it up with this... I think Eminem is better than 2Pac BECAUSE....

Eminem can and has done everything 2Pac could do but 2Pac didn't and probably couldn't do everything that Eminem does. Or even most of it. The arsenal of flows, the immense wordplay... Don't get me wrong, 2Pac was a great lyricist too. But for me, Em wins hands down, any department.

Great post man

[vaneesh]

Eminem for me. I'll try and explain why...

2Pac had beautiful energy, he was a free spirit, a free thinker, a rebellion and no doubt inspired and influenced Eminem.

But Eminem has surpassed him in so many ways. Forget sales and influence if we're just talking who's better as a rapper should discuss their skills and range.

Eminem has done everything from horrocore to emotional rap and everything in between. 2Pac pretty much stuck to one flow, one style and a handful of subject matters. Namely, black culture, black inner-city life, police brutality and himself.

I think Eminem is better because he's able to write broader without making the content broader. On say for example "Sing for the Moment", Em connects more because he's not only speaking directly to the listener but he's not separating race, religion, background. He's just speaking to depressed teenagers.

This is why so many more can relate to him. That's just one example but he does it in nearly every song, switching from narrator, 1st to 3rd person, placing you in his shoes and doing so by giving you his mindset to experience, he invites you in. No matter who you are.

That's the only downfall for me, of people like Nas, 2Pac and Mos Def. They're all brilliant and Mos Def and Nas particularly are probably my two favourite after Em but they pretty much speak exclusively about black issues, black people and black culture. And they pretty much all act like all white people are rich and have no problems.

It's pretty much bullshit representation. I mean I'm from the UK and there are probably more poor white than black here but whatever, point is, it's URBAN life, not black life, not white life. You have the class system and you have a varitety of races in each. And I think by the way people like Mos Def speak, they alienate white listeners by making them feel they have an agnst against them just because they're white.

There are a lot of poor white people too. Em doesn't distinguish, he just connects on a human level. This is one of the many reasons I think he's better. Then of course you have the lyricism, I think he's more poetic, more ironic... He can be funny, damning, tongue-in-cheek and I think... So many more things than 2Pac could fully achieve and... More effectively.

Oh and of course flows. Em changes flows nearly every track nevermind every album. You take a 99 song verses a 2009 song, they sound totally alien. Even a 99 song vs. a 2002 song. Sounds like two completely different rappers. That's talent. He evolves his style constantly.

Anyway, I could go on forever but I think I can sum it up with this... I think Eminem is better than 2Pac BECAUSE....

Eminem can and has done everything 2Pac could do but 2Pac didn't and probably couldn't do everything that Eminem does. Or even most of it. The arsenal of flows, the immense wordplay... Don't get me wrong, 2Pac was a great lyricist too. But for me, Em wins hands down, any department.

Great post man

^^ Props to EminemBase

[iZo]

In terms of skill eminem wins as eminembase said.
But tupacs legacy, passion for music, and how good of a person he was is what really made tupac who tupac is to me. Are you comparing skill or individual qualities/how much they've done for the community? Its one thing to rap against corruption, its another to pop a cop in his ass for being corrupted. Tupacs my favorite, Eminems better imo.

[xxTrigger1989xx]

Well, Eminem is a better rapper and lyricist than Tupac. Eminem is the white Tupac, I see it and I'm sure all of you do too. It's like someone said earlier, Biggie had great lyrics, but couldn't connect with everybody, Tupac was a decent lyricist and was able to connect. Eminem has both great lyrics and the ability to connect. I like Tupac, but I think Biggie was much better. Eminem was clearly influenced by Biggie, but Eminem took it to another level. Tupac or Biggie would never be able to write a song like Stay Wide Awake, I'm sorry. Both of them were great lyricists, but Eminem is a far better one

[vaneesh]

Well, Eminem is a better rapper and lyricist than Tupac. Eminem is the white Tupac, I see it and I'm sure all of you do too. It's like someone said earlier, Biggie had great lyrics, but couldn't connect with everybody, Tupac was a decent lyricist and was able to connect. Eminem has both great lyrics and the ability to connect. I like Tupac, but I think Biggie was much better. Eminem was clearly influenced by Biggie, but Eminem took it to another level. Tupac or Biggie would never be able to write a song like Stay Wide Awake, I'm sorry. Both of them were great lyricists, but Eminem is a far better one

[vaneesh]

There never has been, and never will be a definitive answer to this question. It simply all boils down to preference.

If your preference is 2Pac - fine
If your preference is Eminem - fine

All I ask is for whoever is saying "Eminem over 2Pac"......I just hope you have listened to 2Pac's discography, and then it is a fair answer.

I have a feeling people are just saying Eminem (beause he is their favourite) and have only ever heard about five 2Pac songs in their life LOL

^^ I have heard da whole discography ...he's fucking awesome..but Eminem has an edge over him..

[xxTrigger1989xx]

There never has been, and never will be a definitive answer to this question. It simply all boils down to preference.

If your preference is 2Pac - fine
If your preference is Eminem - fine

All I ask is for whoever is saying "Eminem over 2Pac"......I just hope you have listened to 2Pac's discography, and then it is a fair answer.

I have a feeling people are just saying Eminem (beause he is their favourite) and have only ever heard about five 2Pac songs in their life LOL

That's a good point. I've listened to a lot of Tupac. You're right though, there is no definite answer, it really is all about preference. I prefer Eminem, obviously, but it's for good reason. I just really do believe that Eminem is a better lyricist than Tupac was. It shouldn't really be about "who's better" anyway, because the argument will never end

[Wic Kid]

I think Tupac has had more of an influence over Hip Hop and Hip Hop culture than Em has ever had. I think he gets points for that also. Em influences individuals but not the culture as a whole really. Em is a legend no doubt but I think even if Em was hands down better people wouldn't be ready to just hand him the title. I think on this site many people on here were just too young to live and feel Tupac. He was before their time musically. So it just goes over there heads and they just hold Em up as undisputed king.

Yeah, Pac did have more influence. But whats funny....every time we talk about this particular comparison, you guys pull that "influence on the game" card. It seems like thats the only thing you could use in Pac's defense. No hard feelings, Adam, but thats my opinion.

[KillahBee]

Ok first of all R.I.R 2Pac, he got alot of people ( me included ) into hip hop, and he is arguablly the most recognised figure in modern music

On topic, it depends what your looking for in a rapper
For me, skill wise Em is way ahead of 2pac, but 2pac had heart, unbelievable mic presence, and made music people can relate too, but ''All eyes on Me'' is the most overrated album of the 90's imo, I can't put up with a dude who used to be a ballet dancer going around with this ''thug life'' mentality, fucking pathectic


Me Against the World is a classic though, and anybody who doubts Pac's skill on the mic needs to listen to the 7 day theory

[vaneesh]

I think Tupac has had more of an influence over Hip Hop and Hip Hop culture than Em has ever had. I think he gets points for that also. Em influences individuals but not the culture as a whole really. Em is a legend no doubt but I think even if Em was hands down better people wouldn't be ready to just hand him the title. I think on this site many people on here were just too young to live and feel Tupac. He was before their time musically. So it just goes over there heads and they just hold Em up as undisputed king.

Yeah, Pac did have more influence. But whats funny....every time we talk about this particular comparison, you guys pull that "influence on the game" card. It seems like thats the only thing you could use in Pac's defense. No hard feelings, Adam, but thats my opinion.

None taken. I mean what are we talking about though? Lyrics or everything? Eminem kills Pac and everybody else lyrically and in sales. But the rest is a matter of opinion.