Just Blaze's 5 favourite emcees

[dead prez]

This reminds me have you seen G rap's top five mcees from Queens? He has 50 in it, would you put him in your top five from Queens?

[Block]

This reminds me have you seen G rap's top five mcees from Queens? He has 50 in it, would you put him in your top five from Queens?

I'd have to say yes. 50's early shit was good music. Before he started that candy radio shit. Many men is still in my top 20 fav songs.

[stillmatic]

Well he's an idiot so what do you figure?

I didn't know he was an idiot, but those type of things just really annoy me for some reason homie. I don't know why, but it's just such a cop out insult. Like....BLERRRHH!

@DP yeah I have, interview was like from last month yeah? and yeah 50 would be in my top 5 Queens MC's, even ignoring the great music he's put out, simply because he was the people's champion. 50 is Queens' favourite all time MC, even ahead of Nas. From Ridgewood down to JFK to Cambria Heights and all the way up to Whitestone, there's not an area of Queens where you wouldn't find a lot of people have stories about 50 when he was coming up. Dude is to Queens what Rocky was to Philly, and I mean that. Everyone knew him, that's what makes him so big.

[Hiphopdane]

I've always wondered what you think of Rakim, Stillmatic? You often talk about N.Y. rappers but never really him.

He has always been a mysterious artist. Always hailed as one of the best to ever do it but is rarely featured on other rappers albums and is never in any spotlight. Even his comeback album in 09 didn't get that much attention.

[dead prez]

I think he fell off and hasn't been relevant in over a decade, but in his prime he was one of the best rhymers out there.

[EminemBase]

I actually like that his list was unorthodox (no not just because it has Prodigy in it), but it also gives a shout out to lesser known emcees. Rather than the cliche Pac, Big, Nas, Em, Jay etc.

Yeah but I hate when many do that on purpose now. Not because they truly feel, if they were to actually analyze and think seriously - that the guys they're putting there are better than the usuals, but just for the sake of being different so they look unique lmao.

Not saying Just Blaze is doing that but, many do and it's annoying.

[dead prez]

Nah I know what you mean anyone who makes a list to be different just to be different and doesn't actually like the artists is a tool, just thought it was nice to give appreciation to lesser known mcees.

[EminemBase]

This reminds me have you seen G rap's top five mcees from Queens? He has 50 in it, would you put him in your top five from Queens?

I don't think 50 should be in any top five. His early MUSIC was good, as in = he made good songs. But he was never a top MC, top rhymer, top anything. Was always attitude, image and melody.

[Hiphopdane]

@ Dead prez

He isn't as good as he was in his prime but that would be too much to ask for.

Without a doubt one of the most intelligent rhymers there has ever been. He doesn't make as many words rhyme as Nas and Em do but his choice of words is incredible.

"I'm everlastin, I can go on for days and days
With rhyme displays that engrave deep as X-rays
I can take a phrase that's rarely heard, FLIP IT
Now it's a daily word."

[stillmatic]

I've always wondered what you think of Rakim, Stillmatic? You often talk about N.Y. rappers but never really him.

He has always been a mysterious artist. Always hailed as one of the best to ever do it but is rarely featured on other rappers albums and is never in any spotlight. Even his comeback album in 09 didn't get that much attention.

My older cousins were Rakim fanatics and would always talk about how Nas and Jay-Z were wannabes etc. when I was growing up listening to their stuff. Rakim was shoved down my throat, so growing up as like every kid is there's a bit of rebelliousness where I wanted to listen to my own artists and always debate how they were better than my cousins favourite artists. So growing up, I wasn't a huge fan of Rakim. But definitely as I've grown, I've almost studied the guy.

The issue here is what you said, his mysteriousness. The same way someone like Eminem stays in his own corner and doesn't really go out much, Rakim is the same, except with Rakim he doesn't even give the opportunity to even speak about him. He's never really been a candidate for the throne because you feel as if he just doesn't want to be apart of that list, he's just comfortable in his own zone and space. There's probably about 3-4 rappers you can really say revolutionized the game, and Rakim is one. Guys greatness is unquestionable, and there's really not that many peoples greatness that you can say that about.

[SlimShadyX313X]

Look's like he likes classics.

[stillmatic]

I actually like that his list was unorthodox (no not just because it has Prodigy in it), but it also gives a shout out to lesser known emcees. Rather than the cliche Pac, Big, Nas, Em, Jay etc.

Yeah but I hate when many do that on purpose now. Not because they truly feel, if they were to actually analyze and think seriously - that the guys they're putting there are better than the usuals, but just for the sake of being different so they look unique lmao.

Not saying Just Blaze is doing that but, many do and it's annoying.

I hate that as well. You get people who do that all the time with everything, especially music and movies. Naming bands and artists from decades a go that no ones ever heard just for the sake of being so much more knowledgeable. Pretentious assholes, these are the same people that smell their own farts.

Like an example I can give is Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas, he was giving an interview about hip hop and he got questioned on BEP's complete genre switch and he got defensive and started talking about how he was true hip hop, started naming all these old school MC's as influences and da-da-da etc. just for the sake to get some hip hop cred back. Those people are douchebags.

But with Just Blaze, I think it's clearly genuine. You can see it with his explanations, and his sound where it's always changing and so diverse. If he said Jay, Em etc. people would say he's biased because they're his boys. This type of stuff is always a double edged sword, there's no winning.

[KillahBee]

I like this list, its diverse and unpredicable, I really like the inclusion of Chuck D, I actually rarely ever see his name on these list (I often forget about him too)

About Rakim, lyrically I don't think he ever really "fell off", his main problem, for me, is in the last decade he hasn't been able to adapt to new trends, production styles, etc - 7th Seal musically would have been a medicore sounding album in the mid '90's, never mind the late '00's, he'sstill an immortal figure in hip hop though, no doubt about that

[Hiphopdane]

My older cousins were Rakim fanatics and would always talk about how Nas and Jay-Z were wannabes etc. when I was growing up listening to their stuff. Rakim was shoved down my throat, so growing up as like every kid is there's a bit of rebelliousness where I wanted to listen to my own artists and always debate how they were better than my cousins favourite artists. So growing up, I wasn't a huge fan of Rakim. But definitely as I've grown, I've almost studied the guy.

The issue here is what you said, his mysteriousness. The same way someone like Eminem stays in his own corner and doesn't really go out much, Rakim is the same, except with Rakim he doesn't even give the opportunity to even speak about him. He's never really been a candidate for the throne because you feel as if he just doesn't want to be apart of that list, he's just comfortable in his own zone and space. There's probably about 3-4 rappers you can really say revolutionized the game, and Rakim is one. Guys greatness is unquestionable, and there's really not that many peoples greatness that you can say that about.

Cool. I have always been quite fond of the english language, and Rakim is simply a master of that so he has always been one of my favourites. Paid in full took a bit of time to really get into but as soon as I did, I couldn't get enough of his music. Follow the leader is probably my favourite album, and Lyrics of fury my favourite song - you can tell how much effort he has put into penning every single line and word.

His mysteriousness only adds to his legend imo. It kindda makes him a myth cus even though you don't really see him do interviews, you know he is always there. He is also one of those very few guys who has never released a bad album.

@Killahbee
Tend to agree. 7th seal is another good album, but he should have chosen much better beats. A shame him and Dr. Dre never released anything together.

[AnalKiddo]

Well everyone has there own opinion but honestly that list is