Best English Rapper Ever!!!

danbrosnan · 26-04-2012 11:38am #1

Who are the Best English/British Rappers of the new era!!!

English rap is huge now, even tho i don't agree with this new boom rap bulls8it, started by Calvin Harris.

I have made this list myself and you can add more rappers in comments if you like.

Trying to keep it in the last 10 - 15 years!!!

I still think english rap/grime isn't given enough recognition to be honest and I know who's my number *1

KANO!!!!!!

bigpoppa · 26-04-2012 11:42am

when you have a load of espresso's and you jump on boards like a madman

to answer your post (of sorts) I actually like PlanB (hip hop album obv)

danbrosnan · 26-04-2012 11:50am

Sorry if i hurt your eyesight:), but i spent so long trying to figure out how to use the typology on the Boards website, i took full advantage!!! lol

Jimmy Iovine · 26-04-2012 12:57pm

I'm confused. Are you asking who is the best English rapper ever, or the best of the last 10 years?

If it's the best ever then the winner is Slick Rick, hands down. He has no other worthy competition.

If it's the last 10 years then I don't really know. Some of the people you named are rubbish though. Dappy and Chipmunk are pretty garbage imo. Can't rap to save their lives.

danbrosnan · 26-04-2012 1:04pm

I suppose what i'm really asking is off the new era, from when garage turned into grime and what we now consider English/British rap.... slick rick was old school... i'm trying to stick between 10 to 15 years... and i agree a lot of rappers on there have turned into r&b artists but they do consider themselves rappers and they are selling records.... chipmunk signed to BadBoy now"Biggies old label", Dappy is making it in the states... You know i don't like these artists much either but a lot of people do... I hope the poll answers some questions for myself and maybe other people...

Squarewave · 26-04-2012 1:07pm

Roots Manuva

Intensive Care Bear · 26-04-2012 1:11pm

Without a doubt it has to be Roots Manuva.

danbrosnan · 26-04-2012 1:12pm

Squarewave wrote: »

Roots Manuva

GOOD PICK!!!! Completely forgot....

Da Shins Kelly · 26-04-2012 1:31pm

Roots Manuva definitely. Other than that, I like Mike Skinner. MIA is one of my favourite artists, but she's more than hip hop, I think.

MD1990 · 26-04-2012 1:53pm

Giggs is lol

danbrosnan · 26-04-2012 1:56pm

Thats a good one.... But again his selling records you know! what can you do?.... he sold a **** load of mix tapes.... if you went to any estate in england now and asked who the best rapper they would say "giggs".... Again what can you do!

conor.hogan.2 · 26-04-2012 2:04pm

Akala.

danbrosnan · 26-04-2012 2:07pm

conor.hogan.2 wrote: »

Akala.

What a rapper!!!:D

Bobby Baccala · 26-04-2012 4:52pm

I like your man skinner from the streets, was only listening to them last night.
He should be on the poll imo.

And isn't example a group??

conor.hogan.2 · 26-04-2012 4:56pm

Mike Skinner is on the poll?

Groups are often included in best lists like WTC, ATCQ, Mobb Deep etc

Bobby Baccala · 26-04-2012 5:09pm

conor.hogan.2 wrote: »

Mike Skinner is on the poll?

Groups are often included in best lists like WTC, ATCQ, Mobb Deep etc

Thanks, didn't see that.

Yeah but in the examples you just gave there's more than 1 rapper.
Example only has one rapper.
If you were making a list like that and it was u.s artists you wouldn't say gang starr you'd say guru. Am i right?
And also he didn't just say the streets, he said mike skinner as well. Would make sense to apply it to example.

Also i'm surprised lowkey isn't on the list, he's the best english rapper i've heard in a while.

danbrosnan · 26-04-2012 5:29pm

P4DDY2K11 wrote: »

I like your man skinner from the streets, was only listening to them last night.
He should be on the poll imo.

And isn't example a group??

