Lets dig a little deeper here. There are many talented and beyond legendary hip hop artists and Emcees. All in all, there is only your view and opinion and who has inspired you. If you wanna flame about it, your posts will be deleted cuz this is about inspiration, coming together and what has touched your life thru the ups, downs and bends...Peace and Blast off...OneLove
Lupe Fiasco, Common, J. Cole, Nas, KnowMads, Common Market....all because they spit conscious lyrics that mean something to them and relate to the real world. They music because they love it and for no other reason. That's inspirational to me
Hands down, Tupac inspires me the most of all. Not only did his music sound good, but they all were deep and meaningful. He will always be respected in my eyes. He went through shit that he did not deserve, such as a rape charge that he did not commit, he went through SO much shit man. He fought through all the bullshit he went through and was always down to die as long as he stood up for himself. Tupac is truely, a one of a kind rapper.. R.I.P pac
kinda what Cberry said... Nas and Lupe transcend other rappers. I listen to hip-hop because it's poetic, thoughtful, and because sick flow just inherently sounds good. These rappers do all three. I really dig their individual personas as well. Nas is one part thug three parts street sociologist. Lupe is a nerdy karate kid who makes thoughtful rhymes and has some flow. Basically, I dig their rhymes, their thoughtfulness, and their personas. There are others who are great. Tupac, Biggie, and lots of newer talent hold a place in my heart. I just think people like Nas set the standard higher. Biggie and people make excellent and forever re-listenable songs. I can dig the passion and emotion that Tupac poured into his work. However, I think of Nas or Lupe as breakthroughs. They up the game by bringing intellect to the mic. But enough dick riding for now.
Nas, everyone of his songs paints such a vivid picture in my mind, even without the help of our little friend. Of all the top rappers, Nas definitely is on the top of the top when it comes to lyrics.
YouTube - Jehst & Sonnyjim (UK) LIVE freestyles on Top Billin' Jehst is on point in my view, soul, conscious, and his flow comes correct... YouTube - Aesop Rock - Labor Yeah, Aesop hits home, his intelligence, flow, politics, suffering, trials, tribulation and hard work...RESPEKT
I know mainstream is frowned upon but that's more up my alley, so I would have to say Eminem, without a doubt. I just love how he is so sincere in his lyrics and puts his entire being into his songs. And I know he's not popular on here but I love the way Lil Wayne appeared out of nowhere one day and now dominates everything. I just don't forsee him runnin out of words to spit for a loooooooooong time.
YouTube - Nas - Illmatic - Represent One of my MANY NAS FAVES... but this is how I grew... str8 thru...
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0qujGefqR4]YouTube - Knowmads - Sunrise[/ame] Just listen and enjoy
YouTube - The Pharcyde - Pack the Pipe Missing Hip Hop artists...if anyone has seen these kids call grass city central at 888-SOUL-LEDGENDS
Eminem because I've been listening to him since I was 5 years old and his music's always been important to me (although I don't care as much for his new stuff sadly). I guess I've just identified with his lyrics. A few songs, and even just some lines from Lil Wayne really inspire me. Songs like "I feel like I'm dying". and "me and my drank", "Will somebody please please double cup me And everybody please please don't judge me" love that line. I totally understand why people would say artists like Lupe, Nas, and Tupac though.
YouTube - Electric Relaxation by A Tribe Called Quest Smooth and sane for those less edgy daze... A.T.C.Q holds it down in the roots of hip hop, but we can always go deeper and further back in time. "It has to do with with lots of lovin and it ain't nothing nice"
YouTube - Cowboy Bebop AMV: UNKLE - Guns Blazing (feat. Kool G Rap) [VOTING CLOSED] Kool G Rap... this is with Unkle...don't make me get all Public Enemy on yur ass...
Tupac for me too. I grew up listening to him, All Eyez on Me was one of the first albums I ever bought. My mom always gave me shit for listening to rap because of all the cursing It's just pure nostalgia for me, when I listen to Pac these days all those memories come rushing back. Besides his music, he stayed real even after he made it big. And he could explain why he did what he did, he was eloquent and he never forgot where he came from. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWn4pomYbJg&feature=related]YouTube - 2pac RARE Interview with MTV **Full Interview** with Abbie Kearse[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVevJk-K6As]YouTube - 2pac - Christmass interview[/ame]