Part 1 (New York)
I made up a list of the ten greatest rap groups from by region: New York, West Coast, and South. I didn't include groups with only one rapper, which explains why you won't find Eric B and Rakim or Gangstarr in this section. Also, I decided not to include Run DMC or Public Enemy in the New York list. This is because, no matter how "important" these groups are, I don't really listen to their music that much. It's pretty arbitrary, though. If you don't like it, tough shits.
10) Black Moon- Enta Da Stage is a really good album. Buckshot has an awesome flow and the album has some solid as hell early nineties New York beats. The subject matter is not exactly diverse, which is why they are at the bottom of the list.
9) EPMD- Included more for their beats than their rhymes. Like are like PE and Run DMC in that I appreciate them more for their importance and originality than the enjoyability of their music, but I included them because I felt like I could get away with putting them low on the list, which is not the case with the other two.
8) M.O.P.- They always come hard, and have not fallen of (yet). Being with Ghey-Unit might ruin them. Oh well.
7) Capone-N-Noreaga- Hella street cred. I mean, they met in prison, then Capone went back north in the middle of recording their first album. And they call out the guy who dropped a dime on him in the liner art. Noreaga has since become ridonkulous, but The War Report stands the test of time as a classic example of grimmmmy New York thuggery.
6) Diplomats- I wanted to put them higher. Despite their inconsitency, they are one of the most exciting things happening in rap right now. If they trimmed some fat (SAS, Jha Jha, et al) and showed a hint of disgression in their beat choices, they would be the shit. Actually, they already are.
5) KMD- I don't have much to say about them. Check them out if you haven't already- they made some very original music in the early nineties. Kind of like the Native Tongues, but without the corny afro type stuff.
4) Mobb Deep- I know that they have no legitimacy left after the Vibe interview. But Havoc is one of the best producers of the New York grimey sound, and Prodigy used to be able to rap. Shook Ones, Pt II is one of my all time favorite songs, in spite of its unintentional irony.
3) A Tribe Called Quest- Their first three albums are all amazing, and each one improved on the last one. Q-Tip and Phife had some really good chemistry, and the beats were did their job perfectly. Important, and still fun to listen to.
2) De La Soul- So many classic songs. Still making good music. One of the funniest rap groups ever.
1) Wu-Tang Clan- Best album ever. Some of the best rappers ever, backed by one of the best producers ever. Perfect chemistry.
I made up a list of the ten greatest rap groups from by region: New York, West Coast, and South. I didn't include groups with only one rapper, which explains why you won't find Eric B and Rakim or Gangstarr in this section. Also, I decided not to include Run DMC or Public Enemy in the New York list. This is because, no matter how "important" these groups are, I don't really listen to their music that much. It's pretty arbitrary, though. If you don't like it, tough shits.
10) Black Moon- Enta Da Stage is a really good album. Buckshot has an awesome flow and the album has some solid as hell early nineties New York beats. The subject matter is not exactly diverse, which is why they are at the bottom of the list.
9) EPMD- Included more for their beats than their rhymes. Like are like PE and Run DMC in that I appreciate them more for their importance and originality than the enjoyability of their music, but I included them because I felt like I could get away with putting them low on the list, which is not the case with the other two.
8) M.O.P.- They always come hard, and have not fallen of (yet). Being with Ghey-Unit might ruin them. Oh well.
7) Capone-N-Noreaga- Hella street cred. I mean, they met in prison, then Capone went back north in the middle of recording their first album. And they call out the guy who dropped a dime on him in the liner art. Noreaga has since become ridonkulous, but The War Report stands the test of time as a classic example of grimmmmy New York thuggery.
6) Diplomats- I wanted to put them higher. Despite their inconsitency, they are one of the most exciting things happening in rap right now. If they trimmed some fat (SAS, Jha Jha, et al) and showed a hint of disgression in their beat choices, they would be the shit. Actually, they already are.
5) KMD- I don't have much to say about them. Check them out if you haven't already- they made some very original music in the early nineties. Kind of like the Native Tongues, but without the corny afro type stuff.
4) Mobb Deep- I know that they have no legitimacy left after the Vibe interview. But Havoc is one of the best producers of the New York grimey sound, and Prodigy used to be able to rap. Shook Ones, Pt II is one of my all time favorite songs, in spite of its unintentional irony.
3) A Tribe Called Quest- Their first three albums are all amazing, and each one improved on the last one. Q-Tip and Phife had some really good chemistry, and the beats were did their job perfectly. Important, and still fun to listen to.
2) De La Soul- So many classic songs. Still making good music. One of the funniest rap groups ever.
1) Wu-Tang Clan- Best album ever. Some of the best rappers ever, backed by one of the best producers ever. Perfect chemistry.
