Is Tupac What You Make Him Out to Be?

I touched a little bit on Tupac in my last post, "Top 10 Most Overrated Rappers". If you were pissed then, just go ahead and exit this post. I got credit for you view already, anyway. Anyway, let me begin by saying that Tupac is one my favorite rappers of all time. He's great. His lyrical substance related to people not only in America, but across the globe. He addressed many social issues on and off the mic. As far as impact, and many other intangibles, he may very well be the best to bless a microphone (along with Jay-Z, but I'll discuss that in another post).

Tupac - Hail Mary

Now, I had to tackle this issue because there are a lot of brainwashed idiots out here (especially on my Twitter timeline) that just won't accept the fact Tupac is not, bar-for-bar, the best rapper ever. I was even open and decided to ask my followers to give me Pac's hottest line. You probably can guess what they said. "I ain't a killer, but don't push me....". You know the rest. Don't get me wrong, that's real sh*t. Now. Where's the creativity in that line? Where's the part where I go, "OHHHHH SH*T!"? Now I FULLY understand that rap is not about punchlines, metaphors, similes, and hyperbole, but you have to have something besides lyrical substance. If "real sh*t" makes you the best, then 1) Most of your favorite rappers are unqualified. 2) There are soooooo many deserving rappers that you don't know about that are soooooo much better than your favorite rappers. Regardless, Pac had nice lines like "I see no change, all I see is racist faces/ Misplaced hate makes disgrace for races", and "Keep a vest for protection, from the barrel of a Smith & Wesson/ And all my niggass in the pen, here we go again/ Ain't nothin' separatin' us from a Mack-10." His had meaning, but what else? Assonance? Cool, I guess. I guess what I'm trying to say is, Tupac wasn't very versatile. 

Big L ft. Tupac - Deadly Combination (Biggie's verse isn't really on this song).

Jay-Z - 22 Two's 

Big L - The Heist

Rappers like Jay-Z, B.I.G, and Big L, during Pac's time period (Big L, a little after) had wordplay, meaningful lines, story-telling abilities, creativity, flow, unique rhyming schemes, etc. As far as rapping, and rapping alone, they had Pac beaten. Don't come at me with the whole "Mannn, Pac was an innovator. He paved the way and influenced..." STOP IT! I'm talking about RAPPING, not street construction. Get outta here, pimp. People always find ways to bring up everything BESIDES rapping when it comes to comparing rappers. Open up your mind. 

All in all, Pac is still one of the greatest rap ARTISTS of all time. He made hits, meaningful songs, and great albums. Especially "Me Against the World". He was poetic, revolutionary, and impactful. He elevated the genre and made timeless music. His influence lasted for almost two decades, and will probably be infinite. However, he does not have all the components to be the greatest lyricist, or more generally, the greatest RAPPER of all time. And with that being said, COMMENT BELOW IF YOU GOT A PROBLEM!

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-@CjayTheGreat