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After ‘Rather You Than Me,” Rick Ross should probably be in the G. O. A. T. conversation. I say perhaps because I’m one of those Hip Hop bosses who thought no one could spit better than Rakim. Of course, I adore Kurtis Blow, Grandmaster Flash, Slick Rick, L. L. Cool J, Ice Cube, and Ran D.M.C. In the late 80s, those guys were the best on my shortlist. That’s what I thought until Snoop Dogg and Tha Dogg Pound.
Soon we had The Notorious B. I. G, Guru, Wu-Tang, Luniz, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Eric Sermon, Keith Murry, Redman, MC Lyte, Ma$e, Cypress Hill, and of course Tupac, L. L. Cool J, Queen Latifah, and Nas who made it into the 90s. Considering, you know, I’m mainly referencing the mainstream emcees I was listening to. We all agree that there were so many more excellent emcees like Biz Markie—unique Ed and D.O.C. who did not get their proper shine. The list would be endless if we decided to name every dope emcee who lived.
At one time in Hip Hop, it seemed like there was a new group of excellent emcees every five years. The Fugees, Outkast, Mobb Deep, The Lox, Carpone N Norega, Queen Pen, Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, A Tribe Called Quest, Onyx, Busta Rhymes, Goodie Mobb, West Side Connection, etc. Even with the arrival of instant legends like D.M.X., Big Pun, and Eminem, everyone was settled on Tupac, Biggie, Jay Z, Nas, and Snoop being the top five greatest emcees ever. This is while Birdman and Master P claimed the South with Cash Money and No Limit Records. Then 50 Cent blew up. Papoose, Ludacris, Remy Ma, Trick Daddy, Trina, TI, E.V.E., Cassidy, D Block, Beanie Sigel, Freeway, and AZ were out.
Veterans like L. L. Cool J, Q Tip, and Ice Cube were slowing down, and Jay Z, P. Diddy, and Snoop rose to good status. “Snap” arrived. The Hip Hop community started complaining about how the new rappers sounded washed up. People began giving into conspiracy theories about the Hip Hop Police working with major record labels and distribution companies to destroy the core of Hip Hop. They say endorsing or signing the wackest emcees is a plot against the Kulture. The newer generation is gay. Of course, Hip Hop was immediately called out as a homophobic culture. And with the success of the civil rights movement, being homophobic became one of the most terrible names to be called.
The people believe in the streets. They define great emcees by a Kultural essence”
Lil Wayne had entered his prime, and Kanye West seemed destined to return the music to its glory. That did not happen. Instead, Jay Z, Nas, and Lil Wayne climbed to the top, while most other rappers fell out of the limelight. Then Pusha T, Young Jeezy (later shortened to Jeezy), and Gucci Mane entered. Ross came with a Jay-Z type of swagger. He owns his label, seems baptized in the Kulture, and has dope bars with a sic flow. He was the immediate savior of Hip Hop. He was a former corrections officer until the scandal became widespread.
The savior of Hip Hop is a former correctional officer. That should have been a career end for Rick Ross, but it was not. The “Teflon Don” blew us away with one solid album after another. Everyone who listened to his records agreed on one thing. The guy can rap! The Hip Hop community is at odds with the police because of racial profiling, destroying the future of millions of youth, with police brutality and bizarre murder of unarmed black and brown men. Any emcee that has a connection to them loses credibility instantly.
But Rick Ross stood firm. We had seen him hold his own with guys like Future, 2 Chains, and Drake (who also lost some credibility when Meek Mill, a Rick Ross artist, revealed that he does not write his lyrics). Rick Ross has worked with a lot of great emcees as well. He always seems to have a positive spin in every situation. And his work is as good if not better in some cases.
If you’re looking for that original flow right now, you’ll have to go with The Game, J Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Kevin Gates, or Rick Ross. Although the stain from being a corrections officer is immovable, from “Port of Miami” to “Rather You Than Me,” Rick Ross has consistently delivered dope bars, sic flows with a profound awareness of the Kulture in his music. He should be considered one of the best masters of ceremony.*
