Top 22 MCs

I was reading through the Sportscolumn archives when I stumbled upon this short column about the Top 22 MCs of all time.  This was originally posted a year ago right around this time.  (The Dead Zone – when nothing is going on in sports.)  Top X lists are always good for a debate.  Here’s the list and my opinion:[Originally posted 6/30/2003]

Did anyone catch MTV2’s list of Top 22 MCs of the past 22 years?  They presented a list on their website and people vote on their favorite.  The big flaw in this is that the majority of people are stupid.  

Here is the list:

#22 – Chuck-D  An absolute travesty that Chuck D is #22.  Chuck D should be in the top 5 of any list you put together.  You put together a list of the most influential artists and Chuck is top 5.  You put togther a list of the most political artists and he is top 5.  You put together a list of top MCs who put on a few or 50 lbs and Chuck D is top 5.  Need I go on?

#21 – Method Man  Method Man should be ranked higher but was rightly punished for making a duet with Fred Durst.   Might be looked upon as the worst collaboration since KRS-ONE hooked up with REM.  Wait, I love Meth – did you see the way he beat down Ziggy last night on The Wire?

#20 – Queen Latifah  Made better acting choices earlier in her career (House Party 2 – The Pajama Jammy Jam) than later (Bringing Down The House).

#19 – LL. Cool J. Great early work – Bigger and Deffer, Mama Said Knock You Out.  Terrible movies – Deliver us from Eva, Kingdom Come, Rollerball.

#18 – Foxy  not terrible.  not top 22 MC.

#17 – Common who?

#16 – Snoop Fa Shizzle Ma Nizzle!  Genius.

#15 – KRS-One Great body of work.  But I never understood Ms. Melody.  Perhaps part of one of the greatest movies of all time in I’m Gonna Git You Sucka!

#14 – Run – DMC

#13 – DMX

#12 – Nelly I thought Nelly was R&B?

#11 – Big Pun

#10 – Missy Elliot She’s good but without Timbaland… nothing.

#9 – Beastie Boys  You can’t put an entire group as a great MC.  People are stupider than I thought.  If you can vote for entire groups, what about NWA?  What about Wu Tang?  What about Sugarhill Gang?  Is there a better lyric than “everybody go, hotel motel holiday inn /say if your girl starts actin up, then you take her friend”?

#8 – Lil’ Kim Lil’ Kil throws this entire list out the window.  Top hos of all time yes.  MC?  No.  Come on.  

It’s hard to argue with the rest of this list though Eminem at #3 is up for debate and Jay-Z is like Warren Sapp, tremendous media attention but over-rated.  For my money, Nas and Rakim are #1 and #2 pure MCs.   You kids who think Jay-Z is the best, you need to pick up all the old Rakim albums.  “Juice” is one of the best rap tracks ever made.  And if you need a blueprint for a classic album, buy Illmatic.

#7 – Dre

#1 – TuPac