No example actually was signed to a label called The Beats, which was actually run by Mike Skinner from The Streets, then the beats fell through and example was signed by another label. Example was always just a rapper can't remember his real name. His music has changed into this new kind dance/british/hiphop/rap genre, thats why he may sound like a group or band. He is a very good rapper, check out his first album "Look what we made".

Bobby Baccala · 26-04-2012 5:45pm

danbrosnan wrote: »

No example actually was signed to a label called The Beats, which was actually run by Mike Skinner from The Streets, then the beats fell through and example was signed by another label. Example was always just a rapper can't remember his real name. His music has changed into this new kind dance/british/hiphop/rap genre, thats why he may sound like a group or band. He is a very good rapper, check out his first album "Look what we made".

Yeah he's almost more dance than hip hop at the moment, has a bit of a trip hop sound to him.

He must be a very good dj, i thought he was the rapper and then there was one or more dj's in the group with him.

danbrosnan · 26-04-2012 5:53pm

P4DDY2K11 wrote: »

Yeah he's almost more dance than hip hop at the moment, has a bit of a trip hop sound to him.

He must be a very good dj, i thought he was the rapper and then there was one or more dj's in the group with him.

There is a dj with him, a collage friend that has been there from the start. The reason why i included him was he started out a rapper and there is a certain element of him that is rapping. He also has rapped on songs for tinchy strider etc...........

danbrosnan · 26-04-2012 5:55pm

ANOTHER TWO RAPPERS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED ARE WRETCH 32 AND DEVLIN, THE REASON I NEVER PUT THEM IN IS BECAUSE THEY ONLY BROKE THROUGH IN 2011 AND I FELT THIS WAS NOT RELATIVE TIME TO BE IN THE LIST

Jimmy Iovine · 26-04-2012 5:58pm

danbrosnan wrote: »

Example was always just a rapper can't remember his real name.

It's impossible not to remember his name :P. His name is Elliott Gleave. His initals are e.g. and that's where he got his stage from. It's one of the best names around.

P4DDY2K11 wrote: »

Yeah he's almost more dance than hip hop at the moment, has a bit of a trip hop sound to him.

He must be a very good dj, i thought he was the rapper and then there was one or more dj's in the group with him.

I'm pretty sure he does all the music himself when he's making a song. When he performs he is only ever on the mic. He has a DJ then who goes around on tours with him and he does all the mixing, just like any other artist.

He puts on a great live show. It helps that his music is the kind that you want to go mental to. I saw him in the SU in Maynooth last year and he was brilliant. As long as he stays performing and doesn't go down the Calvin Harris route of doing the DJ set then he'll be grand.

conor.hogan.2 · 26-04-2012 6:45pm

P4DDY2K11 wrote: »

Thanks, didn't see that.

Yeah but in the examples you just gave there's more than 1 rapper.
Example only has one rapper.
If you were making a list like that and it was u.s artists you wouldn't say gang starr you'd say guru. Am i right?
And also he didn't just say the streets, he said mike skinner as well. Would make sense to apply it to example.

Also i'm surprised lowkey isn't on the list, he's the best english rapper i've heard in a while.

Ah, I did not know it was only a group with one rapper. Yeah if I was doing it I would say Guru not Gangstar and Chuck D not PE unless discussing GOAT.

Lowkey deserves to be on the list, I agree especially above chipmonk and others.

Andy_rse · 26-04-2012 7:52pm

Dunno who the best is but throw these guys up there

"Throw punches with the strength of Silverbacks, Knock out your gold fronts" :eek:

A shout for Klashnekoff too

MrStuffins · 26-04-2012 7:55pm

No love for DOOM in this thread?

mufcboy1999 · 26-04-2012 9:10pm

use to be mad into the uk scene when i was younger , channel U

, so much better than the rubbish that is irish hip hop.

no roots or blak twang?

i went with wiley because he baiscally made the grime scene and i use to love roll deep.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDWgtB_MD24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C-CiZyZ7aI

personal favorite... memories

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOvcpY8ndnY

conor.hogan.2 · 26-04-2012 9:14pm

The UK scene is better than the Irish one but both suck when compared to the American and Canadian scene.

