Which one do you think matters more when it comes to an MC's greatness?

Alot of people try to knock Big Pun, Eminem, and Big L in "Top 5" discussions based on the fact that they don't have any "classic" albums per say. But my thing is, if they are making you go "daaaaaaaaaammmn" every other bar with crazy multies, flows, and metaphors...doesn't that mean just as much?

Classic albums have moreso to do with production, catchy songs and choruses, concepts and w/e. I mean.......there are some rappers who have albums that are considered "classic"by many people  that I wouldn't necessarily put in the Top 10 Greatest MCs....(Snoop, Dre, Juvenile, 50, etc). It doesn't take being a "great" MC to make a classic album. but it does take one to string bars together the way guys like Em, Pun, and L did. "Infinite" and "Lifestylez of Da Poor and Dangerous" might not have been the most complete albums in history but in terms of lyricism, there are tons of spectacular and quoteable verses. That says somethin IMO.

Jan 3, 2009 -- 7:38AM, TheKnowledge wrote:

Which one do you think matters more when it comes to an MC's greatness?

 

Alot of people try to knock Big Pun, Eminem, and Big L in "Top 5" discussions based on the fact that they don't have any "classic" albums per say. But my thing is, if they are making you go "daaaaaaaaaammmn" every other bar with crazy multies, flows, and metaphors...doesn't that mean just as much?

 

Classic albums have moreso to do with production, catchy songs and choruses, concepts and w/e. I mean.......there are some rappers who have albums that are considered "classic"by many people  that I wouldn't necessarily put in the Top 10 Greatest MCs....(Snoop, Dre, Juvenile, 50, etc). It doesn't take being a "great" MC to make a classic album. but it does take one to string bars together the way guys like Em, Pun, and L did. "Infinite" and "Lifestylez of Da Poor and Dangerous" might not have been the most complete albums in history but in terms of lyricism, there are tons of spectacular and quoteable verses. That says somethin IMO.

Co-sign... I don't think Eminem for example has a classic album in my opinion, they are always ruined by the songs about his daughter or his wife, but based on skill alone he definetely needs to be considered top 5, at least alive... Dude is a beast... Same for Pun and L of course... 

But it needs classic albums to be considered the GOAT!

Jan 3, 2009 -- 10:30AM, respekanize91 wrote:

First of all Pun's first cd is a classis album and the Marshall Mathers LP is also a classic album..but as far as lyrics go i would say that classic lyrics are more important to me cause some of my favorite verses of all time are from rappers that wouldnt even be in ur top 10 and dont have any classis albums...But to defend classis albums you need lyrical content to keep the listener focused so you cant have a classis albums without some classic lyrics in there

yeah. which is why i put it in quotations because the term "classic" is totally subjective. but for the most part, Em and Pun don't have any albums that are widely considered classics by many people.