The New King of Hip-Hop Part II

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Alright, last time I wrote about my concerns on who would run the rap game when all the greats are too old or not popular enough to continue. Some people loved it, other people hated it, and some people thought I was sleeping on some new up-and-coming artists, like Huey, Webbie, Blu, Dolla, and even Aster Roth! The column got a whopping 27 comments in one day! But I was kind of disappointed in myself for having slept on dudes like Blu and Webbie. They deserve some respect in the rap game, especially when they come hard with their music.

In light of that, I’ve decided to do a “Part II”. In this version, I’m going to review the artists that I think I slept on. Most likely, I’m going to sleep on a couple more young artists. But hey, I’m only human, and that means there will be an even better “Part III”, if need be.

Let explain how I choose the “KING”. The King of Hip-hop has to have three things: Skill, Popularity, and Longevity. Look at Biggie or Tupac; they have all three of those. That’s what I’m looking for. If you’ve got the hottest skills but people don’t know who you are, you’ve got no chance at being respected as the King (Lupe Fiasco – CRAZY, but is finally getting noticed). Likewise; if you’re popular but have no skills, people in the game are going to hate you (Soulja Boy – Annoying as HELL, but you know him)! You feel me?

Another thing: a lot of dudes were flippin’ out when I said Bow Wow would become the new King of Hip-hop, tied with Romeo, when Bow Wow is 21 and Weezy is 25. People were like: “You tellin’ me BOW WOW is gonna beat WEEZY for KING??!?!”. Because of that, I’m going to put some estimates on where I think some of the most popular acts will be in 10 years also. There! That way, no one will get mad because their favorite rapper didn’t mentioned. Cool? Let’s do it!

Huey: This was the guy that everyone said I slept on, and to that I plead guilty. If he was the last list, Huey woulda been the King for sure, even though I wasn’t diggin’ “Pop, Lock, & Drop It” (Bow Wow dropped a nice verse on the remix of that too, fellas!). Huey definitely has some skills, but again like Romeo from last list, I don’t think he has the fan base. His album has been out for a year, but is only halfway to Gold. If he sticks with and and starts to sell some records, he’s a got a good chance in my eyes.

Webbie: He’s probably the one of the closest in my opinion, but he’s still sort of new in the game: sure, he’s been recording on a lower level, but this is his second major musical album that came out this year. For a southern rapper, he’s good as a rapper, much better than a lot of the rappers I put on my last list, and I really liked Savage Life 2. Like Huey, he could do it if he stuck with it, but I see a bigger chance with Webbie only because he’s slightly more popular: his debut album went Gold I think, but that was before bootlegging got as bad as it is now.

Blu: Ok…how do I say this?? Blu is amazing as a rapper, but he’s really underground. I mean, I didn’t even know who he was until last year when I read a review on nappyafro (I had liked that one). Then again, I’m just a teenager right? Well, Blu’s gotta get his name out there! He really could rap circles around any of the guys on this list, or on the last list, but if you’ve got no fan base, you’ve got no chance. But if it helps, I’m really pulling for him. I bought his album!

Dolla: For a second, as I was typing this, I was wondering who the fuck is Dolla?? But then I remembered: he was on that song “Who the Fuck is That” with T-Pain and that mediocre rapper Tay Dizm. Yeah he’s young enough, but why request him?? He’s pretty bad, doesn’t have an album out to my knowledge, and is on a mediocre song with the same formula we’ve seen a billion times: Get T-Pain to do the hook. That time it didn’t even work! The song peaked at #82 on the Hot 100! Dolla on this list represents pretty much everyone on the last list: NO CHANCE!!!

Aster Roth: Eh…I liked what I saw, but I don’t see a future here to be honest. But hey, I could be wrong. But he is SO underground! I don’t think he has a chance to be honest, but he does have skill.

Lloyd Banks: Compared to everyone else on this list, you might as well crown Banks right now. 2 albums out, 1 gold, the other platinum. Signed to G-unit, and has great lyrical ability, while being well known to many in the rap game: you think of him when you think of G-Unit, like it or not. Still though, when you look at a list like this, of course Lloyd Banks has got the top spot. If Weezy isn’t recording, he’ll be king.

T-Pain: Somebody said: “Wait!! Where’s T-Pain?? He’s only 23!”. Well, here he is. To be honest, I really don’t see T-Pain as a solo artist. He does have hot singles, but as a solo artist, he’s ok. Epiphany was alright…just alright. I kind of get tired of him and his Auto-Tune thing, but it’s not his fault exactly: its just we all hear him too often singing the same similar hook over and over again on some single. Usually the rapper who’s song he’s on is bad, but T-Pain makes his money anyway. He’ll be in the game as long as he can, but I don’t see him as king. I do agree that he is “The Ringleader” though.