Bobby Baccala · 26-04-2012 9:21pm

conor.hogan.2 wrote: »

The UK scene is better than the Irish one but both suck when compared to the American and Canadian scene.

is there a canadian scene when you don't count drake?

mufcboy1999 · 26-04-2012 9:23pm

conor.hogan.2 wrote: »

The UK scene is better than the Irish one and both suck when compared to the American and Canadian scene.

in fairness to the uk they have there own lane with grime, very original and unique sub genre of hip hop so its hard to compare to the actual american scene which is out right hip hop.

the reason i dont like irish hip hop is because the majority of it (at least what iv listened to) is just trying to mimic the american scene but thats just my personal opinion on it, i know its fairly popular here with a few of ye.

canada, i haven't really took much interest in it. i know drakes from there thats about it but imagine its pretty similar to the american scene?

conor.hogan.2 · 26-04-2012 9:24pm

P4DDY2K11 wrote: »

is there a canadian scene when you don't count drake?

Yes. Growing big time too.

mufcboy1999 wrote: »

in fairness to the uk they have there own lane with grime, very original and unique sub genre of hip hop so its hard to compare to the actual american scene which is out right hip hop.

the reason i dont like irish hip hop is because the majority of it (at least what iv listened to) is just trying to mimic the american scene but thats just my personal opinion on it, i know its fairly popular here with a few of ye.

canada, i haven't really took much interest in it. i know drakes from there thats about it but imagine its pretty similar to the american scene?

The UK have Grime, D&B and Garage yes, but it is still comparable to a lot of hip-hop from elsewhere. Grime grew from earlier influences and while it is unique it is still quite hip-hop(y) I don't know many hip-hop fans that would not "get" Grime, it is very good.

That will happen when you only listen to very few IHH acts. I don't know of any IHH that is in any way big or respected that raps like an American. They dress hip-hop but so do the English. (for example anytime people say the Irish rap american they can never ever give any examples)

Canadas scene is growing, getting bigger places than the UK anyway but as you said it is closer to America so that might have a lot to do with it.

Seaneh · 26-04-2012 10:39pm

MrStuffins wrote: »

No love for DOOM in this thread?

Doesn't really count, was raided in New York, he wasn't part of the UK Hiphop scene, ever.

Mr. Rager · 26-04-2012 10:47pm

I know it sounds ignorant but I can't stand the vast majority of British HH because of the accent. Don't care if the future Nas is on the mic. Also hate the way a lot of them primarily use dubstep for their beats to reach wider audiences. Not into the whole grime scene either.

conor.hogan.2 · 26-04-2012 10:54pm

Mr. Rager wrote: »

I know it sounds ignorant but I can't stand the vast majority of British HH because of the accent. Don't care if the future Nas is on the mic. Also hate the way a lot of them primarily use dubstep for their beats to reach wider audiences. Not into the whole grime scene either.

This is what a lot of people think about Irish Hip-Hop too.

MrStuffins · 26-04-2012 10:57pm

Seaneh wrote: »

Doesn't really count, was raided in New York, he wasn't part of the UK Hiphop scene, ever.

If that's the case then Roots Manuva is the only option IMO!

Mr. Rager · 26-04-2012 11:00pm

conor.hogan.2 wrote: »

This is what a lot of people think about Irish Hip-Hop too.

Very true, especially those hailing from places with thick accents eg Dublin, Cork.

MrStuffins · 26-04-2012 11:02pm

Mr. Rager wrote: »

Very true, especially those hailing from places with thick accents eg Dublin, Cork.

Another major problem with the irish HH scene is the fact that a lot of them think that if they just replicate the type of content they hear in American HH but replace places and American references with Irish ones that they're proper artists!

Jimmy Iovine · 26-04-2012 11:17pm

Jays this IHH stuff is quickly becoming the L'Pool/United trend of the hip hop forum. It seems to be cropping up in almost all of the threads these days :P. It's not quite as bad as that yet though ha.

