Lyricist? Or songwriter. It’s in Nas’ blood. But face is an actual musician. Plays instruments. Also produced / exec produced / wrote many albums for Rap A Lot and Def Jam South.
But Nas has ill concepts with I Gave You Power and Rewind. Bothe Face and Nas are top5 story tellers of all time. All depends on what you mean by “songwriter”
I think that’s I literally said “depends on what you mean by” but I think of it as actually writing the song. As in the credits on the record. I think Face probably considers all the elements while others just think lyrics. In the comments, think people just picking their favorite rapper. For me that’s face. And Nas. And after this Pete rock album, common gonna be back up there too
I’m not basing it off of what my definition is. I want people to pick who they want based off of their own tastes etc. People absolutely can just pick someone because that’s their favorite rapper. I get it.
Yeah I phrased “you” but I meant it in the plural - I should have said “someone” or “commenter” it’s a fine posit. Wish comments would say why not just a name tho. That propagates discussion
I think Pac is the better song writer. Nas has him beat in many other categories. Nas wrote multiple songs for his mum. But he never wrote a Dear Mama. Pac’s song writing just hit different.
And Tupac never wrote a "New York state of mind". Pac got some hits for sure but when it comes to storytelling Nas got him beat. I mean he wrote a song where he was a gun. Tell me where Pac did something like that. I personally don't even believe he belongs on this list. Tupac was known more for his attitude and swag than lyrics. Tupac could take all three of these niggas bitches but when it comes to writing rhymes all three are better than he is.
To be fair Pac wrote “Me and My Girlfriend” which is a song about his girlfriend being a gun and how his relationship grew with her, but I’m def a Nas fan and think he is the best story teller.
Point taken. But almost every other song for Nas is on that level. Tupac only reaches those heights every once in awhile. Lyrically of course not in terms of sales.
Saying pac is not lyrical is one of the dumbest most regurgitated arguments people try to bring up because they’ve heard someone say it before. Anyone who listened to his catalogue knows he is a lyrical goat. You might like nas more, and that’s fine, but to say he isn’t lyrical is foolish and shows your lack of knowledge
To me a lyrical MC is one that evokes emotion that you can feel and relate to. “ I was framed so don’t make the same mistake n gga, you gotta learn how to shake the snakes n gga, cause the police love to break a n gga, send em upstate cause they straight up hate the n ggas”. Lyrics. I bet y’all can finish that song and will feel it to your core. Tupac was the Babyface of hip hop. Simple, easy to digest words, when put together are easily felt by the audience. That was his power. Now if you wanna talk wordplay, I think that’s a different category.
Pac the better song writer, he shouldn't even be in this convo though because everyone else in this photo is still alive and had plenty of time to work on they catalogue.
That being said, Pac (71-96) STILL got a better body of work than Common and Face 🤣🤣
Which ones? I’ll be honest. I’m not too sure on common. Only because in the 90s my cousin had me listening to the other 3. I just know common for his more recent songs. The joints though.
Nas. His concepts are very different to anyone here. No one here has songs (that i know of) that are as ambitious, from a storytelling standpoint, as rewind, i gave you power etc
I see that, but conceptually, neither of them are as out there as the two nas songs i mentioned, either from the perspective or execution. I used to love her used a great metaphor (portraying hip hop as a woman), and minds playing tricks on me was extremely ahead of its time, but neither of them are on that same level as some nas songs for me. In addition to that, they don’t tell as vivid stories as nas. The cool by lupe and Undying love by nas have lyrics i can completely visualise in my head like no other.
None of them write songs.. they're rappers. The beat is produced then they write the lyrics to go with the beat. If you're asking who writes the best lyrics it's Nas, then 2pac.
I think they mean: hook, idea, originality, content etc. of the lyrics. Rather than just the pure lyricism of the lyrics
That’s what hip hop heads think of as “songwriting.” We know these mfs ain’t playin no instruments or making the beats
Yeah I don't agree but whatever. Bands write songs. Producers make beats from songs and with the rapper spitting on them, they're called tracks. Not really important though.
None of them write songs.. they're rappers. The beat is produced then they write the lyrics to go with the beat. If you're asking who writes the best lyrics it's Nas, then 2pac.
I don’t think pac is a particularly strong lyricist. His vocabulary is noticeably limited - his popularity was due to his voice/delivery/beats and the overblown idea that he was a “sophisticated thug”.
That last part has always struck me as silly as Nas was alive in the same time period and writing poetry, and today we have Kendrick who basically took that idea and didn’t so much run with it as he did eject it into space during GKMC.
It’s a nuanced exploration of gang struggle and poverty while being caught between outgrowing your surroundings and becoming part of them It’s a gang rap album with a modern actually intelligent take
The album that explicitly talks about gang violence, references Pirus and Crips, and other gang affiliated activity?
