My man Q and his man Rizoh have a blog called Street Census (blogroll), that does a whole bunch of lists. I love the site, largely because I don’t think I’ve read a list that I agree with. Where would the fun be if I agreed all the time?
The other day, Rizoh did a list on the top 10 Southern emcees. I’d wanted to do a 25 on that, but I really didn’t have the time to do it and properly address all the more obscure people. I normally do lists by going through my itunes, but I know there are limitations, and that topic’s too crucial for me to get wrong.
So I’m going to go through ten of them.
10. Killer Mike. This is pretty high, considering I haven’t heard his second record, and the first was inconsistent. Might even be too high. The inconsistency on Monster was because of beats, though, not him. Mike’s got something in common with Bun-B–a decidedly Southern tone that’s unquestionably influenced by old school East Coast rap. Bun’s rhyming idol is KRS-ONE, and I’m inclined to believe that Mike’s is, too. In fact, Mike’s more of a Kris disciple, to my ear, because he’s more intense than Bun. The power, the ability to clearly spit every line, and the fearlessness that make Kris the best make Mike so good. There are very few things I’d want from an emcee that I don’t get from Killer Mike.
9. Big Gipp/Cee-Lo. I’m adding Cee-Lo to this because I’m not sure what to do with him. He can rhyme, best believe. Can jump on a beat and become a part of it. The problem? If you wanna offer smart-guy rap, you gotta be…smart. What has Cee-Lo really offered than simple-minded stuff that no one could disagree with? If he wants to make thought-provoking statements, he should be thought-provoking. And he’s not. Gipp’s far more interesting to me. He’s jumped from style to style and made each work, offered intelligent rhymes without making a point of how intelligent he was being, and proven that the most underrated cat on the cool pantheon is the country baller. I think Cee-Lo’s a more talented rapper than Gipp, but he ain’t quite as interesting. If I could combine them, that amalgam would be at #9.
8. Devin the Dude. I’m torn on this one. I enjoy him. A lot. But you wanna talk about someone without a lot to talk about? That’s Dev. But I’ll be damned if he hasn’t consistently found ways to make songs about little more than sex, weed and liquor entertaining. Seriously, how does he do this? I should have been bored with him three years ago. Instead, I love Waitin’ To Inhale. How in the world has he pulled this off?
7. Lil’ Wayne. As born to do this as anyone’s ever been. Has any other rapper been as good as he was as a child–as far as we think–and become this good as an adult? He knows how to flip words, has an incredible gift for metaphor, and a confidence on the mic you just can’t teach. So why only at 7? I don’t think he’s ever given me anything to think about. Not a single thing. Great stuff for enjoying, but little beyond that.
6. T.I. Yeah, he’s young. But he’s given us four straight very good-to-classic records, and he’s done so with a style that pays homage to histor while forging new ground. He’s as smart as they come and might have the best ear for beats out there. He knows how to construct an album. More than anything, he’s created a complex persona that compels me to keep listening to find out where he’s going to end up.
5. Juvenile. This was the omission from Rizoh’s list that made me do my own. He did one of the records that changed the course of hip hop–400 Degreez, which I think is the record that truly began the Southern infusion into the mainstream. He’s got one of the greatest voices ever, a way with words that’s like no one else, and a thought process that isn’t often heard. I don’t agree with him, but the idea that people who don’t do whatever they have to do to get out of poverty are too concerned with appearances is something I had to give some consideration to. It’s one of the most compelling responses to poverty that I recall hearing, even though it’s not rocket science. And that’s what Juve brings–insight.
4. Bun-B. The tricky thing with Bun is that he’s only got one solo record that, in terms of his performance, pales in comparison to everything he did with UGK. It’s good, but he never let loose in the way that made him legendary. So creative with rhyme schemes, so confident, such a broad frame of reference, and an incredible ability to jump on any beat and wreck it. Also–and this is irrelevant to this evaluation–the best interview I ever did. God bless you if you get the chance to talk about music with Bun, and you’re the king if you can interview him as well as Jon Caramanica did. Probably my favorite interview ever with a rapper.
3. Andre 3000. Name a rapper that’s ever commanded your attention from start to finish more consistently than Dre? I can’t. But I can’t put him over the next man on this list…
2. Big Boi. Yeah, over Andre. It’s no longer a debate for me. Who’s better at his best? Andre, without question. He just overpowers tracks in a way that I don’t think anyone has ever been able to be. But what sets Big Boi over Andre is the fact that he’s the smarter of the pair. Andre’s got great ways with words and can drop the perfect metaphor at the right time, but Big Boi’s offering more food for thought underneath the prettiness on top. There’s nothing he can’t talk about. He’s also the best since Big Pun at rapping about sex, which is a noteworthy point. It’s not like it’s a breakaway victory for Antwan, but he gets it over Dre. And I’m not just saying that to be contrarian.
