Everyone knows that Elvis is the King of Rock and Michael Jackson is the King of Pop. Right now, Hip-hop rules the airwaves. It’s playing when you are driving, when you are in the grocery store, and as some guy’s ringtone. Hip-hop has given us a lot of talented and sometimes puzzling stars. So, who is King?
Hip Hop music started in the 1970s. While The Who and Led Zeppelin were playing sold out shows, the innovators of hip-hop were just getting started. At first, people paid little attention to the genre —they liked their Bon Jovi and Duran Duran records. But hip-hop eventually caught on, and two of the most important players were Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. The hip-hop heroes of the day, their lives were cut short by the violence of the east coast- west coast rap rivalry, but their unique sound and brutal lyrics helped revolutionize hip-hop.
Enter JAY-Z His lyrics were about growing up in a poor neighborhood and of rap music we hear today. Jay-Z also knows how to make a business deal. This summer, he and Kanye West teamed up to release Watch the Throne, and album sales skyrocketed.
LIL WAYNE In recent years it has been Wayne’s world. He’s been to “hell and back” and he can “show you vouchers.” We love him because he isn’t afraid to be himself, and that shines through in his lyrics. With Tha Carter IV, he proves that he isn’t just a rapper, but an artist. Some may argue that Lil Wayne’s newest creation is too over the top…but Lil Wayne is over the top. Again, we love him for that.
EMINEM Rolling Stone recently named Eminem the king. Arguably the most famous name in the business, Marshall Mathers, is one of a kind. When he first arrived, the world had never heard a mouth so foul. This was not music you wanted to listen to with grandma. Eminem was the master at shocking people with his brutally honest lyrics about life in Detroit. These days he’s sobered up and is giving us life advice, which makes him even more brilliant.
DRAKE After the past few years, Drake is no longer just the kid from Degrassi. He has become one of the biggest names in the game since signing a record deal with Young Money Entertainment. Drake’s lyrics are good, but what makes him stand out is the fact that he can rap and sing. His new album is set to drop in November 2011.
WIZ KHALIFA The Steelers, the University of Iowa, Mizzou….it’s all “Black and Yellow,” one of Wiz Khalifa’s most popular creations yet. Wiz was born a military brat and traveled all around the world at a young age. His songs document the things he learned along the way, and he pairs his words of wisdom with beats and choruses that will be stuck in your head all day long.
KID CUDI How many times have you seen a guy’s Facebook status as “I’ve got 99 problems and they all bitches?” Well, he’s a Cudi fan. Kid Cudi is for the deeper, philosophical, angst person. He isn’t like other commercialized rappers, but he has a huge following and his shows usually sell out. Kid Cudi raps about his views on life and has become a rap hero in his own right.
NICKI MINAJ Hip-hop isn’t just a man’s world either. Nicki Minaj is spunky, fast, and downright crazy. She goes through the colors of the rainbow in her hair, but also in her wardrobe full of leotards, plastic body suits, and bedazzled stilettos. Yes, her unique sense of style gets our attention, but this girl can rap. She’s already got 8-year-olds from London following in her footsteps. Nicki Minaj is hip-hop decadence at its best.
So, there you have it. These are the top rulers on the hip-hop scene. They are all equally worthy to be named King or even Queen. Jay-Z has the record sales, Lil Wayne has the popularity, Eminem has the legend, and Nicki has the girl power, but who really does wear the crown in the hip-hop universe? You decide.
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