Rap has a substantial place in today’s youth culture. The genre which began to gain mainstream success in the early 90’s has skyrocketed ever since. Every young person has heard of Tupac Shakur or the notorious “Biggie Smalls”, who were both made martyrs after tragic drive by shootings that occurred a year apart from each other in 1996 and ’97. Acts like Chicago’s Kanye West, Detroit’s Eminem, Brooklyn’s Jay-Z, LA’s Kendrick Lamar, and Toronto’s Drake have managed to keep rap on the radio with some originality in the 2000’s. The game is alive well, but who really owns the throne?
After surveying 100 Madison student asking their opinions on the best rapper alive today, the results are as follows:
Kendrick Lamar: 36 votes
Eminem: 22 votes
Kanye west: 11 votes
Lil wayne: 8 votes
Nas: 4 votes
Drake: 3 votes
Schoolboy Q: 3 votes
Chance the rapper: 3 votes
Asap Rocky: 3 votes
Jay Z: 2 votes
Childish Gambino: 2 votes
Mac Miller: 2 votes
Mos Def: 1
Not surprisingly, Compton native Kendrick Lamar takes the cake. His critically acclaimed 2013 album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” was nominated at the Grammys for best hip hop album of the year. His extensive vocabulary and raw flow never cease to impress. Eminem and Kanye West come in as close 2nd and 3rd choices.
Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.