As of Tuesday–Here’s the Top 5–Still a few more days to vote…
By pmd on Aug 14, 2007 in Hip Hop, Real Late |
Saigon’s at Number 1 — Can he stay there?? You can vote here til the end of the show on Sunday night..
5. Talib Kweli (6.3 %) — Here’s a guy that just continues to improve year after year. He’s the best he’s ever been now and Eadrdrum is going to be a great record.
4. Nas (6.4%) — NYC always loves Nas–even with no product in the street.
3. Kardinal Offishall (8%) — Toronto stand up. This guy is a born star. He’s rolling with Akon now. This should get interesting. T-Dot deserves a huge star and this guy has it all–lyrics, skills, charisma, hunger. He’s the man.
2. Lil Wayne (10%) — Well I guess New York isn’t drinking the punch. This guy pushes the envelope and has a world of potential, but he still has to be more than willing to be different. It’s a good start, though.
1. Saigon (43 %) — A staggering lead for a kid who deserves to be here. He’s not just the dude from Entourage. He probably has the best combo of depth and skills on the whole list. His mixtapes are insane and his first single is a smash. Just you wait for the album…
Yeah, Saigitty wins this one hands down for the mere fact that you’ve included the word “hunger” into the poll. Had you only asked skills & potential, I probably coulda gone with anyone including Kard, Pap, Joell, Phonte…. But Sai spits with ferocity and… hunger… that’s the word I think of when hearing him.
Can’t wait for The Greatest Story…
Ivan | Aug 14, 2007 | Reply
there is no way kardinal would have ever gotten that much love in any other list than one where he is being so heavily supported by the mouthpiece of said list. that is a simple fact. this list is looking to be worse than the mtv one in my opinion. still love the show tho, just disagree with how the list is shaping up. also jada may be the most overrated of all time. chew on that.
jay | Aug 14, 2007 | Reply
if i influence people on kardi that hard (which i dont think is true) –i should be commended or you should listen to more kardi..
but i respect your opinion and appreciate the support
pmd | Aug 14, 2007 | Reply
i actually like kardi. i wouldnt top ten him up but i feel his flow and how he incorporates the yardie side of him.
in response, i do think you should be commended for supporting him as he has far too little exposure in the U.S. AND i think i should listen to more kardi. if only i could find some. i have canadian coke and that joint he did with clinton sparks.
also reading back my post i will make an effort never to sound so bloggadocious again. i came off slightly bischoff in that one. (ye the kid is a mark too)
just wondering if you’d be kind enough to let me know why jadakiss is so widely regarded as top 10 or top 5 material. i’m a fan and all but i personally think styles is the best out of that camp. time is money and the ghost sessions are both better than kiss of death and kiss tha game goodbye. kiss has also done some unforgivable shit like the paris hilton record and the ay bay bay remix.
i hope you know you are destined for greatness by the way. im happy to be an early-ish fan of your work.
jay | Aug 14, 2007 | Reply
o fuck i just realized joe budden isnt even on the list. that’s a damn shame. mood musik 2 > anything saigon has yet put out. let me go chill out tho before it sinks in too much that jay electronica made it and joey didnt.
jay | Aug 14, 2007 | Reply
i didnt put jay elec on and budden was meant to get put on…but to be honest even though i love joe i dont think he wouldve placed
pmd | Aug 14, 2007 | Reply
i hear you on that
jay | Aug 14, 2007 | Reply
so i picked sean price. the one category i wonder about is “potential”. like potential to sell ten million records? who cares about that. so i said basically who can be like my fav mc - ghostface. i know - why didn’t you pick ghost? well, i’m afraid ghost has run his course. we know we’re going to get a bangin’ album from him everytime… and he’s up to his potential. so sean p - dude has the potential to have a longevity like ghost. probably won’t go triple plat, but will do good every time. skillz wise, dude is a monster. he’s got he hunger, he’s been in the game a while, and is finally getting some shine. it was either ruck or sai - cuz sai is a star. but i rolled with the homey sean p cuz dude is mad funny and keeps it SO real on his records.
The 18th Letter | Aug 15, 2007 | Reply
i like sean p more and more everytime i hear him. he’d make my top ten.
jay | Aug 15, 2007 | Reply
I’ve been into Hip Hop 20 years check for stuff from all over the place (no regional bias) and generally know my shit but I do not get this whole thing with Lil Wayne! he isnt even verging on ‘good’. in fact he’s fucking awful.
