Essay #1:  Greatest Rapper of All Time

Nasir Jones is the greatest rapper in hip-hop history... so far.  My thesis statement is simple and to the point for two reasons: One, I want you, the reader to begin to prepare an argument, and as you continue to read my essay smile as all your points become useless and invalid.  Two, I hope this essay will continue the dialogue that has been buzzing in smoked filled bars, online chat rooms and during heated PS2 battles.  (note to reader:  If you believe due to record sales, Nelly and Hammer should be added to this discussion, please do not read any further.  It ain't getting "hot in hurh" (not a typo) and it damn sure ain't hammertime.)

Allow me to apologize.  All I've shared so far is my pen name, the title of this article and my thesis statement.  Let me provide enough info about myself that will make you appreciate my strong opinions on this hip-hop subject.  Born in the mid 70's, I'm proud to say hip-hop, and specifically rap music and I are about the same age.  I own the 12 inch version of "Rapper's Delight", understand the importance of "The Message" and it's low budget music video where at the end the members of the Furious Five all get shoved in one police car.  I also can remember the feeling I had inside when I first heard (RIP JMJ) "Sucker MC's," somewhere in my home I have a taped copy of Biz singing "Just a Friend" live on Red Alert's hip-hop show on Kiss FM, and I fully understand the significance of Juvenile's single "Ha" to the nationwide acceptance of southern rap music.  In the same vain, I'm still intrigued enough by today's music to appreciate the fire that 50 Cent's is spitting, I listen to mix tapes by Green Lantern and Whoo Kid, and read all the major Hip-Hop publications religiously.  In the immortal words of one of my favorite emcees, Kris Parker, I am hip-hop and Mr. H-Double came to tell you that Nasty Nas is the greatest rapper of all-time dated January 3, 2003.  I date my claim only because 10 years ago I might have been debating whether KRS or Rakim were the best.  Today that argument is unnecessary and that is why the date of my article is vital.  Before I proceed I have a few questions.  What criteria do you and your peeps use when you debate who's the greatest of all time?  Can the emcee freestyle?  Who produces him yo?  He got lyrics but can he rock a crowd kid?

When the Rza said, on MTV's hip-hop round table discussion, Ultra Sound: Ghetto Superstars, that to his naked ear, the Genius was the best emcee he's ever heard I immediately agreed with Prince Rakeem's process of determining rap supremacy.  In other words, or at least according to my interpretation, whatever emcee sounds the best is the best.  I-ght, well check this out.  Nas top 12 songs, essentially an albums worth of music, are better than any 12 songs you can list from ANY hip-hop artist.  Allow me to list them as I hope anyone who disagrees with me should do the same for their G.O.A.T.

NY STATE OF MIND: A song that borrows the hook from Rakim.  Let's not forget that Nas is the ONLY rapper one dared compare to Eric B's stronger half.

LIFE'S A BITCH: Never had there been a song in hip-hop where the first verse was incredible but outdone by the second; Enter Nas second up to bat with the simple yet incredible intro, "I woke up early on my born day, I'm 20 it's a blessing..."

ONELOVE: A heartfelt letter filled with love and support for his incarcerated peers.  Some say "I Need Love" or "Mahogany" are the best hip-hop love songs ever.  I beg to differ.

I GAVE YOU POWER: A metaphorical rhyme referencing the tool that has caused much sorrow for our hip-hop generation.  It might have been Pharaoh Monch but where do you honestly think Pac got the concept for "Me and My Girlfriend?"  And who just recently bit Pac's song and put a gorgeous pop singer on the hook for his first single off, "The Blueprint 2?"  What happened to the sign of the door that Masta Ace talked about in "The Symphony"?  (Message to Jay-Z loyalist: Sing the first few bars of J and Beyonce's, "Me and My Boyfriend," including the "look for me..." and let me know how you feel inside afterwards.)

IF I RULED THE WORLD: A remake of Kurtis Blow's song that has one of my favorite emcee's singing the hook.  If you doubt L, listen to Mystery of Iniquity (not that it matters but the song was nominated for a grammy, let's hope they don't snub Ms. (or Mrs) Hill like they did Arie...) on her acoustic release or any of the Fugees CD, even her verses on "Blunted..." are incredible)

VERBAL INTERCOURSE: His verse on the infamous purple tape might be the best verse I've ever heard in my life.

