Why do you have to be lyrical to be considered a great rapper?

[Verstyle]

I think there are more elements to a rapper then just him being lyrical. Leave all that for the poets................

[Dice]

I agree one hundred percent. While lyrics help, its not everything. People won't admit it but they love a good jam, a hot beat, a catchy chorus. And it doesnt even have to be about commercial stuff. I think Redman sucks as a lyricist cuz he sez so much ****** crap but I love him and think he's nice cuz of his flow and his charisma, you just want to listen to him while dry a$$ Guru makes me want to shoot myself. At the end we can agree to disagree cuz everyone has diff tastes

[BEHEMOTH]

Not true.
2pac wasn't kicking complex lyrics and he's arguably the greatest rapper of all time (if not, definitely the most popular).

It's alot more to it than lyrics.
While it is good to have lyrics (since rap broken down to it's simplest form is spitting lyrics over a beat), lyrical creativity is more impressive than a a big vocab.... atleast to me anyway.

[MetalVomit]

By "lyrical" I assume you mean "complex"

Will Smith=great rapper that wasn't "lyrical". Kool Moe Dee, LL Cool J, EPMD, Nature, Mobb Deep, Shyne, Slug, Beastie Boys, Guru, B-Real, Masta Ace, Devin The Dude, Pimp C, Too Short, Buckshot, DMX (2003 and prior, before the crack broke him), Q-Tip (candidate for top ten all-time)............

[HotSizzle]

Because thats what hip hop is about.

[Verstyle]

By "lyrical" I assume you mean "complex"

Will Smith=great rapper that wasn't "lyrical". Kool Moe Dee, LL Cool J, EPMD, Nature, Mobb Deep, Shyne, Slug, Beastie Boys, Guru, B-Real, Masta Ace, Devin The Dude, Pimp C, Too Short, Buckshot, DMX (2003 and prior, before the crack broke him), Q-Tip (candidate for top ten all-time)............

It seems like all you guys about is lyrical, gotta calm down on that ****. Rap is an art that can be expressed in other ways.

[MetalVomit]

It seems like all you guys about is lyrical, gotta calm down on that ****. Rap is an art that can be expressed in other ways.

everyone I named in the quote you responded to, I listen to,and I wouldn't consider them "lyrical" or complex rappers. Masta Ace is responsible for my favorite rap song of all-time, not a "lyrical" type of rapper. If you don't need to calm down overrating Lil Wayne by calling him the best rapper alive, I don't need to calm down listening to creative, I mean, lyrical rappers . Everlast is another not very "lyrical" or complex rapper that i'm a HUGE fan of, come to think of it, I'm going to buy his new album tomorrow.

[Dice]

everyone I named in the quote you responded to, I listen to,and I wouldn't consider them "lyrical" or complex rappers. Masta Ace is responsible for my favorite rap song of all-time, not a "lyrical" type of rapper. If you don't need to calm down overrating Lil Wayne by calling him the best rapper alive, I don't need to calm down listening to creative, I mean, lyrical rappers . Everlast is another not very "lyrical" or complex rapper that i'm a HUGE fan of, come to think of it, I'm going to buy his new album tomorrow.

much respect for being a fan of Beck

[MetalVomit]

much respect for being a fan of Beck

Beck is a ****ing genius. Guero is one of my top 5 favorite albums ever. Modern Guilt is almost flawless.

[Kobe Bryant]

How can an artist express himself in different ways other than lyrics? Last time I checked a rappers job is to spit lyrics.

Leave it to the poets? LMAO.

Lyricsm isnt defined by using big words.

at the end of the day if you say some **** I can feel I'll listen. But it's only so much I can listen to dudes rappin bull**** and all half assed.

You have to have some skill to be considered an all time great. You cant be considered great becuase you rapped over dope beats. **** just doesnt make sense.