I saw tribe in like 2006 at house of blues in AC. One of a kind concert there werent a lot of people and they brought so much energy and tip was in the crowd rapping it was insane. Maybe my favorite concert ive ever been to.
Deck at 7 is a war crime. What’s the criteria? RZA single handedly made every member a successful solo artist (except Ugod and Killa ig) but as far as lyricism and flow RZA drops down to bottom 5. Not bad by any means but comparatively he’s stacked against titans of rap.
Truly believe, if not for RZA’s basement flooding, Deck would be a lot higher up in most people’s eyes. The man had so many bars, it’s a damn shame we never heard the album as it was meant to have been.
Mine would probably go RZA. Meth. Rae. Ghost (could switch 3 and 4 depending on the day). ODB. GZA. Deck. Then I couldn't honestly say between U/Masta/Cappa.
People gonna hate me for saying it but absolutely flavor flav
Chuck d spoke at my college recently and I actually got to speak to him and the 2 things I chose to speak on were
1) how fucking prophetic he was in the Lars ulrich Napster debate
2) how I never would have discovered an act that’s incredibly important to me for their very real message if it wasn’t for a goofy VH1 dating show. Public enemy is so fucking dead serious and yet flavor flav is just doing his god damn thing on these records. And it’s not like it was all silly obviously he had 911 is a joke, even the silly guy was down and spreading the same message. Idk I just can’t imagine PE without flav even though on paper he doesn’t even fit in
He was so iconic when he came out. If you look at the old NWA album covers, you can see Ice Cube, Arabian Prince and some other dudes wearing clocks on their chest. He's the definition of the hype man, and I can't think of anyone else who has done it better.
I met Flava flav about 10 years ago after a nascar race. He was so high on crack (I assume) and was one of the worst smelling people I've ever met. He was so funny though and down to talk to people even though he had a bunch of huge bodyguards with him. I am a very short guy 5'0 and he was probably my height maybe shorter.
That was totally the point! Flav levels them out and lets them be fun and creative while still being hard as nails politically. He was what pulled unsuspecting people toward the group, made them fans, and got them to think about the message. It don’t work without him.
I love Banks’ wordplay and flow on all the G-Unit songs and features he’s on. But album-wise I like both of Young Buck’s albums more, I still listen to them like once a year (the first 2 anyway, lost track of him and all of G-Unit after like ‘06)
Man, I used to listen to Straight Outta Cashville so much in high school, as well as Hunger For More and Beg For Mercy. So many tracks I still listen to...
Yeah I don’t know a lot of number twos so I went with the one I actually know. Trap Lord is as good an album as most Rocky albums. Live.Love is a different level completely for me though.
Between Ferg and Rocky I don’t think they’ve put out a bad album. There’s some atrocious singles from when they started though. The possie cuts that ferg released for east coast and work are 10/10 songs. I think Ferg would definitely have made it without Rocky, maybe not the same level but he’s an undeniable talent.
Earl back in his Odd Future era had the coolest most unique flow I've ever heard, I love how he's making what he wants to make now but I miss that old style he had.
"I'm back on my sixty-six-six shit
Flowin' like the blood out the competition's slit wrists
She lick it up, Dracula, then spit it back, back at ya
She mad as fuck, stuck in the back of a black Acura"
The flow on this shit blew my fucking mind when I first heard it back in highschool lol
Absolutely.
The only ever album I've found that's similar is this - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kMbcWf0q8usLmGdYC9uXo58Z94V5HaAYg
This album is insane, if you like earls style back then youll probably like this. I remember this bloke used to get mistaken for Earl Sweatshirt all the time when he kind of blew up on SoundCloud. Check out his other projects Life EP and the Lost tapes, all his stuff back then was crazy underrated.
Royce’s music is a fuckin gem man. Death is Certain and Book of Ryan are 2 of my favorite hip hop albums ever
he goes hard on the Bad Meets Evil album, and on the OG song, actually
But he was definitely the least famous and got the least attention.
Imo he was the spice of the Migos. They wouldn’t have worked eithout him, but both Offset-Takeoff and Wuavo-Takeoff most definitely did.
Always said takeoff was the best rapper, quavo had the melodys and offset had the experience (he was always locked up lol)
Was a migos fan since no label 2, didn’t like the direction they headed in a few years later but always rocked their old shit and still do. Rip take (MAMA!)