Oh, and he never left us to make an average R&B album.
1. Scarface. There wasn’t even a question on this one. He’s the godfather of the modern storyteller, the man that provided the blueprint for the grittier, unromantic East Coast gangster records of the mid-’90s, and the man with the greatest artistic longevity in the game (LL doesn’t count since he sold out so blatantly). Three classics as a solo rapper–Mr. Scarface is Back, The Diary, The Fix–one spectacularly underappreciated album–Last of a Dying Breed–and a pioneering track record with the Geto Boys. And to top it off, there’s probably no rapper more respected by more of his peers than Brad Jordan. He’s the best from the South and, unquestionably, one of the greatest of all-time.
Missed the cut: Ludacris, Phonte Coleman, Eightball, MJG (tough one for me), TDD, Bubba Sparxxx, Mystikal (real tough), Chamillionaire (check back in five years), and a few others
20 thoughts on “Top 10 Southern Emcees”
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Wow, yeah, Devin and K-Mike over 8-Ball & MJG? C’mon Bo.
And what’s 3000’s average at best R&B album? The Love Below? Or did I miss something?
I just can’t get over Devin The Dude.
I’d have more to say, but again, I’m drunk.
Thanks for sharing that Bun interview. Enjoyed every word of it. Plus, after the interview, B finally got a shot at outrapping 3000 and pretty much delivered.
No problems with your list, other than I still don’t get Devin at all.
Wow. Killa Mike over Ball and MJG? I don’t know man, but the rest are pretty solid.
Good list…I am working on a Top 50 list myself…with another blogger.
Your Bun-B ranking inspires me to check more of his discography. I seem to have underestimated him.
Out of Curiosity…Skillz from Virginia?
I’d agree with Killer Mike over 8 Ball, but MJG at his best is sick.
I’d take Khujo over Cee Lo. Cee Lo used to be a very good rapper, but he has always had moments of wackness. I can’t listen to half of his stuff.
Devin gets away with his content because he brings a freshness and sense of humor to the tropes. It’s the same way that good blues can not break any thematic ground, but still be good or good R and B can be little more than “Baby, I’m sorry,” “Baby, I love you,” or “Baby, you hurt me.”
I have just two more words about Devin’s greatness: “Briar Patch.”
I’m not a big fan of Wayne or Juvenile.
If D.O.C. counts, he was better than half of the rappers on the list.
For purposes of this discussion, those VA cats don’t count. Largely because they don’t want to count.
Either way, Skillz gets a “no.” Great punchlines, though.
Speaking of VA, The Clipse are better than the younger members of this list, but I don’t think they should count; they don’t really see themselves as Southern, so…
Oh, and I’m not sure what to do with the Diggy Doc. It don’t get much better than No One Can Do It Better.
not quite the list I would have made, but not far off. Bonus points for Gipp because he’s Joe Gillam’s son (go steelers)
Gipp, Joe Gillam’s son? I just thought he was Joe Gillam’s daughter’s baby daddy/ex-husband or something….
Man, Bo, you know we had our own discussions on this. You know I’ve said “All hail Brad Jordan” on more than one occasion. Face can sell out anyplace in the South just off the stuff he did prior to “The Untouchable” album.
Still, the two greatest concerts of all time were Springfests at Southern when one year you had Outkast and Ball-n-MJG..the next year it was UGK and Face. Classics mane…That was 97 and 98 respectively…
Mystikal (who is right now a client in the Louisiana Department of Corrections’ Elyan Hunt facility in St. Gabriel, La.) should be up for a parole hearing this summer. “Here I Go” and “The Man Right Chea” sounds brand new to me even when I hear it now. Dude was intense on those tracks.
But Bo, I understand your Killa Mike ranking, but Devin’s my Boise State of this poll (the non-power conference school that gets that 1 vote in the poll). Hell, he told us from the jump “I smoke weed/I drink brew/Shit, that’s all I rap about because that’s all that I do” on the Devin the Dude album (great for riding around).
since I’m from Louisiana, I gotta say Wayne/Weezie F. Baby is scattershot to me. Some tracks he come down hard on it, others he just lazy. Juve, better than Wayne, but has the same tendency.
But still Bo, arguably the three greatest Cash Money songs were 1. the title cut to 400 Degreez, 2. Uptown Thang by BG and 3. The Blockburner by an allegedly 13-year old Lil Wayne.
Before I go…I don’t care what anyone say, Bun has the greatest verse in all of Southern rap music history…his verse on Murder….