I've never gotten around to Roots Manuva. Any recommendations for first album?

danbrosnan · 27-04-2012 7:07am

In my opinion the english rap scene, which can be described in so many ways but basically its rap, is just as or better then the rap scene in america.

Now obviously the american scene is massive, "Joe Cole's new album is unbelievable" but they have a wider audience with millions in the budget.

When Kano came out with "Hone sweet Home" i was gobsmacked or when The Streets came out with"Original Pirate Material i was hooked.

So i listen to the best of the two tbh. Now with regards the Irish Rap Scene, i hope and think rob kelly will make a few hit singles. Other then that i don't know but what they can do, in ireland we don't have the audience to make it work for them. In england theres more people in greater manchester then there is in the whole island of Ireland, different story.

Also black twang is in the poll so get voting...

Jimmy Iovine · 27-04-2012 11:11am

danbrosnan wrote: »

Now obviously the american scene is massive, "Joe Cole's new album is unbelievable" but they have a wider audience with millions in the budget.

Joe Cole?? Ah so that's what he's been doing since he left Liverpool. I thought he'd gone to France to play some ball there :pac:.

danbrosnan · 27-04-2012 12:20pm

Jimmy Iovine wrote: »

Joe Cole?? Ah so that's what he's been doing since he left Liverpool. I thought he'd gone to France to play some ball there :pac:.

ha ha ha Jcole...........

tossy · 27-04-2012 2:35pm

What a disgraceful list,some of the names on it aren't even hip hop artists in my eyes - i put it to you sir you haven't the fogiest notion about UK hip hop.

No rodney P or Bionic aka the london posse???
No Blade
No Monie love
No MF doom
No young MC

Lol at slick rick being the greatest english rapper ever,slick rick is legend i have many of his vinyls but you need to go out and purchase gangster chronicle by London posse,one of the greatest Hip hop(not just uk hip hop) albums of all time

conor.hogan.2 · 27-04-2012 2:56pm

Claiming people who happened to be born in the UK, does not make them UK Hip-Hop like Slick Rick or MF Doom.

tossy · 27-04-2012 2:59pm

conor.hogan.2 wrote: »

Claiming people who happened to be born in the UK, does not make them UK Hip-Hop like Slick Rick or MF Doom.

Exactly,i stuck MF doom in to be smart,as i got the impression the poster who claimed slick rick was the greatest British rapper ever was trying to be smart too.I don't even like MF doom i have none of his vinyls

It doesn't take away from the fact that list is full of muck!

conor.hogan.2 · 27-04-2012 3:04pm

tossy wrote: »

Exactly,i stuck MF doom in to be smart,as i got the impression the poster who claimed slick rick was the greatest British rapper ever was trying to be smart too.I don't even like MF doom i have none of his vinyls

It doesn't take away from the fact that list is full of muck!

Probably is, the op will probably add your rappers to the list.

Jimmy Iovine · 27-04-2012 3:18pm

tossy wrote: »

Exactly,i stuck MF doom in to be smart,as i got the impression the poster who claimed slick rick was the greatest British rapper ever was trying to be smart too.I don't even like MF doom i have none of his vinyls

It doesn't take away from the fact that list is full of muck!

Ha yea good lad. I wasn't trying to be smart. The title of the thread is "Best English Rapper Ever!!!". I simply asked whether the op was looking for the best ever or the best of the last 10 years, and then I offered Slick as an answer.

I know Slick wasn't raised in England so that doesn't really qualify him but he's still English.

As for them other lads you mentioned I've never heard of them. I'll give them a listen later.

danbrosnan · 27-04-2012 4:28pm

tossy wrote: »

What a disgraceful list,some of the names on it aren't even hip hop artists in my eyes - i put it to you sir you haven't the fogiest notion about UK hip hop.

