There’s loads of talent still coming out of the West these days. Some are coming under the radar and some are working with the biggest names in hip hop. Regardless, they all have talent. Who do you think has the skills to be the best of the best of the new crop of emcees out of the West coast? Discuss why you think they are the best or about to be the best or have potential to be the best in the comments section.
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{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
I feel like I’m alone on the fact that I’m still not convinced by Blu. I feel like there are a few flaws in his craft still and he needs to tweak them. A major release could be good for him though.
There should be NO doubt about Blu after “Below The Heavens”. The young lion perfected his craft on that album and the other 2 that followed. I also wanted to vote for Bishop Lamont, though.
But I don’t think Below the Heavens was flawless lyrically. In fact, I found myself wondering MOST during Below the Heavens that his lyricality can be called into question.
CRAC just reasserted my opinion.
Then again, a song like Hold On is tremendous
Pac Dic & Blu = 1
U.N.I & Tiron = 2
all the others are scattered underneath somewhere
I gave U-N-I my vote after “Arcade Remix” I gave them my salute lol. Blu is undeniably a lyrical monster. Given he does have his moments i.e. “Crac” Overall in Below the Heavens it was a extraordinary verbal experience. I definitely see both Sean’s & Phil’s views as accurate opinions. Also TiRon deserves a vote as well he is on a parallel boat as Blu rhyme skills are amazing but, Tiron has a better story telling side to him.
Doesn’t anyone think PacDiv and UNI are just… more Cool Kids?
Perhaps I’m being reactionarily judgmental though
Nippsy Hussle ..I’m rollin with that youngin…there’s alot more mcs like Balance out of the bay area and Jay Rock reppin’ Watts and on the production side …I phucks with Terrance Martin he has that g-funk stank… Well that ’s my 2 cents, lol
The battle between Ra and Geology will be interesting
My vote definitely goes to Blu. I feel that not only is he a great emcee in conventional terms of flow and delivery, but he’s also got somethin special about him that makes him stand out as an artist. I think this might have to do with the beats he chooses: not only does he rap over dope soulful beats but he can also come at you from some leftfield kind of place. He kind of reminds me of Murs like that (not from the way he raps, but from his artistry). However, I think a major release would take some shine from him, I think he carved himself a nice underground niche there for people who have a more refined taste for rap
Bishop Lamont is getting caught up in some stupid beef, so ehhh. I like Blu, but DAMN I LOVE NIPSEY HUSSLE. I got both Bullets Ain’t Got No Name tapes, and when I saw him live? oooowwweeeeeee!!
i lik all these artists but honestly none can compare to blu. i found out about below the heavens b4 it blew up as a recomendatoin from a fairly reliable source and it blew my mind. the lyrics are amazing, touching, soulful, insightful, his lyricism is jaw dropping he spits with emotion hides nothing from the listener in my opinion Below the Heavens is one of the best hip hop albums. ever. and it is my personal favorite although for groundbreakingness and other reasons i definitely see other undeniable classics, i think this is right up ther with them. The only thing you could knock on below the heavens IMO is juice n dranks which is an average track. This is my opinion of Blu after Below The Heavens. The Lifted EP is great too. His two other projects had nothing on below the heavens but werent bad. And blu’s lyrics on exile’s dirty science album were great too; one of my favorite verses was his entire verse on MAintain, “Sittin alone, bumpin common sense blown, not off the chronic but off the knowledge in his dome”
I’m a big Bishop Lamont fan. I’m just afraid that he’s so loyal to Aftermath we’re never gonna see an official release. Who’s the last person signed to Aftermath to put an album out other than Game, Em, or 50? Nobody. Everyone else has been dropped.
Blu I like. I don’t think he’s a perfect emcee like some cats, but he definately has some killer wordplay.
there’s some much talent on the west….i voted for bishop…but i’m a pac div, uni, nipsey hussle & blu fan as well
Look out for that “Larceny presents – The New West” compilation featuring Glasses Malone, Jay Rock, Crooked I, U-N-I, Strong Arm Steady, Problem, & more!!
Mark Breezy – Will do, Strong Arm Steady will always have a place in my playlist
fashawn
blue scholars and common market are dope too dont know if id call them new cuz they both a few albums deep jus been slept on till recently theyve got a LITTLE shine
Blu all day!
Love U-N-I, but Blu hands down…
where’s fashawn?