No Kilo Ali? Dude should be up at like, #3 or something.
Leave it up to a Texan to put Scarface and Bun-B at the top of the list. I havent heard enough of them to agree or disagree
I’m from the A, so I’ve probably heard more Killa Mike than most people responding to this blog. He might deserve a higher ranking than ten based on his underground and unreleased tracks.
Sad to see Project Pat ommitted from this list. If you can get past his comical delivery, he has a lot to say.
damn Vic,
I forgot about Kilo Ali….who can forget his “seminal” underground hit “Love in Ya Mouth”
I am from Oklahoma, by way of Cali and let there be no doubt that Face is well deserving of that #1 spot. Quiet as kept I think that he is a Top 10 all time MC. Brad has the flow, lyrical content and the realness. Bun & Pimp as UGK make up in my opinion Top 5 groups all time as well.
Well this Bun-B bitch and I’m the king
I’m movin’ chickens got ’em finger lickin’
Stickin’ nigga’s who be trippin’
You need a swift kickin’ yo azz is right for the pickin’
Now down as my pocket’s stickin’
I be thinkin’ nigga’s slippin’ you sick
When I be clickin’ now take a look at the
Bigger nigga Marl liquor swigger
Playa hata ditch digger figure
My hair trigger you bound one hot one in yo liver
You shiver shake and quiver
I’m free from nigga you wetter den a river
For what it’s worth it’s suburblous some nigga’s doin’ dirt
Fuck her first and take off her skirt
Make the pussy hurt Mister Master
Hit the Swisha faster then you keep a
Blister bastard fuck her sister faster
Hit the elbro for sale yo
Brother better have my mail hoe
Before I catch a murder case and go to jail hoe
Hell no, time to bail hit the trail so
We can sell mo fuckin’ yell get the scale
No other bullet duck or get shoved
Inside this game they better buck us
Cuz the clucker’s they love us
Make them class dick suckers
Check they jelly like smoker’s
I hit like nun-chuckers
Cuz Short Texas bring the rukus
This for my muthfucker’s
Cookin’ cheese to crooked geez
Rockin’ up quarter key’s
Just to get the hook with ease
Wanna bee’s get on yo knee’s
Fill the squeeze from them HK one three’s
>From here to over sea’s
We do what we please
No trip cuz we flip
Light up a dip
I’m breakin’ ’em off from they hip to yo lip
Go ask that boy Skip
That nigga Bun rip
With one clip, soon as the gun slip
Now I done ripped out my Barile
Flyin’ through yo belly belly and
Some smelly red jelly is drippin’ out of ya belly
Servin’ ’em like a Deli jumped on my cellular telli
Hoe sell it like it’s goin’ out of style
You can’t see me Marcus so have a
Motherfuckin’ Sweet and smile
1. Killer Mike, who I have tremendous respect for, is a little high. Especially considering those who didn’t make it.
2. Cee is a little Lo. (OK, that was bad.) He’s gotta crack the Top 5.
3. Same for Wayne. He’s a beast. He’ll be top five ever when it’s said and done, a la Kobe Bryant.
4. The Love Below as an “average R&B album” is ludicrous like Chris Bridges. (Ok, that was even worse)
5. MJG and Ball have got to be included somewhere.
6. As much as I don’t like him, same for Ludacris.
7. Shout out to Fred Batiste for the hilarious comment re “Love in ya Mouth”. Haaa!!
Snubbin Luda like that really isn’t cool or indicative of sound judgment. This guy helped put ATL on the map. Incognegro, Back for the First Time, Chicken n Beer, C’mon! Luda is the fuckin truth!
Big Boi is profound because of lines like “I rap about the presidential election and the scandal”. He is a true Southern Genius.
What about young bleed though.
Wow people… there’s only room for 10 emcees…
If Young Bleed, Ludacris, 8-Ball, MJG, Kilo Ali (who? what?) and whoever else aren’t in the Top 10, it means they’re 11, 12, 13, or whatever…
i’m late. blame it on the rain. three things:
1. wtf? no mjg? seriously, bo? seriously?
2. cee-lo is smart – he articulates the “obvious” in such a way that it becomes actually obvious i.e. hear-able and understandable by other people who would actually be considered not so smart – and there’s TONS of ’em!
3. luda should never be in the top 10 southern MCs list…
I agree wit this list a lil bit mayb a couple chnges, but it’s tuff to leve mjg out. & yeah bun-b solo joint hd nothng on his lyrical skills wit the ugk albums(chck out ridin dirty album) 1 guy thts always slept on to me is willie d. he gts credit as a membr of the geto boys, but d hd sme nice lyrics & his words r food 4 thought.