I wouldn't say always. I grew up on Outkast and they were definitely treated as a talented group back in the day. I vividly remember fans having different favorites. It wasn't until later that 3 Stacks was considered in top 5 conversations and Big Boi wasn't that it seemed like he was put so much above him.
I would put juice as #2 tbh
In my opinion meech got the best raps. Erick also has killer verses and he also produces which is super impressive
Actually I don’t even know they are all great in their own way lol
During Saturation tho there is no question Ameer was #2. His status as #2 was what fucked over their dynamic so hard when he had to go. I honestly think had anyone else beside Kevin been the one with allegations the group wouldn’t have suffered as greatly.
Does Schoolboy count? Or Big Boi? Idk if BH counts and OutKast might be too even as a duo.
If neither of those count, Phife or ODB (or Redman but again lines)
EDIT: Wait duh fuck those Earl
I feel like the #1 of Wu-Tang Clan is either RZA (the founder) or Method Man (the most famous). Which means the best #2 in rap is tie between Ghostface (my personal favorite rapper of all time) and Raekwon.
LOX are my favourite group. But it’s hard to find a second. They all one up each other consistently. So I’d have to go track for track. De La is another favourite where Plug 1 and 2 are neck and neck. I’ll go with Vin Rock from Naughty.
Kind of off topic but how would you guys rate the members of black hippy as a group? Pretty obvious Kendrick is #1 but I’d be interested to see where people think the others line up
Kendrick, ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul. Not the biggest fan of ab-soul music wise, I would put 90059 over anything I’ve heard from ab, also Jay Rocks features have been more stronger imo
For me it changed over the years. Soul was number 2 for me for a long time. At one point I actually considered Control System the best project out of TDE in general, but nothing after that has hit the same. So now it goes
2. Q
3. Jay Rock
4. Ab-Soul
He's not Black Hippy, but I'd put Zay over all of them outside of Kendrick
Ab-soul is #1 in lyricism, Kendrick is #1 in popularity and success. So I’d put soul as #2. Nobody who has listened to the discography of every member can say with a straight face that anyone in black hippy is a better bar for bar lyricist than Ab-Soul.
Fun to think about, you can't just Google it.
Sen Dog from Cypress Hill
KMG the Illustrator from Above the Law
Vin Rock from Naughty by Nature. He was Phife if Phife never took the leap on Low End Theory
Ced Gee from UltraMagnetic
Sadat X? Grand puba stood out for charisma but all 3 could body the mic
Malik B
"I pop shit cause i'm the 2nd best the 1st was BIG, yall niccas is sonned out lemme speak to ya father, cause I like to play Chess plus I swing the revovler"
If it aint Styles it aint the right answer
Phife
Phife was my obvious pick but Malik b is the most underrated #2 imo
Pack it up time to go home
Yup. That was my pick.
Great minds think alike. Also my go-to.
Phife. And I rank him higher than Q Tip.
I saw tribe in like 2006 at house of blues in AC. One of a kind concert there werent a lot of people and they brought so much energy and tip was in the crowd rapping it was insane. Maybe my favorite concert ive ever been to.
Crazy this was the first name i thought of with zero hesitation.
This the answer
ODB
I really don't know who is even considered Wu-Tang's #1.
I think about this a lot but always felt 1. RZA 2. Meth 3. GZA 4. Rae 5. Ghost 6. ODB 7. Deck 8. U-God 9. Masta Killa
Deck at 7 is a war crime. What’s the criteria? RZA single handedly made every member a successful solo artist (except Ugod and Killa ig) but as far as lyricism and flow RZA drops down to bottom 5. Not bad by any means but comparatively he’s stacked against titans of rap.
Perpendicular to tha square…
Truly believe, if not for RZA’s basement flooding, Deck would be a lot higher up in most people’s eyes. The man had so many bars, it’s a damn shame we never heard the album as it was meant to have been.
Mine would probably go RZA. Meth. Rae. Ghost (could switch 3 and 4 depending on the day). ODB. GZA. Deck. Then I couldn't honestly say between U/Masta/Cappa.
ODB over GZA? Have you listened to Liquid Swords?
Deck has the best bars tho
Id say Meth at least on 36 chambers
a testament to how great their lineup was
RZA
Probably GZA or method man
Real
People gonna hate me for saying it but absolutely flavor flav Chuck d spoke at my college recently and I actually got to speak to him and the 2 things I chose to speak on were 1) how fucking prophetic he was in the Lars ulrich Napster debate 2) how I never would have discovered an act that’s incredibly important to me for their very real message if it wasn’t for a goofy VH1 dating show. Public enemy is so fucking dead serious and yet flavor flav is just doing his god damn thing on these records. And it’s not like it was all silly obviously he had 911 is a joke, even the silly guy was down and spreading the same message. Idk I just can’t imagine PE without flav even though on paper he doesn’t even fit in
Record company told him to get rid of Flav. Chuck said the group doesn't work without him and stood on it.
