Top 10 Most Underrated Rappers
Tuesday March 21, 2006
As is the case with any music genre, unsung heroes and heroines abound in hip-hop. You know, those artists whose chains and diamonds are not ostentatious enough to land them on MTV or BET's 106th and Park. Underrated rappers. Those artistry-conscious emcees who hardly craft substantial 'booty-bops' merely for the sake of attaining quadruple platinum status in record sales. Deep within the underground, however, lies unique talent, as we explore. From the Grammy-winning Roots' frontman, Black Thought to the little known cameo queen, Jean Grae, underrated rappers come in all forms.
Jean Grae promo photo: © Babygrande Records
Comments
dead prez
Knoc’ turn al, Pharaoe monch, dead prez, tommy tee, dru down
fatlip, northern league, bathgate,hilltop hood, dsr
Krayzie Bone, Z-RO.
I think Z-Ro is extreemly underrated. This guy speaks the truth man, just about real life problems and sh that a lot of people can relate to, including me. Also Joe Budden doesn’t get the credit he deserves, just check out his mixtape, “Mood Muzik 2″, probably the best mixtape in rap history, no joke.
Big L, no question.
big pun, immortal technique, canibus, apathy, celph titled, lupe fiasco
vast aire no question this guy is never talked about his content and vocab are as good as any i think his quirkiness and puttin of words makes him hard to understand and i think el-p is one the most underated producers and this is the guy that produced one of the all time great hip hop albums the cold vein which is all so overlooked
Ppl Ppl
It’z All About Immortal Technique and
the Jedi Mind Tricks
Mainstream Hip Hop since 50 Cent’s Arrival has died. U can argue but the truth is that QB’s finest himself said it, try to compare N.Y. State of Mind to Ridin Dirrty or C.R.E.A.M. to Walk It Out
Try It
I Dare U
Honestly, where’s Obie Trice on this list. He’s way underrated.
yo gotti/ zro/ trae/ kidz in the hall/ and how can u put ridin in the bad list are you kidding me just cause its new dont mean its bad just listen to his whole album its a classic
i feel u on tha yo gotti, z-ro, trae, also imma thro in lil o, fat pat, lil keke, big hawk, & bone thugs as a group- and each individually- bizzy, layzie, krayzie, wish, and don’t forget bout flesh maybe even twista
Immortal Technique
Deltron
Big L
Jehst
That’ll do. Rap has taken such a nosedive. So many head bobbing idiots out there.
papoose in very unknown but in my opinion the best lyricist in da game. once he releases his first album hopefuly ppeople will start to learn about him.
i think andre nickatina and bavgate are underated
yea andre nickatina, z ro, dead prez, BG, jedi mind tricks, scarface is hella underrated. check out Hieroglyphics, and bone thugs arent under rated.. your dumb for sayin that,
Big L most definetly, also The D.O.C
think is bun b,pimp c,z-ro,paul wall,mike jones,slim thug,atzek,lil keke,big pokey,trae,lil flip,kb,flatline,weirld al,wine-o,micheale watt,500 watts,chamillionaire,agonylife,and mouf of da souf.
The kings of da south.
texas man. it goes down.
Alrighty we need to put some real up here glad to see Big L and Apathy and immortal cuz those are givens. But also copywrite,army of the pharoahs,talib kaweli,az and so many more….
Big L, Z-ro, Mass 187, Al-d, and countless others
Big L
Cormega
Treach from Naughty by Nature
Louis Logic is nice on the low…Big L of course, also Gangstarr is highly underated, I still think Nas is kinda underated, doesnt get the repect he deserves, Apathy would be the best white rapper but theres Eminem so hes got the crown, Cormega (the realness)/MF Doom/ The arsinost, Sunz of Man/ Dialated Peoples/
AnD More but im sittin here high in class and cant think with this teacher talking
STICKY FINGAZ. LISTEN 2 DA SONG oh my god…its raw
Top 2
Joe Budden
Big L
Immortal teqnique most deffinatly, canibus, murs, and the most under rated of all time has to be Ras Kass you may not believe everything his says but you got to respect. His lyrics outshine Immortal teqnique and cannibus that says a lot right there. Most of yall didnt even put him in your list that goes to show how under rated he is. Check out the song Interview with a vampire, nature of the threat, lyrically top best songs i have ever heard. next on my list is dance with devil and poet laurette.
