best rapper alive today?

JUICY J

Jk but his songs are trippy AF...

 

Eminem is still sick no matter what people say. Kendrick Lamar is also 1 of my favorite rappers at the moment.

 

Eminem hands down

 

Macklemore, Chief Keef, 2 Chainz, Tyga.

 

You ust said 2Chainz and tyga PLEASE GTFO OF MY THREAD.

 

Hopsin

 

Warren G, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube (and N.W.A), Tech N9ne, Ces Cru, Rittz. All I can think of off the top of my head.

 

Juicy J, Dizzy Wright, Rockie Fresh, Joey Badass.

 

Snoop Dogg "reincarnated" to Lion every other good rapper is dead or signed to YMCMB (Busta Rhymes)....

Well Jedi mind Tricks

Immortal Technique

Raekwon.

 

Since you said jedi mind tricks and tech props to you, ain't seen anyone else mention both of em here yet sadly

 

My top 5 are Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler the Creator, Hopsin,Kendrick Lamar and Frank Ocean

These are not in order but my favourite rapper is Frank Ocean, I have loved him ever since his mix tapes back in 2007-8

 

This is incredibly difficult for me because I listen to A LOT of different rap music occurring within the past twenty years. For me this question is not so simple as who is the best, or the best alive. To me this question means more, who is alive right now that is currently PRODUCING the best material.. a lot of legends once produced amazing music and now produce mediocre records which is why artists like Nas and Eminem would not win in this SPECIFIC question. However, were this to fall to who has the best Hip-hop album or at any point in their career, who was the most lyrically undisputed then a lot of the legends like Nas and Em would be a more valid response. I'm not saying that Em and Nas have completely fallen off, but them and many artists like them being of a great past and a decent but not astounding rap present have lost relevance in this discussion as it, to me at least, is a discussion of who is the best out and producing as we speak, material worthy of this ultimate praise.

Due to the nature of this question and the various styles of hot hip-hop artists right now, both underground and mainstream, this question is going to generally impose opinion. That being said I will present you with my opinion, and try to back it up the best I can. I believe that the best rapper right now, falling to the standards I mentioned above, is Joey Bada$$ / Pro Era. These kids are straight lyrical FIRE, they don't always pack the layered metaphors that other underground crews throw around but their strength isn't residing solely in their ability to string metaphors and layer a verse. The strength of Joey Bad comes from a collection of features which I believe encompasses a true emcee and separates him and his crew from the rest that are out and about right now in the hip-hop community.

First off, lyricism and storytelling. The kid can paint a picture, it's a lot easier to fire off layered well-versed metaphors and assonance packages when blabbing about anything and switching subject matter every bar. A true emcee can go off on tangents but connect bars together and paint a picture of true purpose and substance, never simply leaving the meaning of the rhymes at "well, that dude really does have a lot of bitches" or "man he is nuts and would totally kill someone like a Relapse / Slim Shady LP Em or Oldschool Oddfuture / Big L". Aside from Joey and Pro Era's storytelling abilities they have something that MOST rappers out right now lack, PRESENCE. Even if you can spit like a sixth grader with a new set of braces, your forgettable if your presence and flow are weak. I'm roping flow and presence together because I believe presence encompasses flow as it defines who the rapper is and their ability to make or break a track. Pro Era and Joey Badass have presence like you wouldn't believe, particularly Joey. His voice is strong, clear and his flow allows him to mold together words that might feel awkward or out of place is spit by some but they are a lyrical Elmers Bottle with this kid. Lastly, Joey has mad potential. The kid has the entire rap game shook with million dollar offers from ROC Nation that he just fucking declines because he wants to honor his deceased boy, Steez and he wants to forward independent hip-hop. Now there's a kid who doesn't just want a fat stack of cheese and a few broads on his dick, he wants to further a MOVEMENT and make a POINT to the industry.. plus at only 18, he's got SO much room to grow, even more than he already has.

In terms of lyricism, presence, flow, purpose and potential, Joey Bad and Pro Era have the game locked down no challenge in my mind.

Keep in mind that my answer would be VERY different if I took this question as who is the best EVER at any point in time. I decided to take this question as who is the best right now, leaving out the old-time legends which I believe is a fairer area of discussion anyway as most people have their minds made up about the past and several legendary titans have stood in the rap game in the past and few come close to eclipsing their fame and influence. However, there have been some really tantalizing prospects lately and out of the upcoming crews and emcees I think Joey and Pro Era stand out the most for the reasons I mentioned above.

 

50 Cent
Tupac - Even though hes dead I still <3 his songs.

 

Thanks for the well written response yeah Pro era is takin shit over giving odd future run for their money

 

I'm really stoked for Joey's Freshman album. On the note of the response, it's good to see some solid hip-hop discussion going on here!

:laugh:

 

yeah bro yours was a good response, 1999 has been on replay on my phone got it from datpiff like day it came out , unorthadox is raw aswell another song to i've been listening to non stop can't think of the name right now , cap steez was the best but hes gone now R.I.P

 

It really sucks about Steez, I feel he was better than Joey and would have blown up had he not offed himself. In the end I suppose we all have our demons and his seemingly undiagnosed schizo was getting out of control. At any rate, best of luck to Joey and the crew, I hope they blow up and get the respect they deserve.. especially in making the ballsy move to go independent despite an enormous distribution offer from ROC Nation.

 

tyler the creator

are you sirious.

 

will i am

 

nigga stop playin lol. he can go make a nother song with britney spears