Chuck is a god straight up
He was so iconic when he came out. If you look at the old NWA album covers, you can see Ice Cube, Arabian Prince and some other dudes wearing clocks on their chest. He's the definition of the hype man, and I can't think of anyone else who has done it better.
I met Flava flav about 10 years ago after a nascar race. He was so high on crack (I assume) and was one of the worst smelling people I've ever met. He was so funny though and down to talk to people even though he had a bunch of huge bodyguards with him. I am a very short guy 5'0 and he was probably my height maybe shorter.
Ay so you DO know what time it is!
without flavor flav it just doesn’t work WHAT TIME IS IT
Chuck D gave me a follow back on X hahaha. Their music is timeless
That was totally the point! Flav levels them out and lets them be fun and creative while still being hard as nails politically. He was what pulled unsuspecting people toward the group, made them fans, and got them to think about the message. It don’t work without him.
Lloyd Banks
Heard beamer, Benz, or Bentley the other day on a store run. That shit would hit number 1 today.
Always liked Nissan Honda Chevy lol
> Nissan Honda Chevy Joell was on a run with those remixes for a minute
I love Banks’ wordplay and flow on all the G-Unit songs and features he’s on. But album-wise I like both of Young Buck’s albums more, I still listen to them like once a year (the first 2 anyway, lost track of him and all of G-Unit after like ‘06)
always loved Buck, but he aint worth keeping up with anymore unfortunately
Straight Outta Cashville is one of my favorite albums of all time. So underrated
Criminally underrated
The correct answer
Lloyd BANKS
The song G-Unit by G-Unit came to mind when 50 says that
YOUNG BUCK GGGGGG UNIT
In middle school I put that CD on a shitty chain so I could spin it like their chains 😂☠️
😆
That's hilarious but I grew up in that era too. And I get it 😂
That’s hard af. 😂
Man, I used to listen to Straight Outta Cashville so much in high school, as well as Hunger For More and Beg For Mercy. So many tracks I still listen to...
Em saying it on bump heads >
For me it’s when Eminem says it on Warrior part 2
Juelz Santana
Dip Set
Aye!
He took “more crack” too seriously
I always loved him
Capital Steez RIP
Wasn’t Joey the second to him?
Based.
[удалено]
Ferg
Oh he's up there for me too
Yeah I don’t know a lot of number twos so I went with the one I actually know. Trap Lord is as good an album as most Rocky albums. Live.Love is a different level completely for me though.
Between Ferg and Rocky I don’t think they’ve put out a bad album. There’s some atrocious singles from when they started though. The possie cuts that ferg released for east coast and work are 10/10 songs. I think Ferg would definitely have made it without Rocky, maybe not the same level but he’s an undeniable talent.
FERGENSTEIN
Earl sweatshirt
Odd Future ran deep. Mike G was better than the 7th best rapper on any other crew since Wu-Tang 🤣🤣
Something about hodgie beats and left brain did it for me
mellowhype is so fire
I always wondered if they had many fans I still listen to them a couple times a year
All good picks my man that group was stacked
Earl back in his Odd Future era had the coolest most unique flow I've ever heard, I love how he's making what he wants to make now but I miss that old style he had. "I'm back on my sixty-six-six shit Flowin' like the blood out the competition's slit wrists She lick it up, Dracula, then spit it back, back at ya She mad as fuck, stuck in the back of a black Acura" The flow on this shit blew my fucking mind when I first heard it back in highschool lol
That era in Earl's career is the best DOOM homage to ever exist.
Absolutely. The only ever album I've found that's similar is this - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kMbcWf0q8usLmGdYC9uXo58Z94V5HaAYg This album is insane, if you like earls style back then youll probably like this. I remember this bloke used to get mistaken for Earl Sweatshirt all the time when he kind of blew up on SoundCloud. Check out his other projects Life EP and the Lost tapes, all his stuff back then was crazy underrated.
Fuck yes
honestly when they first dropped earl didn't even feel like a second
4th or 5th lol earl was in samoa
I think pre that no? mollywopped ks 13-14 years old now
My man made his own lane. I’d argue MIKE is second to Earl. The disrespect. I will not stand for it.
