Cordless microphone used by Rakim to record The 18th Letter (1997)Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
For 50 years now, we have marveled at the MC, the microphone craftsmen and craftswomen that deliver their words with vibrance, vigor and a resounding, penetrating articulation. Their punchlines are punctuated with thunder that sear your soul.
On “Keep Your Head Up,” Tupac literally touched our spirits rapping:
Compact disc:2Pac Greatest Hits (1998) by Death Row RecordsThe Strong National Museum of Play
“I wonder why we take from our women?/Why we rape our women, do we hate our women?/ I think it's time to kill for our women./ Time to heal our women, be real to our women./ And if we don't, we'll have a race of babies,That will hate the ladies, that make the babies.”
Eminem (1999-09-09)LIFE Photo Collection
You were mentally transplanted into a crowded IMAX theater on a Saturday night, listening to commanding performances on “Warning and “Stan” by Notorious B.I.G. and Eminem respectively.
Both God MCs not only wove enthralling narratives, they role played, rapped from the perspectives of themselves and characters in the song they were having conversations with.
MCs such as Biggie, Em and Busta Rhymes cite Slick Rick and his unmatched story telling in the 80s on records such as a “Children’s Story,” “Mona Lisa” and “La Di Da Di” as a source of inspiration that was life changing.
Grandmaster Caz, Grandmaster Melle Mel and Kool Moe Dee were some our culture’s trailblazing game changers in the 1970s.
Paid In Full (1987-07-07/1987-07-07) by Eric B. & RakimHipHop2020 Innovation Archive
A decade later, Rakim changed the game again. There’s a definitive correlation of Rakim debuting in 1986 with his partner, DJ/ Producer Eric B. and the way MCs started to alter their approach of getting on the microphone.
“I take seven MCs, put 'em in a line./And add seven more brothers who think they can rhyme./Well, it'll take seven more before I go for mine,” Rakim—also known as “The God,” because of his religious practices in the Five Percent Nation as well as his wordplay being downright Heaven sent—calmly but “Now that's twenty-one emcees ate up at the same time.”
Cordless microphone used by Rakim to record The 18th Letter (1997)Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Rakim was compelling, insightful, methodical, surgically precise, a wizard with words and a street don. He calmly exuded power, force and righteous, and was wielded vocabulary so masterfully, he never had to curse to get is point across.
Millions of his fans today will tell you he is the greatest ever to lay down a verse.
The 80s had no shortage of Hall of Fame lyricists that consistently displayed perpetual excellence.
From parks and clubs, to arenas worldwide
These artists and others evelated hip hip to the mainstream: Scarface, Just Ice, Ice-T, Ice Cube, his N.W.A. compatriot MC Ren, Big Daddy Kane, Roxanne Shante, KRS-One, Kool G Rap, Kool Keith, Run and DMC, Kurtis Blow, EPMD, MC Lyte, The D.O.C., Chuck D, Whodini, LL Cool J.
The 80s class of MC were so indelibly ingrained in the art of lyricism, that the MCs in the next decade refused to be outdone. There was an even larger crop of succeeding rap royalty who’s wordplay elevated rap to being the globe’s most influential music genre.
The Lox, Mase, Kurupt, UGK, Outkast, Goodie Mob, Mobb Deep, MC Eiht, Spice 1, Rass Kass, Xzibit, Common, Fat Joe, Big Pun, DMX, E-40, Blackstar, Dead Prez, Lauryn Hill, Snoop Dogg, the aforementioned Tupac, Biggie, Eminem and Busta Rhymes. You also had Q-Tip and Phife Dawg, Redman, the entire Wu-Tang Clan, The Bootcamp Clique, Big L, Black Thought, Jeru Da Damage, The Hot Boys, Sticky Fingers, Trick Daddy, 8ball and MJG, Guru and that’s not even half of the supreme wordsmith.
Jay ZLIFE Photo Collection
Obviously Jay-Z and Nas are the two marquee names that have done it longer and better than any of their illuminate alumni.
Nas hasn’t run out out of bone chilling bars, he five critically albums in the past three years. Jay’s greatness is so off the charts, the entire world seemingly stops and tunes in to hear what he has to say.
Icons (2018-12-01) by Justin Richburg
Three decades since the 90s, lyrics are the forefront of rap
Lyrics have remained at the forefront of rap courtesy of sharpshooters such as Kanye West, Boosie, Nicki Minaj, 50 Cent and the G-Unit, Fabolous, The Clipse, Lupe Fiasco, Rick Ross, Beanie Sigel and Freeway, Cordae, T.I., Jeezy, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar and Drake.
“LBC and the ING” (1998) by Written by Dedrick Rolison, Calvin Broadus, Kenton Nix and Recorded by Mack 10 featuring Snoop DoggRock & Roll Hall of Fame
Who are your favorite hip-hop lyricists? We’ve a plethora right here. Google Arts & Culture Celebrates the game’s best on the mic with the 50 Deep page and Lyrical Rap playlist.
