bigted

Eminem's the most overrated rapper in the history of the game to me 'cause he sold the highest among any other rapper ever while there's always been other rappers that were better than him, even when he was good when he first came out I never considered him one of the best, the amount of skills he has is average compared to the legends of the game, he's not the worst but he's nowhere near the best so he's the most overrated 'cause there's at least 25 rappers that deserve to have higher career sales than he's had....

I never got that book yet either but yeah I heard that he ranked Will #23 in his top 50, I think that was a couple years before "Lost and Found" came out so I think that the Fresh Prince's ranking would be a lil' higher if it was made now, I find it funny though that Kool Moe Dee put himself in the top 5 ahead of LL Cool J even though he hasn't put out an album since '94 and LL keeps putting out fire, it just seems like bitterness that his career hasn't been the same since that battle... I read on Wikipedia recently though that he is working on some kind of a comeback album... With not too much good music out these days I've been getting more into Kool Moe Dee's music catalog so getting the book is pretty high on my wishlist, he's a legendary mc that don't get enough credit, one of the most intelligent in hip hop history, a lot of his lyrics are positive and profanity free just like Will's... I found an interview from the Tavis Smiley show that's related to this book: http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200403/20040319_dee.html Thanks for bringing up this book in this thread, I could get this book this summer along with that "How To Rap" book I mentioned a couple weeks ago:

Even like I said many times with Will's "Lost & Found", there shoulda been more Jazzy than Freshman and it'd sounded a lil' bit better, LL should do more work with Marley and Rubin on the next album, Rakim should work with Eric B. again, that's why I'm excited about the new KRS album with Premo 'cause besides the "Hip Hop Lives" he did in recent years with Marley the production on his last few albums dragged down some of his lyrics, that's sorta been the problem for why some of the veterans ain't as popular as they used to be they need the production to stand out like their earlier classics...

All of the above, and Eminem???

If "Exit 13" is LL's worst album then he does have to be the G.O.A.T. 'cause there hasn't been that many mcs to make albums on that level, especially in recent times, artists forgot the art of how to make complete albums since they only do mixtapes, that "Return Of The GOAT" mixtape that LL did is superior as well so that shows you he could be even more versatile and beat todays rappers at their game.... "Exit 13"'s my favorite album since 2008 by anybody, it's rarely left the CD player since that time just like after "G.O.A.T." came out, it should've gone platinum and got a grammy award but there's been less people saying that he went soft since he released it so it did the purpose he intended to do you could say, he knows that he has enough hits already so like he said he's not trying to please the pop audience he's just trying to keep his respect so I think this next album could have the potential to be even better, he usually releases music every 2 years and that's the reason why it's so great, it's not that long of a wait but it's long enough where he could come out with quality... On another note lately I've been discovering more of his unreleased material over on Youtube, if he puts some of those tracks out on CD in between the wait of this new album that'd earn back more respect as well 'cause a lot of his underground stuff is that raw hip hop that the true heads always respected him for, I'm still dying to find some of those tracks he said he worked with Rick Rubin during the "10" era...

Well the way that I see it, I think LL's "Exit 13" album is an underappreciated album like "14 Shots To The Dome" and I think that he's due to comeback strong like he did when he came out with "Mr. Smith", you can never count him out, I found this article just now on SOHH.com check it, I'm ready for it: Rap veteran LL Cool J recently announced his intention to drop a follow-up to his "final" 2008 release, Exit 13. The rap pioneer said he's not going to rush the untitled record. "I will take my time, and if it takes two more years, it will take two more years," he said in an interview. "But it will be relevant for who I am at this point in my life as a human being. And those who want to hear it will be able to live with it and love it and those who can't appreciate it because it doesn't sound 'pop' enough, can absolutely ignore it. And I'm comfortable with that." (Hip Hop N More) Last July, LL hinted at possibly making a return to the rap game. "Two things, first of all, making albums is a way of expressing my creativity," LL explained. "So I can express my creativity through business. I can express my creativity through my clothing line. I can express my creativity through the different ventures I have. I still wanna do live music and I still do live concerts so people will see me on tour. I'm just not running around looking for a record deal like 'Please listen to my demo.' [laughs] Like right now, that's not what I want to do right now." ("The View") His last album, Exit 13, dropped in 2008 and marked his final release under Def Jam. The album title refers to the fact that this is LL's 13th album on Def Jam and the last on his contract. It's been a rocky relationship, with LL questioning some of Jay-Z's managerial decisions and claiming the label didn't properly promote some of his albums, but he says things are better now. "We're back on the same page, it feels great," says the MC, who has said he's glad that Jay-Z is no longer running the label. "It's my last record on the contract." (Rolling Stone) LL previously spoke with SOHH about the project's overall feel and how much of an impact 50 Cent had on the release. "50 is not executive producing the whole album be we did a whole album together and I used like four or five songs," he explained. "I didn't want to be '51 Cent.' I want to make sure that I was giving them L. God knows that the last thing I needed to do is wait 'til my 13th album and play son-son and all that." (SOHH) No further details have been revealed as of now.