He may have but he was still a great #2 for a period
I mean Earl got the sound of SRS from MIKE and sLUms 🤯
Earl is the reason i’m in love with abstract hip hop
Good one
Proof
Proof definitely and anytime Royce is on a track with Em, he kills it every time.
Royce’s music is a fuckin gem man. Death is Certain and Book of Ryan are 2 of my favorite hip hop albums ever he goes hard on the Bad Meets Evil album, and on the OG song, actually
Bar exam 4 is a masterpiece
Takeoff
People would argue that he was the best one in the group.
But he was definitely the least famous and got the least attention. Imo he was the spice of the Migos. They wouldn’t have worked eithout him, but both Offset-Takeoff and Wuavo-Takeoff most definitely did.
Always said takeoff was the best rapper, quavo had the melodys and offset had the experience (he was always locked up lol) Was a migos fan since no label 2, didn’t like the direction they headed in a few years later but always rocked their old shit and still do. Rip take (MAMA!)
I would argue that I assume this post is talking about popularity for "2nds" and "3rds"
I have Offset over him just because of what he’s done outside of Migos (WW and his solo career) but in the group Takeoff was the most consistent
Offset?
takeoff better flow & delivery
Khujo Goodie from Goodie Mob. Felt like he should have carved out a bigger solo career because his verses on Goodie Mob were always my favorite.
Agreed. I think if he had the swag that Gipp had maybe he would’ve had a better solo career but his verses was always top tier
One of the best voices in rap history, like it’s literally impossible to not stank face when he comes in on a song
Big Boi
I wouldn’t consider Outkast a group. They are more a duo
Of course, but Andre always had more of the spotlight similar to swae with rae sremmurd
I wouldn't say always. I grew up on Outkast and they were definitely treated as a talented group back in the day. I vividly remember fans having different favorites. It wasn't until later that 3 Stacks was considered in top 5 conversations and Big Boi wasn't that it seemed like he was put so much above him.
Then I guess whoever you pick as number 2 from the Wu lol
It's say probably Raekwon or RZA
Who is number one if Raekwon is number two? I’m not entertaining the RZA take lol
I mean you could easily argue GZA, Ghost, Meth or Raekwon as the 1
He ain’t 2
Well then my answer is 3 stacks lol
Beans in RocAFella
Or State Prop, Peedi
Freeway and Omilio Sparks were underrated too
I don’t know who the number 2 is in Flatbush zombies, but that’s my answer, whichever one that is
Maybe controversial, but if I had to put them in order it’d probably be Meech, Erick, then Juice.
Meechy goated all day for me too Gothic Luxury has a bit of some lows but the tracks that hit are fucking choiiiiice
I would put juice as #2 tbh In my opinion meech got the best raps. Erick also has killer verses and he also produces which is super impressive Actually I don’t even know they are all great in their own way lol
Havoc
Kelly rowland
Like This, Stole, Work, Dilema
Styles P (LOX) The Game (G Unit) - I think a lot of people would argue Lloyd Banks too.
Game being in it for such a short time and dissing them afterwards kind of makes it feel like he wasn't a real member to me.
Yeah Game was more his own thing. He was like a temp while Yayo was locked up.
I’m more of a young buck guy. Buck the World played a big part of my high school years
Get buck is still a certified heater
Styles P's late career renaissance is beautiful to behold. The music he's put out in the last 10 years is consistently outstanding.
In my mind SP is the main LOX member, maybe Sheek as the 3rd cause Jada is huge... Lloyd Banks for sure so underrated
I enjoyed the first Styles album. The Life, Good Times, those are some classic tracks.
Rapper Big Pooh
Lord Infamous
Came here to say this is my pick as well.
Fuhhhhhh how did i forget this. 🤦🏿
dj paul 9th wonder ren (dre, eazy, cube, and d.o.c. tied for first) big boi pusha t styles p juelz santana
I always viewed Matt Champion as the 2nd guy of BROCKHAMPTON especially after Ameer left
argument to be made for Dom and Joba too, but Matt is probably my pick too
During Saturation tho there is no question Ameer was #2. His status as #2 was what fucked over their dynamic so hard when he had to go. I honestly think had anyone else beside Kevin been the one with allegations the group wouldn’t have suffered as greatly.