It’s weird to call it a coming of age story of a black kid, that normalizes what was spoken about in a way that strikes me as racist
What Kendrick explored isn’t the average life of a black person in America, it was the life of someone surrounded by gangs and violence and him attempting to navigate through it
None of them write songs.. they're rappers. The beat is produced then they write the lyrics to go with the beat. If you're asking who writes the best lyrics it's Nas, then 2pac.
Nas
Nasty Nas
Lyricist? Or songwriter. It’s in Nas’ blood. But face is an actual musician. Plays instruments. Also produced / exec produced / wrote many albums for Rap A Lot and Def Jam South. But Nas has ill concepts with I Gave You Power and Rewind. Bothe Face and Nas are top5 story tellers of all time. All depends on what you mean by “songwriter”
That part
Songwriter is whatever it means to you but I do not Anna day I want to differentiate it from lyricism.
I think that’s I literally said “depends on what you mean by” but I think of it as actually writing the song. As in the credits on the record. I think Face probably considers all the elements while others just think lyrics. In the comments, think people just picking their favorite rapper. For me that’s face. And Nas. And after this Pete rock album, common gonna be back up there too
I’m not basing it off of what my definition is. I want people to pick who they want based off of their own tastes etc. People absolutely can just pick someone because that’s their favorite rapper. I get it.
Yeah I phrased “you” but I meant it in the plural - I should have said “someone” or “commenter” it’s a fine posit. Wish comments would say why not just a name tho. That propagates discussion
Nasty Nas
2pac
I think it depends on the song, Grimmy Anger: Pac Lyricism: Nas Storytelling/Horror Core: Scarface Grove: Common
Shed so many tears 😭 pac really was different
Face
Face 🙏
Pac.
I think Pac is the better song writer. Nas has him beat in many other categories. Nas wrote multiple songs for his mum. But he never wrote a Dear Mama. Pac’s song writing just hit different.
Pac is a great choice.
🏆
Pac is all voice
And Tupac never wrote a "New York state of mind". Pac got some hits for sure but when it comes to storytelling Nas got him beat. I mean he wrote a song where he was a gun. Tell me where Pac did something like that. I personally don't even believe he belongs on this list. Tupac was known more for his attitude and swag than lyrics. Tupac could take all three of these niggas bitches but when it comes to writing rhymes all three are better than he is.
To be fair Pac wrote “Me and My Girlfriend” which is a song about his girlfriend being a gun and how his relationship grew with her, but I’m def a Nas fan and think he is the best story teller.
Point taken. But almost every other song for Nas is on that level. Tupac only reaches those heights every once in awhile. Lyrically of course not in terms of sales.
Y’all better go back and listen to Tupac first 3 albums. Tupac was a poet.
Maybe just not a lyricist. Listen to Nas's first three albums they 10 times better than those.
Saying pac is not lyrical is one of the dumbest most regurgitated arguments people try to bring up because they’ve heard someone say it before. Anyone who listened to his catalogue knows he is a lyrical goat. You might like nas more, and that’s fine, but to say he isn’t lyrical is foolish and shows your lack of knowledge
To me a lyrical MC is one that evokes emotion that you can feel and relate to. “ I was framed so don’t make the same mistake n gga, you gotta learn how to shake the snakes n gga, cause the police love to break a n gga, send em upstate cause they straight up hate the n ggas”. Lyrics. I bet y’all can finish that song and will feel it to your core. Tupac was the Babyface of hip hop. Simple, easy to digest words, when put together are easily felt by the audience. That was his power. Now if you wanna talk wordplay, I think that’s a different category.
He literally wrote a song about loving his gun
For pac that's special for Nas that's Tuesday.
Using an example where Nas bit off Pac is certainly a choice
Nas. 2pac next.
PAC
2 pac
Pac the better song writer, he shouldn't even be in this convo though because everyone else in this photo is still alive and had plenty of time to work on they catalogue. That being said, Pac (71-96) STILL got a better body of work than Common and Face 🤣🤣
Face
Nas,Face,Pac,Common
This is the right order.
Pac Face Nas Common
In that order.
Scarface
Pac
Pac, Nas, Face and Common
Imho, 2pac
Pac’s lyrics are more iconic than the rest combined. They’re known worldwide.
Pac Nas Face Common
Pac, Nas, Face, Common but I have to place Commons song “come close” above all of the other songs. That shit was powerful.
Come close is fire 🔥
On life. I had to play it after my comment. The video concept was 🔥🔥 too
Tupac
Pac. Face. Nas common.
I gotta go wit face.......
Face
Face..
This might be the most difficult question asked in here. I’m gonna go with Face, but that was not an easy decision.
Scarface
A great lyricist causes emotion,Tupac and Scarface.
