http://www.vibe.com/news/..._alive_is/

http://new.music.yahoo.co...lim-shady/

Best Rapper Alive Competition Feels Slim Shady
Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:26am PDT by Billy Johnson, Jr. in Hip-Hop Media Training

If you feel like there's a pun in the headline of this blog post, good.

Last week Vibe magazine announced that Eminem had won its Best Rapper Alive competition, a NCAA-style tournament that pitted the "top" 64 MCs against each other. (See the list of the 64 nominees.)

The online contest polled users over a 5-week period. During the first week, the 64 competing rappers were paired off and users were asked to select the best 32 artists. The second week, that group of 32 lyricists was also grouped in twos and the voters picked their favorite 16. Over the subsequent weeks, the list dwindled down to the last b-boys standing, Jay-Z and Eminem. Eminem won by a landslide of 69 percent, compared to Jay-Z's 31 percent.

Why didn't Robin Thicke get the cover again?

Vibe losses again..

VIBE =

There is only one BRA, and there he t-i-s, above.

I like Eminem.

curioso said:

He's a good MC, better than a lot of the mushmouths passing for MC's these days, clever, funny, et cetera, but B-R-A? Can't go that far.
[Edited 10/13/08 14:34pm]

namepeace said:

Rakim didn't even make the top 64 nominees.

Neither did KRS-One. I guess they are considered too old.

namepeace said:

Eminem is an excellent lyricist and the music behind the rapping on many of his song is very good.
The List included Soulja Boy and not Chuck D so this list is crap.

curioso said:

the list is crap.....

rakim.....

sextonseven said:

Wow.

You'd never see a best-of rock/pop list without Elvis, Dylan, or Bowie.

So, a best-of hip-hop list without hip-hop indispensables?

Well, I guess Vibe played itself, so no reason to get MY pressure up.
[Edited 10/13/08 14:59pm]

lilgish said:

If this was true (VIBE picking Eminem) then u would be correct...But it's not...

The whole story is this: The Best Rapper Alive joint was a readership/online contest...In other words, the people decided on Eminem as the winner, not VIBE...In fact, the outside media who has nothing to do with hip hop even got involved in this (Detroit Free Press had a link to the contest...You can guess what happened next...)...lol

Ya dig?
[Edited 10/13/08 15:06pm]

murph said:

How were the 64 nominees chosen?

sextonseven said:

Being that its 64 MC's, the rhymers were chosen by the book...Everyone from Lupe Fiasco to Scarface to Lauryn Hill to Boosie got the nod...But it was all done in a NCAA basketball tournament form...Meaning you have your number 1 seeds (the best in each bracket) to the 16th seeds (the weakest in a bracket)....

In other words you would get a first round match-up of Jay-Z verses say Lil Boosie...
[Edited 10/13/08 15:35pm]

the problem is NO ONE that reads vibe has a clue what an MC is. But whatever, i thought we learned that magazine polls are bullshit, i mean ROLLING STONE and its readers put Jack White and Kurt Cobain in the Top10 guitarists of all time, WTF? even if i couldnt think of other guitar players i wouldnt pick them

murph said:

But old-schoolers like Rakim, KRS-One and Chuck D weren't even considered for the top 64. Is there some kind of age-limit?

What the bloody hell??? Not to take anything away from my homeboy, Detroit All Day Long! Em's good...damn good even but Best Rapper Alive? What the bloody hell????

If this isn't more proof that mostly white teenage boys buy hip hop music and prolly Vibe magazine, I don't know what is.

SCNDLS said:

Exactly!!!
And don't forget guys...Elvis Presley created Rock and Roll. What a joke.

murph said:

Vibe losses because their name is attached to this.

lilgish said:

Nah..not even...I certainly don't agree with the pick...but u can hardly blame a any publication for an artist's fanbase coming out in droves to vote online....It happens in all mainstream platforms...

SCNDLS said:

Smartest reply yet...^^^^

above Gift Of Gab, Common, Black Thought ? No frickin' way, he's good but he ain't the best.

It's not even a racial thing really I don't think he's necessarily the best white rapper alive either, that would be Aesop Rock if you ask me. One of the other best in the business for me is an asian rapper Lyrics Born.

murph said:

This is just not about blame, it's about association, but since we're blaming...

I'm guessing you didn't read the link though? Vibe selected the 64 compiled with a list with Soulja Boy.

http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_...ackets.pdf

Before getting into my opinion of the crowned champ, I am way curious as to how a Best Rapper Alive contest can include the likes of Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em, Shawty Lo and Flo Rida, but not list lyrical geniuses Rakim, MC Lyte, Chuck D, KRS-One or Slick Rick.

Vibe losses again...

namepeace said:

Tell it!!!!!

There is no doubt he is the best rapper alive.


i emphasize that alive part..

tonyat said:[quote]

namepeace said:

Tell it!!!!![/quote

wait wait wait the 18th letter got no love?