OK, Now I’m gonna talk about the other rappers we know and love, and where I think they might be in 10 years.

Jay-Z: In 10 years, Jay will have become a Billionaire no doubt. He’ll most likely have stopped rapping, and will just concentrate on working with Roc Nation, which, by the way, will become the next Def Jam.

Lil’ Wayne: You know he’s never going to stop. I see Weezy going straight for the throat lyrically at this point, but if his albums don’t sell like they used to, expect him to be killing the Mixtape game, I don’t care what he says about mixtape DJs. If he’s still in the game, he’s the king, hands down.

The Game: Retired.

50 Cent: Retired as soon as Before I Self-Destruct comes out: people will be tired of his bullshit by then. Just playin’, but for real, I don’t see 50 still in the game 10 years from now.

Eminem: Retired: King Mathers will be out, at this rate, in 2010, and then he’ll try to make another album, but it’ll turn into the Detox.

Dr. Dre: Still producing: Detox finally came out, and was amazing, just like everyone knew it would be.

T.I.:  An early retirement: he goes the way of Ice Cube and becomes an actor when he hits his mid-30s, only he’s in better movies (T.I. already said he will stop rapping when he hits his mid-30s)

Kanye: Still Producing. I can’t really say whether he’ll still be rapping. Only time will tell.

Snoop Dogg: Still rapping! I don’t think Snoop Dogg will ever stop. Why? Because he can.

Nas:  Still putting it down. Nas will be one of those rappers that consistently brings us that heat every other album. He’ll still be telling the truth about what’s going on in the world.

Outkast: Long retired, but still classic.

Conclusion: Well, I say we still need some newer, younger acts that can spit, but I mean I don’t think the future is all bad. We still got cats who can spit and really put it down like Blu and Banks. If I had to crown a king right now out of who we have, I’d say Banks, only because he has the popularity and the skill. But if Weezy is still in the game and selling records, he’s got it.

My Top Three (If Wayne is still successful)
1. Lil Wayne
2. Lloyd Banks
3. Blu

Honorable Mentions: Huey, Webbie, T-Pain

  1. Asher Roth is the future! seriously, that new mixtape GE is fire, and his rich white college kid will sell like crazy, i guarantee it. white kids everywhere will pick him up, cause he’s talented, funny, and he’s not so underground as you say- steve rifkind just signed him to SRC, and akon and andre 3k and a bunch of others are cosigning him.

  2. Lloyd banks?! Hell no. Luda and T.I would be KING before him. Where is Jeezy? Disappointing. Plies? Currensy is coming up. What about the Cool kids? Their album’s gonna drop. Young Dro is fanbase is rising, slowly, but it’s rising.

  3. There Will Be A Hell Of A Lot More “Parts” To This Column If You Wanna Cover The Damage Control From Leaving People Off! lol… Nonetheless, Another Good Addition…

  4. Im just gonna put it out there…You think Weezy’ll be alive the way hes livin? Talkin shit all the time, sip sippin on some sip sippin on some sizzurp, and catchin cases. Shit hes gonna hafta make some changes at least.

    Crome – Plies?????????? seriously…come on man

    Ima give it to David Banner. I mean I doubt he’ll be going hard in 10 years, but he’ll be like our representative. The dude already testified in front of congress for hip hop. That shit should get him an honorable mention.

  5. @Crome and V-G

    I didn’t leave that many people off this time. T.I. is retiring early, Luda I’m too sure about him, he’ll be 40 in 10 years. Jeezy, he’ll be older than Luda. PLIES?? Never. Young Dro is good, but I just don’t know, man. Lloyd Banks has a 2 album, going on 3 albums track record, and 2 plaques on his belt. Dro IS good, but all his fame came off one single with the only guy on Grand Hustle thats popular(T.I.)!

    The Cool Kids are GOOD, we know that, but you need POPULARITY to become king of hip-hop. They just dont have that, but they are new in the game, so you never know.

    Dammit…looks like Part III is on the way! Look, if I make a part three, then that’ll be the last one! Just tell me who you want on it down here on the comment thing.

  6. i doubt david banner will be doing much in 10 years, but i have to agree with aybay..asher roth is one of the easiest to sell in that list, especially since the percentage of white hip hop listeners is growing rapidly

    we also slept on wale from DC…now i know he’s still underground, but if he keeps putting shit out and gets some solid promotion, he could be big

    im still hoping blu takes the crown

  7. I, Personally, Don’t Think You Left Anybody Out, You Just Gon Be Dealing Out Major Damage Control For Leaving People Out That Others Want On The List….

