Most Overrated Underground Rappers

[mcZu]

^Blackstarr, Black Thought, and Gift Of Gab come close to Nas, yes. I never really liked Ghostface, tbh. But that's it, Nas is on another level with it. Yes, he sold out, as well, but he's still number one on my list.

[ThomasJ]

AZ > Cormega any day of the week.

Hello dead prez #2.

AZ is good, but that's it.

Cormega is a top 10 rapper.

Nah, AZ is much better than Cormega. Cormega shouldn't even be named in the same breath as Nas. The only emcee from the Firm who comes close to Nas is AZ. And Cormega is no way a top ten emcee. Atleast, not in my list.

How much have you heard from Mega? 'cause I've heard a whole fucking lot from AZ.

Seeing how The Firm was comprised of Nas, AZ, Nature & Foxy Brown, that doesn't really say much about AZ. lol

P is a street *****, Nas is a notebook crook with looseleaf beef.

Seriously though you don't think OBL, Ghostface, Mos Def, Kweli, Black Thought, Posdnous, K-os, Gift of Gab, Zumbi, and Andre are at least on Nas' level? They all have a superior catalgoue to him.

I have a lot of respect for these guys, especially for Mos Def, Posdnous & Andre.
I don't see how they have a superior catalog to Nas though?

Anyway, this here might help you appreciate Nas' lyrics a little more:
http://escobartheory.blogspot.com/

[ThomasJ]

^Blackstarr, Black Thought, and Gift Of Gab come close to Nas, yes. I never really liked Ghostface, tbh. But that's it, Nas is on another level with it. Yes, he sold out, as well, but he's still number one on my list.

How exactly did he sell out?

[mcZu]

How much have you heard from Mega? 'cause I've heard a whole fucking lot from AZ.

Seeing how The Firm was comprised of Nas, AZ, Nature & Foxy Brown, that doesn't really say much about AZ. lol

I've heard quite a bit of Mega's work to know he aint touching AZ. Nature was a subsitute for Cormega, hence I refered to the Firm.

^Blackstarr, Black Thought, and Gift Of Gab come close to Nas, yes. I never really liked Ghostface, tbh. But that's it, Nas is on another level with it. Yes, he sold out, as well, but he's still number one on my list.

How exactly did he sell out?

Every artist that has somekind of mainstream succes has to sell out in some way. Eminem did it, Jay did it, Nas did it, etc. Selling out isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's part of the business aspects of this industry, which, is in fact, about economics. You're dealing here with a music industry, besides the music there are things artists have to do to attain that mainstream or commercial succes.

[ThomasJ]

I've heard quite a bit of Mega's work to know he aint touching AZ. Nature was a subsitute for Cormega, hence I refered to the Firm.

I know he was... What exactly makes AZ superior?

Every artist that has somekind of mainstream succes has to sell out in some way. Eminem did it, Jay did it, Nas did it, etc. Selling out isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's part of the business aspects of this industry, which, is in fact, about economics. You're dealing here with a music industry, besides the music there are things artists have to do to attain that mainstream or commercial succes.

Nas didn't sacrifice his artistic integrity in ANY way, so how DID he sell out?

[mcZu]

I've heard quite a bit of Mega's work to know he aint touching AZ. Nature was a subsitute for Cormega, hence I refered to the Firm.

I know he was... What exactly makes AZ superior?

Every artist that has somekind of mainstream succes has to sell out in some way. Eminem did it, Jay did it, Nas did it, etc. Selling out isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's part of the business aspects of this industry, which, is in fact, about economics. You're dealing here with a music industry, besides the music there are things artists have to do to attain that mainstream or commercial succes.

Nas didn't sacrifice his artistic integrity in ANY way, so how DID he sell out?

He had to do numerous songs on soms albums that I'm sure he didn't want to do initially. His label makes him do certain things, due to his contract, that he doesn't want to. A simple example is his Untitled album, he wanted to name it N.igga, but he couldn't due to the controversy that was going on. A lot of retail stores refused to sell an album called N.igga. So, he had to sacrifice his artistic integrity to bring that album out. There is a certain duality in play, you have to do some things to get things back. That's why staying independant is the only way you will ever have 100% integrity.

[ThomasJ]

I've heard quite a bit of Mega's work to know he aint touching AZ. Nature was a subsitute for Cormega, hence I refered to the Firm.

I know he was... What exactly makes AZ superior?

Every artist that has somekind of mainstream succes has to sell out in some way. Eminem did it, Jay did it, Nas did it, etc. Selling out isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's part of the business aspects of this industry, which, is in fact, about economics. You're dealing here with a music industry, besides the music there are things artists have to do to attain that mainstream or commercial succes.

Nas didn't sacrifice his artistic integrity in ANY way, so how DID he sell out?

He had to do numerous songs on soms albums that I'm sure he didn't want to do initially. His label makes him do certain things, due to his contract, that he doesn't want to. A simple example is his Untitled album, he wanted to name it N.igga, but he couldn't due to the controversy that was going on. A lot of retail stores refused to sell an album called N.igga. So, he had to sacrifice his artistic integrity to bring that album out. There is a certain duality in play, you have to do some things to get things back. That's why staying independant is the only way you will ever have 100% integrity.

