S. Samuel
[Each week, SOHH asks two entertainment personalities to name their Top 5 rappers of all-time. To make things tricky, we've created a "Hall of Fame" of emcees (see right) who are universally respected and therefore may not be mentioned. After Megan Rondeau dished out her fave five, Hoodlife Cyphas CEO Terrell Blair names his top picks.]
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Jadakiss. Jada’s wordplay is incredible. Jada remains who he is. He doesn’t bend to please the world. He does what he does without no worries. Of course everyone wants to eat and maintaing a level of longevity, but he does what he does. His fan base is not only in New York, every year, you have West and Southern artists have him on their records. -
Ice Cube. I’m talking about the overall version of Ice Cube. Ice Cube, to me, is the epitome of evolution because the Ice Cube from N.W.A. to now, he’s built up so much. He’s become a director, learned how to promote himself and keeps going.
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Big Pun. Pun is in there because his lyrical content was incredible. He took one word and would run with it. The way he created bars alone was incredible. He was captivating to people. His lyrical content was just so far beyond.
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Lil Wayne. With Lil Wayne, he is the definition behind an artist that continually grows. When he first put out his album, people didn’t really think too much about it. But every album he put out, he showed a level of growth. He reminds me of an individual who goes to work. He keeps going. He works every project, every song and he’s not afraid. He allows himself to be who he wants himself to be.
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Busta Rhymes. Busta is so gifted lyrically. In this day and time, he can get on the track with a 21 year-old and pound-for-pound, lyric-for-lyric, mirror that. The fact that he’s an entertainer shows you he’s much more than just an artist.
Jadakiss. Jada’s wordplay is incredible. Jada remains who he is. He doesn’t bend to please the world. He does what he does without no worries. Of course everyone wants to eat and maintaing a level of longevity, but he does what he does. His fan base is not only in New York, every year, you have West and Southern artists have him on their records.
Ice Cube. I’m talking about the overall version of Ice Cube. Ice Cube, to me, is the epitome of evolution because the Ice Cube from N.W.A. to now, he’s built up so much. He’s become a director, learned how to promote himself and keeps going.
Big Pun. Pun is in there because his lyrical content was incredible. He took one word and would run with it. The way he created bars alone was incredible. He was captivating to people. His lyrical content was just so far beyond.
Lil Wayne. With Lil Wayne, he is the definition behind an artist that continually grows. When he first put out his album, people didn’t really think too much about it. But every album he put out, he showed a level of growth. He reminds me of an individual who goes to work. He keeps going. He works every project, every song and he’s not afraid. He allows himself to be who he wants himself to be.
Busta Rhymes. Busta is so gifted lyrically. In this day and time, he can get on the track with a 21 year-old and pound-for-pound, lyric-for-lyric, mirror that. The fact that he’s an entertainer shows you he’s much more than just an artist.