  8. There will be someone young who takes the crown. Not anyone of these on the list just keep waiting and that’s the truth

  9. What about Hurricane Chris?! He’s whack as hell! but at least he’s more of a rapper than SB!! And don’t forget Jibbs lol, what ever happened to him?!

  10. why would game be retired??? i know he said he would after LAX but there is no such thing as a retired rapper…plus game will only be like 37 at that point. i think he’ll still be going. probably after a break of a couple years.

  11. it looks like everyone thinks theres someone left out but really there isnt, which kinda shows where hip-hop is going. you think theres someone else but in reality, you really wish there was…

  12. @H20
    It’s Never Going To End.. lol…

    @Infamous F
    I Like Hurricane…. Honestly.
    Jibbs Is Fuckin With SB, Now… I Thought Jibbs Was Alrite, But Not Anymore. Youtube “Kaveman” Jibbs ft. SB… It’s Horrible… They Rip The Geico Commercial!

    @Calvin
    Game Is One Of My Favorite Rappers Right Now, But I Don’t Think He’ll Be Around In 10 Years.. Well, I See Him Being Around, Just Not Rapping.

  13. Oh, Yeah… I’m Patiently Waitin For Ya Boy To Blow Up….

    And In 10 Years Crooked I Will Still be One Of The Best Rappers On The Low, But He Still Won’t Be Famous. Haha.. Poor Crooked…

  14. you’re really sleeping on asher roth. andre 3k, akon, jay all co signing him is gonna get him really noticed when his debut drops. did you hear the whole GE tape? shit was straight fire.

  15. boosie might blow also….. niggas got heart, and is really versatile- he makes hits and some thought provoking shit

    also, lloyd banks wont be shit in the future, because he doesn’t have personality or the charisma. hes a good rapper, but will never be lil wayne popular or hova big or anything. seriously.

  16. Young Chris is the new king of hip-hop. seriously, if you haven’t checked for him recently you have to listen to his new shit. Download especially the track “Party.” its fire. hes been on his grind lately, building up a buzz by dropping quality track after quality track just like weezy did a couple years back. hes gonna blow, mark my words

  17. Rick Ross anyone? i know he only talks bout hustlin, but hes still 1 2 watch 4 da future i think. Trilla is a solid album, n the last track for me shows potential of how he can expand lyrically in the future.

  18. Oh yea, you forgot to add Mims too!! lol. Damn, the list of whack rappers just keeps on going, it’s a damn shame…

  19. Asher Roth- Niggas See Him As Novelty And Not As Being Prominent In The Future…

    Boosie- Is About As Big As He’ll Ever Get. He’s Is Too Inconsistent To Make It Any Bigger.

    Young Chris- Imma His Fanboy… Haven’t Heard This “Party” Track…

    Blu- Have No Idea Who He Is

    Mims- Sucks

    Ricky Ross Is Around Jeezy’s Age And Is In His Golden years Right Now… It Wont Last. I Like Him A Lot But, I Don’t See The Area’s In Which He Could Expand.

    Ya Boy- Im His Fanboy Too… Like We Used To Say In The 6th Grade… He “Off Da Chain”!

  20. I hate Boosie yo, he sounds like a granny rapping, that nigga mad annoying!!

    What do you think about Hot Rod from G-Unit?! I like Juice better, I hope The Game gets BWS running after he retires, then I think Juice has a good chance of getting noticed. But that’s IF BWS gets out there…

    And I got another whack rapper for the list, Spider Loc!! What do you think about him?

  21. I Like Boosie, He’s Just Inconsistent.

    I Only Heard Like One Hot Rod Song Before… He Isn’t Interesting…

    And Black Wall Street Is The Shit! Hardest Clique In The Game. Well, A Tie Between Street Fam And BWS…

  22. u shud do a king of r’nb for your next article, with the likes of chris brown, neyo, ryan leslie etc etc if your into that sort of stuff

  23. Where’s the love for Juelz??????
    He hasn’t released an album lately but that boy can spit no doubt…
    and what about “Tha Joker”????
    Look him up on YouTube..
    He’s on Wayne level in my opinon…

    1

  24. no the joker is gud. he was on guccis aqua water remix. dont be fooled by the gucci appearance he got game.

  25. I realize working at this site isn’t easy, but you guys should try to make more articles like this like you used to.

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