Best Posts: Is Jay Z the closest thing to an objective GOAT in hip hop?

  1. Big Dangerous
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    Big Dangerous World Heavyweight Champion

    Nov 29, 2017
    Like I personally think BIG was better, but if I'm being honest he has no longitivtiy ever having only released 3 discs.

    What other rapper been literally releasing good music for over 20 years. Yeah, 20 years.

    This man has a literal entire library worth of good listening material. He's influenced a ton of people, always remained relevant, never hit rock bottom like virtually every other artist.

    Has three or four albums people will put 1-5 on any top record ever list. Anyone who actually dislikes Jay is Hopsin fan or hasn't tried listening to his music. Achieved both mainstream popularity and critical acclaim to the maximum level.

    He has the pedigree, the consistent greatness and career. Is he the GOAT if you had to be as objective as possible about things?
     
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  2. WPG
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    WPG sxn80 Rory Gilmore

    Nov 29, 2017
    Honestly, yes: no matter which criteria you look at, all roads lead back to Jay being in the top five--or at worst ten--of all time. There are probably 25 people you could call the GOAT that I wouldn't bat an eye at but yes Jay is probably the closest to a plurality pick.
     
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  3. RetiredAccount
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    RetiredAccount Big Time Stuntin Like My Daddy

    Nov 29, 2017
    No, it's not. 808s' impact can be seen in 80% of hip hop today, mostly the dominant, popular styles
     
    May 11, 2025
  4. Oldboy
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    Nov 29, 2017
    n----- i see one movie a day

    Dont wanna go rounds with this old man
     
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  5. DKC
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    DKC shortygonletmecrush

    Nov 29, 2017
    I was thinking WTT for this decade since I assume 2010s was your beef, but that might be cheating. Even if it's more of a victory lap for Kanye's return than a Jay album, I think the power/event of those two coming together is undeniable and just as much is owed to Jay.
     
    May 11, 2025
  6. Big Dangerous
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    Big Dangerous World Heavyweight Champion

    Nov 29, 2017
    Good argument
     
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  7. Worm
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    Worm Big Perm Big Worm

    Nov 29, 2017
    Documentary 1 was carried by 50 and Dre beats lol
     
    May 11, 2025
  8. Oldboy
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    Nov 29, 2017
    Thats jon snow

    I know cuz i watch a lot of tv
     
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  9. Bourbon Ben
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    Bourbon Ben Mad pooper

    Nov 29, 2017
    Tbh illmatic is the citizen kane of rap
     
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  10. DKC
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    DKC shortygonletmecrush

    Nov 29, 2017
    bro just wait til revival drops
     
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  11. Michael Myers
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    Michael Myers Moderator

    Nov 29, 2017
    Can u pls stop
     
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  12. Jakepaulerforlifelogang
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    Nov 29, 2017
    Who
     
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  13. Big Dangerous
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    Big Dangerous World Heavyweight Champion

    Nov 29, 2017
    People need to understand BIG only released two records but they're both debateable GOAT records.

    The amount of highs on LAD may be more than any other rap record ever...so don't give me that 'filler' bs. It's balanced out and more.
     
    May 11, 2025
  14. Oldboy
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    Nov 29, 2017
    Your not rly gonna k--- me are u
     
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  15. WPG
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    WPG sxn80 Rory Gilmore

    Nov 29, 2017
    Big has two stone-cold masterpieces, either of which could reasonably be argued as the best rap album ever. If he had those plus four more three-mic albums no one would bat an eye. It's totally possible to call him the GOAT.
    It's definitely a milestone, but so is, like, Kurtis Blow. To me, 4:44 is a solid 3.5 mics, but Jay's catalog is so good that that doesn't even crack his top nine.
     
    May 11, 2025
  16. Charlie Work
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    Charlie Work Level 5 Goblin

    Nov 29, 2017
    Ayyy, 4:44 slander is not welcome here. Anybody approaching Jay's status in hip-hop has either floundered or died well before they could make culturally relevant music from the perspective of a 47 year old. It's a genre milestone before you even get into the actual substance of it.
     
    May 11, 2025
  17. WPG
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    WPG sxn80 Rory Gilmore

    Nov 29, 2017
    Dre is in my top ten but "he made a record of okay Prince fan fiction" is not a strong argument for "he's the greatest rapper to ever live"
     
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  18. marshmallow
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    Nov 29, 2017
    Put some respect on big boi name
     
    May 11, 2025
  19. WPG
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    WPG sxn80 Rory Gilmore

    Nov 29, 2017
    Ah I assumed you meant 4:44.
     
    May 11, 2025
  20. Michael Myers
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    Michael Myers Moderator

    Nov 29, 2017
    Also yeah agree with @Big Cuntry every decade at least one classic.

    90 - Rd and if you want vol 1 or 2
    00 - BP, TBA, AG
    10's - at least WTT and maybe in time 4:44
     
    May 11, 2025