Aesop Rock.
I’m so glad someone still recognizes talent. My name is Soul Food. I’m not under-rated. I’m just having a hell of a time getting recoginzed by the big wigs. Get back to me. soul Food. http://www.officialsoulfood.com
masta ace
kool g rap
big L
guru
one be lo
del
slug
el da sensai
tame one
pacewon
reef the lost cauze
king magnetic
blu
ras kass
apathy
kool keith
too many more to list, but basically every good rapper is underrated. nobody that is played on radio/TV these days is worth listening to.
Ceelo is by FAAAARRRR the most Underrated Rapper.
Cassidy is one of the best rappers who ALWAYS flys under the radar. I mean, have u heard the Murda Mook freestyle! Dude spits fire.
UNDERATED LIST:
MF Doom
Maldib/Quasimoto
Guilty Simpson
J Dilla(Even though he’s gone R.I.P)
AZ
Murs
Little Brother
Jedi Mind Tricks
Ghostface Killah(Still doesn’t get the right respect)
The Cool Kids
Buckshot
Skillz
Talib Kweli
Mos Def
Bun B
Andre 3000
Frank-N-Dank
Peanut Butter Wolf(sickest white boy rapper before Eminem)
Black Milk
MED
Big L
Andre Nickatina
MF Doom
Talib Kweli
Crooked I
tech n9ne in my opinion is the most underrated rapper alive…it’s even more apparent seeing that noone even mentioned him yet!
Cassidy
Cassidy
Capone n Noreaga
Raekwon the chief
Z-RO
MF Doom, hands down
hmmm most underrated Max B not one rapper can match his style my dude is 100 percent original
Mos Def.
Joe Budden.
Murs.
Andre 3000.
Lupe Fiasco.
When I first heard Lupe back in ‘05, I knew he’d be great. As much as I think LUPE.N.D. will be this generation’s Illmatic, its ridiculous how his name never comes up in the debate for best rapper in the game.
no offence to all under-rated but all ya’ll need to realize & recognize K – RINO THE REAL LYRICAL WIZARD
wise intelligent is racist
Bone Thugs Are Underrated Because People Just Here Songs Like Foe The Love Of Money, Crossroads, Extacy, The Weed Song, 1st Of The Month And Thats It, Ive Been Listening To Bone Since I Was 2 And I Still Here Dope Cuts That Ive Never Heard. They Have About 600 Songs And Most Are Overlooked And They Are Good Songs Too
Ahmad Ali Lewis (known simply as “Ahmad”). He was labeled a pop-rapper but was anything but. He used heavy internal rhymes in a unusual style. Pharcyde were underrated, Cage, D.O.C. and many others.
Ahmad Ali Lewis (known simply as “Ahmad”) was definitely underrated. He was tagged as a pop-rapper (which was far from the truth). His rhyme schemes were unusual and his flow was great. Other underrated rappers…The Pharcyde, D.O.C., Cage, all of the roots etc.
1. Chamillionaire (one of the best lyrist but doesn’t get credit, people judge him riding dirty, but go back & listen to his old stuff & he is a beast)
2. Lupe Fiasco (by far the best rapper in the game now, with Chamillionaire a close second)
3. Andre 3000 (has been overlooked for years but is oneof the best)
4. Cassidy (freestyle king period)
5. Lloyd Banks (overlooked because of 50 cent wack ass, banks is the best rapper in g-unit by far)
Chamillionaire is wack. period.
