Ron Hightower

Ok, I'll count NWA, but the others? Q-Tip was the only artist to have a successful carrier outside of Tribe. I love Tribe, but they have a more cult following than an actual influence in hip-hop. GREAT group! Not a SUPERgroup. Public Enemy can be said to be pioneers of hip-hop, but a SUPERgroup? Don't think so. Can anyone name (that's not Nick) a member of PE that's NOT Flava Flav? Seriously, I'm not knocking these acts... on the contrary... I love them and acknowledge they're contribution, but they're a footnote in the history of hip-hop. Since Wu's beginning, they have made an impact that can be felt at all ends of the hip-hop spectrum. If hip-hop was a lake and the Wu Tang Clan a stone, then the ripples made by that stone would be the RZA, the GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Inspecktah Deck, U-God, Raekwon the Chef, Ghostface Killah and M.E.T.H.O.D MAN! How's that for a Chinese metaphor? RZA would be proud.

/EPIC DISAGREE Nas is a cornerstone of hip-hop! Name a rapper out since 91? Lyrically, he's in the top 5 for me. Lots of artists have come and gone and Nas continues to release music that's real to his style and message. Which comes to my question: is Nas commercial? No... and yes. Nas' main reason for being is not money. It's for the love of his craft. It's for the fans that have stuck by him through the good (Illmatic, Stillmatic, God's Son, It Was Written) and the bad (any Bravehearts projects, Nastradamus... settle down Nick, I liked that album, too. It just wasn't highly loved). He's a cornerstone and he knows it. But appealing to the fans also makes you do stuff you wouldn't normally do... like make Oochie Wallie. As for Wu-Tang... they're another cornerstone. They are hip-hop first and only SUPERgroup! Back to Nas. He's definitely the most commercial of the conscious.

The Lonely Island

Black Album, Blueprint 1 and 2. Kanye had a big hand in Jay-Z best years. But answer my question... is Nas commercial or not?

What about Nas? Isn't he commercial, too?

Super Slow Motion Punch Fest

HAHAHAHAHA! Is that true or are you pulling my leg... I think that was RZA said that. HAHA! It's great though!

I was saying that Nas' success has been his own. Kanye helped folks like Common and Mos become more commercial, in turn making them more money. I'm not saying they've sold out, but one or two well placed Kanye beats on your album means radio play which means bigger bucks. As far as the Ghostface rumor... it's true. He's known throughout the rap world as a 'true thug'. One that hasn't gotten soft by money. Shit, RZA says it all the time the Ghost is the one NOT to fuck with. He's not biased or plugging his boy. He's WARNING people!

When you peal away all the layers that are his dumbness, you actually get some substance. His message is one of togetherness and consciousness. He keeps reinventing himself, but continues to keep a constant, too. I've always loved his beats, but now I find myself listening to his lyrics. As far as others in the 'conscious' game are concerned... they owe a lot of their financial success to Kanye (Nas, excluded). In the case of Andre 3000 and Outkast... they are something else. They are the very definition of successful experimentation. Those two are on a different plane of hip-hop. One that they share with nobody.

A love story...

Man, I really want Duads and Nick to chime in on this! They were both on, but they must have missed it!

I was wrong, Jax... there is a God.

This definitely isn't the definition of Kanye West, but is he trying to get there? No doubt, Kanye's greatest contributions to hip-hop have been his beats (which have been almost 100% commercial). At the other end of that spectrum is his tact, but is his 'message' up there with greats like Nas, Mos Def, Common and others considered 'conscious'? As I've listened to more and more of his music, I'm beginning to become a believer. Now, is he in the league of the afore mentioned artists lyrically? No way, but he does have a way with words and most of the time, even in songs not geared towards a message, gives one anyway. It's because of this that I've grown a respect for Kanye, even though I still don't like him as a person (I feel that his 'publicity stunts' are often rude and childish). I can also respect the fact that he tries to do different things regarding with his beats, style, fashion and other. I'm asking this question, because I'm curious to see if others agree or not.

That's how shit is nowwa days. I don't mind as long as it's good.

We all knew this was gonna happen...

Diana Jones and the Temple of Poon

Butch Assidy and the Assdance Kid

It's cool, I understand. SiBob's was cool cause it had the theme going, but let's try to stick to one from now on... COUGHsigCOUGH

It's no fun when you guys put a bunch. It just kills the game.

Glad he ate her

Saturday Night Beaver

Legally Boned

Ocean's 11 Inches