But did you even listen to the actual album? The content hasn't changed one bit. lol

This universal apartheid
I'm hog-tied, the corporate side
Blocking y'all from going to stores and buying it
First L.A. and Doug Morris was riding wit it
But Newsweek article startled big wigs
They said, Nas, why is he trying it?
My lawyers only see the Billboard charts as winning
Forgetting - Nas the only true rebel since the beginning
Still in musical prison, in jail for the flow
Try telling Bob Dylan, Bruce, or Billy Joel
They can't sing what's in their soul
So untitled it is
I never change nothin'
But people remember this
If Nas can't say it, think about these talented kids
With new ideas being told what they can and can't spit
I can't sit and watch it
So, shit, I'ma drop it
Like it or not
You ain't gotta cop it
I'm a hustler in the studio
Cups of Don Julio
No matter what the CD called
I'm unbeatable, y'all

[dead prez]

^Blackstarr, Black Thought, and Gift Of Gab come close to Nas, yes. I never really liked Ghostface, tbh. But that's it, Nas is on another level with it. Yes, he sold out, as well, but he's still number one on my list.

Word, is it Ghost's stream of consciousness that turns you away from his music?

I have a lot of respect for these guys, especially for Mos Def, Posdnous & Andre.
I don't see how they have a superior catalog to Nas though?

Anyway, this here might help you appreciate Nas' lyrics a little more:
http://escobartheory.blogspot.com/

Alright I'll be serious, about Prodigy it was more towards personal preference I admit, but I do honestly believe he had one of the best deliveries in rap in his prime. But yeah I'll admit overall Nas>Prodigy

Anyways Nas only has one set in stone classic, I'm sure we all know what album I'm referring to. Obviously he has other great albums like IWW, Untitled, Stillmatic but the opinions on the albums vary too much too them classics. On one side you have people who prefer IWW and Stillmatic over illmatic, and on the other side you have people who think the albums are mediocore and subpar. They're solid albums but not classic classic, and I know that using other people's opinions to formulate your own on the albums is a bad idea but it's when you have as much people with varying opinion on them than they're not classic.

As far as Andre, are you serious? His first four albums are classic, and two solid albums. I will say that Nas has a lot more album so it might even out, but still.

Same for De La Soul 4 consecutive classics.

Black Thought's weakest album was The Tipping point and the one last year, the rest are all pretty solid.

Ghostface has three classics, and no deuce minus Ghostdeini. Add in his numerous verses on OB4CL (It's practically his album as much as it's Rae), OB4CL2, 36 chambers, Wu forever and his material's undeniable.

Zion I, Blackalicious don't have an album to the level of Illmatic yes but they don't have an album on the level of Nastradamus.

OBL and K-os are the only ones with an inferior catalogue to Nas.

Nas didn't sacrifice his artistic integrity in ANY way, so how DID he sell out?

Nastradamus.

[mcZu]

But did you even listen to the actual album? The content hasn't changed one bit. lol

Nah, I was too busy pondering on the album title.

Word, is it Ghost's stream of consciousness that turns you away from his music?

Nah, his album covers turn me away.

[dead prez]

Lol, word. Ironman and Fishscale aren't bad covers though.

[ThomasJ]

As far as Andre, are you serious? His first four albums are classic, and two solid albums. I will say that Nas has a lot more album so it might even out, but still.

Wait, are we talking about the same Andre? lol

Same for De La Soul 4 consecutive classics.

Can't really argue with that, that's one of the best streaks in music history.

Black Thought's weakest album was The Tipping point and the one last year, the rest are all pretty solid.

The Roots have possibly THE best discography in hip-hop, I've said so myself on multiple occasions.

Ghostface has three classics, and no deuce minus Ghostdeini. Add in his numerous verses on OB4CL (It's practically his album as much as it's Rae), OB4CL2, 36 chambers, Wu forever and his material's undeniable.

Ghost is too...one-sided for my taste, but I can't deny the quality of Ironman, Supreme Clientele & Fishscale. Apollo Kids was dope too.

Zion I, Blackalicious don't have an album to the level of Illmatic yes but they don't have an album on the level of Nastradamus.

I'll get to that in a second.

OBL and K-os are the only ones with an inferior catalogue to Nas.

Nas didn't sacrifice his artistic integrity in ANY way, so how DID he sell out?

Nastradamus.

Nas didn't plan on releasing Nastradamus... Actually, Nas didn't plan on MAKING Nastradamus.

Check this out: https://www.notorious-makaveli.com/showthread.php/22595-Nas-I-Am...The-Autobiography-%28Original-Concept%29

[stillmatic]

I didn't really wanna get involved here because I was enjoying the debate, but seriously...Nas only has one classic?

Get out.

No really. Where ever you are, get out of the room shut the door on yourself. Sit outside for 5 minutes, think about it and come back in.

[mcZu]

Lol, word. Ironman and Fishscale aren't bad covers though.

Fishscale is probably his best cover ever, lol.

[dead prez]

Btw, I'm not a Nas hater and he's in my top 3, though my top ten fluctuates a lot. I still think Nas>>Eminem though.

I didn't really wanna get involved here because I was enjoying the debate, but seriously...Nas only has one classic?

Get out.

No really. Where ever you are, get out of the room shut the door on yourself. Sit outside for 5 minutes, think about it and come back in.

You don't think illmatic is a classic?

[ThomasJ]

Btw, I'm not a Nas hater and he's in my top 3, though my top ten fluctuates a lot. I still think Nas>>Eminem though.

I didn't really wanna get involved here because I was enjoying the debate, but seriously...Nas only has one classic?

Get out.

No really. Where ever you are, get out of the room shut the door on yourself. Sit outside for 5 minutes, think about it and come back in.

You don't think illmatic is a classic?

I'm sure he does. lol

But c'mon... Every Nas album besides I Am... & Nastradamus CAN be considered a classic.