AZ, Cormega, Sean Price, Joe Budden, Big Pun, Freeway, Mos Def, Talib,
lord infamous, lil boosie, three six mafia(old school, back in da day, underground hits)koopsta knicca its about time for common, he’s moving up there. lloyd banks hell yeah. gunit , before all that mess with the game and buck.
BONE THUGS ARE THE MOST UNDERRATED BY FAR.ALWAYS DROPPING HITS AND NEVER GETTING APPRECIATED
Spice 1,ICE-T,Mc Eight,Mc Ren,Craig Mack.
I get so pissed off every time someone mentions Li’l Wayne when I ask who their favorite lyrical emcee is…. anyway
Immortal Technique, Jedi Mind Tricks, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, Aesop Rock, sooo many others are insanely lyrical. Some of the old Canibus, along with Rakim and some Wu Tang joints were straight amazing. I like the styles of MF DOOM and Deltron. There are too many for me to put all the honorable mentions in here. Nas, of course, should be brought up, as well as Lupe, repping real music even in the mainstream.
Most underrated lyrical emcee (that I’ve heard of): Aesop Rock
I also think Talib Kweli is way underrated, I see him missing from a lot of top emcee lists, but the music he makes can be so soulful and takes you to where you know hip hop should.
I was all over the place when I was writing this, lol. I promise I’m not always this incoherent.
MOST UNDERRATED RAPPER OF ALL TIME IS MASTA ACE you dummies. Ni$$2s mad lyircal genis with perfect, intelligent, structured classicconcept albums and an originator of the Juice Crew since 1988!! Who, one of the top 3 greatest of all time at the very least!!!! SO underrated, no gold or platinum records i think some gold/platinum hit records though yay!!Crookslyn what up
I-20 is under rated. Listen to “Really Like her” and “Flickin Ashes”
1. Young Lay 2. Big L…….. yall stupid
Lil’ Flip
1. Brother Ali… come on people he’s not even on the list prolly cuz he’s albino… check out Shadows on the Sun… some raw stuff
2. Masta Ace… Indisposable Arts is one of the illest albums ever. period
3. Sage Francis… just check him out… pure satirical genius takes a sh!t on Aesop Rock
4. I Self Divine… the genius behind The Micronauts
5. Lupe Fiasco… SHOULD HAVE WON THE GRAMMY FOR BEST RAP ALBUM…and just look at who he lost to…Lil Wayne?…gimme a break!!!
j-bizz is underated
i cant believe no one has mentioned Tech N9ne. this guy has some of the sickest lyrics and beats and is still overlooked.
most underated: tech n9ne, immortal technique, bone-thugz, andre, crooked I, and lupe fiasco
Most Underrated gotta Be My Nigga Z-RO!! z-ro is the BEST RApper RIGHT now since Day 1 Ro has been Wrecken Dis Rap Game Ever Since
Young Maylay is very underrated as well. Look on youtube foe his music n’ listen.
RUCK AND ROCK
sean price kills everything, and he is the brokest rapper you know. no one matches his style annd flow
to zach: wtf man? hilltop hoods have neder been underrated. they’re the greatest emcees in oz. anyone who has heard their music knows their true worth. and the reaosn AZ is underrated is cos hes a racist pig. he may be smooth but he hates white people. no one likes racism, thats the reason he aint big.
Z-RO and Bone Thugs
Hussein Fatal, Outlawz, Big Syke, Macadoshis, Young Noble
10)Eyedea
9)Slug
8)Methodman
7)Ghostface Killah
6) Elp
5) Black Thought
4) Aesop Rock
3)Sage Franics
2) Yak Ballz
1) Cage (Best live show ive ever seen)
Mc Kinney of the mad conductor also
z-ro
Tech n9ne by far most underrated he’s almost platinum. Listen to everready best albumn ever!!!
Lord Infamous, period.