This kind of goes along with another post I wrote about the best songwriters, where I mentioned rappers, but I want to devote one solely to rappers, as its probably the genre that I’ve found the fewest examples of flawless songwriting. It’s also the genre with which I’m probably the least familiar.
What I’m looking for is not just good rappers. I’m looking for rappers who are really good lyricists. That is, there works could stand alone as works of poetry. Now, I know that’s pretty vague, so what I want is for you to explain why you feel this or that rapper fits this category and give examples of his/her lyrics (only about half a dozen lines according to SDMB rules and link to the full piece).
One of the criteria, I think (though others might disagree) that makes a truly talented rapper is one who doesn’t sacrifice the quality of what he’s writing to the rhyme scheme. Rhyming is so important to rap, so it takes a lot of talent to make a song work without making these sorts of sacrifices.
I’ll offer my first examples below:
Blackalicious. I mean, seriously, who can go from writing stuff like this:
to writing about Chemistry, just to prove that you can do it:
Saul Williams. This is a bit of a stretch, since he’s probably technically a “poetry jammer” (or whatever its called), but the poem that’s on the first Blackalicious poems is one of the most beautiful poems I’ve ever heard:
The Roots.
K’Naan is another one, but I can’t find a site for any of his lyrics.
Whoa! If you had mentioned KRS One, I would have thought we were the same person.
But the OP makes me think of a different kind of poetry feel. I nominate a single line from an old LL Cool J song; “Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag… Being crushed by buildings.”
Pick up some Sage Francis. He’s a Rhode Island slam poet gone battle-rapper gone recording artist. He’s a pudgy white feminist vegan that doesn’t drink, smoke or use. This isn’t exactly a recipe for your usual hip hop fare, but it works.
Absolutely fantastic wordplay and most often has something of relevance, or at least self-aware, to say. The only time he talks about hoes and bling is to make fun of the current state of hip hop.
“Personal Journals” is an almost flawless album, but “A Healthy Distrust” is what I usually give friends to start with because it’s a touch more accessible. The last half of his newest “Human the Death Dance” is among his best work.
Check out “Makeshift Patriot” for a good sampling of writing style. It’s not as musically strong as much of his work but it was written and released quickly so it’s a bit unpolished. This was written the week after 9/11 and released on 10/11. Some fantastic insight.
I never said it has to be mainstream. Most of the rap I’m familiar with that is mainstream, in my opinion, doesn’t fit the standards I posted above. For instance, while there are songs by both Nas and Eminen that I like, I wouldn’t call the lyrics (that I’m familiar with) works of poetry, which is why I wanted people to give examples of why said persons’ lyrics are particularly poetic.
SuntanTigerTamer, I agree. I’ve listened to a lot of Saul Williams’ stuff, and it’s brilliant.
If you don’t want to post lyrics, I’d appreciate if you’d at least post the name of a song that exemplifies why you think a certain rappers fits in this category…thanks
I’m glad to hear it. He’s one of about 5 or 6 musicians I can listen to consistantly without getting sick of it. Here’s a couple more noteworthy songs.
My favorite called “Runaways”. Pretty great writing, but then again I’m a social worker. The lyrics are posted here too.
This one features a verse with Saul Williams and chorus by my favorite songwriter of all time, Will Oldham.
Try The Streets- a British guy who did a fantastic rap opera called "A Grand Don’t Come For Free** about a few weeks in the life of a lower-class Londoner.
Fugies, Lauryn hill, Mighty souls of mischief, Hieroglyphics, Tribe called quest, Bush babies(“We run things”), Methodmam, Redman, Run Dmc(“down with the king”), Slick Rick, Keith Murry(“the most bueatyfullest thing in this world”), Mic Geronimo( “I’m so lie, You so Lie”), Big L, Big Pun, Lords of the underground, Bone thugs n harmony… Now these will be hardest to find; Jairu the damager, black moon([anything fr bootcamp click & duck down records]), A Z, Math, 10 theifs, funkdoubis, Madskillz, and, Living ledgends… Sorry ha but ask & all I do is work and download the rap. Hope that helps you. Oh yea Mc Hammer,vanilla ice, And the Fillipino rapper Vanilla rice just kidding on that last ones But I hope that helps (~)
just kidding on that last ones 
But I hope that helps (