Im going with Blu he got 2 really good albums guest spots are kinda questionable I like Pac Div but I need more music from them U-N-I I feel are overrated but I havent heard 2 much from them
1. Blu
2. RA Scion
3. Geology
I don’t consider Bishop Lamont a newcomer, otherwise he would be #2.
“Doesn’t anyone think PacDiv and UNI are just… more Cool Kids?
Perhaps I’m being reactionarily judgmental though” – Sean Deez
Im curious as to what you base the PacDiv = Cook Kids comparison on. F.A.T. Boys? Mayor? Shut Up? No doubt that these sounds do have that same type sound, but have you listened to the Seal for Freshness Blendtape? Laid back tracks like Relax, Passin’ Me By, How We Chill and Grown Kid Syndrome? (and tracks like Women Problems, All I Want, Gorgeous, and Wake Up that weren’t on the Blendtape.) I don’t hear The Cool Kids vibe-ing(sp?) out like that ever.
I dig both groups and while they have their similarities, PacDiv is straight chill most of the time but can still kick it up a notch and rock out. The Cool Kids so far are just some high energy good fun music, which is all good, too! I can’t really speak on U-N-I that much, but with songs like Beautiful Day and Night Nurse, how could you complain? More chill music to just vibe out to!
As for the top newcomer? Blu. Below the Heavens is just in that zone the whole time, and while C.R.A.C. and Johnson&Jonson might not have killed it on the same level, it showed his diversity in my opinion. The man put out an almost undeniable classic in my eyes on his first try and isn’t afraid to try new things. Listen to Show Me the Good Life or First Things First and tell me you can’t relate, actually that goes for almost every track on the CD for me, but maybe that’s why I love it so much?
I agree with Toast about Pac Div. They are not a replica of Cool Kids. I think they are a legit group with the lyrics and concepts. U-N-I is cool (really just getting into them) also but I would have to choose Pac Div over them. And yea Fashawn and Blu could go neck for neck as the top.
blu is definitely my favorite rapper right now. everything the guy touches turns to gold. below the heavens is my favorite album of all time. he’s a god on the mic!
that’s just my opinion though.
i agree i can relate to blu, he is my favorit and i lik all albums AND guest appearances iv herd and below the heavens certified classic in my book and my favorit album
Nice call on Fashawn
Blu’s winning by landslide!
Damn, I was kinda hoping you’d get at me Deez! I saw you arguing all day with people I thought I’d throw my views out there.
Anyway, good job with the posts today guys, started a lot of good convos.
Blu, Geo, and Ra are no doubt far above the rest. I would have to go with Ra Scion tho. Somethin about his lyrics and flow connect. Its something ive never heard before. So good.
When I get a chance I’ma lace yall with some links to a few up & comin’ emcees from outta CA. I think there’s a lotta good nu talent that deserves recognition along with the above mentioned emcees.
If you wanna look ‘em up on myspace check these names:
NoCanDo
Kail
Ex-I
Drake Blackmon
Rheteric
Fredo Algebra
Diego Redd
Blu without a doubt
Fashawn is real nice too but nothing groundbreaking
If UNI stick with Dibiase then they’ll keep turning out some dope vibes
Pac Div are crazy as long they avoid the played out Mayor or FAT boys type joints…..YAWNNNNNN….but Swiff D is ridiculous, the best up and coming producer after Exile imo
yall left out that kid BUGSY from LAS VEGAS..
damn
Blu hands down, i think its rare these days for an album to drop and be hailed the way below the heavens was. I think it is or will be seen as a classic. I agree he isn’t a complete emcee yet but he’s already dropped a doper lp than most popular artists today have coughlilwaynecough. But it is a good crop of young emcees, i think the past couple years have seen hip hop in resurgence, 2008 was a great year.
. . im gonna have to throw my vote to u-n-i. .. beats. . style. lyrics. .cali.
As far as what I’ve been really feelin lately would be a few cats form the left; U.N.I, Fashawn, and Shawn Jackson. Each artist or duo (u.n.i) bring their own thing to the table, but Shawn Jackson has really been rockin with the solid rhymes and dope beats that he rides on, that don’t leave the listener hangin’. He’s a must to check out if you haven’t : album “First of All”
ok ok ok… U-N-I is decent, but I kinda find ‘em plain jane hip-hop… Idunno. They’re clean but nuthin really innovative. For instance, when Quannum/Solesides first dropped back in the early 90’s ppl were like holy SHIT! wtf is this?!!! and the only person from the list that really did that (at least when i saw him live) was Blu…
To each their own tho the cats listed are still cool choices i suppose.
yeah, I heard Blu is a great live act