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 Don Trip laid out his quick picks earlier this week, rapper Mickey Factz unloads his top choices.]
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Big Pun. The first person I would put on here is Big Pun. Big Pun has to go in there because he inspired me as a kid from the Bronx, being Spanish and outrapping a black dominated culture. He did it extremely well and his wordplay was untouched by so many people. I have to put him there. Hands down. Off the top of my head. -
Big L. After Big Pun, I would have to put Big L there. I was a fan of Big L before he died. I wasn’t one of those guys that jumped on the bandwagon afterward. I really went out and looked through the mixtape notebooks to see if Big L had any new freestyles out. He wasn’t really doing it heavy back then like we are doing it now. So if you had something from Big L back during those days, you had to hold onto it.
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Lupe Fiasco. It’s funny because I used to listen to him at one point and I just did not get it. But after listening and listening to The Cool and Enemy of the State, I have to put him in the Top 5. The way he just combines his metaphors, they’re just over your head. He’s amazing and incredible.
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Jadakiss. I’m going to go with Jada because of his consistency. You know what you’re going to get from him. You’re not going to get a wack verse from him. He’s been consistent since 1996. To be consistent for 15 years in the game is kind of crazy to me. I’m a lyrical guy.
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Twista. I saw Twista had put me in here before. To see how he’s rapping and see the speed that he’s doing it at is extremely amazing. He does it effortlessly. He’s been a track murderer for years and years and years. I have to put him on there.
Big Pun. The first person I would put on here is Big Pun. Big Pun has to go in there because he inspired me as a kid from the Bronx, being Spanish and outrapping a black dominated culture. He did it extremely well and his wordplay was untouched by so many people. I have to put him there. Hands down. Off the top of my head.
Big L. After Big Pun, I would have to put Big L there. I was a fan of Big L before he died. I wasn’t one of those guys that jumped on the bandwagon afterward. I really went out and looked through the mixtape notebooks to see if Big L had any new freestyles out. He wasn’t really doing it heavy back then like we are doing it now. So if you had something from Big L back during those days, you had to hold onto it.
Lupe Fiasco. It’s funny because I used to listen to him at one point and I just did not get it. But after listening and listening to The Cool and Enemy of the State, I have to put him in the Top 5. The way he just combines his metaphors, they’re just over your head. He’s amazing and incredible.
Jadakiss. I’m going to go with Jada because of his consistency. You know what you’re going to get from him. You’re not going to get a wack verse from him. He’s been consistent since 1996. To be consistent for 15 years in the game is kind of crazy to me. I’m a lyrical guy.
Twista. I saw Twista had put me in here before. To see how he’s rapping and see the speed that he’s doing it at is extremely amazing. He does it effortlessly. He’s been a track murderer for years and years and years. I have to put him on there.