FETUS: This bootlegged single I believe made it to the Nas "Lost Tapes" release.  Rapping from his mother's womb, Nas goes on to explain how his father wanted to abort him and abused them both.  The undeveloped baby raps, "...pops took moms to see the doc at the clinic but I saved, he changed his mind in the last minute, Watchin 'em yell, heard my moms voice well feared first fights, so terrified when we fell.  While they broke up furniture and smashed plates on the wall I wondered if I am born, will I be safe at all"...WHAT!  Incredible concept with lyrics that should be given out in written form at Planned Parenthoods across the nation.

WE WILL SURVIVE: Another letter, this time written for two of our greatest hip-hop artist.  Verse one and two start off dear Big and Pac as Nas explains their impact on our generation and pays homage to their undeniable influence.  The third verse he asks, I wonder what the Commodores went through on tour?  Did Smokey Robinson, have to shoot his way out a war?  What has Al Green seen, that made him religious?  Hot grits from an estranged lover that's what Al saw, but the question posed by Nas truly fascinated me.  Through his music, Nas often acknowledges the history by referring to those that came before him.  "sing hooks on some TJ Swan sh*t... I pump some Rick James with that Tina Maria, while my Nina leans on me like Scoop and Scrap that can't be..."

NASTRADAMUS #8 featuring Nashawn: I won't mention the name of the song cause I'm sure you never heard it before.  "these the last words of a hanging slave how can I forget this..." he goes on to rap as if he's the prison wall talking to the inmates telling the jailbirds to change there lives... If the concept intrigues you go cop the CD... NASTRADAMUS #8.

REWIND: Although sadly and irresponsibly the story ends (or begins) with Nas killing his peer, the idea of a song story told backwards to be released late in a rapper's career was unheard of.  Clearly on of the most incredible concepts I have ever heard.  Lyrics such as, "Jungle utters something crazy like "!go he There" are phenomenal.

ETHER: Where were you when you heard it?  Similar to my reaction to the death of Big, Pac, and Pun, I can remember exactly what I was doing when I first heard the song drop with the Makavelli sample, "F**k Jay-z".. I was playing Madden with my man Haitian Russ and we both, stunned by the fiery words, paused the game (I was winning by 15 points in the 4th), grabbed our cell phones to call friends with hope that would be able to catch the latter half of the song.  Regardless of the fact that Hot 97 and other media outlets refuse to give the song the same support that they gave "The Takeover" and hip-hop magazines and TV shows that asked Nas how he felt about "The Takeover" and "Super Ugly" and never once asked Jay-z how he felt about Ether.  According to my Southern cousin Jeff, Nas won the radio poll in Atlanta 80% to 20% and defeated J on NYC's Hot 97 58% to 42%.  Not one deejay in the NY studio that night of the battle would admit that Ether was a better dis record, and to this day, everyone on the street that I speak to, says that Nas smashed J.  Ether is better than or is just as good as "The Bridge is Over, The Bitch in You, Hit Em Up and 2nd Knockout."  Why won't the media outlets support this unanimous decision on the streets?  Why couldn't Nas perform Ether at Summer Jam 2002 in New Jersey?  Damn, Def Jam is powerful!  (R.I.P. to the career of the 2nd round knockout king Canibus).

BOOK OF RHYMES: Incredible rhymes to us the listener, but in the clever words of Eminem off the Kay Slay mix tape he hosted, "..kicking *ss with bullsh*t throwaway rhymes."  Nas refuses to complete these different concepts as he thumbs thru notebook of poems... the few words from the unfinished concepts are current discussion topics for me and my crew... "Gandhi was a fool... fight to the death, " and "I must be crazy, jealous of my own baby infant"... Oh my goodness!