No rodney P or Bionic aka the london posse???
No Blade
No Monie love
No MF doom
No young MC

Lol at slick rick being the greatest english rapper ever,slick rick is legend i have many of his vinyls but you need to go out and purchase gangster chronicle by London posse,one of the greatest Hip hop(not just uk hip hop) albums of all time

I was waiting for someone to slate the list..... Look i'm only 25 so it be wrong of me to go naming rappers i wasn't brought up with... I said in the first post the last 10 to 15 years...

Tbh with you the rappers you named had there time and i bet sold sweet f*ck all... Now i don't take away from the fact that they might have been big in there time but nowadays i believe the british rappers can actually be world wide stars and some of them are... So the list in my eyes, are rappers who have been signed to big labels and are at least hitting top tens with some of the single's/albums....

At the end of the day the best rappers will sell the most, thats obvious.

Also i think of the old school, Black twang was the best, hits like "so rotten" hit the heights that i feel give him the right to be on the list!!!!

danbrosnan · 27-04-2012 4:32pm

Jimmy Iovine wrote: »

Ha yea good lad. I wasn't trying to be smart. The title of the thread is "Best English Rapper Ever!!!". I simply asked whether the op was looking for the best ever or the best of the last 10 years, and then I offered Slick as an answer.

I know Slick wasn't raised in England so that doesn't really qualify him but he's still English.

As for them other lads you mentioned I've never heard of them. I'll give them a listen later.

I did know slick rick was english, i'll be straight... But like jcole is german... Did you know that??

Jimmy Iovine · 27-04-2012 4:49pm

danbrosnan wrote: »

At the end of the day the best rappers will sell the most, thats obvious.

No they won't. Look at someone like Rakim. One of the greatest and he has sold almost nothing. The same with someone like Big Boi when he's going solo. His album was amazing. Apart from the first week though it hasn't made a dent in the charts at all.

The most commercially accessible rappers will sell the most. The Drake's, the Wayne's of this world will all sell huge numbers. They are almost guaranteed to clear a million, possibly even in their first week as Wayne nearly did with his latest album.

That doesn't make them great. Neither of their albums would hold a candle to Big Boi's yet he's stuck on sales of around 200k when Wayne cleared that in a day. It's sad to see but such is life.

Chart sales mean absolutely nothing these days. Especially when guys like Chamillionaire, Curren$y and Big K.R.I.T. are putting out mixtapes/EPs that are infinitely better than any of the rap albums in the charts.

danbrosnan wrote: »

I did know slick rick was english, i'll be straight... But like jcole is german... Did you know that??

Yes I did know that actually. I remember looking it up when I started listening to him 2 years ago or so. His dad was in the army though so it doesn't really count. His dad was stationed out there I think and he only lived there for 8 months, compared to Slick's 8 years.

Da Shins Kelly · 27-04-2012 5:00pm

danbrosnan wrote: »

At the end of the day the best rappers will sell the most, thats obvious.

To be honest, for the most part, I actually think it's the other way around - the worst rappers will sell the most, and the best sell little.

conor.hogan.2 · 27-04-2012 5:16pm

Rakim and Krs-One have sold very little and would be in a lot of peoples top10 or 5 even.

tossy · 27-04-2012 5:49pm

danbrosnan wrote: »

I was waiting for someone to slate the list..... Look i'm only 25 so it be wrong of me to go naming rappers i wasn't brought up with... I said in the first post the last 10 to 15 years...

Thats fair enough,but your thread title is best English rapper ever!

danbrosnan wrote: »

Tbh with you the rappers you named had there time and i bet sold sweet f*ck all...

Most of them did sell SFA does that make them bad rappers? If you are judging your rappers by sales alone then you are on the wrong track! George best never won a world cup does that make him a bad footballer? No.It's how you carry out your trade and how you use your talent that counts not how much money you earned from it.

danbrosnan wrote: »

At the end of the day the best rappers will sell the most, thats obvious.

Bobby Baccala · 27-04-2012 5:50pm

Monie love is excellent, i agree she should be on the list.

Best English Rapper Ever!!!

BEST ENGLISH RAPPERS OF THE LAST TEN YEARS!!! 62 votes

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