Eminem must be the best rapper alive, correct? According to Rolling Stone, the Detroit native stands as the undisputed “King of Hip-Hop.” The publication assembled a list of the top 20 rappers in hip-hop since 2009 and ranked them by compiling album sales, YouTube views, social media scores, album reviews, awards and concert tours.
Eminem came out on top because he sold the most records, had an enormous amount of YouTube hits, and more fans liked him on Facebook and followed him on Twitter.
Although Eminem is a respected lyricist, Rolling Stone’s list of top 20 hip-hop stars is flawed to the point where it’s almost a parody. The publication’s biggest mistake was that it allowed the “fan factor” to have more weight than artists who received great album reviews and won legitimate awards.
True hip-hop has always been about the creation of great art. With that in mind, Kanye West should have been named the “King of Hip-Hop.”
Since 2009, Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and, his collaborative effort, Watch The Throne are two of the greatest hip-hop albums to be released in the last decade. Eminem’s Recovery received critical acclaim from many reviewers, but its predecessor, Relapse, was an uninspiring dud.
Lil Wayne and Jay-Z should have been in the top three of the running for ‘King of Hip-Hop” because each artist has released superior albums since 2009 and remained consistent by putting on mega concert tours and winning prestigious awards.
But to put Rolling Stone’s inane list into perspective, Drake finished ahead of Kanye West; Gucci Mane, Pit Bull and Wiz Khalifa finished ahead of B.o.B.; and Waka Flocka Flame finished ahead of Lupe Fiasco. The Game, Nas, and Tech9, an independent rapper who has sold millions of records without a major record deal, didn’t place.
Rolling Stone should stick to crowning “The King of Rock.” –amir shaw