I heard this album was leaked today and it's receiving a lot of positive feedback, I'm gonna give it a listen soon and see if it's worth the hype

Well they're both legends in my book, it's like Bill Russell and Michael Jordan in basketball

"Gangsta's Paradise" was my joint when I was in 5th grade, MEMORIES!!!

Nas "Nas Is Coming", btw rawad I was bumping the "Nutty Professor II" Soundtrack today with that Janet song on it

LL Cool J "You Know Why", another rare joint from around 2000, from the Ruff Ryders "Ryde Or Die" era http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgbcccfVH9o

Ice-T "Heartbeat"

Yeah it's just a name drop like he always did, that obviously ain't Game's best verse there

LL Cool J "Big Ole Butt"

Why does every rap album have to have Lil' Wayne on it?

That's right our top rappers tournament gave credit where credit was due

The Roots and Rhymefest albums are the only ones this month I'm checking for, most of these rappers are weak

SEATTLE -- In his prime, Ken Griffey Jr. was considered the best player in baseball, on pace to rewrite the record books. Injuries derailed his chance to become the home run king. His spot as one of the game's all-time greats is without question. Now relegated to part-time duty and with little pop left in that perfect swing, Griffey unexpectedly decided Wednesday night to retire after 22 mostly brilliant seasons. The Kid that once saved baseball in the Pacific Northwest with his backward hat, giddy teenage smile and unrivaled talent, had become a shell of the player who dominated the 1990s. Living Legend Mariners great Ken Griffey Jr. retired on Wednesday at the age of 40. He finishes his career with 630 homers, fifth on the all-time list. Here's a look: Player Homers Barry Bonds 762 Hank Aaron 755 Babe Ruth 714 Willie Mays 660 Ken Griffey Jr. 630 Sammy Sosa 609 The 40-year-old Griffey wasn't at Safeco Field on Wednesday. He simply released a statement through the Seattle Mariners -- the franchise he helped save in the 1990s and returned to for the conclusion of his career -- that he was done playing. Griffey said goodbye before Seattle played the Minnesota Twins after 13 All-Star appearances, 630 homers -- fifth on the career list -- and 1,836 RBIs. He's an almost certain first-ballot Hall of Famer. "While I feel I am still able to make a contribution on the field and nobody in the Mariners front office has asked me to retire, I told the Mariners when I met with them prior to the 2009 season and was invited back that I will never allow myself to become a distraction," Griffey said. "I feel that without enough occasional starts to be sharper coming off the bench, my continued presence as a player would be an unfair distraction to my teammates and their success as a team is what the ultimate goal should be," he said. There will be no farewell tour, just as Griffey wanted. He called Mariners team president Chuck Armstrong and said he was done playing. Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu called his players together before the start of batting practice to inform them of Griffey's decision. "To play with him is a treasure I will keep deep in my heart," Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki said through an interpreter. "I have played 19 years in professional baseball and I can say he was one of my best teammates and my best friend." “ On a day like this, it should rain in Seattle. ” -- Milton Bradley, after learning teammate Ken Griffey Jr. had retired Milton Bradley, Griffey's teammate for only a few months, turned to Mike Sweeney during batting practice and said, "on a day like this, it should rain in Seattle." After Wednesday's 2-1 win over Minnesota, Bradley was emotional speaking about his former teammate. "I hit left-handed because of Griffey. I wanted to play baseball, be an outfielder, make diving catches, style on a home run because of Griffey," Bradley said. "Guys like him don't come around every day. He's just as magical off the field as on it." The team put his number 24 in the dirt behind second base and showed a 5-minute video tribute to a standing ovation before the game. "It's a sad day for the Mariners, our fans, for all the people in the community that have loved Ken, admired him as a tremendous baseball player and a great human being," Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln said. "It's always tough for great superstars like Ken or anyone else to make a decision to retire. This has been his life for so many years, but he has made his decision and will support it. We will honor him in every way possible." MLB commissioner Bud Selig said: "Ken Griffey, Jr. will always be remembered for his picture perfect swing, for the grace in which he fielded his position, and for the youthful enthusiasm with which he played the game. He was one of the game's greatest players and is surely deserving of a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown. "Ken was and will continue to be a credit to the game and a role model for our children. I have always had great respect for him as both a player and as a young man. I