My New #1 Rap Artist

If you asked me today who my favorite rapper is, the answer would be quite different than it would have been about five years ago (and any year prior to that). As one who sings and has a very strong connection to music – good music – it is not easy for me to “like” an emcee. There are so many facets to making that determination. 

First, I must be able to understand what the hell the artist is saying. I know people generally like beats and like danceable music. I like that too. However, today, most of the music that’s danceable is matched with ridiculous lyrics. If the entire hook of a song is three words repeated over and over, there’s a good chance it won’t interest me. However, I’m not saying that music is bad – it has its place. That place just won’t be in my cd case.  Sorry Soulja Boy and Wacka Flocka!

My favorite rapper for years was someone with mature lyrics who talked about something. I like thoughtful lyrics but I don’t necessarily want to hear them all the time. The mood has to be right; my mind has to be right and ready to embrace depth. Therefore, although I love Talib Kwali, Common, Mos Def, Nas, etc…, I’m not always in the mood to think when I’m listening to music. Sometimes, I simply want to be engaged and entertained.

I also like swag. Swag equals the way one carries him/herself.  It’s important to me that the artist I call my favorite is able to sweep me away from my world and pull me into theirs. Whatever they are pointing out in song, I want to be able to feel it. I want to feel like I am having a conversation with this rapper; he’s talking to me. Therefore, I don’t particularly like screaming and yelling. I like charming, soulful tones.

Needless to say that for years, Jay Z has owned the spot as my number 1 Rap Artist. He has all those things, plus a distinguished manner that -coupled with his ability to market himself - equals greatness.  I have to respect and commend an individual who is able to do that and remain likeable (unlike P. Diddy who is a complete buttfart).  Respect is necessary in naming a favorite. I like the fact that Hova continuously put out consistently good music, reinventing himself while correcting those who seemed to come and destroy rap.  Thank you Jay for "Death to Autotones".  He may have had a hit or miss every once in a while, but whenever he put out an album, I knew, I was going to purchase it. It didn’t really matter if I had ever heard a song from that album or not, I was getting whatever he put out.  That's how I knew he was my #1 because I don't generally take risks with my money. 

These days, however, with so with everybody and their mama claiming to be rap artists, it's difficult to maintain that number one slot.  There are many rappers that get it done.  Ludacris, Lil Wayne (although he is steadily falling from the fav list since he insists on NOT RAPPING), Rick Ross, Kanye West, etc... all have a place on somebody's list.  But there is but one, for me, who has matched Jiggas finess AND conquered his spot.  

T.I........... the King of the South. YEP! I said it! The dude is hella bad. 

His flow is plain crazy! He has grown so much in the last couple of years that his life has become a success story which he plays out through his songs. It takes a great artist to make a record about himself and his journey that resonates to people, old and young, black and white. T.I. has done that repeatedly.  I suppose it doesn't hurt that he has a familiar southern drawl that simply makes it easier to identify with his words. 

I resisted T.I.’s appeal for so long because of the nature of his lyrics. I mean, although he’s proven his intelligence since “I’m Serious” consistently, I didn’t necessarily like what he was rapping about. It's not that it wasn’t absolutely real life. It was just simply not my life. So, he maintained a steady top five slot for years, until his last album, "Paper Trail".

This album is definitely among the classics for me. If you can put a cd in and let it ride from the beginning to the end without skipping – CLASSIC. If you get in your car on certain days and can’t change the gears to drive until you find that cd – CLASSIC. If you can recite every single word to every single song on the album – CLASSIC. If you experience a shift in emotions - good or bad- from listening to an album – CLASSIC. If you can listen to an album, song by song, and feel like you know who that person is – then you are listening to a CLASSIC.

If an artist can do all of the above on more than one album – GENUIS.

So, T.I. is my new #1 Rap Artist.

56 Bars - Paper Trail (2008) - (In bold, Queen's fav lines)

One for the money, two for the show, dog
Three for the niggas hatin' on the low, y'all
Know a picture's worth a million words, I'ma show y'all
Death before dishonor, family before all
Without the braids, I'm the closest thing to O-Dog
Minus the testimony, say it ain't so, homie!
Hey, shawty like that, don't he?
World hopped off my jock, I got him right back on it (Oh)
Stepped back, brushed myself off
Picked business back up right where I left off
I can show my dope, that other guy just talk
Ay, where I live just as big as your projects, dog
Ay, ha ha, better check my swagger
How I walk, how I talk, how I stack that cheddar
What I drive, how I dress, nigga let's just bet a
Hundred stacks on that, nigga I'm just better
Somebody better tell 'em, mane
They swag owe my swag everything
Very plain to see you study me awful hard
To the point that my swag need a bodyguard
I'd like to thank to thank you, cousin
Oh, and y'all oughta be havin' ya'll swag sendin' mines an apology
A lot of little me's I see, got beef?
What's the possibility? Stop, see, you not me
Hardly worth a hill of beans, step up to the guillotine
Get decapitated, don't see how half of you rappers made it
Say goodbye to the fame and the fortune, c'est la vie
What the game need wit' you, nigga? They got me
I ride through the city so clean, seat really low
Auto-mo-biel-lies so pretty, but I'm Illy, though
No comparison, ain't a nigga more thorough than
This gangsta American flow, doper than heroin
King like Evelyn "Champagne," man
So deranged and belligerent, ranked up there with Benjamin
Who? Andre 3K, B.I.G., Jay-Z, UGK, Scarface, Makaveli the great, Wayne, Common, Kanye and
Lupe, so fuck what you say
You welcome to ask who you may
Bet they say as of today
I'm back on top like a toupee
All objections overruled, it's overdue
Both high and sober too, I'm so high up over you
Same guy you see in the streets is as fly as here in the booth
So don't be surprised when you meet me to see I'm really the truth
Ooh, so uncouth, nigga, who want proof?
Must agree that shit I did, can't no one undo
I stay on my 1-2, nigga who want to
Turn a brunch into a brawl? Do what you gon' do
I'm why it's hot as a bitch in here
Still cool as a Frigidaire
This year I'm on a mission, dear
Think that was somethin,' listen here!