In no order for me...

Ghostface (TRY to tell me he doesn't belong. TRY.)
Ludacris (Seriously though.)
Jay-Z ( )
Slug (This should create some arguments.)
Nas (I mean he belongs but I don't know. If Q-Tip were still more relevant I'd have him here instead.)
Andre 3000 (I am confident in this rather than Nas. It's subjective anyway.)

lupe
lupe
lupe
lupe
kamala

dylan
dylan
dylan
dylan
dylan

winner

Jay-Z
Nas
Lil Wayne
Ghostface
Bun-B

You really think Weezy is that high up? I'd put someone like Guilty in a top 5 before him. Then again I mostly just hear so many lackluster Weezy verses that I never want to give him a chance. Trog, recommend mixtapes or whatever to get me to appreciate him.

He's always better on other people's songs, but Da Drought 3 rules if you have never heard it.

DAMMIT. Beat me to it.

Eminem
Xzibit
Nas
Jay Z
Dre


You know nothing about rap if you don't agree.

Xzibit?

Chuck D
Chali 2na
Aesop
Tech N9ne
Eminem

He used to be a well respected rapper and is pretty fucking great at freestylin'. He wasn't always "ticking out" cars.


Tech n9ne is a good choice too.

Xzibit and Tech N9ne is lulz.

k

backpacks and juggalos ITT

i mean, i like tech n9ne and everything but you can't be serious saying top five emcees alive?

Talent-wise? Sure. I wish he'd stop writing about 151 rum all the time but he's a monster on the mic.

Hell, I'd toss Ludacris up there too if he'd actually write a serious album instead of everything about money and bitches. That guy has one of the most powerful voices of all, he just doesn't know his own talent. I like the guys with the unique voices, as all 5 guys I listed you know from the first word they say.

I definately would put Luda on there over Tech N9ne, rapping fast doesn't really make rapping well.

See, but I feel like Luda can do that and get away with it because he's...Luda. I think he's in a different niche than other 'money, bitches & blunts" rappers because he's the guy who'll buy the bar out some random Tuesday night or something. It's like when Jay-Z raps about being the man. He can do it because he is. I agree he has a powerful and unique voice, but I disagree and think he is using it to nearly his full potential.

As for Weezy, I just listened to New Orleans Nightmare 9 mixed by DJ White Owl earlier today and it was sick.

Anyone want to talk producers?

I wish I could understand the Weezy love. I tried listening to the Carter II when it came and couldn't even make it through the whole album. The only Weezy track I really dig is "I'm Me."

As for top 5:

Jay-Z
Ghostface
Rakim (and this is pretty ehhh, I think I'm only putting him on here because's he's still alive, not because he's been putting out quality material, not that what he's been doing lately is bad, haven't really listened to enough of it)
Eminem

Can't really say who'd I put for the last spot. I'm having a hard time seperating rappers I really like from overall skill. I mean, I love Method Man but I dunno if he deserves to be top 5.

"And I know that ain't fair, but I don't care. I'm a mofuckin' cash money millionaire."

Rakim is a legit choice. By your reasoning I'd put Q-Tip there over him though. Whatever.
Eminem really needs to release his new LP before I could even consider him.

I could give a fuck less about any mainstream producers anymore, because they put out one hot beat and then they all sound the same after that. Swizz Beatz is a perfect example.

Well some mainstream cats do good stuff. I like pretty much I've heard Swizz Beatz do but it's never blown my mind. Like, all of Timbaland's prouduction is good I think. Kanye does a good job, too. And aside from the mainstream we don't need to go into how good Dilla was or how good Premo and Oh No are or whatever. But we should.
Also, I've really been hitting the Weezy mixtapes hard lately. At first I just wanted to make sure I didn't think he was that good but now I just love his stuff.

Jay-Z
Nas
Guru
Raekwon(fuck you)
Juicy J(fuck you x2324)