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Originally Posted by OldDutch
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As for being the best rapper ever, up there with Biggie and Tupac, that is all perspective I guess. However, Biggie and Tupac were the best rappers of my generation (90's), not ever. Guys from the 80's will light you up over saying Pac and Biggie were the best ever. Kool Keith, Big Daddy Kane, KRS One, DJ Kool Herc, Eric B and Rakim, Pete Rock, Run DMC were their Heros.
So for those who know, and/or have lived Hip Hop 20+ years, I ask you, where does Eminiem place over those 3 decades? Has he progressed/influenced the culture of Hip Hop in a lasting way? More so than the names listed above? or was he a decent rapper who was popular at the time, but did little else than make money, and shout some shocking stuff?
I dunno, I guess that one is yet to be decided. I very much doubt however that my kids will be firing up an old Eminiem LP to hear "A$$ like that" or "Purple Pills".
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I'm not the biggest fan of Eminem (although I'll admit to liking Recovery).. but that's a really tough question to be asking right now.
Like you said, it's far too early to judge his Eminem's legacy as his career is ongoing. You laid out the 90's rappers and I think the defining moment from that era will be the whole West Coast/East Coast issue that was fronted by Bad Boy and Death Row.
That said, since 2000... who else has had a bigger impact on hip-hop? Jay-Z? Maybe, but what he's doing is not all that different from Biggie IMO. 50 Cent? Pac played the gangsta rapper role far better than 50 ever did. Outkast was well on their way but they 3000 and Big Boi seemingly dissapeared (on that note.. every hip-hop fan should go lookout for Big Boi's new album which features the first Outkast duet in 5 years.. so sick).
There have definitley been better rappers than Eminem in this decade but I don't think they've left the type of imprint that he will. Nas might be the one guy I can think of.... but even then I'm not quite sure.