Kanye West - The Most Overrated Rapper in History

[Unscarred]

I want to start this by saying i really like some of his stuff, and i really liked MBDTF. But there is one thing i just could not understand, why is he getting so much praise? he's just average. I cant understand how can some people put him in the same bracket as Em or Jay, they're years ahead of him lyrically.

The other thing is that Kanye West writes a good amount of his material, but by no means does he write all of it. For example, his biggest song, "Jesus Walks", was actually written by Rhymefest who had been performing the song for years in Chicago. Kanye heard it, liked it, bought it, and changed a few lines and the chorus.

He does write a lot of stuff, but the notion that he writes all of it and is some lyrical genius is a joke. Has anyone ever seen or heard a Kanye freestyle or rap battle? Of course not! This is because he simply doesn't have the lyrical talent and most all other rappers are blessed with. Even some songwriters revealed that he's claiming for publishing rights for lyrics he didn't wrote by himself

Actually i searched for some freestyles of him, and i found a few, but im pretty sure they were all written before that.

[GladHeAteHerr]

I enjoy listening to him, but I do agree with you that he is overrated on this forum.

[dead prez]

Nah that would go to Big L.

[stillmatic]

I have had my share of problems with Kanye, and I think he's dope and at times he gets too much exposure, but I don't feel he's overrated for one reason - long lasting legacy.

I've seen this enough during my years as a fan of hip hop to know when an artist's legacy is going to get better or worse once they're done with their prime and out of the game.

Kanye is recognized as one of the greatest now, but everything I see in his music, the general perception of him as an artist once he's done will not get greater. As a producer yes, but as an overall artist, no.

I'm talking in terms of legacy, look at the likes of Rakim, Lauryn Hill, Will Smith (w/Jazz), Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Run DMC, Queen Latifah - artists who were HUGE in their era, and haven't recorded in a long time, their standing in hip hop since they've been gone has been getting bigger and bigger each day as they have retired (or stopped). I don't think Kanye will be the same at all once his era is done and he's fading. Big difference here is hip hop culture btw, not pop culture.

[KillahBee]

By who?

Most people consider him an average-weak rapper, I'd say he's underrated if anything

[dead prez]

By the general populace, I guess? In forums he's underrated (specifically this one) though.

[KillahBee]

By the general populace, I guess? In forums he's underrated (specifically this one) though.

I dunno man, I rarely hear anybody praising Kanye's mic skills, his production, of course, but his rapping?

I actually think he's one of the most quotable rappers in the past 7-8 years

[dead prez]

MTV or ask some random smuck down the block, but yeah you're right he has a ton of quotables. Especially in Gorgeous (he ripped that shit).

[Master Chief]

Kanye is underrated here but overrated as fuck for MBDTF.

inb4 dead prez or Almostlity.

[dead prez]

Kanye is underrated here but overrated as fuck for MBDTF.

inb4 dead prez or Almostlity.

[dead prez]

Kanye is underrated here but overrated as fuck for MBDTF.

inb4 dead prez or Almostlity.

Oh and Killahbee also thinks it's a classic, and Killahbee>>>You (and 90 percent of this section).

Yes I know that's an appeal to authority.

[Cube23]

He's really not. MBDTF was praised because it has revolutionary beats, accompanied by some average to above average rapping throughout the whole album. He is praised as a musical genius. Not a lyrical genius.

[Fa-Q]

But their....

I stopped reading after that

[Almostlity]

y'all just butthurt coz i'm not butthurt over his opinion.. at least Unscarred had a reasonable opinion.. not just ''kanye suck, he wack trloloollol''.

Keep hatin on me

[Unscarred]

I left with this impression from other forums and ecpecially from a lot of critics, and they're giving him to much props, thats all. And about that Kanye VS Eminem discography thing, i dont know how can you say Kanye is taking that, even with two bad albums (Encore & Relapse) and one average (Recovery) Em first 3 albums shit all over everything Kanye has ever done. But i really dont want this thread to turn in to Eminem vs Kanye lol everybyyyy knowz whoz the bestezt rapper in history, eminem of coourse im just stating my opinion.

I understand some people will have different opinions for who's underrated and who's overrated, and thats understandable. I agree with dead prez about Big L, he's overrated, but this thing happens with all the dead rappers, examples..Eazy E... Never really liked the guy, i cant understand whats so great about him.
Tupac... I love tupacs music, but a lot of people are saying he's the best and that is just laughable. Biggie... He's goood, very good, nobody can deny his abbilities on the mic, but he's way overrated