I know its ok to have someone else write for you now and that lyrcial content isnt considered paramount anymore but come on! can someone explain it to me please?
anything along the lines of ‘he’s hot in the streets’ isnt acceptable’ as ‘the streets’ dont appear to know shit right now.
I thought maybe Saigon’s buzz wouldve died a bit given all the delays but he seems to have that support.No Uncle Murda or Pap though?
Not my faves but they seem big right now
lacedabooms | Aug 15, 2007 | Reply
skills is ratings factor on this list and Skillz didn’t make the list?
I voted for Pharoahe but I could have easily picked Tigallo, Elzhi or Kardinal. I have 12-inches of his from 1995. He’s grown steadily into a beast over 12 years.
and I may not be NY-centric enough these days but I can’t name a single Joell Ortiz song.
DJ Stylus | Aug 15, 2007 | Reply
If it was up to me, I wouldve put Lupe Fiasco on the list. He’s a monster 4real. Some people dont pay him no mind cause they say he’s a skateboarder and all that other BS but he’s the best.
Melrose | Aug 15, 2007 | Reply
I think hunger’s definitely stepping out as the most important element in this competition. Saigon and Wayne’s mixtape hustle is certainly paying dividends with folks.
nctodc | Aug 16, 2007 | Reply
I also will NEVER understand the Wayne love. Forget his “swagger” or mic presence. He says nothing on the mic. He’s terribly boring. He may pull off something hot from time to time & his hunger as nctodc noted is evident by his mixtape grind. But, I’ll never understand why he’s so hot. I guess I feel the same way about Wayne that some cats like PMD feel about Black Thought. By the way, Joell’s Bodega Chronicles is great. The intro will have you hooked.
Dmax | Aug 16, 2007 | Reply
I can’t be mad at Saigon in the lead, but I’m willing to bet that has everything to do with your show being NYC based. The sense I get from having traveled a fair amount is that NY is no longer the hip-hop tastemaker for the rest of the country. Regardless of what my personal feeling is on him, Lil Wayne is that dude right now if we’re talking nationally. Also I agree that Budden should have at least been listed. Personally, I’d take his last couple of mixtapes over most of Saigon’s stuff.
JTH | Aug 16, 2007 | Reply
the list is a little off centre as far as what its based on because artists like Jay, Ghostface & Nas have been around 15 years so their potential isnt really relevant. they’ve all dropped a classic album and probably hit their peak already.
Their attitude to the game is gonna be completely different to Saigon or Kardinal who are still trying to blow so you cant really compare.
really it should be based on skills/writing ability/flow and just their output in general
lacedabooms | Aug 16, 2007 | Reply
Saigon> lil wayne.
lil wayne is the most overrated alive. Far from the greatest rapper alive and SMH at you comparing him to pac.
Simon says shoot a nigga in the leg tell him to catch up like mayonnaise.
Lil wayne is a 6.5 by himself with no gillie.
TheY2DreProblem | Aug 16, 2007 | Reply
Rosenberg, about Nas
how does Nas have “no product in the street”, if Nas dropped 1 of the best albums of 2006, in Dec 2006? HHID is only 8 months old. Plus the term “HHID” has been talked about by nearly everyone. Nas’ term sparked discussion big time.
On the actual album, Nas’ rap skill level is great, + he’s “actually saying something meaningful”.
Many rap “commentators”/fans have lamented that we as rap fans treat albums as “fast food”, not as art.
That statement is def. true, if some are ignoring an 8-month old great album from Nas.
NoMamesBuey | Aug 17, 2007 | Reply
I don’t know about everyone else, but Nas hasn’t put out a great album in years. Hip Hop Is Dead was a decent, maybe even good album with 3 maybe 4 solid tracks, Hip Hop is Dead, Hustlers, Can’t Forget About You (can’t think of another). Lyrically, Nas is tight as always but PMD is right. Dude has no product on the street. 8 months ago is 8 months ago. No mixtapes, no guest appearances. I guess he’s too busy being Kelis’ husband.
Dmax | Aug 17, 2007 | Reply
Pretty good list, but I personally can’t see Weezy on any top 5 list with skill as the criteria. When you talk about who’s hot right now, he’s #1. I’d put Sean P or Joell in that #2 spot, but most cats are impressed by his nursery rhymes. Weezy needs to buckle down, get some good production, and spend a little more time thinking before he writes a verse.
Everyone else definitely deserves to be up on that list… but where is the motherfuckin love for Ghostface??
Sealioo | Aug 18, 2007 | Reply