There it is folks.  Nas supporters probably would list other tracks than the ones I chose but they have to put those choices in their own article.  My argument is that no rappers 12 songs can compete with Esco's greatest hits:
BDK: Skilled rapper but can't compare to Nasty in terms of substance.
KRS: Both teachers but Nas concepts, voice and flavor is much better.
Rakim: One of the most respected emcees and not only did people compare Nas to him, Nas went on to produce a stronger catalog and remain relevant more than 10 years after "Live at the BBQ."
Tupac/Biggie: Post-mortem hype does not make them better than Nas.  Imagine the hype around Nas's music once he gets sent to the upper room?  Pac lyrics do not compare to any of the rhymes crafted by Nasty Nas.  Biggie, before Nas and he blew up both were freestyling in a cipher with a staff member from the Source magazine.  Big refused to rap after Nas because his skills were that much better than Mr. Wallace.  Nuff said.
Jay-z: Brilliant lyricist who nearly mastered mainstream/street credibility balance before he made two big mistakes.  The album with R Kelly was a misstep and waking up the sleeping giant in Nas was the other boo-boo.  How did Jay-z sleep with Destiny's mother, call Nas out at Summer Jam in front of thousands, release 'The Takeover' and 'Super Ugly' and still lose the battle with Nas... wanna know why?  Ether.  I guess Def Jam ain't that powerful.  (Canibus rise again like the phoenix)  The people decided the champ.  (Sad to say my favorite Hip-Hop magazine might be part pf the conspiracy as well.  The 3rd annual year end love/hate edition of the XXL Magazine with Nas and the Bravehearts on the cover has an animated illustration with Jay-z choking Nas.  If Nas won the battle, why wouldn't the illustration show Nas choking Jay-z?  That drawing reminds me of the European His-Story book that Mr. Doundas used in my 7th grade class... lies!)  Kool G, Lauryn Hill, Scarface, Tip, Chuck D, Puba Maxwell, Ice Cube: Although all the aforementioned emcees were once considered the best, none of those cats (or pussycat... once love L. Boogie) have a dozen song catalog that can compare to this particular son of God.  Uncle L, Def Jam's sex symbol, with the Lou Ferrigno frame, is only relevant because of how I described him and the label I mentioned.  Scarface and Treach are both incredible but neither dropped music that made you feel how you felt when you first heard Illmatic.  My man Walt taped Illmatic off Bobbito's underground radio station and we almost popped the tape (sorry Nas) playing it so much in our college dorm rooms.  I purposely omitted Marshall Mathers from this article and I hope you did too.  For those who have Em on there list I offer this.  MTV sponsored emcees with skills that get heavy rotation on radio and TV can not make it on my top 10 list.  Hip-hop was created by African-Caribbean's in America so when an emcee of a different background has skills and his early production is done by the greatest producer in hip-hop history (dated 1/5/02) he will undoubtedly receive more attention than others. Did Slim Shady smash Jay-z on Renegade and eat booty emcee Benzino alive.  Yes.  Do I like the songs "Stan", "Forgot about Dre" and his verse where he says, "... I'm Erick Sermon, I saw the window was open and jumped through it." Hell Yes!  Can I name 12 Eminem songs that are better than the best member of the now defunct Firm.  No.  Has he ever dropped anything that can compare with the 12 songs listed above.  Hell no!  5 years from now will he continue to get better and challenge the meat of this article... HELL F**K*NG NO!  Sorry.  Send his top 12 if you disagree.  Some might say well what about Jada, Redman, Monch, Andrew from Outkast, Common, the members of Black Star, Pun, Black Thought, Guru, and Ghostface.  Nas has elements of all the aforementioned emcees and is more prolific than all of them.  The heart of my argument is naming 12 songs.  If you need more proof log on to (http://www.ohhla.com/YFA_nas.html) and compare the lyrics of Nas with your favorite emcees.  Other people like to divide this hip-hop argument into BS categories so allow me to do it for you:
Best Storyteller: Slick Rick
Best Teacher: Chuck D / KRS -1
Best Flow: Biggie Smalls
Best Album: De La Soul "3 Feet High and Rising"
Best Song: La De Da De by Slick Rick, Doug Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew
Most Influential: Run DMC / Tupac / Nas / De La Soul
Best Posse Cut: The Symphony either Scenarios or Self Destruction
Most Talented: Wyclef Jean (no relation we just both Haitian... am I biased?  Probably, but you must not have listened "The Carnival")
Best Rap Line: Hands down Talib.  He said, "..slaves arguing over who got the biggest chain.."
The G.O.A.T.: Mutha F*ck*r have you been reading the you know my vote!
(All choices listed above are, you guessed it, dated January 2003)

The hook off Nas's most popular single from Stillmatic goes, "All I Need is One Mic (echo 3x)." Yo Nas, all you need is one fan who believes the essence of hip-hop is how the culture, in this case rap music, makes the people feel.  Well by now y'all should know how I feel.  I hope after reading this essay you feel the same as me.  If not, holla back.  I kept some ammo on stash for a counter attack... peace!