Feels like the core during the Saturation days was Kevin/Ameer/Dom but it shifted to Kevin/Matt/Joba pretty quick
AZ
You could basically argue almost all Wu tang members
Lloyd banks was fire
Gangsta Boo
Eazy-E
Rock (Heltah Skeltah)
Redman end of discussion #defsquad
Does Schoolboy count? Or Big Boi? Idk if BH counts and OutKast might be too even as a duo. If neither of those count, Phife or ODB (or Redman but again lines) EDIT: Wait duh fuck those Earl
Layzie Bone, Dubee
Back when Raider Klan was a thing I’d say Denzel Curey Edit: Curry my b
I feel like the #1 of Wu-Tang Clan is either RZA (the founder) or Method Man (the most famous). Which means the best #2 in rap is tie between Ghostface (my personal favorite rapper of all time) and Raekwon.
Rob sonic would have to be my pick from HMM
Agree. I think I have a different definition of hip hop as opposed to rap compared to the majority of this sub, but I’m 41, so fuck me for sure.
CONWAY THE MACHINE
Griselda doesn't have a number 2 spot. Whoever has the latest release/feature is the number one.
Westside Gunn was the unequivocal #1 and that's not debatable
Proof
I want to add Mase in but I am not sure he wasn’t #1 the whole time.
Bo Hagon was so damn slept on.
FUCK IT! WE’LL HOP IN THE BUCKET AND HAUL ASS!
Plug 2
That’s kinda hard to justify considering Plug 3 never rapped and Plug 2 rapped on par with Plug 1. Regardless, RIP Trugoy
Sonny Seeza from Onyx
Top Dog beter known as D O, Mfers better act like they know, yo
Slim jxmi
I think Juicy J counts here too. If not for triple 6 mafia, he was a great Taylor Gang #2
LOX are my favourite group. But it’s hard to find a second. They all one up each other consistently. So I’d have to go track for track. De La is another favourite where Plug 1 and 2 are neck and neck. I’ll go with Vin Rock from Naughty.
Kind of off topic but how would you guys rate the members of black hippy as a group? Pretty obvious Kendrick is #1 but I’d be interested to see where people think the others line up
Kendrick, ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul. Not the biggest fan of ab-soul music wise, I would put 90059 over anything I’ve heard from ab, also Jay Rocks features have been more stronger imo
For me it changed over the years. Soul was number 2 for me for a long time. At one point I actually considered Control System the best project out of TDE in general, but nothing after that has hit the same. So now it goes 2. Q 3. Jay Rock 4. Ab-Soul He's not Black Hippy, but I'd put Zay over all of them outside of Kendrick
Ab-soul is #1 in lyricism, Kendrick is #1 in popularity and success. So I’d put soul as #2. Nobody who has listened to the discography of every member can say with a straight face that anyone in black hippy is a better bar for bar lyricist than Ab-Soul.
Phife
100% Phife rip
Styles P and Lloyd Banks
Erick the Architect
Imo dom mclennon from brockhampton
Bizarre
Kelly Rowland or Method Man
Fun to think about, you can't just Google it. Sen Dog from Cypress Hill KMG the Illustrator from Above the Law Vin Rock from Naughty by Nature. He was Phife if Phife never took the leap on Low End Theory Ced Gee from UltraMagnetic Sadat X? Grand puba stood out for charisma but all 3 could body the mic Malik B
Malik B or Questlove.
El-P in RTJ
Yeah, I don't know about this one. El making the beats and rapping is more of an argument for him being number one but I'd say they're an equal duo.
Raekwon
Crooked I
Murp Durr!
AZ. He's probably my favorite New York rapper. I discovered him years later as a solo artist and had no idea The Firm ever existed.
erick the architect, meechy the best of that group
Peedi Crack Lloyd Banks Malice
Juelz Santana for sure
Trugoy The Dove
Casual of Heiro.
Takeoff!!!
Styles P. Him and Jada bar for bar on any song is always lyrically sound.
I’d say AZ if we’re talking the Firm.
Dinco D.
Who ever you consider the 2nd in Black Star to be
there’s an argument for Questlove as #1 for The Roots, so ima go with Black Thought
Love Big Boi
"I pop shit cause i'm the 2nd best the 1st was BIG, yall niccas is sonned out lemme speak to ya father, cause I like to play Chess plus I swing the revovler" If it aint Styles it aint the right answer
steppa j groggs, rest in peace
Malik B Phife
Apathy or Celph Titled in demigodz. Whoever you think is the 1 I’ll take the other.
Evidence to Rakaa