Vibe Presents: The 21 Most Important Black Artists Alive (Under 40)!

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The folks over at Vibe has done it again. This time, they’re ranking the top 21 important artists under 40. Now due to some technical difficulties, we get to talk about it in a FROCAST coming soon, so we’ll try and hold our comments until you hear that…well, at least we’ll hold them until the comments section. And yes Jerm, MC Lyte IS younger than 40. Anyway, here’s a link and the list for those who don’t wanna deal with the slide show.

21. Soulja Boy
20. Nicki Minaj
19. Chris Brown
18. Drake
17. Rihanna
16. Neyo
15. Busta Rhymes
14. Lil Kim
13. D’ Angelo
12. Will.i.Am
11. Lauryn Hill
10. 50 Cent
9. Missy Elliott
8. MC Lyte
7. Lil’ Wayne
6. Nas
5. Usher
4. Snoop Dogg
3. Outkast
2. Beyonce
1. Kanye

Source: Vibe

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Saule Wright
The Black Alex P. Keaton
Saule Wright *the "e" is silent* is a chill cat that loves his Hip-Hop and R&B music. At times, he may throw in a few extra words here and there in his reviews, but he makes an effort to comment on the track, the lyrics, and other elements in each song when doing nappyafro's legendary track by track process. If he's not wandering around nappyafro.com trying to spark conversation, you'll find him either on soulections.com or twitter doing the same. Respected by many, disrespected by many, and respectful of both.
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32 Comments

  2. Why in the hell is Soulja Boy on the list? I’m surprised Rick Ross isn’t on the list…… I’ll rather him to be on the list than Soulja

    Reply

    2. The fact that Rawse isn’t on the list but 50 is…that’s fucking insane. Hell, Eminem just dropped back to back multi-platinum albums in a time when nobody goes platinum. Not to mention the only rapper with 2 Superbowl commercials last year. Just sayin….

      Reply

      3. Well it says black artists…I’d be mad as hell if I was Ross though having had a ridiculous 2010 and then seeing Soulja Boy make the list instead of him

        Reply

        2. I think Soulja Toy I meant Soulja Boy paid somebody to put his name on the list. That’s why I stop fucking with Vibe years ago. They be saying some outrageous shit!

          I just realized Em wasn’t on the list but then again he isn’t black either. I’ll rather them to put Beanie Sigel, or Curren$y or Slim Thug before they throw Soulja Toy up there.

          When in the fuck is Bun B on the list?? Smh! Dude been running shit since 92. This is the prime example on why I don’t mess with VIBE no more. No T.I. either? Smh!

          *Sidenote: I really don’t like the fact Drake is on the list over other people who I feel is way more important*

          Reply

          3. *smacks PfromdaD in the backa hims head*

            no Bun bashing with I’m around son!
            Bun-B is right up there with our Southern Greats, like Andre3k, Scarface, Devin The Dude, Pimp-C, 8ball & MJG, Slim Thug, Luda, T.I., David Banner, Killer Mike, Lil Jon in his prime and a handful of other.

            To put it simply, there’d be no KRIT without Bun paving the way. and that goes for too many other rappers to count, (like Killer Mike). THATS why hes important.
            so say whateeeeeeever you want about any other rappers, but dont take the name of my mentor and biological pops, Bun-B (for President 2012!!!) in vain while ‘Bose is around or we gon throw down….witcha lil young Webbie looking ass…..lol

          4. @Verb
            Co-sign

            @P
            Why would Bun B not be important? Dude is always featured on songs from underground to mainstream stuff for the past 19 years. He is a southern legend and not only that he is a legend point blank. He is very significant especially when I was coming up back in the day bumping UGK. You had to be around back then to see where we are coming from. Can’t disrespect the legend like Bun. He always put it down.

      4. well Rawse wasn’t nearly as influential nor did he ever sell as much as 50, and its not what some think is better, its important. In the world of album sales and “controversy”, 50 is more important.

        Reply

        1. wait, what? how many years we going back to make that statement. Ross has been EVERYWHERE and has stayed relevant. 50 fell off like a loose Halloween mask. Sure, he was the face of the game for a while….but since then, the game has had a face lift, and his name is Rick Ross. Did you not see the last 3 award shows where Ross was damn near getting paid OT for so many appearances?

          Reply

          1. but you see, for that small amount of time, 50 as more influential than Ricky will ever be. I mean made a successful label, and i think Rick Ross is trying to follow in his footsteps through Maybach Music. 50 made a quick formula for success in hip hop. Not to mention that 50 is a better rapper than Ricky.

    1. That’s why I don’t fuck with VIBE no more. I think they be writing shit like this to piss us off and have something to talk about. They can’t possibly be in their right mind

      Reply

  5. That fact that Ross, Eminem, Alicia Keys, Fabulous, or Wale isn’t on this list, just goes to show this list is trash.

    Reply

    1. and to top it off, soulja boy is on there? The guy who is going to single handily fawk over the classic movie ‘Juice’ smh

      Reply

      1. I could cosign everything except the Wale comment. Most people didn’t even start fuckin with Wale until Rozay signed him.

        Reply

        1. While I don’t think Wale should be on there, you gotta be trippin to say most folks ain’t fuck with him until Ross signed him. Wale was at every live show on TV a year or two ago just off his buzz man.

          Reply

          1. Not like now. Since Rozay signed him Wale’s buzz has grown and he is considered a real dope artist. Before ppl were unsure of him.

  6. say what you want about Soulja’s music, but the dude is a genius on the low. His career was supposed to end in 2008, and here it is 2011 and he’s still being discussed year in and year out. Will he ever have another #1 hit or reach elite status in the game, most likely hell no. However, as a businessman and a brand, that nigga is smart as hell, and he’s only 20.

    Reply

  7. Where’s J Cole @? He is more important than all of 10 through 20 imo. By a long shot. And what about Black Thought he jus turned 40 tho I guess, Mos Def? When him and Kweli drop another classic together you’d be joking to say he’s not more important than Drake. No hate really but how is Lil Kim more important than Niki Minaj? I think Niki is good at the 20 spot and lil kim hasn’t done anything to make her an important artist right now. Nappy Afro you guys are more revelant and up to date than any of these bs big business magazines and rap sites. Keep up the hustle

    Reply

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