wish the very best for him and his family." A star from the time he was the overall No. 1 pick in the 1987 draft, Griffey also played with his hometown Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox. He hit .284 with 1,836 RBIs. But his greatest seasons, by far, came in Seattle. Griffey played in 1,685 games with the Mariners and hit .292 with 417 homers, most coming in the homer-friendly Kingdome, and 1,216 RBIs. He won the AL MVP in 1997 and practically saved a franchise that was in danger of relocating when he first came up. More ESPN.com Ken Griffey Jr. walked away Wednesday night, but his retirement reminds us all he did for baseball and how he turned an entire region onto the sport. Story -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ken Griffey Jr. retired in the middle of the season. Why? He couldn't survive the impact of getting benched. Story Griffey returned to the Mariners in 2009 and almost single-handedly transformed what had been a fractured, bickering clubhouse with his leadership, energy and constant pranks. Griffey signed a one-year deal last November for one more season in Seattle after he was carried off the field by his teammates after the final game of 2009. He hit .214 last season with 19 homers as a part-time DH. He was limited by a swollen left knee that required an operation in the offseason. But the bat never came alive in 2010. Griffey was hitting only .184 with no homers and seven RBIs and recently went a week without playing. There was a report earlier this season -- which Griffey denied -- that he'd fallen asleep in the clubhouse during a game. The swing that hit as many as 56 homers in a season had lost its punch and Griffey seemed to understand his time was coming to a close. "Of course it surprised us. You never know what is in a player's mind. They debate things here and there and in this particular case Ken made his decision and there wasn't anything anybody could say," Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "You support him, you're behind him and again, he's a legacy in this community and certainly in the game of baseball." His career is littered with highlights, from homering in eight straight games to tie a major league record in 1993, to furiously rounding third and sliding home safe on Edgar Martinez's double to beat the New York Yankees in the AL Division Series in 1995. His first major league at-bat was a double and Griffey homered the first time he stepped to the plate at home. A year after making his big league debut, Griffey enjoyed one of his greatest highlights. Playing with his All-Star dad, Ken Griffey, they hit back-to-back home runs in a game for the Mariners. And during the steroids era, his name was never linked to performance-enhancing drugs, a rarity among his contemporaries such as Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire. "Junior was one of the finest young men I've ever had the opportunity to manage," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "When we were in Seattle together, I believe he was the best player in baseball and it was truly an honor to be his manager." Seattle catcher Rob Johnson watched Griffey in his prime while growing up in Montana. He then got a chance to claim a locker just a few feet away from Griffey's. "I think it's pretty easy for me to personally say he's the greatest player to ever play this game," Johnson said. "He did everything. He wasn't just a home run hitter. The guy played outfield as good or better than anyone ever played. ... To me he is the greatest player to ever live and to get a chance to play with him and to get to sit next to his locker is pretty special." Griffey also is regarded as the player who helped keep the Mariners in Seattle, a point Armstrong noted during an impromptu gathering just a few steps from the batter's box at Safeco Field. It was Seattle's unlikely late season playoff run in 1995, spurred by the return of Griffey from injury, that led to the construction of Safeco Field and the future security of a franchise rumored for years to be on the move. Once he left Seattle for the Reds, injuries began to take their toll and his production started to decline. Griffey's final hit, during his lackluster final season, was fittingly a game-winning pinch-hit single against Toronto on May 20. "He kept the team here. He drew people here because people wanted to see what he could do day to day," said Seattle first base coach Lee Tinsley, a former teammate of Griffey. "He was such a special player." The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Big Daddy Kane "The Day You're Mine" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RObOyHodMhg

I agree that this list is garbage, I would barely put 10 of these rappers mentioned here in my top 25, the only reason why I even care a lil' bit about this list is 'cause Will's on it

LL Cool J "Dear Hip Hop"

I agree with every word you said there, KRS-One said it best: "Mcs are just hopeless/Thinking record sales make them the dopest", personally I'm surprised that this idiot here didn't put Diddy on the list instead of Will...

