There’s no doubt that Kendrick Lamar, Busta Rhymes, MF DOOM, and Common are some of the greatest rap artists of all time. But what about the early unsung talent Masta Ace? This early talent was surrounded by Juice Crew veterans, including Big Daddy Kane, Roxanne Shante, Craig G, Marley Marl, and MC Shan.
Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes is one of Hip Hop’s most unique and influential artists. His lyrics are funny, yet hard-hitting, which makes his songs very unique and recognizable. It is a rare feat to find a rapper who can rap both funny and hard at the same time. In the eighties, the rhyme schemes were predictable and aa bb, but Busta Rhymes’s lyrics and beat were something different.
Busta Rhymes has been around for decades, but rose to fame relatively quickly. Though he’s never won a Grammy, he was named the world’s best visual artist by MTV. His lyrics are razor-sharp, and he raps at high speed, using half-rhyme and internal rhyme. He has nine studio albums and 11 Grammy nominations to his name.
MF DOOM
One of the most innovative rappers of all time, MF DOOM is known for his use of punch lines and comic personas. He was originally known as Zef Love, and was a member of a Hip Hop group called KMD. After his brother died, Zef stepped away from rap and later resurfaced as MF DOOM. MF DOOM approached rap with an attitude of vendetta, and has been praised for his use of punch lines.
While DOOM is a legend of hip hop, his influence extends beyond the music scene. He has been mentioned by a number of other hip-hop artists, including Nas and Mos Def. And today, artists like Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler the Creator, Joe BADASS, and Capital STEEZ are following in his footsteps.
Common
If you are a fan of hip-hop music, chances are you have heard Common. The Grammy-winning rapper is a Chicago native, actor, and political activist. His songs have earned him a place among the top ten most influential rap artists. He has achieved mainstream fame thanks to his gold-selling albums. In addition to Common, other hip-hop artists worth mentioning include Ice Cube and Tupac. Both of these artists had limited commercial success, but their music has earned them high praises from fans.
Another great rapper is Lil Wayne. His albums have become platinum-certified, and his lyrics are often insightful and clever. His songs have become more popular than ever.
Ice Cube
Ice Cube is one of the most influential rappers of all time. He is best known for his rapping style that combines lyricism with story-telling skills. He is also considered a “brutally honest” rapper, whose lyrics are often political or violent. His albums have sold over 40 million copies in the United States alone. This success has led many to call him the greatest rapper of all time.
O’Shea Jackson was born in 1969 in South Central Los Angeles. His parents were Doris, a hospital clerk, and Hosea, a groundskeeper at the University of California. His cousins are Teren Jones and Craig Miller. He first developed an interest in hip hop music while he was in high school. He eventually went on to study architectural drafting at Phoenix Institute of Technology.
Aside from his work on hip-hop albums, Cube has also made an impressive career as a movie star. He made his cinema debut in 1991 with the film Boyz n the Hood, which was based on one of his rap songs. He subsequently wrote the popular comedy Friday, which established Ice Cube as a bankable movie star. In 1998, he also made his directorial debut with the film The Players Club. To date, he has appeared in forty films.
Jadakiss
Jadakiss is a hip-hop icon. He has been called the “top 5 dead or alive” rapper. In a recent UPROXX television show, he placed alongside Guru, Method Man, The Notorious B.I.G., Tone-Loc, Nas, and others. He cites a number of factors that made him such a great rapper.
Jadakiss is a hip-hop artist from Yonkers, New York. He was a member of the LOX group before he went solo. He met future LOX members Sheek Louch and Styles P while on the streets. The three of them teamed up to form the LOX group. The group made their debut with the single “Set It Off.” Puffy eventually signed the group to Bad Boy Records.
Jadakiss was born in Yonkers, New York, on May 27, 1975. He developed an interest in hip-hop while growing up. He started freestyling for money at age twelve. He met Styles P and Sheek Louch while freestyling.
Nas
Nas is arguably one of the best lyricists of all time, with some of his best albums reaching the top ten on the US Billboard 200 chart. His career has been marked by numerous Grammy Awards and numerous nominations, and he has released 11 studio albums. Many of his best-known singles have topped the charts, including “Whatever You Like” and “Live Your Life,” which he did with Rihanna.
During his illustrious career, Nas has cultivated and perfected his craft. He went from being a naive street disciple to being a vain, all-knowing sage. His evolution has made every release of his albums an occasion and pushed his career to new heights.
Nas has a storied discography that has inspired countless artists. His music has influenced a generation of rappers. He has influenced Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool, for example. And every album he has released has been certified gold or platinum. Moreover, Nas fought peak-form Jay Z in a rap war that would have ended many careers. Yet, despite the tense nature of the battle, Nas emerged the victor and has cemented his position as one of the greatest rappers of all time.
Nasir Jones
Nasir Jones is one of the most influential rap artists of the 1990s. His appearance on Main Source’s “Live at the Barbeque” changed hip-hop forever. He is a gifted poet, political firebrand, and self-taught trumpet player. He grew up in Queensbridge housing projects, where he was known by the nickname Kid Wave. His solo debut album Illmatic, released in 1994, was considered one of the best albums in hip-hop history.
Nas’ music is infused with a social and political message. He aims to change society’s mindset and encourages youth to work hard and achieve their dreams. He tries to spread a message of hope and change, even in the most unlikely places.
Nasir Jones was born in Queensbridge Houses and had a father who influenced his interest in hip hop. His parents separated when he was thirteen. His mother, Fannie Ann Jones, raised the two boys on her own. As a young boy, Nas dropped out of school and began selling drugs on the streets of New York. He later began reading about African culture and religion.
DJ Premier
For years, the world has looked up to DJ Premier to produce the best rap music. His productions have cemented his status as one of the most talented producers of all time. In the early 90s, he started recording at D&D Studios, which would eventually become hip hop’s most revered studio. His productions have been featured on classic albums by Nas and other artists.
DJ Premier’s most popular record is “Bring It On.” This song, produced by the legendary DJ Premier, features Nas, AZ, and Jaz-O. It was originally supposed to feature Jaz-O and Sauce Money, but they flaked out and did not appear. As a result, Nas’ Roc-A-Fella crew was enraged. This resulted in a lengthy feud between the two artists, which still continues today. Then, Premo reversed the track and used it to open Nas’ third album, “N.Y. State of Mind.” The result was a more reflective, melancholic record that is more reflective than the original.
As a producer, Premier worked with many artists throughout the 1990s. His most well-known collaboration was with MC Jeru the Damaja, which led to the release of “Rawkus.” In the late 90s, Premier continued to work on a variety of projects. He produced songs for rappers like Jay-Z and Mos Def on “Black on Both Sides.”