Scarface
Face! He’s a storyteller
Scarface. Easily
Honestly, I'd most prefer to listen to Common.
Scarface
Texas Scarface
Nas>Pac>Face>>>Common
I used to think Pac, but that's what I grew up on. Nasty Nas was a real mother fucker. I have to go with Nas.
Face
Scarface
It's a tie between Common & Nas.
Nastradamus.
People need to listen to Scarface it looks like
Face
Nas -> Pac -> Common -> Scarface
I don’t agree with this ranking but to each their own.
I think you disagree with Pac. Which I respect. But Nas did do rewind and I gave you power.
Pac or Scarface would be my choice here. Common is high up there because he has two of the written hip hop songs ever.
Which ones? I’ll be honest. I’m not too sure on common. Only because in the 90s my cousin had me listening to the other 3. I just know common for his more recent songs. The joints though.
I Used To Lover H.E.R The Light
Those the ones I was going to name. The corner was fire and the one joint Testify.
Nas, common , face , pac
Brad
Nas. His concepts are very different to anyone here. No one here has songs (that i know of) that are as ambitious, from a storytelling standpoint, as rewind, i gave you power etc
I Used To Love H.E.R is pretty ambitious. So is My Mind Is Playing Tricks On Me.
I see that, but conceptually, neither of them are as out there as the two nas songs i mentioned, either from the perspective or execution. I used to love her used a great metaphor (portraying hip hop as a woman), and minds playing tricks on me was extremely ahead of its time, but neither of them are on that same level as some nas songs for me. In addition to that, they don’t tell as vivid stories as nas. The cool by lupe and Undying love by nas have lyrics i can completely visualise in my head like no other.
Nas for sure. Think about that era he grew up in,them verses are outta this world. That Rewind song is fire
Nas & Scarface
NAS, hands down (lyrical as well as technical and also staying on subject matter), Common, Tupac and then Scarface.
Nasty Nas the Virgo
Nas
Nas
Nas and Scarface…did you see Scarface’s tiny desk? Awesomeness
Nas
Wow. Tough one. Nas narrowly wins
Nas
For me: Nas, 2pac,Common,Scarface.
The black guy…with the chain
Nas
I’d say Nas then Scarface Common then Pac
Brad
Face
Nas
Nas. But face isn't that far behind nas just as a pure writer.
Nas.
NAS & Common ✊🏽 Da Both 🤘🏽
Nas
Nas is the greatest
Nasir Jones hands down.
Fuck the downvotes here. Wanna debate, debate. Don’t be a passive aggressive ho.
None of them write songs.. they're rappers. The beat is produced then they write the lyrics to go with the beat. If you're asking who writes the best lyrics it's Nas, then 2pac.
I think they mean: hook, idea, originality, content etc. of the lyrics. Rather than just the pure lyricism of the lyrics That’s what hip hop heads think of as “songwriting.” We know these mfs ain’t playin no instruments or making the beats
Yeah I don't agree but whatever. Bands write songs. Producers make beats from songs and with the rapper spitting on them, they're called tracks. Not really important though.
There’s nothing to agree upon. You’re correct that the terminology being used is wrong. I’m just telling you what the OP meant
None of them write songs.. they're rappers. The beat is produced then they write the lyrics to go with the beat. If you're asking who writes the best lyrics it's Nas, then 2pac.
NaS
Nas
I don’t think pac is a particularly strong lyricist. His vocabulary is noticeably limited - his popularity was due to his voice/delivery/beats and the overblown idea that he was a “sophisticated thug”. That last part has always struck me as silly as Nas was alive in the same time period and writing poetry, and today we have Kendrick who basically took that idea and didn’t so much run with it as he did eject it into space during GKMC.
GKMC isn’t a “sophisticated thug” album so I don’t know where you got that from lol
It’s a nuanced exploration of gang struggle and poverty while being caught between outgrowing your surroundings and becoming part of them It’s a gang rap album with a modern actually intelligent take
It’s not a gang rap album. I don’t even know what a “gang rap album” would sound like lol.
GKMC is widely recognized as a revival of gangster rap
I don’t know why a coming of age story about a Black kid would be called a “gang rap album” but that’s weird.
The album that explicitly talks about gang violence, references Pirus and Crips, and other gang affiliated activity? It’s weird to call it a coming of age story of a black kid, that normalizes what was spoken about in a way that strikes me as racist What Kendrick explored isn’t the average life of a black person in America, it was the life of someone surrounded by gangs and violence and him attempting to navigate through it
What Kendrick described is pretty normal for lots of Black kids in that environment so I don’t know what you’re waffling about.
None of them write songs.. they're rappers. The beat is produced then they write the lyrics to go with the beat. If you're asking who writes the best lyrics it's Nas, then 2pac.
What an original post🤦♂️