ummm.
first i'll base this off of sales or media exposure...
#1. all time would have to be a tie between PAC and EM...i say that because they both will regardless of the circumstances and the trouble they are in.
#2 also another tie between SCARFACE and JAY-Z, both have had very long careers, plus they both have made classic albums, and have a very strong presence within the media and on their own record sales.
#3 i probably would have to go with LL COOL J, not because i think anyone including myself listens to him here(i could be wrong), but the muthafucka been doin this for a long time, and he always goes gold or platinum.
#4 Snoop Dogg, not ever would consider him as far as lyrics go, but the man has the charisma for the media and makes good "RADIO" music, it can't be denied...
#5 Eric Sermon pretty much the same as LL, but not quite the sales that LL gets off of most of his albums, but Eric usually puts out quality music.
ok...now for Lyrics...this means words, not just the words you hear, but the context in which they presented, also i take into account, the level of the lyrics within the enitre album, not just on one song. i also only consider an artist that has three or more SOLID albums
#1 another tie except this one is a threeway...EM, SCARFACE, BUSTA RHYMES...i know, some people won't agree, but this assesment does not mean any of the three are the absolute greatest of all time, there can be no one winner. I chose these three based on 3 albums, the level at which they have risen over the course of their careers, and that all three remain true to what each raps about.
#2 another tie...NAS, JAY-Z, COMMON...all three are respectable(doesn't mean you have to like their music), but they all write well and make on the average quality albums, or they have rebounded from a sub-parr album and have bounced back.
#3 another tie...KRS-1, REDMAN, KURUPT...all three will be considered greats one day, but i don't think they will ever be able to be considered in the same brackets as the first 2 sets above them, but time will tell, KRS-1 is a master on the mic, but his delivery and sound, plus production has always been laciking to me. KURUPT has the chance to advance up higher if he can make quality albums, not so much about bangin, and women and the LA scene, which is getting really old to hear, he has the talent, but needs to extent his vocab to other issues.
#4 another tie...MAC MALL, E-40, TECH N9NE, these three are really good, probably better than some of the others ahead of them on the mic, but quality is always an issue with these guys, one album will be decent the rest allright, they all have one classic album, but never could rekindle the fire that made them household names. TECH N9NE has done that with his last album, so will see how far he can go.
#5 PAC...i know some of you are gonna curse me to death, but to be honest with myself i can't rate him that high, his one purely epic album that defines who he is, is the 7 DAY THEORY album. which by all means will go down as one of the top 10 albums of all time. but his other albums especially his early albums were average at best. i'm not knockin his delivery, or his emotion, which besides EM will be the best of all time, but his lyrics were never anything special, BIGGIE would have murdered PAC on the mic, and if you think otherwise, you only fooling yourself. Ilove PAC also, but i'm not to blind to think that others couldn't wipe him off the floor with a mic
example PAC vs EM
both show emotion in their lyrics
both have troubled pasts and within the media
both have sold millions of copies
both have had solid production for the most part
but
EM murders PAC on the mic, period, can't be denied...EM has sold more records...EM has had a bigger impact on the record industry that PAC did, regardless if he is white or not, he is the better rapper overall....
let me ask a serious question:
a one time battle PAC vs EM, you have your last $100 dollars to your name, and you have to bet on a winner. you win you live, you lose and you lose you money and you life...who do you bet on?????
i bet on EM, and i think we all realistically know why...