R. Kelly "Step In The Name Of Love"

I find it disgusting to say the least though that weak rappers like 50 Cent and Lil' Wayne are in the top 10 while legends KRS and Rakim didn't even make the list but it is nice to see Will get some credit for a change: http://www.lasentinel.net/Part-2-Hip-Hop-Legends-Top-25-Rap-Stars-of-All-Time.html Written by Brandon I. Brooks (Entertainment Editor) , on 04-29-2010 17:25 Favoured 11 Hip - Hop Legends (Part II): Top 25 Rap Stars of All Time By Brandon I. Brooks Sentinel Entertainment Editor Last week the Sentinel put together a list of the 'Top 10 Rap Stars of All-Time.' Recap (visit www.lasentinel.net for article titled "Hip-Hop Legends: Top 10 Rap Stars of All-Time") 1.) 2Pac 2.) Notorious B.I.G. 3.) Jay-Z 4.) Ice Cube 5.) LL Cool J 6.) Snoop Dogg 7.) NAS 8.) Eminem 9.) 50 Cent 10.) Lil Wayne This week the Sentinel will continue the "hip-hop water-cooler debate" by completing the top 25 list (11-25). To recap, the Sentinel's top list was compiled with five categories in mind: 1.) Lyrical Content 2.) Popularity 3.) Swagger 4.) Sales (Sound Scan) 5.) Legacy I know many of you hip-hop junkies are angry that certain names didn't make the first cut so I would urge you to comment on our website (www.lasentinel.net) and let us know what your top 25 list would be. This week, the Sentinel (Entertainment section) website will feature special hip-hop polls based upon the current debate so I would urge you to vote log on and compare your answers with the Sentinel community. The "Hip Hop Legends" series will continue next week as the Sentinel will compile a list of the 'Top 10 Rap Groups of All-Time,' along with the 'Top 10 Hip-Hop Producers of All-Time." In the meantime, let us complete the hip-hop legends debates about who are the greatest rap stars of all-time. Let the arguments begin! Top 25 Rap Stars of All-Time (11 -25) 11.) Will Smith "The Fresh Prince" - Partnering with his childhood friend DJ Jazzy Jeff, the Fresh Prince took "crossing-over" to another level when he landed the hit sit-com "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air". No one could have dreamt that a friendly rapper from West Philadelphia would become the biggest and most sought after star in Hollywood. 12.) Eazy - E - Regardless if Eazy -E wrote his lyrics or not, he was the voice to get the point across. His legacy is defined as being the first true record executive and entrepreneur of hip-hop. Many critics forget that Eazy-E was the driving force behind Ruthless Records and the success of Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony. And don't forget he was the creative mind behind N.W.A., the greatest hip-hop group of all-time. Eazy went from Compton to the White House and never switched up. Who else could pull off a jerry-curl? I wish I could have seen Ronald Reagan'S face when Eazy came to the White House with his locs on. PRICELESS! 13.) Dr. Dre - Who else can put out an album every 10 years and receive the same hype as though he were fresh out of high school. Dr. Dre is to rap music as Mozart is to classical music. Every genre has its composer and Dr. Dre is hip-hop's orchestra. Who makes more timely and relevant records than Dr. Dre? He might not write all of his lyrics or compose every beat he co-sings, but the respect comes from the ear and the perfection a Dre song receives. 14.) Queen Latifah - Many people forget that Queen Latifah started as an emcee. It's funny because if you ask someone that doesn't know about her for her rap career, they would swear Queen Latifah was her actual government name. At age nineteen, Latifah hit the scene with her first album "All Hail the Queen" and gained national notoriety with her third album "Black Reign," which ultimately went gold. Representing for the ladies, Latifah became a force to be reckoned with as she started her own company Flavor Unit and is credited with discovering Naughty By Nature. She is an accomplished actor and public figure as she is a great role model for women of all colors. I mean who else could be the "face" of Cover Girl cosmetics and garner an Oscar nomination (Chicago) on her spare time. Respect the Queen! 15.) Master P - P's label name, "No Limit" proved to be more than just a slogan. Master P took a vision of an independent record label and turned a $10,000 investment into a multi-million dollar empire. At one point, Master P was putting out a new album every month and each project would go at least gold. The record deal P cut with Priority Records will never be given to an independent label owner because of how successful Master P became. He took the Scarface, Rap-A-Lot Records motto and made it make more CENT$! 16.) Scarface - Scarface is "The Godfather of Rap" if there was ever one. You can thank Scarface for the birth of southern hip-hop as he was the driving force behind one of the greatest rap groups of all time - Geto Boys. He is vital to hip-hop history because his label Rap-A-Lot Records proved to the industry that Independent rap labels can succeed with hip-hop music. 17.) DMX - DMX came in the rap game and left an imprint that will never be forgotten. His debut album "It's Dark and Hell is Hot" went four times platinum and paved the way for the Ruff Ryder crew. DMX like many great rappers was also a great actor and performer. The X-man crossed over to film and is best known in the hip-hop world for his role in the cult classic film "Belly," which also co-starred rapper NAS. 18.) Kanye West - Have you ever head of the "It" factor. Well, Kanye West has the "It" factor because all eyes are on him when he enters the room. This producer turned rapper has become one of the most well-known entertainers in any genre of music. He is most known for his outlandish public outcries, none more famous than the famous Taylor Swift award interruption. He has a unique fashion sense and continues to push the envelope for a culture that spreads beyond music. 19.) Busta Rhymes - Busta Rhymes is hands down the best live performer in rap history. If you haven't seen Busta Rhymes on stage than you haven't been to a rap concert. Don't get me wrong, it's cool to see someone like Jay-Z live and witness his professionalism but sometimes you just have to rock out. Busta Rhymes live, is constant pandemonium. There is nothing like witnessing Busta on-stage rocking out with his side-kick Spliff Star. Even if you don't like mosh-pit atmosphere, you will feel Busta Rhymes energy after listening to him spit a verse. 20.) T.I. - Sometimes it just your time to shine. T.I. is arguably one of the greatest rap stars of all-time because he calls himself "King" and no one has yet to challenge his statement. T.I. became nationally known with his second project "Trap Muzik" followed by "Urban Legend" which instantly put T.I. in the ranks with the greats. His slow flow and delivery are well received by fans and critics as he is coined as the "Jay-Z of the South." To further his assault on popular culture, T.I. has successfully crossed over to film. He is most known for his role in the Hollywood Blockbuster "American Gangster." 21.) Method Man - If there was ever a rap artist to appear in the dictionary next to the word "rapper," Method Man would be the logo for the sport. I feel like Method Man is to rap music, what Jerry West is to basketball. You always want to know what Method Man is up too or what he thinks. His opinion is validated by his rap career and his affiliation with the Wu Tang Clan. That's why Biggie Smalls and 2Pac both featured Method Man on their albums because Method Man validates the next rapper. That's how "real" he is in the rap world. Just ask Redman who made a career as Method Man's rap partner. The dynamic duo has become the "black Cheech and Chong." 22.) Too Short - If you are a true hip-hop junkie then you most definitely have some Too Short in your collection. Just ask Kendra, the PlayGirl from the hit series "The Girl Next Door." She even asked the legendary raunchy rapper to supply her with the introduction song to her hit reality series "Kendra." Too Short is most known for his raunchy and sexual lyrics. No word is known more from Too Short than the explicit word, "B****." He continues to be featured with the in-crowd of rap music and has basically become the "Pimp and Hoe Delegate". 23.) E-40 - E-40 is the most underrated rap star of all-time. No one truly understands how relevant he is and will always be to the culture. E-40 is THE SWAGGER of rap music. Many critics don't recognize that Notorious B.I.G. took his whole persona from E-40. His unique talk and terminology has spread around the world and back and affected all cultures. I mean who else can write their own dictionary (E-40's Book of Slang) and have it published. 24.) Big Pun - Big Punisher was the first Latino rapper to go Platinum (Capital Punishment). I still argue in many circles that Big Pun is the greatest lyricist to ever touch a microphone. His word play and cleverness were ahead of the rap game by 20 years. If you go back and listen to his classic album "Capital Punishment," you will hear a raw emcee with so much untapped talent. I hate to hate on Fat Joe but his career has been based on is the legacy of Big Pun (similar to Puff Daddy making a living on Notorious B.I.G.). Pun was raw with his delivery and unlike any rapper we ever heard or will ever hear in history. 25.) Ludacris - The best way to describe Ludacris is he is the "rappers, rapper." Luda is the guy that everybody loves to "bump." He can out rap the best of the best. I always tell people during hip-hop debates that Ludacris arguably has the best "delivery" of any rapper. Similar to Biggie Smalls delivery but with a Southern appeal, Ludacris has a way of rapping over any style of beat. His voice demands your attention and it's easy to remember his verses. Ludacris' cadence and style are beyond comparison for that reason alone. You remember his words. Ludacris is the only rapper who can be featured on an R&B song and sound better than the singer. He just knows how to blend-in.

with eminem improving and ice cube being on board, it looks more promising for "detox"